47 | Phil Foden - 2024/25

[Keeper!]

I think the boring sideways no risk football is what's making a few of the team fall out of love with the game.

Maybe but that could also be down to personnel /age, young players will make a huge difference.

 

[meeesh]

Just watching the game last Saturday the enthusiasm, hunger and desire of Marmoush, Khus and Nico was so refreshing.

It's new to those three, and will get the backing and credit when deserved, it's others in the squad I was referring to, one already proved he'd downed tools and fucked off to Milan, others will and need to follow suit this summer as well.

 

[Keeper!]

Bloody hell guys. I'll be the first to admit Phil has been pretty awful lately, but he's a city fan FFS. Those saying he just can't be arsed are way off the mark. This is his club, there may be background reasons to his poor form but that isn't one of them.

Not sure what that has to do with anything, and it makes his lack of effort at some points this season even more questionable for me.

Maybe there are reasons but he , maybe for the first time in his career here is under huge pressure for his regular place and if we do bring in quality new players, that will get even greater.

 

[Akira]

I’m wracking my brain, but a few years back I’m sure I read that Pep thought Phil was better than Messi at the same age …. can anyone confirm this?

Isn't it because Pep didn't coach Messi at the same age? Pep meant Phil is the best 17 year old he seen. I believe he only started coaching Messi when Messi's 18 years old, he wasn't in Pep's Barcelona B team. Messi was very swiftly moved to the first team at a young age by Rijkaard.

 

[Akira]

His defensive effort (or lack thereof) for Madrid's third was appaling.

 

[CΛL]

People telling him to move on or be sold when he was our best player last year, the best player in the league. He’s allowed an off season, so is Pep. If he’s bad next season as well then let’s talk

 

[The Norfolk Blue]

Isn't it because Pep didn't coach Messi at the same age? Pep meant Phil is the best 17 year old he seen. I believe he only started coaching Messi when Messi's 18 years old, he wasn't in Pep's Barcelona B team. Messi was very swiftly moved to the first team at a young age by Rijkaard.

Yes that’s it, I apologise … but his inference was that they were in a similar bracket.

This season has shown he clearly isn’t.

 

[ello_jo]

I feel like as a player, like Phil, you dream of expressing yourself on the pitch. Ronaldinho esque. I think on a whole, due to the effect Pep’s had on the overall game, this type of player is slowly filtering out.

Now when your team is winning near enough everything, I imagine you can find enjoyment and satisfaction out of the game your playing, even if it is passive possession based football.

The issue I think we’re seeing with Phil here is that we’re no longer dominating, so the satisfaction with playing possession football has gone. Combine this with the fact he’s probably bored of our football due to the type of player he is, we end up with the Phil we’ve got right now.

He looks like the buzz has well and truly gone.

 

[handsofstone]

He, like many, need the season to finish and hopefully we just bin of this ridiculous club world cup

Players heads have dropped, they're all burnt out and need a summer rest

Phil is one of those, didn't start the season fit and never really got a chance to play into form as this season has been a slog, even attended start when we werewinning the lads just weren't as fit and strong

Needs to pull his finger out next summer, he has the world at his feet but needs to improve and get back to his best

 

[spiny]

Foden is becoming our Rashford. On performances this year, he would struggle to get into Brighton, Brentford, Nott'm Forest, Villa teams amongst others let alone a recognised top side. It is the lack of desire, effort and poor play off the ball that rankles. This is the current POTY who should be hitting his peak influencing games but looks a passenger going through the motions carried by his team mates with only flashes of his ability.

It is hard to see how he can be picked for the England squad based on form, not that he has showed enough in his recent outings. Of course we recognise he has had issues with fatigue, injury and sickness plus a new baby, but allowances, reputation and goodwill cannot continue indefinitely. Something is wrong that needs sorting.

 

[heslops barnet]

I think the boring sideways no risk football is what's making a few of the team fall out of love with the game.

Seems a lot of teams have abandoned this approach and it’s more exciting to watch, we’re not robots but it looks boring to watch….we need to move on/back to fast attacking football which I’m sure suits Phil better …..playing out from the back has been copied by every football team and whilst it’s keeping possession the goalkeeper pinging the ball forward brings its own rewards……especially with Eddy’s skill set

 

[Craig]

I feel like as a player, like Phil, you dream of expressing yourself on the pitch. Ronaldinho esque. I think on a whole, due to the effect Pep’s had on the overall game, this type of player is slowly filtering out.

Now when your team is winning near enough everything, I imagine you can find enjoyment and satisfaction out of the game your playing, even if it is passive possession based football.

The issue I think we’re seeing with Phil here is that we’re no longer dominating, so the satisfaction with playing possession football has gone. Combine this with the fact he’s probably bored of our football due to the type of player he is, we end up with the Phil we’ve got right now.

He looks like the buzz has well and truly gone.

This has come up a lot regarding Foden going backwards at an alarming rate. From being a joy to watch to a player who frankly if he’s not scoring contributes precious little.

What nobody seems to be able to explain though is if this is down to Pep why did he never stop Messi and Robben from taking people on at will? Why does he ever even start Doku if he doesn’t want a dribbler? Finally why did he always pick prime KDB and allow him to express himself whilst knowing he’d give up possession a lot with his style of play?

There looks like an issue with hunger and we don’t know about his fitness or if he’s got off the field issues. As i’ve said many times though his biggest problem is he’s somehow lost yards of pace. Without that burst it’s very hard for him to play how he used to where after a sharp turn he could leave a defender or 2 trailing in his wake.

 

[Crooked_rain]

This has come up a lot regarding Foden going backwards at an alarming rate. From being a joy to watch to a player who frankly if he’s not scoring contributes precious little.

What nobody seems to be able to explain though is if this is down to Pep why did he never stop Messi and Robben from taking people on at will? Why does he ever even start Doku if he doesn’t want a dribbler? Finally why did he always pick prime KDB and allow him to express himself whilst knowing he’d give up possession a lot with his style of play?

There looks like an issue with hunger and we don’t know about his fitness or if he’s got off the field issues. As i’ve said many times though his biggest problem is he’s somehow lost yards of pace. Without that burst it’s very hard for him to play how he used to where after a sharp turn he could leave a defender or 2 trailing in his wake.

Spot on

Remember Pep's comment on Doku's debut, he said Doku played within himself and instead he needed to be doing what he does best and being direct, going at defenders.

Its nonsense when people say Pep stifles players individuality and whatnot. I think they just heard it before and repeat it.

 

[Gaz76]

I think the boring sideways no risk football is what's making a few of the team fall out of love with the game.

Foden is world class at the screaming for the ball and then giving it straight back to the player who passed it to him tactic

 

[Blue_Lightsaber]

On track to be the next Deli Ali if he doesn't sort his shit out. Pep has had to play him this season due to the lack or alternatives, however after the summer transfer window he will be lucky to get any sub appearances next season if he doesn't improve.

LOL you always love making a mountain out of a mole hill.

Maybe he's not Messi but he's not Dele Alli either. He'll never be Dele Alli

Sadly it's looking a bit more like Balotelli who we loved so much but we all saw what happened.

I hope he's able to turn it around but not everyone is Messi who peaks at 19 and can stay at that peak till 35!

 

[skillman]

Untouchable for me. A world class player that every team in the world would jump at the chance to get if he ever left. Which he won’t. And he’s a blue.

It’s rare that an academy player makes it in the first team. And even rarer that they’re a boyhood blue. And then even rarer that they’re absolutely world class. He’s all three.

 

[Mr Grumpy]

His off the ball work rate is great, fantastic even, but oh boy, he's so very poor to invisible on the interceptions.

That's ok when you're wanging them in at the top of the pitch, but when that's not happening, we don't have the luxury to carry it at the moment.

 

[tackeds]

Spot on

Remember Pep's comment on Doku's debut, he said Doku played within himself and instead he needed to be doing what he does best and being direct, going at defenders.

Its nonsense when people say Pep stifles players individuality and whatnot. I think they just heard it before and repeat it.

But can’t deny there’s a trend this season of passing it sideways and back - across the board, not individual players.

One of my lads wa watching the replay earlier as he missed it last night and he said both Phil and Savio were all over the place and not in a good way. Part of the problem here - not the whole problem granted - is the fact they have no consistency in position. I know that’s Pep’s way but you do wonder what would happen if they got a proper run of games in their best positions.

It seemed like Phil came alive 5 mins before he was subbed, he was suddenly running at them and taking proper shots. And then he was subbed. Was that because he saw Macca waiting and it put a rocket up him or was he subbed because he was defying Pep’s instructions to keep possession at all costs?

 

[tackeds]

His off the ball work rate is great, fantastic even, but oh boy, he's so very poor to invisible on the interceptions.

That's ok when you're wanging them in at the top of the pitch, but when that's not happening, we don't have the luxury to carry it at the moment.

I reckon that pen he gave away to Palace last season proper knocked his confidence in tackles

 

[alexmcity]

Untouchable for me. A world class player that every team in the world would jump at the chance to get if he ever left. Which he won’t. And he’s a blue.

It’s rare that an academy player makes it in the first team. And even rarer that they’re a boyhood blue. And then even rarer that they’re absolutely world class. He’s all three.

He isn't absolutely world class, though. He's a world class talent.

Foden had half a season where he performed at world class level, between late December 2023 and May 2024. That's about 5 months. Before that he was mostly a really good and highly promising player, but not world class. He started games on the bench when the Treble was decided.

Note that even during those 5 months of rich goalscoring form, he wasn't exactly outstanding in the other aspects of his game. Take both games vs. Madrid last season. He scored an exceptional goal at the Bernabeu and that was everything he did in over 200 minutes. At the Etihad he was poor.

He has the talent to be absolutely world class. But he needs to be a lot more consistent, not just in scoring goals, but also in creating chances. If he isn't consistent, maybe he will benefit from watching Bobb or hopefully Wirtz from the bench.