47 | Phil Foden - 2025/26

[alexmcity]

Said it in the post match thread ….if he had the heart of Bernardo he would be a worldie….but I’m afraid he will always be a very good player who will occasionally effect a match.

I was right in line with the chance in the second half where he tried to slip Haaland in but failed to notice Cherki who was in the better position and surely would have scored.

He’s always been very timid (that’s being polite) in the tackle and as talented and decorated as he is, he will never be up there with the likes of David Silva, Aguero, Fernandinho, Kompany, KDB and Rodri etc etc simply because of his weak temperament, commitment….call it what you like.

I would rather have Cherki as the number 10 (he was also poor today) simply because he’s braver with the ball than Foden and also more creative and certainly makes things happen.

I don’t think there is room in our best 11 for either Reeinders and Foden and Cherki.

Just to add that I would much rather have one of our own in the side but sentiment doesn’t win trophies.

Foden's main problem in a midfield role is not so much physicality (he runs a lot) or mentality, but in game intelligence: vision and decision making aren't at the required level for a midfielder or a No 10.

Tuchel was on the money when he said he sees Foden as a No 9,5 (between a 9 and a 10), i.e. as a supporting striker. He makes a real difference mostly or only when he scores. Goals aside, he's levels below David or Gundo. And the reason is not lack of quality on the ball but inferior decision making (e.g., when and where to pass the ball).

Pep hopes that with more experience and maturity Foden will get midfield play. Time will tell. In any case, your No 10 must contribute more assists than a CB if you want to challenge for the title.

If Foden adds more assists to goals, he will be world-class.

 

[the plasterer]

He was woeful yesterday, 2 simple passes he had to make yesterday cost us

 

[City_Sean]

If you're going to play in that number ten position you can go missing as often as he does. KDB would often misplace passes but he never hid. I think Foden goes missing for large parts of games.

It's probably controversial but I dont think he's a better player now than he was in 21/22. If anything he's on the periphery more.

 

[alexmcity]

If you're going to play in that number ten position you can go missing as often as he does. KDB would often misplace passes but he never hid. I think Foden goes missing for large parts of games.

It's probably controversial but I dont think he's a better player now than he was in 21/22. If anything he's on the periphery more.

Foden tormented Klopp's Liverpool at Anfield in 2021. He's nowhere near that level now in terms of running with the ball and beating defenders. While he has improved his goalscoring numbers, he has regressed in other aspects. It's like he struggles to combine scoring goals and contributing to the overall team performance. Thus when he doesn't score, it's like he has been marginal or poor.

 

[Craig]

Foden tormented Klopp's Liverpool at Anfield in 2021. He's nowhere near that level now in terms of running with the ball and beating defenders. While he has improved his goalscoring numbers, he has regressed in other aspects. It's like he struggles to combine scoring goals and contributing to the overall team performance. Thus when he doesn't score, it's like he has been marginal or poor.

Agreed. Think of that goal away at Brighton or games like in the champions league against Dortmund where he was leaving players for dead. Probably if you asked him in the position he’d least like to play(left wing). At the grand old age of 25 he no longer has the physical ability to play like that. Very strange for someone who hasn’t really had what you’d class as a major injury. Very good player but nowhere near what he looked like he’d become.

 

[goatfeeder100]

He's had a poor few games now and was constantly making the wrong decision on the ball yesterday much like Cherki. Lad has been close to his best for a lot of the season though so inclined to just put it down to a dip in form and he'll come good again. Just looks like he maybe needs a game or 2 out of the side to recharge. Much like Haaland, Cherki. Unfortunately we don't have the depth to do that so just have to hope he and a few others play their way back into form again. He's a big reason why we were able to get over a shite start to the season and get so close to Arsenal again so I'm not throwing him under the bus for having a dip in form now. Backing him to come good again soon.

 

[alexmcity]

He's had a poor few games now and was constantly making the wrong decision on the ball yesterday much like Cherki. Lad has been close to his best for a lot of the season though so inclined to just put it down to a dip in form and he'll come good again. Just looks like he maybe needs a game or 2 out of the side to recharge. Much like Haaland, Cherki. Unfortunately we don't have the depth to do that so just have to hope he and a few others play their way back into form again. He's a bit reason why we were able to get over a shite start to the season and get so close to Arsenal again so I'm not throwing him under the bus for having a dip in form now. Backing him to come good again soon.

Close to his best, yet anonymous in the big games (Arsenal, Liverpool, Real)... If that's being close to his best, he's a squad player next season (if City are serious in the transfer market).

 

[Man_City_Loyal]

I love Phil, he's a superb footballer but yesterday he really was mixed in my opinion.

Never stopped running, just his final ball/losing it that really was frustrating

 

[Man_City_Loyal]

He's had a poor few games now and was constantly making the wrong decision on the ball yesterday much like Cherki. Lad has been close to his best for a lot of the season though so inclined to just put it down to a dip in form and he'll come good again. Just looks like he maybe needs a game or 2 out of the side to recharge. Much like Haaland, Cherki. Unfortunately we don't have the depth to do that so just have to hope he and a few others play their way back into form again. He's a bit reason why we were able to get over a shite start to the season and get so close to Arsenal again so I'm not throwing him under the bus for having a dip in form now. Backing him to come good again soon.

Spot on!

 

[goatfeeder100]

Close to his best, yet anonymous in the big games (Arsenal, Liverpool, Real)... If that's being close to his best, he's a squad player next season (if City are serious in the transfer market).

Arsenal game is harsh given we as a team had fk all of the ball and played as defensively as I can remember since Pep took over.

He wasn't bad at all against Madrid certainly wasn't anonymous. Saw plenty of the ball. Same vs Liverpool.

 

[alexmcity]

Arsenal game is harsh given we as a team had fk all of the ball and played as defensively as I can remember since Pep took over.

He wasn't bad at all against Madrid certainly wasn't anonymous. Saw plenty of the ball. Same vs Liverpool.

Rose-tinted glasses I'm afraid.

We played defensively at Arsenal partly because the midfield couldn't keep the ball long enough (Foden was part of that). But note that this didn't stop Doku from being one of the best players on the pitch. If you want to find excuses, you'll find them.

Again, if that"s Foden's best level or close to it, he won't be a firm starter in the future if City are serious about building a title-winning team. Cherki seems more natural in the No 10 role. Personally, I think Foden can play a lot better (goalscoring aside).

Foden is world-class at taking the ball in his stride and scoring from distance (that skill helped us win the title in 23/24), but currently he lacks many other things that are important to a Pep midfielder. When was the last game where he 'ran the game" as a top mid is supposed to do? Everton three months ago?

 

[goatfeeder100]

Rose-tinted glasses I'm afraid.

Disagree

We played defensively at Arsenal partly because the midfield couldn't keep the ball long enough (Foden was part of that). But note that this didn't stop Doku from being one of the best players on the pitch. If you want to find excuses, you'll find them.

Doku has a different skill set in his pace and power that allowed him to drive us up the pitch at times.

Again, if that"s Foden's best level or close to it, he won't be a firm starter in the future if City are serious about building a title-winning team. Cherki seems more natural in the No 10 role. Personally, I think Foden can play a lot better (goalscoring aside).

Foden is world-class at taking the ball in his stride and scoring from distance (that skill helped us win the title in 23/24), but currently he lacks many other things that are important to a Pep midfielder. When was the last game where he 'ran the game" as a top mid is supposed to do? Everton three months ago?

He's not a player that runs the game from midfield though is he. He's at his best for me when he's taking the ball on the half turn in those pockets beyond the midfield and he's been much more effective in that sense this season than last season. Even in the last few games he's had odd moments where he's been very unlucky but shown a real touch of class to open up the opportunity for a shot at goal.
Is he the kind of talisman that will drag us through games when the team is depleted with injuries? No. Does he have the qualities to provide big moments that win us games? Yeah. He did that a lot in that 4 in a row season. He's returned close to that kind of productivity this season but has gone off the boil a bit recently. That's all. Form temporary class permanent and all that.

 

[EdersonsSmiley]

Looked like he eas returning to somewhere near his best a couple of months ago. Started to drift a little bit again though for some reason.

It's because he has been playing as a left sided second striker almost in order to accommodate Cherki on the right wing.

It's bizarre that no-one on this thread can realise his massive drop in performances is due to playing out of position.

Foden is world class playing as a right sided attacking midfielder where he can drift inside onto his left foot.

He has been running his socks off, playing out of position as no one else is available in that position right now. There is a reason Pep never takes him off as he sees what he is sacrificing for the team.

 

[K-Bo]

Foden's inconsistency is extremely consistent, yes he bossed this and that match in 2021 and 2022 and last month, but he's just not doing it week and week out and he's hitting the age where he should be.

And further to that, he's really quite poor when he's off it.

I feel like he should go back to the wings for a while, and we should play a sturdier midfield 3.

 

[uwerosler28]

Gone to shit since being moved back central from the right to accommodate Cherki, his best form season was when starting there where coincidentally he also played when winning player of the year. We need to drop this experiment of him being Kev's replacement let him play from the right and buy a specialist for the middle

 

[alexmcity]

Gone to shit since being moved back central from the right to accommodate Cherki, his best form season was when starting there where coincidentally he also played when winning player of the year. We need to drop this experiment of him being Kev's replacement let him play from the right and buy a specialist for the middle

This season, he has barely played on the right, though. It was Bernardo or Savinho before Cherki. And Foden scored most of his goals with Cherki in the team.

 

[uwerosler28]

This season, he has barely played on the right, though. It was Bernardo or Savinho before Cherki. And Foden scored most of his goals with Cherki in the team.

The start of this good run and his most impressive form was him on the right, Doku on the left and Cherki on the bench. When Cherki came in on the right Phil's form fell off.

 

[alexmcity]

The start of this good run and his most impressive form was him on the right, Doku on the left and Cherki on the bench. When Cherki came in on the right Phil's form fell off.

I very much doubt you are right about that. Foden was on 1-2 goals before Cherki got games on the right.

List the games in which Foden played on the right this season.

 

[blue_danube]

Never understood why people had him down as KDB's replacement.

OK, so nobody is Kev in terms of passes and assists but I wouldn't even consider Phil an above average passer, certainly not on any consistent basis

He's got some fantastic attributes. The ability to take the ball on the turn is as good as I've seen but that's one thing.

Considering he's approaching 26, I dont think he's really kicked on in terms of his complete game.

He's a very good player but he's not looking like the generational talent people thought he was gonna be. There's other young players in his position who are making stronger cases to be ahead of him in the England team and you can't really argue against it if you put club allegiances aside.

 

[alexmcity]

Never understood why people had him down as KDB's replacement.

OK, so nobody is Kev in terms of passes and assists but I wouldn't even consider Phil an above average passer, certainly not on any consistent basis

He's got some fantastic attributes. The ability to take the ball on the turn is as good as I've seen but that's one thing.

Considering he's approaching 26, I dont think he's really kicked on in terms of his complete game.

He's a very good player but he's not looking like the generational talent people thought he was gonna be. There's other young players in his position who are making stronger cases to be ahead of him in the England team and you can't really argue against it if you put club allegiances aside.

On current form he wouldn't make the England squad (and he's desperate to make it).

If he travels with the team, he can make a difference from the bench with his ability to score from outside of the box. I'm not sure he'll feature, though. He's been struggling in the big games this season and his record in the last international tournament was terrible (even if some performances were decent).