Phil Foden

[Diego]

And this proves your lack of knowledge on Foden.

He is best as a #10 behind the striker, on the half turn. His next best position is off the left. And then finally, he can play off the right, to cut in on his left.

Putting him as a #10 when that's Jude's best position would be silly, and we can't sacrifice a spot in midfield to play 2 #10s.

Therefore, Foden from the left is a very easy solution.

Yeah I love him left wing. He’s deceptively quick and gets plenty of chances to score from that position.

 

[BoroMart]

Champions League?

This season, he's averaging a goal every 119 minutes in the competition and has started 5 out of the 8 games so far. He was rested in the away game against Young Boys and came off the bench in the final group game against Red Star Belgrade (games in which City had the luxury of benching him, to keep him fresh for the league campaign - he wasn't 'dropped') and then the only other game he's not started was the 2nd leg against Copenhagen, when the game was pretty much a dead rubber due to the first leg away win (in which he scored and assisted in by the way), so again, Pep decided to keep him fresh, along with KDB, Bernardo, Walker, Ake.

The main reason he didn't get much game time last season was due to his injury and then finding that Grealish and Mahrez were undroppable. However, as soon as the opportunity arose (final when KDB picked up an injury) it was Foden who Pep looked to from the bench.

There is no surprise this season, that he has started the most amount of games he's ever done in a season and his performances and returns have been fantastic. Other than Rodri, he's arguably been Man City's best and most important player this season. He's scored some big big goals. Most recently a brace against their rivals, when losing to go 2-1 up. Then prior to that he got the only goal in a 1-0 Bournemouth win (away), he scored a hattrick in a 3-1 away win against Brentford, again when losing,.

Anyone who doesn't rate Foden and doesn't think he should be in the starting 11 for England, seriously needs to give up football and choose a different sport to tunnel their energy.

Between him, Saka & Jude, the future and squad should be built around the 3. They are 3 of the biggest talents in world football and we are very lucky that they are all English.

Yes he’s picked up this season, let’s see if he’s a difference maker beyond the group stages. The evidence is, in his career so far that he hasn’t been a match winning player in the big games, such as champs league semis etc. as you say he couldn’t displace mahrez and Grealish last year, that tells you he still has some way to go to be truly world class. Fine player though he is. We have a problem with over rating English players sometimes in this country, and I don’t think anyone is saying he shouldn’t start for England, only that he needs to up it in an England shirt a bit more, he’s never really found his best form in an England shirt

 

[TheWolfman]

And this proves your lack of knowledge on Foden.

He is best as a #10 behind the striker, on the half turn. His next best position is off the left. And then finally, he can play off the right, to cut in on his left.

Putting him as a #10 when that's Jude's best position would be silly, and we can't sacrifice a spot in midfield to play 2 #10s.

Therefore, Foden from the left is a very easy solution.

Looks like me and Pep both have a lack of knowledge when it comes to where we think Foden's best position is.

Im just putting across my opinion of a player theres really no need to talk down to people who have a different opinion so ill bow to your greater footballing knowledge and leave it here.

 

[Marvanelli]

as you say he couldn’t displace mahrez and Grealish last year, that tells you he still has some way to go to be truly world class

And why would he have displaced them? Both Grealish and Mahrez were brilliant and neither deserved to be dropped. Nor was he going to be picked ahead of KDB to play behind Haaland.

His injury was bad luck.

he’s never really found his best form in an England shirt

Who has? Has Kane, Saka, Jude all been as good for England as they have been for their own clubs?

Even Messi had ridiculous (and well over the top) criticism when playing for Argentina for not bringing his 'club form' to the international game, up until about 3 years ago.

 

[Marvanelli]

Looks like me and Pep both have a lack of knowledge when it comes to where we think Foden's best position is.
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Im just putting across my opinion of a player theres really no need to talk down to people who have a different opinion so ill bow to your greater footballing knowledge and leave it here.

And look at those stats...

You've cherry picked 22 games which show he's played more at RW than any other position...and yet his record as a 'left winger' and 'attacking midfielder' has a better return per app.

As a right winger, he averages a goal every 3 games and an assist every 5 games......0.53 returns per game

As a left winger, he averages a goal every 1.6 games and an assist every 5 games....0.8 returns per game

As an attacking midfielder, he averages a goal every 2.5 games and an assist every 1.66 games....1 return per game.

I've also ignored the 2 games in which he played a right midfielder - which again, doesn't help you argument.

I rest my case.

 

[BoroMart]

And why would he have displaced them? Both Grealish and Mahrez were brilliant and neither deserved to be dropped. Nor was he going to be picked ahead of KDB to play behind Haaland.

His injury was bad luck.


Who has? Has Kane, Saka, Jude all been as good for England as they have been for their own clubs?

Even Messi had ridiculous (and well over the top) criticism when playing for Argentina for not bringing his 'club form' to the international game, up until about 3 years ago.

If he was world class he would have replaced them. Messi sat out for nobody, ever.

Plenty of players have done great for England including the three you named, although Bellinghams career is still really embryonic. Foden has been a fixture involved in every game when fit for three years and hasn’t done a great deal. A few moments a couple of good games. But others including Kane and saka have done far more than Foden in an England shirt

 

[Marvanelli]

If he was world class he would have replaced them. Messi sat out for nobody, ever.

Bit extreme comparing Foden to Messi, when Messi is the greatest player of all time.

We all know Pep is very much a horses for courses type manager, but 'form' is very high on his list when picking his team. To drop Grealish or Mahrez would have been a very ballsy move, last season, which could have ended up with egg on his face - and it appears Pep learnt his lesson from the CL final couple years prior, against Chelsea, when he remarkably dropped Rodri.

But others including Kane and saka have done far more than Foden in an England shirt

Kane has played for England for 10 years or so, I would like to hope he has done much more than Foden in an England shirt.

As for Saka, what has he achieved that is 'far more' than what Foden has done, in an England shirt?

One could even point to Saka's biggest moment in an England shirt is the penalty he missed in the Euro final....

 

[BoroMart]

Bit extreme comparing Foden to Messi, when Messi is the greatest player of all time.

We all know Pep is very much a horses for courses type manager, but 'form' is very high on his list when picking his team. To drop Grealish or Mahrez would have been a very ballsy move, last season, which could have ended up with egg on his face - and it appears Pep learnt his lesson from the CL final couple years prior, against Chelsea, when he remarkably dropped Rodri.


Kane has played for England for 10 years or so, I would like to hope he has done much more than Foden in an England shirt.

As for Saka, what has he achieved that is 'far more' than what Foden has done, in an England shirt?

One could even point to Saka's biggest moment in an England shirt is the penalty he missed in the Euro final....

You brought Messi up. I ran with it

Yes, he is t Messi, but people talk about him being world class…world class player are never “rested” for prolonged spells and especially in the big games.

Kane is regularly a match winner, fodennisnt

Saka has been named England player of the year twice Foden hasnt even been nominated for it because he’s not really had any consistency for England




I’ll stand by what I said the day we lost to France, if the ref had given yellow cards out for yellow card offences on saka (or even called them a foul) then we would have won that game. The late tackles they were allowed to get away with that day were criminal.

Saka has been ahead of Foden in terms of output for England for the last couple of years without a doubt .

 

[atypical_boro]

One could even point to Saka's biggest moment in an England shirt is the penalty he missed in the Euro final....

Foden wouldn't have been asked to take it......

 

[Marvanelli]

You brought Messi up. I ran with it

I mentioned messi in the fact even he (as the GOAT) got ridiculous critcism at not bringing his 'club form' to the international stage. I never once compared their abilities....that would be silly.

Kane is regularly a match winner, fodennisnt

Kane is regularly a match winner? For England? I should expect and think so being our main and only striker for the large part of his England career with nearly 100 caps.

However, one could say this is the same guy who has failed to turn up on the biggest of stages....may I ask, how did he get on in the World Cup semi final against Croatia? Or how about the final against Italy in the Euro's? Or against France in the Quarters of the last World Cup?

The 3 biggest games England have played in the last 3 major tournaments...

Kane has been good for England, and he's clearly done more than what Foden has done, but when the big moments arrived, he has regularly went missing....which actually coincides with his club career for Spurs and now Bayern...

I think it's fair to say Kane is a great goal scorer (in fact, he's a fantastic goal scorer), but he's not really a big game player.

Saka has been named England player of the year twice

Isn't this a poll voted by fans? And basically anyone can vote?

I'm sure the voting wasn't at all biased.

So basically Saka has done more than Foden in an England shirt because he's won a poll or two.

If this is regarded as doing 'far more' for England, then who can argue..

 

[BoroMart]

may I ask, how did he get on in the World Cup semi final against Croatia? Or how about the final against Italy in the Euro's? Or against France in the Quarters of the last World Cup?

The 3 biggest games England have played in the last 3 major tournaments...

They’re only the biggest games because we won the previous biggest games, usually through kanes goals

Isn't this a poll voted by fans? And basically anyone can vote?

I'm sure the voting wasn't at all biased.

are you saying Man City fans can’t be bias? Or that Man City don’t have as many fans as Arsenal or spurs or West Ham or that Real Madrid fans have some how manipulated the voting

 

[Marvanelli]

They’re only the biggest games because we won the previous biggest games, usually through kanes goals

The goal that took us to the Euro's final was a rebound from a missed penalty!...by Kane himself.

In the last 2 World Cups, Kanes KO goals have been:

2018 a penalty in R16. Nothing in Quarters and nothing in Semi.

2022 a goal against Senegal in R16 (when already 1-0 up). Then a penalty in Quarters against France, which was then followed by a penalty miss.

He's not single handedly dragged us through competitions.

Like I said, I stand by my opinion of Kane being a fantastic goal scorer, but not someone who turns up for the biggest of games.

Or that Man City don’t have as many fans as Arsenal or spurs or West Ham or that Real Madrid fans have some how manipulated the voting

To be honest, they probably don't have as many fans as Arsenal but I tend to treat public voting polls with a pinch of salt....that includes polls outside of football

 

[BoroMart]

The goal that took us to the Euro's final was a rebound from a missed penalty!...by Kane himself.

In the last 2 World Cups, Kanes KO goals have been:

2018 a penalty in R16. Nothing in Quarters and nothing in Semi.

2022 a goal against Senegal in R16 (when already 1-0 up). Then a penalty in Quarters against France, which was then followed by a penalty miss.

He's not single handedly dragged us through competitions.

Like I said, I stand by my opinion of Kane being a fantastic goal scorer, but not someone who turns up for the biggest of games.


To be honest, they probably don't have as many fans as Arsenal but I tend to treat public voting polls with a pinch of salt....that includes polls outside of football

And what are fodens massive goals for England….

 

[atypical_boro]

He’s been decent tonight but for England he often does seem to lack a bit of composure.

Mind you, he also does for City, but because he’s playing amongst a team of galactic cyborgs he usually gets away with it.

 

[jonny_greenings_sock]

Tempting to say Foden’s game really suits playing with better players. He’s so quick thinking with quick feet and is absolutely outstanding at City where they’re so well drilled and on the same wavelength.

Saka looks better for England, maybe because he’s more direct.

Not that the England players aren’t good enough to get the best out of Foden - of course they are - but international football is a bit different. They’re less drilled and there’s less of that lightning fast passing.

Saying that, England have plenty of games where we have all the possession where you’d think Foden would thrive. Maybe the movement around him is a sliver less elite? I just think Pepball and City really gets the best out of him, and that might be why doesn’t have quite the same impact for England (he’s still a wonderful talent).

 

[atypical_boro]

Tempting to say Foden’s game really suits playing with better players. He’s so quick thinking with quick feet and is absolutely outstanding at City where they’re so well drilled and on the same wavelength.

Saka looks better for England, maybe because he’s more direct.

Not that the England players aren’t good enough to get the best out of Foden - of course they are - but international football is a bit different. They’re less drilled and there’s less of that lightning fast passing.

Saying that, England have plenty of games where we have all the possession where you’d think Foden would thrive. Maybe the movement around him is a sliver less elite? I just think Pepball and City really gets the best out of him, and that might be why doesn’t have quite the same impact for England (he’s still a wonderful talent).

Good post

 

[allied_assault]

Foden is a cracking player

 

[jonny_greenings_sock]

Good post

Cheers. It's like, our best players (Kane, Bellingham, Foden, Saka, Grealish, Rice and all the right backs) are all really good players but you wouldn't necessarily choose to put them all together in the same club team. They complement each other well, but not absolutely brilliantly, it's not like Xavi-Iniesta-Busquets or Shearer-Sheringham-Gascoigne-Ince.

That's the beauty of international football I suppose.

A couple of Bernardo Silvas, a Kante, a Huth, a Messi and a 28 year old Jamie Vardy and we'd be laughing

 

[Uwefuchs]

And this proves your lack of knowledge on Foden.

He is best as a #10 behind the striker, on the half turn. His next best position is off the left. And then finally, he can play off the right, to cut in on his left.

Putting him as a #10 when that's Jude's best position would be silly, and we can't sacrifice a spot in midfield to play 2 #10s.

Therefore, Foden from the left is a very easy solution.

It is an easy solution and the obvious one, but Foden needs to do more as well.

 

[BiggEggo]

Left for me, only due to Bellingham.
I rate the lad very highly.
I thought our attacking play (pace and movement) was excellent v Belgium. Stupid errors detracted from what should have been a comfortable win.