47 | Phil Foden - 2025/26

I just don't see Foden as being the sort of character who could adjust to life in another country
just on this
Man City has 8 to 10 players in their line up each week that are playing abroad.
Likewise Liverpool, Arsenal and every other team.

Every single player on the Irish national team is playing club football abroad. Likewise most of the Brazil, Argentina, Belgium, Denmark, Norway etcetc teams.

This wont be an issue.
 
it is pointless conjecture. None of us know what is wrong. As a result none of us know what will fix it. We have to trust that the club will look after his best interests. Hope to see a happy smiling lad again at some point in the future.
agreed
 
Totally agreed. Give him a 4-5 year deal, tell him we'll give him the time to get right, he can take 6-12 months off and come back after a break.

That's fine but you can't give Foden a deal that makes him better paid than key starters (combined) hoping he might be good enough in a year or two. No serious club operates like that.

The club will do everything *reasonable* to keep him, but what is reasonable for the club, for Foden and for fans may be three very different things.
 
Fishing is scientifically proven to aid well being and promote mental health. Out in nature and focused on one thing (fishing). All your troubles slip away. You should try it mate. Its bloody wonderful and will help rather than hinder Phil.
Whatever the lads problems are, they aren't anything to do with fishing.

just on this
Man City has 8 to 10 players in their line up each week that are playing abroad.
Likewise Liverpool, Arsenal and every other team.

Every single player on the Irish national team is playing club football abroad. Likewise most of the Brazil, Argentina, Belgium, Denmark, Norway etcetc teams.

This wont be an issue.
The majority of the countries you mention have players who have accepted through economic necessity that they have to play abroad to earn a decent living.
You will also note that those playing in first XIs do no come with 'baggage' as would be the case with Phil. They have adapted in the majority of cases to the country and learnt the language, as has Harry Kane in Germany.
 
@Earlyriser I dont think its a case of 'Economic Necessity' - Ireland, Belgium, Norway are not poor countries.

Rather, to state the obvious, the premier league pays more than any other league and therefore is the biggest importer of talent.

Every other country, the top top players are leaving to play elsewhere. Even wealthy leagues like France or Germany, the very top players are going to Spain or England.

It is absolutely the norm for footballers to be migrants.

The biggest exception to this is England.

But if players from every other country can manage a move overseas, I dont see what would stop English players from doing it.

And dont forget - when we saw the first significant wave of 'football migrants', Italy was the top league and England was the exporter - Rush, Hately, Brady, Francis, Platt, Gascoigne, Wilkins, Cowans, Ince, Des Walker.
 
@Earlyriser I dont think its a case of 'Economic Necessity' - Ireland, Belgium, Norway are not poor countries.

Rather, to state the obvious, the premier league pays more than any other league and therefore is the biggest importer of talent.

Every other country, the top top players are leaving to play elsewhere. Even wealthy leagues like France or Germany, the very top players are going to Spain or England.

It is absolutely the norm for footballers to be migrants.

The biggest exception to this is England.

But if players from every other country can manage a move overseas, I dont see what would stop English players from doing it.

And dont forget - when we saw the first significant wave of 'football migrants', Italy was the top league and England was the exporter - Rush, Hately, Brady, Francis, Platt, Gascoigne, Wilkins, Cowans, Ince, Des Walker.
I dont think its anything to do with football. Its more would Phil be comfortable moving to a different country, learning their language and settling with his family. Maybe he would, maybe he wouldn't. He seems very much a home bird to me. Still, plenty good Carp fishing in France.
 
@Earlyriser I dont think its a case of 'Economic Necessity' - Ireland, Belgium, Norway are not poor countries.

Rather, to state the obvious, the premier league pays more than any other league and therefore is the biggest importer of talent.

Every other country, the top top players are leaving to play elsewhere. Even wealthy leagues like France or Germany, the very top players are going to Spain or England.

It is absolutely the norm for footballers to be migrants.

The biggest exception to this is England.

But if players from every other country can manage a move overseas, I dont see what would stop English players from doing it.

And dont forget - when we saw the first significant wave of 'football migrants', Italy was the top league and England was the exporter - Rush, Hately, Brady, Francis, Platt, Gascoigne, Wilkins, Cowans, Ince, Des Walker.
By economic necessity it means that salary levels for footballers in the countries you quote are low when compared with England and some other countries. If you are a professional you need/want to maximise your earnings.
You clearly have forgotten the story of Rush when he moved to Italy. He was surprised to find they did not speak English but another language... Italian.
All the English players you quote, you missed out Law and Charles were strong characters and that's what you need if you are to adapt.
 
A fit and athletic Foden is worth much more than £100M. Hope he’s back to his true level in the next few games though.
 
Read somewhere that Athletico would look at Foden as a possible replacement should Alvarez go.
Foden doesn't come across as a player who could settle at Athletico, especially if Simeone is in one if his grumpy moods
 
@Saddleworth2 If 80% of elite pro footballers are economic migrants and are able to get on with it, why cant Foden. Most footballers do not have the luxury of playing in their home country. TBH, to be devils advocate, City fans are patient to the point of myopia with Foden and this arguably is another example. Poor Phil is a home bird and would miss his pals if he was in Madrid/ Munich/ Naples or wherever. He would struggle there, so lets keep him here. I'm sure Khusanov and Cherki miss their pals too, but they get on with it.
 
@Earlyriser First of all, I think that story about Rush is an urban myth. Albeit that he clearly did struggle in Italy. Others relished it. Brady had a great career there, but to your point, earned more than he would have in England.

As regards strong characters - if you think a players character isnt strong enough to cope with a move to a German or Spanish club, then why would have them at your own club?
 
For me he needs patience and love. Not saying he deserves special care compared to others, but he is one of us after all.
He bleeds blue from birth, just like we do.

His total drop in form might be just that, a drop in form. But there might be more to it.

But we keep him, as long as he wants to be here. And we get him through this.

Too many on here ranting to get rid. Bell ends
Hope you never need a shoulder

Great post, although I don't think you needed this qualifier. If there was ever a player who deserves special care compared to others it's Foden. As you say, he's one of us.
 

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