Cole Palmer is just after Foden for me so far on the potential scales from our academy even if he hasn't quite shown it yet, but some posters on here are very impatient as some creations defo take longer to perfect than others so a little more patience is needed here, Pep clearly has faith in him he was our 2nd best player going forward last night after Foden, Pep is showing faith for a reason but he's also purposely playing Cole out of position cos he sees much more than a right winger.
I think Pep is a massive fan of his potential and loves him but is also annoyed he's been allowed to waste in his eyes by staying on the right, which in Pep's mind is probably too much of a comfort zone for someone of Cole's potential abilities... I honestly reckon Pep looks at Palmer and thinks "I want you to feel as uncomfortable as possible" he wants him to be so versatile way more than you believe, and to be able to play comfortably/effectively play across the front line as in wide left false 9 or behind the striker possibly, maybe even the bridge between attack and midfield but with him being a natural RW don't people find it very odd he's hardly ever picked there?
Pep is choosing very purposely to play him out of position, when he could play others in the positions Cole gets selected for and he's doing it in an almost meticulous way, like a wily expert boxing coach who is teaching an orthodox boxer to become a southpaw so he can dominate even more in different ways. Could it be Pep has chosen to make sure Cole stays here with no loans just yet if ever, for the sole purpose that he only learns specifically from his positional instructions day to day in training? I think so and I've thought it for a good while, it was a big improvement in that first half against Azpilicueta nobody tears him up like Cole did and he also did well after coming on last night. Pep sees something none of us do and I think Cole is learning to play distinctly different roles to Pep's level of perfection, he has it in him to be what Pep calls a pausa too he's just taking longer than many expect because of how great he was in the youths but it takes time be patient.
If Pep didn't 100% believe in Palmer's ability or potential he wouldn't have come on and he certainly wouldn't have given him a full half hour the other weekend to try and impress, he wouldn't be starting any games either Pep is clearly very enthusiastic about Cole Palmer's potential and you should be too!!! Pep clearly wants to unlock something only he's seeing on the training pitch compared to us on bluemoon.