Both David Silva and KDB were 2 years older than Phil when we signed them, and both needed a bit of time to settle before they became considered best in the league. Iniesta's Pep era peak was a similar age to both of Silva's and KDBs, around 26ish. Very few players have a Messi like breakthrough, and even fewer when you're playing the CAM role that he is starting to look comfortable in. It's hard to be patient with him, but he's still probably 2 or 3 seasons, a bit of body mass, and a bit more learning away from his peak years with us.
Absolutely spot on. There’s been maybe only a small handful of players who were world class as a teenagers. 25-27, is the time the majority of top footballers come of age.
Paul Scholes is another good example. At 22 he’d played in 42 PL games and scored 15 league goals. He had played in 4 European matches and scored 1 goal. Foden has played in 130 league games and scored 35 league goals. Foden has played in 44 European matches and scored 10 goals. So he’s currently way ahead on appearances and goals.
Paul Scholes wouldn’t surpass Phil’s current numbers of league games and goals, until he was 26. He wouldn’t surpass Phil’s current European appearances or goal tally, until he was 27.
Hard to be patient, but we need to be. We need to be fully behind him. He could become one of, if not the best player, we’ve ever had. That’s how high his ceiling is.