47 | Phil Foden - 2024/25

[chiswick blue]

Phil has been with the club since forever and has been trained to play in a certain system and in that system he can be very good. The bad news is that this system this year is completely broken (just as we don't see the best from him playing for England), when our system returns to more or less normality we will begin to see the best from Phil again. That's not to say he cannot alter his football style but it takes time

 

[samuelyeboah]

It's time for him to return to the wing. preferably, the right wing, where we are getting nothing out of bernardo.

 

[Delphinho]

Where did his confidence go, and why did he lose it? Needs to walk out on the pitch and believe he’s best player in the league

 

[argyle]

Where did his confidence go, and why did he lose it? Needs to walk out on the pitch and believe he’s best player in the league

He's been injured and ill for most of the season.

I have faith that he'll improve and be back to his best in the second half the season.

 

[Trevor Morley's Tache]

Where did his confidence go, and why did he lose it? Needs to walk out on the pitch and believe he’s best player in the league

Peak mental performance is extremely difficult to maintain. Performing at such a high level often looks effortless, especially when you see athletes in the form of their lives. The problem is, when it isn't going well, it can be likened to the equivalent of PTSD in terms of mental stresses which compounds the issues. Also factor in illness or injury. Once the body starts to fail or faulter it's very difficult to keep the mind in check.

He'll come good. Just needs a break (physically and mentally) and a bit of fortune.

 

[itisrising]

Genuinely think we should be playing him in a deeper role at the moment.

 

[WallyA]

Genuinely think we should be playing him in a deeper role at the moment.

How deep do you want him to play?

He was gundogans partner in midfield while Kevin was the 10.

Do you want him to play as a 6?

I think the opposite, this obsession he bas with being a "proper midfielder" has made him all neat and tidy, and he lost his balls as a result to win games and be ruthless.

 

[itisrising]

How deep do you want him to play?

He was gundogans partner in midfield while Kevin was the 10.

Do you want him to play as a 6?

I think the opposite, this obsession he bas with being a "proper midfielder" has made him all neat and tidy, and he lost his balls as a result to win games and be ruthless.

He still occupied a similar position against United. Issue is his game has become super ineffective without our ability to play between the lines.

He's young, energetic and should be looking to start attacks for us from deep. We have to find a way so that Foden doesn't go 20-30 minutes a game without us realising he's on the pitch.

 

[applejuice]

Genuinely think we should be playing him in a deeper role at the moment.

no it should be the opposite he should play near the box either as a solo 10 or as a false 9. Or at least as a right winger who can drift inside.

The problem is that Pep is trying to fit Kev and Foden together in the midfield and there is not enough room for either of them to perform to their best level. And Halaand has no room to drop deep to receive with both Kev and Foden behind him.

 

[Tomblue]

I think Foden is one player who would pick up with a change of manager and a fresh role in the team. I am not saying we should change manager by the way, far from it! But last season aside he has cut a rather frustrated figure for large parts of Pep’s reign including the year we won the treble when he was either on the wing or not in the side (similar to Grealish). I think the lack of a sustained run in the team place has meant he has been unable to hit the consistent high level of performance we know he is capable of.

You only look at Palmer and know if Phil had the same platform and knowledge he is in the side every week come what may he would be the best player in the league.

 

[King Jay]

Phil has been with the club since forever and has been trained to play in a certain system and in that system he can be very good. The bad news is that this system this year is completely broken (just as we don't see the best from him playing for England), when our system returns to more or less normality we will begin to see the best from Phil again. That's not to say he cannot alter his football style but it takes time

So basically he is a system player ? Cool.

 

[sir baconface]

So basically he is a system player ? Cool.

Have you seen him flourish in a different system?

(I believe he’s capable but yet to show it.)

 

[TFC]

Arent they all system players? I would say hes a just superb footballer that is woefully out of form, nothing to do with systems. I think that kid on form could play in any team in any system in the world.

 

[Gaz76]

Have you seen him flourish in a different system?

(I believe he’s capable but yet to show it.)

Here lies the problem with having the whole club from youth to senior team playing the same system, what happens when the system gets figured out and we have had lads from the age of 9 only ever playing one way???

 

[sir baconface]

Arent they all system players? I would say hes a just superb footballer that is woefully out of form, nothing to do with systems. I think that kid on form could play in any team in any system in the world.

England?

 

[super_city_si]

Here lies the problem with having the whole club from youth to senior team playing the same system, what happens when the system gets figured out and we have had lads from the age of 9 only ever playing one way???

The system can change. What we’re teaching the kids is play with the ball not hoof it. That skill will translate to any system if it’s ball retention oriented. A good player is a good player regardless.

Why else are our academy kids thriving in other teams?

 

[Gaz76]

The system can change. What we’re teaching the kids is play with the ball not hoof it. That skill will translate to any system if it’s ball retention oriented. A good player is a good player regardless.

I agree, a good player is a good player regardless, but I'm not so sure the system can change, watch the eds and youth team games, they play the same side to side at the back and look for a pass through the eye of a needle game that the senior team plays.
This tactic or system or whatever you want to call it, has worked a treat for us for a good few years now, but no tactics stay the same, teams have cottoned on that a low block will counter our tactic, yes we have the lions share of possession but its being found out

 

[super_city_si]

I agree, a good player is a good player regardless, but I'm not so sure the system can change, watch the eds and youth team games, they play the same side to side at the back and look for a pass through the eye of a needle game that the senior team plays.
This tactic or system or whatever you want to call it, has worked a treat for us for a good few years now, but no tactics stay the same, teams have cottoned on that a low block will counter our tactic, yes we have the lions share of possession but its being found out

I Might have misunderstood, I thought you were saying foden can only play in one system and that playing it right the way through the club is limiting for players development?

I agree our system needs a tweak as we have players unable to give it the energy it requires but it still seems gangbusters at youth level.

 

[skillman]

This is his first off season since he made a breakthrough. We can allow that drop off. Whatever his illness is it has really effected him. He has plenty of credit left in the bank.

To be fair. There's a difference between being 'off' it and being absolutely ineffectively shit for the majority of the time you're on the pitch.

If a player is playing shit, game after game, then it's only right that it's called out. I think it's just more frustrating with Phil because we know how good he is. And the drop off from last season seems to have been immediate rather than tailoring away.

IMO anyway.

 

[supercity88]

Here lies the problem with having the whole club from youth to senior team playing the same system, what happens when the system gets figured out and we have had lads from the age of 9 only ever playing one way???

There is absolutely no problem with coaching players to be comfortable with the ball and technically the best they can be. Do that and you can play any system you want. Pep has changed the system regularly at City. We've had a 4-3-3 a 4-2-3-1 we've had inverted full backs and false 9s. The players are comfortable on the ball and can easily switch to different systems and implement those subtle variations. Stones can move into midfield because he's technically very good. The way we coach our kids is the right way. Football is always evolving which is why our system does too. And our younger players are getting the right training to be adaptable when they're older too.