Taking those two shots I would say is not someone playing it safehe now seems to have resorted to playing it quite safe, neat and tidy, rather than taking risks and showing how dangerous he can be.
Almost like the grealish influence is rubbing off on him.
Reminds me of Jesus. This „ La pausa“ thing is getting irritating. Pls him in the middle if you want him to get better at that certain position. Why should a LW play slow on the wings?The only problem he has right now Pep is turning him into an ultra-utilitarian player with no chance showing his flair and excellent individual skills. He's been somehow morphed into ZInchenko and Grealish at once operating on that left side.
The problem is where in the middle to place him. Reality is both Gundogan and KdB are better of what they are doing than Phil and don't even let me get to Bernardo's role. Actually that false nine formation was so good for him because it was a very fluid formation and he had freedom to move around. It is out of the window now, so it's left to see what happens to him.Reminds me of Jesus. This „ La pausa“ thing is getting irritating. Pls him in the middle if you want him to get better at that certain position. Why should a LW play slow on the wings?
he is not a number 8 but a number 10 for now and hence why pep will not play foden as a 8He’s got a lot of better natural attributes than David. Very different players though and for Foden to try and play like the great man did you’d be taking away so many of the things that make Foden a truly unique and potentially world class number 8.
He’s got everything to play as an 8. KDB is playing as a 10 now but played as an 8 for plenty of years under Pep. Do you think he wasn’t an 8? The 2 main issues are Pep won’t play him and KDB centrally as they’re both very attacking. Kev could give the ball away more than most on an off day and obviously i’m not criticising his brilliance. The other issue is we don’t have a genuine left sided midfielder so Foden is the best option for that position. Yes Grealish plays there and will keep the ball all day but it’s clearly not his natural game to stay out there passing largely sideways.he is not a number 8 but a number 10 for now and hence why pep will not play foden as a 8
If Foden had been showing what Pep requires of him to play CM then I'm pretty sure he would have been the first one to put him straight into midfield and be just as eager as the rest of us to see him play there as he knows he's such a special player. The fact that he hasn't played in the middle for a long time now and especially in a charity match such as this just shows how far away he is from having the trust of Pep to play there.
Even in the last two seasons in the cup matches Pep would at least play Foden in CM even if he wouldn't be playing there in PL/CL matches but now even Palmer who could be considered Mahrez' replacement/successor at RW is getting a game at CM ahead of Foden who is naturally a CM.
I have watched him and he plays in one gear. Especially in the heat of the moment when the attacks are being constructed and the ball is with him and play is moving fast in the box, he doesn't slow his stride and give the "pause" amidst the chaos around him he just continues his movements in that one very intense tempo- again even Pep said this very phrase "His movements are all in one go". Personally, I have yet to see Phil produce what Pep requires of him.
Look at his younger contemporary Pedri, I love Foden but Pedri his poise and control and how he can shift gears effortlessly, he's already a master of Pausa at his young age, and why he's a fixture in midfield.
I hope this new contract doesn't make Phil get ahead of himself and focuses because as Pep said he can always improve and must strive to better himself every day.
Reminds me of Jesus. This „ La pausa“ thing is getting irritating. Pls him in the middle if you want him to get better at that certain position. Why should a LW play slow on the wings?