A magician with the ball at his feet and an uncanny knack for finding space where no one else thought it existed, Silva was a firm favourite for City fans and neutrals alike.
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Everyone wondered how much would it cost to replace a player like Silva. Even for a club as well funded and backed as Man City the cost would be extraordinary.
However, it turns out the transfer fee to find the Spaniard’s successor was a big fat zero.
This is because City had the perfect replacement already breaking through from their youth system in Phil Foden.
Fast forward to now and the 23-year-old midfielder has 33 England caps and is a mainstay in Pep Guardiola‘s team as they hunt a second Treble on the bounce.
Initially he was used very carefully by Guardiola with his minutes and exposure to big games limited, leading to suggestions the ex-Barcelona boss did not rate him.
But with Foden now tipped as a frontrunner to pick up the Player of the Season award, we look at how Guardiola transformed the Stockport technician into one of the world’s best players and what it might mean for England’s Euro hopes.
Decision-making in the final third
Positions when you are referencing Guardiola’s team, especially when they are attacking and dominating possession with fluid players roles and movement around the pitch.
This season, Foden could best be described as an attacking midfielder.
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He routinely takes up roles on the right, left and centre between the midfield and the striker.
However, the key thing that Foden gives is his ability to get on the ball in the final third and to create danger for his team.
His game intelligence is extremely high and you will regularly see Foden scanning and shifting his positioning in order to get separation from defenders to receive the ball.
When he gets on the ball in the final third his decision-making of understanding when and where to carry the ball and when to look for opportunities to slide through balls beyond the opposition defensive line is second to none
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Foden’s versatility and tactical understanding could be crucial for England this coming summer in the Euros if England boss Gareth Southgate finds a way to get Foden into the starting lineup.
The key for England will be finding a way to get both Jude Bellingham and Foden in the lineup together, with most believing Foden will line up from the left wing.
If this is the case, Foden will still come inside to take up positions in the channels from where he can get on the ball and link with the likes of Bellingham and Harry Kane in more central positions.
For this to be effective, England will need to play a defender at left-back who can get forward and provide width on the outside in order to stretch the opposition and create more space for Foden to exploit.
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The fact Foden is comfortable when asked to play in any of the attacking midfield positions makes it easier for Southgate to find space in the starting lineup for him for England this summer.
Indeed, Foden ranks in the top ten in the Premier League for key passes (61), shot creating actions (120) and goal creating actions (16).
Receiving deep and between lines
Foden also has the ability to receive the ball deeper in order to help City progress the ball through the thirds.
His intelligence in interpreting space between the lines and understanding how to take advantage of it make him Foden a key City asset to that end.
We often see Foden moving from side to side while the likes of Rodri or the central defenders are in possession for City.
This movement is deliberate from the English international’s part as he looks to open up angles and passing lanes for his teammates to get the ball forward and through the lines of opposition pressure.
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England’s midfield this summer will have likely have Arsenal‘s Declan Rice acting as one of the key ball progressors from deeper positions.
Having a player like Foden playing ahead of him, whether centrally or from the channels on either side of the pitch, will make it easier for England to progress the ball.
Foden works hard to find these pockets of space between the lines when the opposition are sitting in a deep defensive block, something England will likely come up against a lot in the summer.
Foden is an attacking midfielder who has developed into a young player with an excellent understanding of space on the pitch.
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For England to be successful this coming summer in Germany they will have to find ways to play and break down teams that want to sit deeper and defend in front of them.
This means the likes of Foden will be extremely important for Southgate and his coaching staff.
Aggression against the ball
Guardiola is, of course, known as a coach who favours counter-pressing in order to put pressure on the ball and to win possession back as close to the opposition goal as possible.
As a result of this Foden has been well coached in terms of his understanding of when and how to press in order to be as effective as possible out of possession.
Interestingly, Foden is equally important to City whether pressing as part of an organised pressing structure or when asked to press himself in order to slow down and disrupt the opposition build-up.
Foden will typically press very quickly using his pace effectively to close down the gap to the opposition player in possession and the angle that he takes up is usually very good.
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The angle of approach is very important as Foden will run towards the play in possession and try to block any passing angle that is open for the man in possession to play through the press.
Out of possession has been one of the areas that England have struggled with in recent years.
They have been effective with the ball and when creating chances and opportunities but they have been far less impressive when pressing high and looking to regain the ball.
Having a player like Foden who understands when to go high and trigger a press and how to engage and either win possession or force the opposition back will definitely help with that.
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Out of possession, we have seen Foden develop into a leader who organises and leads the team in looking to regain possession of the ball.
Guardiola has taught him one to press and counter press and now England are in a position to benefit from this.
Conclusion
The development of Foden from academy graduate to key member of the first-team squad has been impressive.
The young England international is now arguably the most important attacking player for Guardiola’s side and he should have a key role to play for England in the Euros this summer.
