47 | Phil Foden - 2025/26

He's had his blip year as all young footballers do, but to me he's gone up a couple of levels, the he moves he glides he looks strong he looks fit and when he plays he looks dangerous, I think we are starting to see what we all hoped he would grow into when he first started to play for the first team, he's taken that responsibility and looks like he's thriving
 
Sir peace frog said:
He's had his blip year as all young footballers do, but to me he's gone up a couple of levels, the he moves he glides he looks strong he looks fit and when he plays he looks dangerous, I think we are starting to see what we all hoped he would grow into when he first started to play for the first team, he's taken that responsibility and looks like he's thriving
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I noticed some leadership yesterday, maybe for the first time, particularly with the younger players. Was really good to see on top of his motm performance.
 
BlueMoonAcrossThePond said:
Foden is back to his best form. As such, he needs to start each game.

Against most sides, when fit, we should play:

Foden @10
Reijnders @ 8
Rodri @ 6
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Agree with this! Maybe Kovacic or Gonzo instead of reijnders against the better teams for a bit more stability
 
Been thinking about Phil. Everybody's seen a change in him. He's not merely back to what he was before last season — apparently, anyway — but he's behaving and talking differently. Even before last season, he was still a bit of a “lad”, an extraordinarily gifted one, for sure, but still something of the boy genius about him. He was most definitely not one of the leaders on the pitch.
Now, that is exactly what he looks like. That second goal against Huddersfield, he simply took hold of the situation by the scruff of the neck. It was like, “Right, I'm the Man here, and I know exactly who I'm going to give it to”.
Just putting this out here — is it significant, I wonder, that Jack's been put at a distance? They were obviously great mates, but I just wonder whether they were necessarily a good influence on each other. And by the way, that goes both ways — was Phil necessarily good for Jack?
 
BlueMoonAcrossThePond said:
Foden is back to his best form. As such, he needs to start each game.

Against most sides, when fit, we should play:

Foden @10
Reijnders @ 8
Rodri @ 6
Click to expand...
That's a reasonable shout. I think some of the injuries have worked on our favour and definitely Fodens favour. Having Cherki out of the way has put him back in as first choice. I think it will help Cherki as well, as he can be phased in, off the bench at first, when he can hopefully do some serious damage towards the end of games. I was never a big fan of the "get all of our new toys in the pitch at the same time" approach. With Cherki and RAN injured we can focus on getting Reijnders up to speed. Also players like NOR have had a chance to put their hand up....RAN might have to add to his game as he's got some decent competiton. Interested to see how we cope with having Kova back in the mix and how we also give Gonzales more game time....would be good if we could interchange them with Rodri and Reijnders without any noticeable drop off....if I look toward the horizon I think I can see the Blue Moon rising again...hopefully we get a full moon next May :)
 
Didn’t rip up any trees today but was at the heart of the build up to a couple of the goals and he forced the first OG. Solid performance.
 
Spread the word to our team - Foden is allowed to be passed to!

It was like watching Phil play with Bellingham for England today, who also ever passes to him. But it was our whole team.

Felt sorry for him, must have covered the ground of two players; dropping deep, finding space in the pocket, moving out wide in space, making runs in behind… and he must have received the pass when it was on ⅛ of the time.

Well done Phil, lad! Don’t let the lack of utilisation dissuade you from keeping on doing what you did today.
 
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Lad should stay in the middle of the pitch. He IS a creator. And he's one of the best I've ever seen on the half turn. Don't waste him out wide anymore.
 
Sir peace frog said:
He's had his blip year as all young footballers do, but to me he's gone up a couple of levels, the he moves he glides he looks strong he looks fit and when he plays he looks dangerous, I think we are starting to see what we all hoped he would grow into when he first started to play for the first team, he's taken that responsibility and looks like he's thriving
Click to expand...

The whole club had a blip tbf
 
BlueMoonAcrossThePond said:
Foden is back to his best form. As such, he needs to start each game.

Against most sides, when fit, we should play:

Foden @10
Reijnders @ 8
Rodri @ 6
Click to expand...
It's going to be some midfield that when they're all fit and on form. Feels like it's got the lot. I don't think any individual player has any particular weakness - they can all attack and defend/press. Maybe Reijnders needs to make more impact defensively but his mobility itself is good for at the very least getting a body back on counters
 
.db. said:
Spread the word to our team - Foden is allowed to be passed to!

It was like watching Phil play with Bellingham for England today, who also ever passes to him. But it was our whole team.

Felt sorry for him, must have covered the ground of two players; dropping deep, finding space in the pocket, moving out wide in space, making runs in behind… and he must have received the pass when it was on ⅛ of the time.

Well done Phil, lad! Don’t let the lack of utilisation dissuade you from keeping on doing what you did today.
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Foden is probably the player who's game is hurt the most when Rodri is not playing. Rodri constantly passes to Foden in the pockets and between opposition lines when they are both playing together. A big reason why Foden was so poor last season, in my opinion, was due to the absence of Rodri. Hopefully Nico can develop this connection with Foden when Rodri isn't in the team.
 
There was a moment in the first half where came over to the East Stand side to take a corner and he scooped the ball off one of the cones and caught it as he was walking over. Enjoying his football again.
 
De Bruyne Supremacy said:
Foden is probably the player who's game is hurt the most when Rodri is not playing. Rodri constantly passes to Foden in the pockets and between opposition lines when they are both playing together. A big reason why Foden was so poor last season, in my opinion, was due to the absence of Rodri. Hopefully Nico can develop this connection with Foden when Rodri isn't in the team.
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Agreed. But it's not simply that Rodri passes the ball to Foden but that Rodri gives our play structure and rhythm that frees spaces for the attacking players. His influence on the attack is subtle but profound. If Rodri starts at Monaco and/or Brentford, watch Foden flourishing.
 
It's early days, but let's not forget that the season before last, we had the Premier League POTS, the Ballon d'Or winner, and arguably the best striker in the world, and all three are now back in our team and looking on form. If Phil plays like we know he can, then we've got a real chance at the title.
 
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