I fear we are expecting too much from him, I'm not sure if he is going to progress to the levels some of our fans hope.
He has been a little disappointing this season and I hope he can step up his game in the business end of the season.
I don't think the false 9 position benefits him though in all fairness
Very few players get better season after season after season until they reach their best.
Phil's gone from youth player to bit part squad player to one of our best players in 3 successive seasons. He is due a season of consolidation, and if this is it, I'm sure he'll kick on massively next season.
Remember the human side of this as well, he's probably been dreaming of getting to where he is now - City and England starter - for 10 years. He's had his head down, not doing anything except football football football and occasionally fishing, trying to get to this point.
It's completely natural for him to take a moment to enjoy that and develop a life outside football - have a few nights out, start getting dodgy tattoos, probably buy a fast car etc. - before setting his sights on the next mountain to conquer.
Pep's been there, done that as a player himself and he's guided players through it as a manager. He'll know how much line to give him, and when to tell him enough is enough if he gets too far off course.
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