Garth Crooks lauds Phil Foden and his anticipation after Manchester City’s win over Bournemouth
‘The only City player’… BBC pundit wowed by one thing ‘excellent’ £225k-a-week Man City star did on Saturday
BBC pundit Garth Crooks has hailed Phil Foden following yet another decisive contribution for Manchester City.
Pep Guardiola’s side continued their unbeaten run on Saturday night at the Vitality Stadium, with Foden showing good instincts to score from a saved Erling Haaland shot.
The 23-year-old is now up to 16 goals for the season, making it the joint highest-scoring campaign of his career so far. He last scored 16 goals in the 2020/21 season.
Foden’s performances this season have been a sight to behold – especially when he has played as a number 10.
The star has relished playing through the middle, and he has really stepped up to the mark when Kevin De Bruyne has not played, as was the case on Saturday with the Belgian nursing a slight niggle.
Foden thrived, and Garth Crooks has included the player in his latest Team of the Week…
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Garth Crooks lauds Phil Foden and his anticipation after Manchester City’s win over Bournemouth
AFC Bournemouth v Manchester City – Premier League
Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images
City may have only found the net once against the Cherries, but Pep Guardiola’s side were worth the three points having had plenty of opportunities and possession.
It was another great outing for Foden, who is just looking so dangerous through the middle.
His goal was a tap-in, but Crooks was especially impressed with the anticipation he showed that allowed him to score. He said (via BBC Sport): “Long gone are the days when Manchester City can roll up to the south coast and put three or four goals past Bournemouth. In fact, their encounter on Saturday, which they edged 1-0, suggests that with better finishing the Cherries could quite easily have come away with a point.
“However, once the goal by Foden had happened, Bournemouth were always chasing the match. Not only did Foden have an excellent game he was the only City player expecting Neto not to hold on to Erling Haaland’s shot and gratefully put the Bournemouth goalkeeper’s parry into the back of the net.”
Crooks also included John Stones in his latest Team of the Week, hailing the development of the 29-year-old under Pep at City.
Stones took up some fascinating positions in the game, playing higher up than usual and offering support to the forward players.
Foden’s best season ever
This is shaping up to be the best season of Foden’s career.
The £225,000-a-week academy graduate is now looking like he will provide a decisive contribution every time he steps out onto the pitch. While he looks more effective in the middle, he is still a huge threat coming inside off the wing.
It has been fabulous to watch him blossom and there is no doubt that the injuries to Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland really allowed him the freedom to take his game to a new level. As John Stones said after the win over Bournemouth, he has been ‘incredible’.
When all is said and done this term, Foden will definitely be in the conversation for Man City Player of the Season and it’s very possible he’ll be among the nominees for the PFA award.
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