Phil Foden was the star of Sunday’s Manchester derby, as City completed the double over local rivals United 3-1. How good is he?
Born is Stockport, the 23-year-old has been a lifelong supporter of the club and joined their academy at the age of 4.
Since then, he has transformed himself into one England’s brightest talents.
Huge Asset to Guardiola’s Gang
Much of his success has come forth under the best manager in the world right now, even though some may argue Klopp comes into that discussion.
“Winning games is when you become a world-class player. Everyone can play good but you have to win games and he wins games. What can I say?
Guardiola: The Guardian
England have a huge array of talent to pick from Jude Bellingham to Trent Alexander-Arnold. It is about time that Gareth Southgate should consider forgetting his ‘favourites’ approach and build the team around the City Midfielder.
Phil Foden’s brace on Sunday, made him equal his best Premier League goals tally of eleven, which he achieved in 2022-23,
He will be eager to add to that tally for the remainder of this season.
The City superstar also achieved his best Champions League goals tally against FC Copenhagen.
England Future: Where Phil Foden Fits In?
What is baffling, is how Southgate always chooses the safe option to put Jordan Henderson in-between the pivot of Bellingham and Declan Rice, instead of being brave, by using Phil Foden as the number 10.
If i were Southgate, I would just have Rice as the holding midfielder, and let the leash off Foden and Bellingham to express their talent.
However, there is a big possibility that he will not do that, simply because the former Liverpool Captain is part of his ‘favourites gang’.
There is no doubt that he will head to Germany this summer, but if The Three Lions are going to win the Euros, surely, he must be at the heart of it.
This is the most frustrating thing with Southgate, and who knows what he will decide to do with the Stockport-born lad this summer?
Southgate may have a pragmatic approach to his management style, but he must let the hand break off Foden, to get the best out of him.
His talent is not being utilized in the correct way by the National team, and all of that comes down to the current England boss.
Era after era, England’s talent has been wasted due to the number of pragmatic Managers the FA have appointed, and when you have a generational talent like Foden, to not evolve the team around him is inexcusable.
What The Future May Hold?
If Southgate cannot win a tournament with this crop of players, then the FA need to consider a manager who plays a system which allows these players to express their talent.
Moving on from England, it would not be surprising if he becomes the PFA Player of the Year in the future, considering how he has performed under Guardiola, particularly when Kevin De Bruyne was out injured in the first half of the season.
One of the key ingredients to becoming a world class player, is consistency at the highest level, which Foden can do, it is just whether he can do it in an England shirt, or if he is allowed to be the real question?
What are your thoughts on City and England’s superstar?
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