47 | Phil Foden - 2022/23

[skillman]

Can’t wait to see him progress even more this season. His understanding with Grealish is evident already and his game will elevate this season too meaning Phil’s will as well.

 

[DATOIA]

Phill will be our main winger this season I guess..

False9 is already fully vacated by Haaland and Alvarez, so I don't see him playing there any more..

Mahrez and Grealish aren't "3 games per week" type players for me.. They have quality, but if you use them that frequently, eventually their quality will start to decrease.. So it will be Phil either on LW or RW and Jack / Mahrez will be rotated game-by-game.. Sometimes Pep may even use him as LCM / RCM if someone from Gundo / KDB / Bernardo trio is injured and we need help there..

Last season he was our most used attacking player.. Got 3200 minutes on the pitch.. So it won't be different this year..

It's funny I am looking at the statistics and last season - Cancelo played more minutes than Ederson.. This guy is insane <3

 

[BlueMedic]

Thought he looked our most dangerous/sharp player when he came on - sharp passing, neat touches, had a hand in the goal and then a tasty flick for Haalands disallowed goal.

Will be interesting to see where he plays, but we need to have him on the pitch.

 

[Shaffer92]

Underrated. Even by some of our fanbase. I expect a big year from him.

 

[JewelZee]

Thought he looked our most dangerous/sharp player when he came on - sharp passing, neat touches, had a hand in the goal and then a tasty flick for Haalands disallowed goal.

Will be interesting to see where he plays, but we need to have him on the pitch.

Agree 1 billion percent.

 

[OrigamiNinja]

Underrated. Even by some of our fanbase. I expect a big year from him.

If we had paid money for him he would start as many games as KDB, Rodri and Bernie. It feels like Pep sees him as the one who can make way to give other players game time (deserved or not). For me, he starts every week and only doesn’t play when he needs a rest. He is world-class and it’s about time we started treating him as such. It may piss other players off, but it’s up to them to rise to the challenge.

 

[Shaffer92]

If we had paid money for him he would start as many games as KDB, Rodri and Bernie. It feels like Pep sees him as the one who can make way to give other players game time (deserved or not). For me, he starts every week and only doesn’t play when he needs a rest. He is world-class and it’s about time we started treating him as such. It may piss other players off, but it’s up to them to rise to the challenge.

Over the last two years he's basically starts every 'big' game, no? I think Pep recognizes his importance. I can't imagine he's happy with him over missing pre-season, though.

What I desperately want is to see is him start to transition centrally. That's his 'natural' position after all as great as he's been on the wing for us. You want a player like him on/around the ball as much as possible. Pep clearly doesn't think he's ready yet for some reason? Maybe think's he's 'too' attacking? Idk, but he's one of our best players and a did a thankless job as our false 9 last year which Haaland just found it isn't as easy as Phil made it look.

 

[Cheadle_hulmeBlue]

Underrated. Even by some of our fanbase. I expect a big year from him.

Don’t see how he’s underrated by the club or our fans. Most recognise him as one of our best players.

He starts in our strongest side and is one of our best players.

 

[Josh_D]

Over the last two years he's basically starts every 'big' game, no? I think Pep recognizes his importance. I can't imagine he's happy with him over missing pre-season, though.

What I desperately want is to see is him start to transition centrally. That's his 'natural' position after all as great as he's been on the wing for us. You want a player like him on/around the ball as much as possible. Pep clearly doesn't think he's ready yet for some reason? Maybe think's he's 'too' attacking? Idk, but he's one of our best players and a did a thankless job as our false 9 last year which Haaland just found it isn't as easy as Phil made it look.

Pep wants him to have the ‘pausa’ ability. I get why but that’s just not Phil. Phil is a get the ball and go type player that can also skip past players even if risky in the middle of the park.

The only young player so far at City that has that is McAtee. Not comparing both or advocating for him to be playing, just describing attributes.

You’re right about CM being his position. Feels like people have forgotten or choose to ignore. Some day he may move and cement his place there but not sure it’s any time soon. Nonetheless, he was dangerous when he came on. He’s the one player that usually has a good game against the dippers.

 

[itisrising]

The issue is, where do we play Phil this season? I think for his own development, it's best that he has a single position that he can make his own.

 

[JDV]

Over the last two years he's basically starts every 'big' game, no? I think Pep recognizes his importance. I can't imagine he's happy with him over missing pre-season, though.

What I desperately want is to see is him start to transition centrally. That's his 'natural' position after all as great as he's been on the wing for us. You want a player like him on/around the ball as much as possible. Pep clearly doesn't think he's ready yet for some reason? Maybe think's he's 'too' attacking? Idk, but he's one of our best players and a did a thankless job as our false 9 last year which Haaland just found it isn't as easy as Phil made it look.

I love how he has that attacking mindset, especially with Haaland in the team. We need to progress the ball quicker for Haaland and Phil is perfect for that.

I'd like to see us try the below front 6:

.Haaland.

.Foden. .KDB. Alvarez.

.Rodri. .Silva.

 

[Brightwell Bros.]

Underrated. Even by some of our fanbase. I expect a big year from him.

Some people don't pay nearly enough attention. He played most of the year out of position and running his socks off for the rest of the team, did a hell of a job there, and is now returning to a position of strength knowing what sort of positions a good striker takes up. His assists are going to be huge this year. And he's still young. It's wild.

 

[the_tevez_wiggle]

Would love to see him as a support striker behind haaland. Kdb & rodri as a 2, grealish and alvarez to the left and right. I just think he would be lethal feeding off and to haaland.

 

[Leyland Blue]

Was bang at it from the moment he stepped on the pitch - and that’s with no meaningful pre-season at all. Involved in the goal, and great strike for the Haaland chance at the end. Looking forward to an awesome season from him.

 

[sh249]

He and Haaland should be the two main men across the front three. Let Grealish, Mahrez, Alvarez and Palmer battle it out for the third spot.

 

[nickamon]

He is just soo talented. I love when he plays and I’m genuinely surprised when sometimes he doesn’t impact the game as much as he’s capable both for us and England. He’s easily one of my favorites.

 

[Crooked_rain]

Ridiculous talent

He’s also coming up 23, so I expect him to start truly establishing himself as one of the most talented players around and solidify himself as a real starter for us and England.

 

[Legal Alien]

Over the last two years he's basically starts every 'big' game, no? I think Pep recognizes his importance. I can't imagine he's happy with him over missing pre-season, though.

What I desperately want is to see is him start to transition centrally. That's his 'natural' position after all as great as he's been on the wing for us. You want a player like him on/around the ball as much as possible. Pep clearly doesn't think he's ready yet for some reason? Maybe think's he's 'too' attacking? Idk, but he's one of our best players and a did a thankless job as our false 9 last year which Haaland just found it isn't as easy as Phil made it look.

I agree and think he should play the left side number 8 role, alongside Rodri and Bernie.
Now we have Haaland, we will need his and Bernie's workrate in midfield.
If fit, he starts every game for me.

 

[clarion]

I love how he has that attacking mindset, especially with Haaland in the team. We need to progress the ball quicker for Haaland and Phil is perfect for that.

I'd like to see us try the below front 6:

.Haaland.

.Foden. .KDB. Alvarez.

.Rodri. .Silva.

Yes. Let us drop 10 points making Alvarez RW and Sila DMC
while Mahrez, Palmer, Philipps, Gundo natural on those positions sitting on the bench.

 

[Brightwell Bros.]

I love how he has that attacking mindset, especially with Haaland in the team. We need to progress the ball quicker for Haaland and Phil is perfect for that.

I'd like to see us try the below front 6:

.Haaland.

.Foden. .KDB. Alvarez.

.Rodri. .Silva.

I think the fascinating thing about this season is that Pep has basically built two great City teams: the all out attacking centurions and the highly controlled dominance of lockdown. I think he has all the pieces for a third that blends the best of both but it's going to be fascinating watching how he does it. I think Kalvin might have a bigger role in that than we might think if we are going with the double pivot.