Foden - Disappointed

[Im_Spartacus]

As per the title of the thread, I'm disappointed - not in Foden, but in City fans who would apparently be happy to see him cast aside this summer.

* Foden is the current player of the year in England
* Foden has played 308 times for Man City, 250 of those in the last 6 seasons
* He is 24 years of age
* He is rarely injured
* He has averaged 15 goals a season before last year when he hit 27
* In a bad season, he has currently got 10 goals with upto 12 games left to play + the world club championship

We can all agree he's having a stinker of a season in comparison to his previous high standards - the bar was set last year, and he's failed to live upto that. It stands out because he's at the stage of his career where he, and possibly he alone has the capability in this team to be the spark to make things happen.

But how much of his own malaise is down to what's happening around him - because he's far from the only player going hiding from the ball - and the very affliction he is struggling with for me stems back to the same issue I've mentioned in the wingers thread, no fucker is showing for the pass.

It disappoints me when I read people suggest that on the back of a single shit season that has affected everyone in the club for whatever reason, that a player who has been outstanding for the club for the last 7 years AND is only 24, we're ready to throw the baby out with the bathwater.......and then what?

There's a future not too far away where I see Foden and Marmoush as Inside Forwards with Haaland in the middle and a stable midfield. It may take us some time to get there, but this is where we have got to assume we're going as a club, and Foden has the ability to play in any of those roles behind the striker - he is far too valuable to us to be treated with the disrespect I'm seeing fom some quarters.

I'm disappointed lads, we've become very spoiled if this is what we think is the correct direction for the club to move in.

[salford city]

Foden by his own standards has been dogshit this season. We can call out the Euros and being played out of position, his family life and whatever else, but it is on him. He should be running games for us but he has been content to hide this season. He is not alone, we have no fucking defence or midfield to speak of and largely no clue. There are bigger issues that we won't solve by selling Foden. I wouldn't want to sell him for being part of a shit-show this season but he needs to sort his shit out otherwise he will also find himself on loan at villa. Agree with your point in him and marmoush. Stick Wirrz behind and possibly the kid at Madrid who we are sniffing around and we look tidy again

[Mase]

Agreed. The same people saying Pep has credit in the bank to keep going and not be sacked are the same ones that would let Foden go after one poor season (by his standards). He's been injured and played out of position.

He carried the team last season - not fair that he has to do it again.

[PeterParker]

For me he is not as good as we make him.

Sure, won a lot, great stats, but except that 6 months he had last year, when was he constant? He was in an out of form and I think, sadly, he wouldn't excel at a lower team.
I also think he has the whole talent in the world, but I think he is lazy. He never improved his right leg and I've never seen him having a sniff on being close to the captains armband and he is here since forever.

Sure, being a father is difficult, I reckon, having also those parasites near you.
But at the moment, he will never be as good as he can be.
And I blame Pep also because he constantly moved him around the middle until he has no idea what his real position is.

I would sell him from 100 mil. No less than that. But most likely if we get that kind of money we will spend them on the worst possible players.

[Nigels Tackle]

my only concerns with phil are family related...
his mum is a wrong 'un (not sure about his dad but have heard some rumours that he's a bit of a twat as well)
4 kids at 24?!?! great to have a big family but also exhausting!
loves instagram a bit too much - the whole thing with ronnie is weird. as a parent myself, i'd want to keep my kids out of the spotlight

[Im_Spartacus]

For me he is not as good as we make him.

Sure, won a lot, great stats, but except that 6 months he had last year, when was he constant? He was in an out of form and I think, sadly, he wouldn't excel at a lower team.
I also think he has the whole talent in the world, but I think he is lazy. He never improved his right leg and I've never seen him having a sniff on being close to the captains armband and he is here since forever.

Sure, being a father is difficult, I reckon, having also those parasites near you.
But at the moment, he will never be as good as he can be.
And I blame Pep also because he constantly moved him around the middle until he has no idea what his real position is.

I would sell him from 100 mil. No less than that. But most likely if we get that kind of money we will spend them on the worst possible players.

Never consistent, fuck me what does he have to do?

* 20/21 - Premier league AND PFA young player of the year
* 20/21 - UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season
* 21/22 - Premier league AND PFA younger player of the year
* 22/23 - Champions League / Treble / Clean Sweep
* 23/24 - Premier League and PFA Player of the Year

Since age 20, he has consistently recognised by his peers as amongst the best players in the Premier League and Europe - the only year he wasn't was when we won the treble and Haaland cleared up the awards.

He thrives in a system that requires exceptional footballing intelligence, in that sense he is also like scholes, in having a level of footballing intelligence almost certainly a step ahead of his team-mates which would explain why he struggles if a fair chunk of his team mates are off it. Also explains why with England he's like a fish out of water and I think that would be the case at another club.

I would have hoped he could step up and drag the team through by the scruff of the neck, but to be fair it doesn't look like any of our team can - and he's talked openly at the start of the season about burnout. While he got a rest at the start of the season, he came into a team in Sept/Oct that was already starting to struggle badly - and he's just never got his shit together.

Honestly, can't believe what I'm reading here - he's been shite this year, but suggesting he doesn't have consistency is next level revisionist stuff coloured by a single bad season out of the 8 he has been part of our first team squad.

[nottsblue]

Personally I think he reached his peak last season. I just don’t see him scaling those peaks again. And this season he has largely gone missing. A truly great world class player, would have kicked on from a great season and done it again. Like KDB or Fernandinho or Rodri or Aguero or Haaland. These guys were consistent for multiple seasons.

And there is an argument to sell a player once he has reached his peak and is on a slippery slope downwards, as the value of said player is then only diminishing. Provided the money offered was substantial and acceptable. And whether a suitable replacement can be sourced. Which would not be easy and with no guarantee of success. With hindsight we should have moved KDB last summer, or even the summer before. And of course we haven’t got the crystal ball of hindsight to guide us.

And obviously there is a flip side to all of this. Is it a season in isolation? Has a player(Foden in this instance but it applies across the board) got what it takes to get back to previous levels and then maintain them? It’s no good having one great season followed by a shit show then another great season and another poor one etc. That’s not what we require as a club.

Has Foden earned the right to be given that said opportunity to put this season down to an aberration and to return to previous high standards? Yes, he has. But he and only he can determine whether he actually wants to. He has an abundance of talent, that’s clear and obvious. But football and sport in general at the top level is as much about mindset and determination and personal responsibility and pride as skill and talent. His off field activities and his circle of friends and family are seemingly becoming more of a hindrance than a support.

But if in a years time there hasn’t been an improvement then that’s a different story.

[PeterParker]

For me he is not as good as we make him.

Sure, won a lot, great stats, but except that 6 months he had last year, when was he constant? He was in an out of form and I think, sadly, he wouldn't excel at a lower team.
I also think he has the whole talent in the world, but I think he is lazy. He never improved his right leg and I've never seen him having a sniff on being close to the captains armband and he is here since forever.

Sure, being a father is difficult, I reckon, having also those parasites near you.
But at the moment, he will never be as good as he can be.
And I blame Pep also because he constantly moved him around the middle until he has no idea what his real position is.

I would sell him from 100 mil. No less than that. But most likely if we get that kind of money we will spend them on the worst possible players.

Never consistent, fuck me what does he have to do?


* 20/21 - Premier league AND PFA young player of the year
* 20/21 - UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season
* 21/22 - Premier league AND PFA younger player of the year
* 22/23 - Champions League / Treble / Clean Sweep
* 23/24 - Premier League and PFA Player of the Year

Since age 20, he has consistently recognised by his peers as amongst the best players in the Premier League and Europe - the only year he wasn't was when we won the treble and Haaland cleared up the awards.

He thrives in a system that requires exceptional footballing intelligence, in that sense he is also like scholes, in having a level of footballing intelligence almost certainly a step ahead of his team-mates which would explain why he struggles if a fair chunk of his team mates are off it. Also explains why with England he's like a fish out of water and I think that would be the case at another club.

I would have hoped he could step up and drag the team through by the scruff of the neck, but to be fair it doesn't look like any of our team can - and he's talked openly at the start of the season about burnout. While he got a rest at the start of the season, he came into a team in Sept/Oct that was already starting to struggle badly - and he's just never got his shit together.

Honestly, can't believe what I'm reading here - he's been shite this year, but suggesting he doesn't have consistency is next level revisionist stuff coloured by a single bad season out of the 8 he has been part of our first team squad.

Again, I am not talking about the stats. Stats are telling a story that sometimes those are just a side of it. And the last one goes into his 6 month fantastic form which he deserved to be POTY.
I am talking the overall way he plays. How many times he was world class on Sunday and then the next one he was absolutely shit?
That is the issue when I talk about consistency, because awards are often just that.
And as Nige pointed, his social life is beyond odd.

Has the potential he has the potential to be consistent, but needs:
a) another manager who will play him at his best, not all over the middle and teach him to use his right leg,
b) a decent personal life,

Sure, people's opinion differ, I respect yours, I don't agree with it, but we both want that when he is 30 for you to quote this and say I was wrong.

[Im_Spartacus]

Personally I think he reached his peak last season. I just don’t see him scaling those peaks again. And this season he has largely gone missing. A truly great world class player, would have kicked on from a great season and done it again. Like KDB or Fernandinho or Rodri or Aguero or Haaland. These guys were consistent for multiple seasons.

And there is an argument to sell a player once he has reached his peak and is on a slippery slope downwards, as the value of said player is then only diminishing. Provided the money offered was substantial and acceptable. And whether a suitable replacement can be sourced. Which would not be easy and with no guarantee of success. With hindsight we should have moved KDB last summer, or even the summer before. And of course we haven’t got the crystal ball of hindsight to guide us.

And obviously there is a flip side to all of this. Is it a season in isolation? Has a player(Foden in this instance but it applies across the board) got what it takes to get back to previous levels and then maintain them? It’s no good having one great season followed by a shit show then another great season and another poor one etc. That’s not what we require as a club.

Has Foden earned the right to be given that said opportunity to put this season down to an aberration and to return to previous high standards? Yes, he has. But he and only he can determine whether he actually wants to. He has an abundance of talent, that’s clear and obvious. But football and sport in general at the top level is as much about mindset and determination and personal responsibility and pride as skill and talent. His off field activities and his circle of friends and family are seemingly becoming more of a hindrance than a support.

But if in a years time there hasn’t been an improvement then that’s a different story.

If it runs into next year and the team's general performances improve but he doesn't, then yes he should move on, we can't carry passengers - but smashing into him when the entire playing staff have been universally shite, speaks to more going on than his ability/motivation.

Problem is, we're not going to get top dollar on a player who has had a poor year or two anyway - so selling him at the top like Liverpool do (or we did with Alvarez), then reinvesting wisely, I think that ship has sailed - I also think that most other teams would look at how he fits in with England since day 1, and say that spending a lot of money on Foden would be a big risk. He's a city player, thriving in a city machine - I think he would struggle elsewhere.

I was an advocate of shifting KDB a couple of years ago, but only out of pragmatism that it would be the peak time to cash in and begin the squad renewal process. However in those 2 years he's proven us wrong time and time again coming back after bad injuries - I see no reason why Foden can't be afforded a break in that regard......I'm just surprised at the eagerness to cast him aside.

[stupot]

Agreed. The same people saying Pep has credit in the bank to keep going and not be sacked are the same ones that would let Foden go after one poor season (by his standards). He's been injured and played out of position.

He carried the team last season - not fair that he has to do it again.

I'm in the Pep has masses of credit in the bank.
I wouldn't get rid of Foden at any cost. He's been brilliant for years, carried us to the title last season and still our 2nd leading scorer in a shit season this year.
Can't believe anyone wants to get rid.

[sheblue]

Hes a great player. He hasn't had a great season, who has? Our best player this season is probably Josko, and he's had his funny moments too.

The acid test is how these players and management team bounce back next season, typically we start our seasons slow and a bit rusty and we don't really start all that well. Next season there has to be a good start.

[Hazy2]

Foden is class we have to see it more than we have.
Without it we will not not get CL.

[Indianablue]

Foden is a great player, we have invested time and effort into him since he was a kid. He's won alot with us and his pwrformances have helped massively. Like others have said though, this season he hss been poor by his standards and other players at other clubs are performing better. Something is wrong off the pitch too many family distractions, does he think he has done it all? I dont know but others at the club should know. They see him day in and day out, we dont. It needs to be sorted by his manager and his coaches. As it is, he is living off his credit. He is lucky others are having a dog shit season as well. If everyone else was doing well and we were winning games, his current form would see him on the bench more frequently or even moved on. Perhaps like everyone else he's wondering what the outcome of the charges will be?

[Kippax Sean]

Foden can become an icon and a legend if he wants. He's done the hard work to get where he is. He's at an age where he has to make a decision, carry on listening to bad advice from some of his family members or knuckle down and dedicate the next 10 yrs to football and become a great. He won't be remembered for scoring 13 goals in an u10s match but what he does now in what should be his prime years. He'll always be part of the greatest team of all time but he can become a modern day Colin Bell if he has the character and stomach for it.

[Mase]

Hes a great player. He hasn't had a great season, who has? Our best player this season is probably Josko, and he's had his funny moments too.

The acid test is how these players and management team bounce back next season, typically we start our seasons slow and a bit rusty and we don't really start all that well. Next season there has to be a good start.

Our best player this season is Nico O’Reilly based on the games played. He’s not had one shit game and barely gets a chance. Fuckin madness

[Mase]

Agreed. The same people saying Pep has credit in the bank to keep going and not be sacked are the same ones that would let Foden go after one poor season (by his standards). He's been injured and played out of position.

He carried the team last season - not fair that he has to do it again.

I'm in the Pep has masses of credit in the bank.
I wouldn't get rid of Foden at any cost. He's been brilliant for years, carried us to the title last season and still our 2nd leading scorer in a shit season this year.
Can't believe anyone wants to get rid.

It’s crazy. He’s pissed all over someone like Scholes in terms of stats and is on course to win just as much, if not more. Would never had got a rag saying they wanted rid of him.

[Indianablue]

Agreed. The same people saying Pep has credit in the bank to keep going and not be sacked are the same ones that would let Foden go after one poor season (by his standards). He's been injured and played out of position.

He carried the team last season - not fair that he has to do it again.

I'm in the Pep has masses of credit in the bank.
I wouldn't get rid of Foden at any cost. He's been brilliant for years, carried us to the title last season and still our 2nd leading scorer in a shit season this year.
Can't believe anyone wants to get rid.

It’s crazy. He’s pissed all over someone like Scholes in terms of stats and is on course to win just as much, if not more. Would never had got a rag saying they wanted rid of him.

Foden at his best can match what Scholes was. But unless Foden shapes up and starts to apply himself again he will never match what Scholes did as a player. I'm not talking about silverware or caps but purely as a player. Scholes was superb apart from his tackiling skills - and he did it over a long time. Foden needs 10 more seasons performing at a high level to match him

[Mase]

Agreed. The same people saying Pep has credit in the bank to keep going and not be sacked are the same ones that would let Foden go after one poor season (by his standards). He's been injured and played out of position.

He carried the team last season - not fair that he has to do it again.

I'm in the Pep has masses of credit in the bank.
I wouldn't get rid of Foden at any cost. He's been brilliant for years, carried us to the title last season and still our 2nd leading scorer in a shit season this year.
Can't believe anyone wants to get rid.

It’s crazy. He’s pissed all over someone like Scholes in terms of stats and is on course to win just as much, if not more. Would never had got a rag saying they wanted rid of him.

Foden at his best can match what Scholes was. But unless Foden shapes up and starts to apply himself again he will never match what Scholes did as a player. I'm not talking about silverware or caps but purely as a player. Scholes was superb apart from his tackiling skills - and he did it over a long time. Foden needs 10 more seasons performing at a high level to match him

Scholes was massively overrated and Foden pisses all over him.

“Yeah but….Scholes was the pass before the assist” made up nonsense by Rags to try and justify Scholes being a “top player”

[Indianablue]

Agreed. The same people saying Pep has credit in the bank to keep going and not be sacked are the same ones that would let Foden go after one poor season (by his standards). He's been injured and played out of position.

He carried the team last season - not fair that he has to do it again.

I'm in the Pep has masses of credit in the bank.
I wouldn't get rid of Foden at any cost. He's been brilliant for years, carried us to the title last season and still our 2nd leading scorer in a shit season this year.
Can't believe anyone wants to get rid.

It’s crazy. He’s pissed all over someone like Scholes in terms of stats and is on course to win just as much, if not more. Would never had got a rag saying they wanted rid of him.

Foden at his best can match what Scholes was. But unless Foden shapes up and starts to apply himself again he will never match what Scholes did as a player. I'm not talking about silverware or caps but purely as a player. Scholes was superb apart from his tackiling skills - and he did it over a long time. Foden needs 10 more seasons performing at a high level to match him

Scholes was massively overrated and Foden pisses all over him.

“Yeah but….Scholes was the pass before the assist” made up nonsense by Rags to try and justify Scholes being a “top player”

Foden does not piss on Scholes, he's a good player with one excellent season under his belt, and now he is struggling at the age of 24. Nowhere near as consistent as Scholes in his prime. You need to remove your hatred of Utd from your judgement

[Mase]

Okay, just for you -

Scholes stats -
Assists - 61 in 499 games!!!
Goals - 107 in 499 games!!!

You’ve bought in to the rag propaganda. Shame

Can’t remember once season where Scholes carried United to the title…

When Scholes was 24 - same age as Phil, he scored 8 goals and had 5 assists that season. Phil has 7 and 2 so far this season… wonder if the rags wanted Scholes gone in ‘98…