Decoding Foden's Dilemma: A Talent in Search of a Starting Niche

Image retrieved from Evening Standard

Phil Foden has been regarded by many as one of the best young talents in the modern game. I am a huge fan of Foden. He has continually impressed fans with his skill, deft touches, dribbling and creativity. His first touch is impressive, his skill allows him to glide past his opponents with an aura that can be likened to Messi. One facet of his game that may have gone under the radar is his remarkable speed. Last season (22/23) season, Phil Foden had 48 appearances, which on its own is quite impressive, scoring 15 and assisting 8 times. He started 32 games in the premier league and contributed 16 goals (11 goals, 5 assists). For a regular midfielder, these are great stats. But for someone as talented as Phil Foden, who has the quality to be included in the Mbappe, Haaland, and Vinicius conversations, he is nowhere near his potential.  

Image obtained from Football365

The England international’s inability to hold down a starting position for his club and country is becoming a concern. When he broke out at 17 years, many expected him to be the first name on the team sheet by 21. However, he is 23 now and even though he racks up a lot of appearances for Manchester City, he does not start as many games as expected. Last season, Foden started 22 games for City in the Premier League. A decent number but the expectation is for Foden to be starting basically every single game for City. Many have attributed this to different things. Some say he is overrated and others believe he is inconsistent. One recurrent factor contributing to Foden's situation is the ambiguity surrounding his ideal position on the field. His versatility has been both a blessing and a curse. Pep has mentioned that Foden can play as a false 9, winger, attacking and central midfield. While this provides Foden with diverse opportunities to impact the game, it simultaneously creates a challenge in terms of settling into a definitive role. This means he is not only competing against his teammates but also striving to cement a place within a specific tactical setup. Pep Guardiola has praised Foden countless times. "He has everything to become one of the best players. I have said many times in press conferences, but maybe not said it in front of him, Phil is the most, most, most talented player I have ever seen in my career as a manager. His only problem is sometimes his manager doesn't put him in the starting XI. He deserves all the minutes, but as well you know in which team he's playing, there are competitive players. It's not easy. But he is open minded, he works incredibly hard [in] every training session and he knows how I perceive him.” These are statements made by Pep, one of the greatest managers of the modern game.

Image obtained from The Guardian

However, I believe the reason behind Foden’s inability to secure a permanent starting spot is due to his defensive deficiency. An EPL winger or midfielder needs to have a good level of defensive contribution. This would mean Foden can only be played in certain systems that would enhance his contributions without any disadvantages to the team. It's a nuanced balance that managers like Pep Guardiola must carefully consider when selecting their starting lineup. Teams are built around great players to cover up their weaknesses so why isn’t City doing this for Foden? It’s simple really, Pep has continuously built his city teams and systems to be the most efficient. Building a team around Foden could be one of the systems he considers, but it isn’t the system that probably yields the most results. He has established both player-centric systems, like the KDB or Haaland-centered approach, and systems that emphasize collective movement and interchangeable roles. This strategic diversity allows City to adapt to different opponents and situations, maximizing their effectiveness. The issue is why doesn’t Phil Foden get a starting spot in these systems if he is that good? The answer could be that he doesn’t score a lot of goals. Foden is a real team player, he makes runs, creates chances, he does so much, but he isn’t seen as a player that guarantees goals when he is added to the starting lineup or comes off the bench. The game places a lot of emphasis on scoring goals. Players that guarantee goals regardless of their style would always be preferred over less direct players. Foden’s issue has got to be a mixture of his defensive contribution, his inability to score goals at a high rate and his inability to command games consistently.

One could make the argument that this is the same issue with the national team. Grealish offers more defensive security and Rashford is much more direct than Foden. Southgate doesn't really consider Foden as a midfielder for the national team meaning Foden is left as a 3rd choice for the LW position. 

Image obtained from The Telegraph

Foden is 23 now, he should be looking to secure a starting spot for Man City and England. For this to happen, the attacking midfielder has to be able to contribute to goals by scoring himself or assisting at a very high rate, comparable to or more than his captain Kevin De Bryne. In a team with so many top players, this would be very difficult for Foden but I believe he has the quality to do this. Foden's story is far from finished, and as he continues to develop and evolve, he has the opportunity to address these aspects and stake his claim for a more permanent starting role.