47 | Phil Foden - 2022/23

[mosssideblue]

Needs to go out on loan :)

 

[dancity19]

Clearly been a relationship breakdown between him and Pep.

 

[hilts]

Jack and Phil

Either

1) not as good as we thought
2) are being stifled under instruction for the benefit of our pattern of play
3) are struggling with form

I don't for a second believe it's number 1.

 

[Lauz9888]

First half formation did him no favours. There was so much space between him and Ake, it was like he was expected to be a wing-back but no-one had told him.

Definite improvement in what he had of the second half, but still not great, even if we assume the low-risk, passing back style is a Pep instruction.

Needs to go back to basics, knuckle down and earn his place in the team. He's a huge talent but something seems off lately.

 

[super_city_si]

Needs to play the next 2 games. We need him sharp. Whatever funk hes in, play him through it. Maybe even midfield v chelsea?

 

[Silva2021]

All players have their rocky patches and Phil is having one in my opinion.

Whether the WC has made a difference, I don’t know but class is always permanent.

Back him to come through it and be a better person at the end.

 

[Tolmie scores]

First half formation did him no favours. There was so much space between him and Ake, it was like he was expected to be a wing-back but no-one had told him.

Definite improvement in what he had of the second half, but still not great, even if we assume the low-risk, passing back style is a Pep instruction.

Needs to go back to basics, knuckle down and earn his place in the team. He's a huge talent but something seems off lately.

The traditional CF system limits the spaces he had enjoyed over the last couple of years...CB's aren't being dragged up the pitch by a false nine anymore. Kills Phil's game as he exploited the spaces and was available to run onto those slide rule through balls. This is a consequence of playing a CF who stays high up the pitch. Foden will adapt as he is clever. Only way he won't is f he doesn't fancy it. If this is the case Real Madrid or Barca for him

 

[Tolmie scores]

Dreadful performance. Other than Cancelo
He was the worst player on the pitch. Couldn’t seem to control simple passes and contributed nothing at all.

That's one thing that did surprise me, his touch was so poor tonight. I do think that Pep only allows Mahrez to have a go though ..and then only from edge of their box...Pep doesn't allow possession to be lost wide hence Grealish spends most of the time rolling the back to the FB.

 

[limerickcitykid]

Phil has all the skills but this year he generally plays it backwards, sometimes picking out quite difficult passes to get it done. At least Jack throws himself forward every time he gets the ball. Once Phil gets that pained look on his face like he's suffered an injustice, the game is up. He needs a big injection of positivity.

 

[Tevez City]

Not a winger.

 

[Keeper!]

Clearly been a relationship breakdown between him and Pep.

Attitude or to much of it.?

Needs to get back to loving the game and working hard, maybe a case of believing he has already made it.

It's a problem with most of the young English players.

Hopefully just part of the learning process.

 

[Hart of the Matter]

Worrying.

 

[jimmygrimblesboots]

Not a winger.

Neither is Grealish , we signed hmi from Villa as a creative midfield player , and Foden came through the youth system as a number ten , if Pep isnt sure where to play them he shunts them out on the left wing ,

 

[Craig]

Poor tonight got the ball and passed it back.

They’re the instructions. He’s been doing that all season. Obviously hard to defend him last night when his touch was unusually shite

 

[Craig]

Phil is not in great form at the moment but that will not last. One thing that stands out though is he needs to get back to having the hunger when things are not going so great personally. In all the games we've seen I can count on one hand (one with two fingers removed) the times he has lost possession and not busted a gut to get it back. It is quite interesting that a lot of the England players apart from John Stones & maybe Jack have come back from the WC is poor form. Don't know if it was all the emotional energy used up or being subject to Southgate's coaching ha!

Most of the England players aren’t that good anyway but the likes of Shaw, Stones, Rashford, Kane and Saka haven’t they’re all flying

 

[Craig]

Pep has got it right at the moment Grealish is more effective , we all know how good Phil can be but he isnt doing it at the moment , his play is so negative , he played against 40 year old Milner and didnt take him on once and now played 40 year old Azpilcuelta and took him on once and won a free kick after an hour.
He needs to wake up , he is playing for his place and hes doesnt deserve it right now.

You don’t think that’s down to Pep constantly saying don’t lose the ball?

 

[GaudinoMotors]

Hmmmm

Fame and fortune gone to his head?
"Was he ever all that?"
Tired after a few hrs in the World Cup?
The System?
Needs a consistent run in the team?
Just a blip?
Time he started taking responsibility for himself?

The Our Phil conundrum.

 

[eastmanc]

Neither is Grealish , we signed hmi from Villa as a creative midfield player , and Foden came through the youth system as a number ten , if Pep isnt sure where to play them he shunts them out on the left wing ,

I was having a bit of a go at Jack on Saturday for passing and running backwards but Phil seems to be doing the same is this something Pep wants them to do, I can't get my head around it.

 

[Lauz9888]

I was having a bit of a go at Jack on Saturday for passing and running backwards but Phil seems to be doing the same is this something Pep wants them to do, I can't get my head around it.

In Jack's post-match interview last night, he said that Pep's instruction to him and Mahrez before they came on was "be aggressive".

I don't think that's his standard instruction to his wingers lately, though. I think he more often expects them to be solid and secure in possession, be patient, make space, exploit any opportunities they see but not try to force them, with the expectation that the bulk of the team's creativity will generally come from cental areas in the space the wingers create.

Then he's always got the back-up plan of telling the wingers to be aggressive in situations like last night where our midfield was a bit off and we needed a goal.

So I struggle to criticise individual players for holding onto the ball or passing it backwards - they're all doing it a lot of the time and it seems to be tactical. If we disagree with the approach, it's one to take up with Pep.

 

[eastmanc]

In Jack's post-match interview last night, he said that Pep's instruction to him and Mahrez before they came on was "be aggressive".

I don't think that's his standard instruction to his wingers lately, though. I think he more often expects them to be solid and secure in possession, be patient, make space, exploit any opportunities they see but not try to force them, with the expectation that the bulk of the team's creativity will generally come from cental areas in the space the wingers create.

Then he's always got the back-up plan of telling the wingers to be aggressive in situations like last night where our midfield was a bit off and we needed a goal.

So I struggle to criticise individual players for holding onto the ball or passing it backwards - they're all doing it a lot of the time and it seems to be tactical. If we disagree with the approach, it's one to take up with Pep.

Fair comment.