‘Edgeley’s De Bruyne’ grows into City’s game
PHIL Foden’s man-of-the-match performance against Burnley had a ring of familiarity about it.
Breaking the deadlock with a crashing, laser-guided drive from the edge of the area, and then sealing the points with a no-look reverse pass to create the fourth goal.
And for a man who has long been earmarked as David Silva’s eventual replacement in the City team, Foden looked an awful lot like another team-mate.
In fact, they might need to drop that slightly comical ‘Stockport Iniesta’ nickname and start calling him the even more suspect ‘Edgeley De Bruyne’!
The debate about the 20-year-old’s development has raged for three years now, and shows little sign of abating.
After his display against the Clarets, which Foden described as his best in a City shirt, Sky pundits Graeme Souness and Micah Richards were again contemplating the option of Foden going on loan next season.
Pep Guardiola made it plain two years ago that was not happening. He felt the best learning process for the midfielder was to train every day with Silva, De Bruyne and the other world-class stars at City – not to have lumps kicked out of him in the Championship.
It was not a suppression of Foden’s ability, it was a show of faith in it.
And the fact he has not done the player any favours in team selection, instead demanding that he earns his place, like everyone else, is further proof that Guardiola has never been in doubt that he belongs at that level. Guardiola’s team selection against
Chelsea tonight, undoubtedly their toughest test since the restart, will be interesting.
On form, Foden would be a certainty.
But in games like that, experience can be the key – and the prospect of Foden’s fresh legs taking on a Chelsea defence in the later stages, on a warm London evening, will be equally tempting to the manager.
Foden has scored three times in two games since the season started up again, and his opening stunner against the Clarets was pure De
Bruyne. The energy he has brought had also been more reminiscent of the Belgian than it has of the Spaniard.
But his control, and growing sense of calm and clear-headedness in tight, frenetic parts of the pitch, is very much a case of his natural ability and confidence being honed by close association, and words of advice from Silva.
Foden may be Silva’s natural replacement, but he brings elements of both of City’s attacking midfielders to his game.