#47 | Phil Foden - 2020/21 Performances

[supercity88]

He does need to rediscover his finishing quickly.

Watching him for 5 seasons from u18's through to about 6 weeks ago, his finishing has set him apart. Absolutely clinical, the chance would come and he'd finish it. Ruthless, effortless. Some of the finishes he's capable of are incredible too, the Chelsea goal was something every striker in the world would be proud of.

But in the last 4 CL games, he's lost it a bit, should have scored 2 or 3 huge chances, and to be fair was unlucky with a couple of others. Maybe it's a reminder of how big these games are for a 20 year old in his first real season as a starter.

I just don't want it to come back to bite him in a big game, because he's so young, and it means so much to him as a City fan.

Also I don't want him to lose his goalscoring because it really does set him apart and if you're talking about being the best player in the world, ballon d'or type stuff, being a 20+ goal a season player puts him on another level.

I get what you are saying, and it is down to the big stage nerves I'm sure. But he scored in both games against Dortmund so kept plugging away and whilst he missed some easier opportunities, his goal in Dortmund was sensational and doesn't suggest he's lost that finishing ability.

The one miss against PSG which stood out was in the first half of the first leg where Bernardo squared it to him. That was a pass it into the corner job, with the keeper rooted to the spot, but he lashed it straight at him.

I think you'd expect that from most players, let alone someone so young. The City of previous seasons would let their heads drop after a miss like that and possibly not fight back, but this one keep going and knows it will create another opportunity and take it.

His potential trajectory is limitless though. He has the finishing of a top striker and the touch, technique and dribbling ability of the best midfield/wingers out there. That move from halfway last night where he dinked it over Paredes... it was a thing of beauty. We've seen David Silva do something like that before, but the difference is we'd be watching Silva knowing he'll look for a pass rather than the back of the net. Foden was crowded out somewhat, but next season with even more experience and confidence he probably dribbles through the defence as well and then buries it. The Stockport Iniesta becomes the Stockport Messi!

 

[WNRH]

The lad is an absolute superstar.

He will finish his career as a multiple balon dor winner, the most decorated British player of all time, our highest appearance and goal scorer. That’s the ceiling he can reach.

But that’s not as OTT as some of the praise he’s getting from pundits. Almost like they are building him up ready to knock him down.

Some of the stuff they praise him for is normal stuff but it’s almost becoming hyperbole now and turning the neutrals against him as it’s being rammed down their throats, just like SEVENTEEN YEAR OLD Jude Bellingham.

 

[FantasyIreland]

I get what you are saying, and it is down to the big stage nerves I'm sure. But he scored in both games against Dortmund so kept plugging away and whilst he missed some easier opportunities, his goal in Dortmund was sensational and doesn't suggest he's lost that finishing ability.

The one miss against PSG which stood out was in the first half of the first leg where Bernardo squared it to him. That was a pass it into the corner job, with the keeper rooted to the spot, but he lashed it straight at him.

I think you'd expect that from most players, let alone someone so young. The City of previous seasons would let their heads drop after a miss like that and possibly not fight back, but this one keep going and knows it will create another opportunity and take it.

His potential trajectory is limitless though. He has the finishing of a top striker and the touch, technique and dribbling ability of the best midfield/wingers out there. That move from halfway last night where he dinked it over Paredes... it was a thing of beauty. We've seen David Silva do something like that before, but the difference is we'd be watching Silva knowing he'll look for a pass rather than the back of the net. Foden was crowded out somewhat, but next season with even more experience and confidence he probably dribbles through the defence as well and then buries it. The Stockport Iniesta becomes the Stockport Messi!

Spot on

The kid is different gravy......it's really simple.....he plays,we are better.

 

[sir baconface]

Sheikh mansour drove up the road, in his ford fiesta.
Brought us back a kid named Phil, the Stockport iniesta!

Fook me, the oil money really is running out (´･_･`)

 

[jimmygrimblesboots]

The praise being lavished on Foden is fully deserved , and i have never witnessed a player as good at 20 years old , and ive watched some good uns , the only downside of his game is his finishing at times but that will improve with experience and although i love is honesty he needs to be more streetwise when players are trying to cut him in half if only for his own self preservation.

 

[Bobby the blue]

Foden to put it mildly is on a different level. He is absolutely outrageous and Honestly will go on to be one of the best players this country has ever produced. He is a different level to most in the league and it makes me laugh when he gets compared to Greenwood,mount,grealish or Maddison. It’s just not even on the same level.

He should only be mentioned in the same breath as Haaland or Mbappe. We are watching one of the finest talents in world football.

 

[Jeanclaude]

Best young player in form at moment, compare to mbappe and haaland right now

 

[Mr Partridge]

Was just curious...

Foden turns 21 later this month. Sancho turned 21 in March.

Foden:
120 games for City, 29 goals

Sancho:
133 games for Dortmund, 46 goals

Sancho is a tremendous young player no question but the critics who said Foden had to follow his footsteps and move away from City don't look so smart now. Foden has been in and around England's best team for three years learning from top players, being phased in, and this year has become a key man in our bid for European glory and regaining the title. Sancho has done excellently but in a weaker league in a team that has underperformed this season. It's not his fault Dortmund are 5th but he is guaranteed starts there whereas Foden took the harder route of trying to break into the most dominant team in England. He's slotted in where David Silva left. He's caused Pep to bench Sterling and made Pep confident in his versatility across the front line that we don't need to use a center forward.

Sancho got the headstart by taking his talents to a lower level in order to guarantee regular football. Foden waited for his time. And I'm not going to criticise Sancho because he's done very well for himself. But Pep has handled Foden magnificently and if we are to chart their individual development it is clear Foden is clear of Sancho now.

Sancho clearly didn't believe he was good enough to get in to our team. Whether he was or not is another matter.

To be a top top player you have to have that elite mentality that no matter who is in front of you, you will break in to that team because you're just as good if not better than them. Foden has that, Sancho didn't.

 

[handsofstone]

Sancho clearly didn't believe he was good enough to get in to our team. Whether he was or not is another matter.

To be a top top player you have to have that elite mentality that no matter who is in front of you, you will break in to that team because you're just as good if not better than them. Foden has that, Sancho didn't.

Sorry I disagree with this

Think Sancho has an elite mentality but one different to Foden....I think the whole point was was he DID think he was good enough and he backed himself to be a starter at a top European club (which Dortmund are) at 18 and moved due to that, and has been a star

And those stats above are misleading
120 appearances vs 133, but how many are starts...just checked on whoscored

In the league only sancho has played
20/21 - 22(1), 1868 mins
19/20 - 25(7), 2292 mins
18/19 - 26(8), 2464 mins
17/18 - 7(5), 684mins

Whereas Foden has
20/21 - 15(10), 1448 mins
19/20 - 9(14), 893 mins
18/19 - 3(10), 330 mins
17/18 - 0(5), 45 mins

You can see its clear Sancho is completely justified in leaving, think that shows an elite mentality to have that much confidence in yourself

Love Phil, but this is the first year hes ever got real exposure to the Prem/Europe and has played about ad much as Sancho was doing 3 years ago

Foden is a generational talent, but so is Sancho....both have elite mentality

 

[kunaguero10]

The thing about Foden is we still don’t know what position he will end up in. The way he glides past players I still think he could end up playing as an 8 but even as a LW he looks unplayable at times.

I thought he was destined to be a central player, but he’s certainly a weapon out on the left and would be hard to move him at the moment.

He’s one of the few (barely any) in the squad who can beat a man with the ball so definitely benefits from playing in space out wide.