47 | Phil Foden - 2023/24

[Txiki Txiki Bang Bang]

I’ll never stop defending the best player we have ever produced.

You can defend a player but also keep an open mind to constructive criticism

 

[Txiki Txiki Bang Bang]

The game that Phil gets dropped for a 'Gordon' or a 'Palmer' is the night that the pilot starts the engine running

Probably against Denmark then

 

[Bluemoonie92]

Wasn't great tonight but nobody passes forward to him when he is in the gaps. He has to go search for the ball which means he isn't in the positions he needs to be in to affect the game. Seems to lack the confidence he has in a city shirt. Sadly will be the scapegoat

 

[I'm With Stupid]

I agree that he’s the best we’ve produced and absolutely love him as a player. Just talking about the game tonight though. I expected him to struggle in this tournament because i knew that tool would play him out on the left. Hopefully he kicks on despite playing there but i don’t think it will happen. This should be his tournament on the international stage but he’ll probably not do a great deal and get slated.

He's basically this generation's Paul Scholes for England. The main creative force for the best club side in the country, but gets shoved out on the left to accommodate other players.

 

[I'm With Stupid]

Wasn't great tonight but nobody passes forward to him when he is in the gaps. He has to go search for the ball which means he isn't in the positions he needs to be in to affect the game. Seems to lack the confidence he has in a city shirt. Sadly will be the scapegoat

That can't be right. I was told TAA was playing for his Pirlo-esque vision and range of passing. Surely he would have picked out his runs?

 

[Craig]

He wasn’t great, mate, but in the last 20 minutes I’ve read some proper poor takes on him. Inbetween my more aggressive posts I have made the points as to why he didn’t shine. Or ever will whilst Southgate is in charge sadly.

Yeah, i totally agree. Your last sentence is all that is wrong with Foden for England. It’s just infuriating because i’d love to see him shine for England but instead he’ll end up getting shit.

 

[Citizen in Pakistan]

What I find it amusing is how ordinary football fans like us know foden's best position and Southgate and his staff with all the analyst, assistance and time to prepare don't, if he's happy with 1-0 win against Serbs than god bless England but I wouldn't get my hopes high

 

[Craig]

He's basically this generation's Paul Scholes for England. The main creative force for the best club side in the country, but gets shoved out on the left to accommodate other players.

Spot on

 

[robbieh]

Don't know what game people were watching. Foden was not stuck to the left wing at all. He was allowed to roam. We were essentially playing with wingbacks.
It just wasn't his night.
And Bellingham isn't as shite as some make out.
Phil will have his moment.
When I saw the team sheet I thought he'd be subbed at 65 minutes. But in fact it was Saka.

 

[I'm With Stupid]

Don't know what game people were watching. Foden was not stuck to the left wing at all. He was allowed to roam. We were essentially playing with wingbacks.

We really weren't. Neither full back ran beyond their winger at any point. And there's a huge difference between being a winger that's allowed to come inside, and starting in the 10 position. If you're in the 10 position, you can affect the game more because you've got more options to pass to. If you're a LW and you come inside, there's now no-one out on the left (especially if your full back is playing out of position) so you still have few options to pass to. There's also the issue that Southgate has simply not coached attacking play well. You could have Phil coming inside if Bellingham knew to go out wide when he did it to give space and passing options, but he rarely did that, because that takes coaching. Phil should still be better than he was tonight, but it's not accurate to claim that his starting position is irrelevant because he's allowed to come inside.