Yes, Silva’s performances will dictate how often he plays. And if KDB stays fully fit that will help Silva.Based on his useage of Silva and Fernandinho last season, when we were all screaming about resting them but he just continued to play them 3x a week, I think Pep will use Silva as much as possible until he completely runs out of steam.
I think best case scenario for Phil is something like Bernardo's first season when he comes off the bench almost every game and starts about 5-10 league games, 7 or 8 cup games and a couple of CL games if the draw goes our way.
Which would mean 40+ appearances and 15-20 starts which at 19 years old would be loads.
when we play spurs next week fernandinho will be back, and foden will be out of the 18.
can see de bruyne making 30+ starts, silva 25 and gundogan 15, which would leave around 5 free for foden (even then, that's assuming bernardo is played exclusively on the right). so outside of the cups, this will be another quiet season for him.
in 20/21 however, we'll have an attacking midfield four of de bruyne, bernardo, gundogan and foden, with foden picking up an extra 10 games where bernardo is rotated on the wing with sterling. 15 starts aged 20 would be very encouraging, and if all goes according to plan he should get promoted to undisputed 3rd choice (aged 22) once gundogan is moved on in 2022, very much knocking on the door of the first team.
obviously all depends on whether he fulfils his early potential but the point is, given silva's age and bernardo's versatility, he's got a pretty clear path to borderline first team football (as in 25+ starts) by the time he's approaching his mid-20s, provided he puts in the performances to earn that status.
he's a nice level-headed kid who likes fishing, and he'll have the good sense to remain patient for another year.
He's developing great, and will continue to do so.If he’s not even in the 18 on at match day what’s the point. He’s not developing sitting on the bench now - he needs game time.
Obviously pep has said he isn’t going on loan though - which doesn’t make sense unless he’s going to get actual minutes - not just 5 at the end
He’s had a season of being in and out of the squad now.
Man yoo had better watch out...He will 100% get more minutes than last season. As mentioned Pep will start to phase Merl out - expect to see Phil starting in league games against mid to bottom table sides.
If he’s not even in the 18 on at match day what’s the point. He’s not developing sitting on the bench now - he needs game time.
Obviously pep has said he isn’t going on loan though - which doesn’t make sense unless he’s going to get actual minutes - not just 5 at the end
He’s had a season of being in and out of the squad now.
Glad he came on. He needs these minutes when the game is already won
Bingo.
3 or 4 up and it is time to introduce some youth talent, they will then learn how to play to the level of our players, no use whatsoever learning how to play like Blackburns manager would want for example, I do wonder how many young ones we have buggered with shit loans.
A couple to Bolton under Coyle spring to mind.
The problem with that is there is the limit of how many players you can have on the bench, so you could be 8 up, you can't bring youngster when you have aguero/jesus, bernardo/mahrez/sane/gundogan, ottamendi etc.. on the bench. Foden is rare breed, there won't be many regular young players on the bench.
We should make an effort to make room for them then, foden and another, again not suggesting v the top 6.
At the end of the day if we don't make room for them they will either not develop or fuck off or both.
They will look at Sancho as the biggest example of what might be, unfortunately.