47 | Phil Foden - 2024/25

[King Jay]

Peaked with 22.

 

[TFC]

Gutted for him today to be honest. He had hit a better vein of form, but back to square one I guess.

 

[red 2 hats]

Utter wank today, that shit pass for there 2nd goal killed us, the energy just sapped from the team, needs to sort his head out.

 

[dronefromsector7G]

Still pissed off after that donkey spunk pass to set up their second

 

[Crooked_rain]

Fantastic talent but still something off with him, despite scoring a few recently.

Looks like a mental problem more than physical.

He's one of the best players I've ever seen at taking the ball on the turn and putting defenders on the back foot in an instant and he's not doing it anymore. Now his general play is more like playing hot potato with the ball and just offloading it to the nearest player with no thought of driving at defenders. He's really doing the things that Grealish would get criticised for.

Not even arsed about the shite mindless pass that sent arsenal on the path to victory. Those mistakes happen. I'm more bothered about how little confidence he seems to have on the ball these days.

 

[Cheadle_hulmeBlue]

I feel like peps obsession with having players who slow the tempo and control the game is effecting his game. He’s great at taking on players and using skill, but you rarely see him do it now. It’s the same with other players

 

[Craig]

Fantastic talent but still something off with him, despite scoring a few recently.

Looks like a mental problem more than physical.

He's one of the best players I've ever seen at taking the ball on the turn and putting defenders on the back foot in an instant and he's not doing it anymore. Now his general play is more like playing hot potato with the ball and just offloading it to the nearest player with no thought of driving at defenders. He's really doing the things that Grealish would get criticised for.

Not even arsed about the shite mindless pass that sent arsenal on the path to victory. Those mistakes happen. I'm more bothered about how little confidence he seems to have on the ball these days.

I agree with what you’re saying apart from i think it is physical. His burst of pace has disappeared and that makes it hard for him as he can’t get away from anyone like he used to. The other night against Brugge anytime he tried going on the outside during the first half the fullback who wasn’t even quick just matched him. Savinho came on and could piss past him. That burst of pace was such a big part of Foden’s game.

 

[Keeper!]

He rightly took the plaudits last season in which he was magnificent but fuck me he was utter gash today.

He is old enough, experienced enough to take this type of game and make them his but he simply doesn't.

If marmoush settles and produces, Pep is going to have to be faced with a difficult decision because I am not sure they can both play together, today they were getting in each others way.

 

[Manchester_lalala]

Pep said it was the right pass, just not executed.

I agree it was the right pass as there was two free players in the area he was passing too. He should have dinked it to them.

 

[Saddleworth2]

I agree with this 100%, great post.

MSo many posts on this thread saying he’s not the next KDB. No, he ain’t. Let’s accept that and appreciate what he is and what he does bring.

Unfortunately he brings very little this season other than a few goals. Thats not enough for Phil though. We need a strong midfield, one that can defend and attack and his work rate is currently poor. His passing is pedestrian when we need incisive. We need legs and physicality and just now he brings neither. it is all the more worrying as his fellow midfield are ageing and at the end of their careers. We should be rebuilding the midfield round him and just now that looks unlikely.

I have watched his progress for nearly a decade and it saddens me to say these things. Can he bounce back? I sincerely hope so, for him personally, for the team and for us.

 

[City_Sean]

He's very fortunate to be from Stockport because he'd be getting far more criticism. His performances have been absolutely appalling this season. Without the ball he's totally one paced and with the ball he's been cowardly. He should be nowhere near the team IMO.

 

[KDB4ever]

He needs to hit the gym, he's technically gifted but I've seen so many times that opponents can bully him so easily and the result of that is him losing the ball. I think this is one of those reasons he's been struggling this season.

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

Pep said it was the right pass, just not executed.

"I'm playing all the right notes, but not necessarily in the right order".

Pep's turned into Eric fucking Morecambe now. Well here's one for him: "What do you think of it so far? "Rubbish!"

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

No there’s a difference. The great David Silva loved it when the game got a bit tasty. He would want the ball even more. Vs Liverpool, United under Ferguson, Mourinho second Chelsea, he was one of the best on the pitch. Iniesta was the same, Kante the same, just because you’re quiet and shy doesn’t mean you don’t like these type of games. Foden is different, he looks scared, today he didn’t attempt a single killer pass, and from 30-60 minutes we had the ball a lot. He’s soft.

I agree. Watch him next game. He rarely puts in a tackle, even when he appears to be favourite to win the ball (and he's not the only one either). When he loses the ball, he should be busting a gut to get it back but he never gets up with, or ahead of, the player with the ball. It's almost as though he's thinking "Shit, I'd better stay behind him otherwise I might have to put a tackle in". He's physically and mentally weak.

 

[01cravend]

Bit Roy Keane of me but it annoyed me that after being subbed he hugged Pep and was high fiving everyone on the bench. Like you've just given the ball away for a goal and your next 2 possessions also led to losing it and Arsenal attacks.

 

[Scoobz3]

I agree. Watch him next game. He rarely puts in a tackle, even when he appears to be favourite to win the ball (and he's not the only one either). When he loses the ball, he should be busting a gut to get it back but he never gets up with, or ahead of, the player with the ball. It's almost as though he's thinking "Shit, I'd better stay behind him otherwise I might have to put a tackle in". He's physically and mentally weak.

Weirdly he never used to be like this - so it is not an innate trait - others have also taken on this habit (they are all beginning to resemble Nunes)

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

Weirdly he never used to be like this - so it is not an innate trait - others have also taken on this habit (they are all beginning to resemble Nunes)

Yes and this started last season. You'd get three of our players around an opposition player who had the ball and the next thing is the player was clear of all three.

 

[Cobra]

Can anyone remember the last time he had a great game but didn’t score?

 

[waspish]

He needs to hit the gym, he's technically gifted but I've seen so many times that opponents can bully him so easily and the result of that is him losing the ball. I think this is one of those reasons he's been struggling this season.

Most people fill out around the 27/28 years he is top quality player but yesterday like a few were well of it

 

[Crooked_rain]

He needs to hit the gym, he's technically gifted but I've seen so many times that opponents can bully him so easily and the result of that is him losing the ball. I think this is one of those reasons he's been struggling this season.

He looks the type that'll just be skinny and not physically that strong no matter what. Some people are just like that.

Didn't bother him too much last season. Nobody was asking him to bulk up then.

Whatever is going on with him, he needs to get his head out of his arse and regain the self belief that he's one of the most gifted players out there.

He's probably affected by the fact we're way shitter than we've ever been since he become a first team player. He's city through and through and this is very new to him as a player. I'd say maybe it's dented his confidence a bit. Who knows.