England legend John Barnes knows a thing or two about the difficulties of replicating club form at international level.
One of English football’s biggest mysteries of the 80s and 90s was Barnes’ inability to produce his dazzling Anfield form for the Three Lions – a dilemma even the great Sir Bobby Robson was unable to solve.
Fast forward 30 years and the same conundrum associated with Barnes, and to a certain degree Paul Scholes, is now firmly at the feet of Manchester City’s Phil Foden.
Foden was elected the Premier League Player of the Season following his best campaign to date which saw him register 27 goals across all competitions.
However, the great hopes placed upon him ahead of England’s Euro 2024 bid were quickly dispelled during Sunday’s 1-0 win over Serbia.
Foden started well in Gelsenkirchen but gradually faded as the game wore on – a stark contrast to his dazzling displays for City.
The 24-year-old is yet to impress in an England shirt in the way he so often does under Pep Guardiola.
Four goals in 34 caps is not the only measuring stick for a player of his ability but performances for the Three Lions have fallen short of the bar he has set himself at club level.
Former Liverpool ace Barnes knows first hand what Foden is experiencing and revealed a discussion he had with ex-England boss Robson who questioned why he was unable to replicate his club form.
“It’s like having an out-of-body experience,” Barnes told talKSPORT. “I went through something very similar.
“Sir Bobby Robson used to say to me, ‘We want you to play for England the way you play for Liverpool’.
“You know what I said to him? ‘If England played the way Liverpool do, then I would’.
“It’s the same for Foden. Whether you put Foden on the left, the middle or the right, unless England are going to play like Man City, nothing will change.
“The left-back for Man City is Josko Gvardiol. He’s not a left-footer. The way Man City play suits him.
“It doesn’t matter about using him, Anthony Gordon, Cole Palmer… unless England play the way their clubs play, it doesn’t matter. You’ll never get the best out of them.”
Barnes continued: “If Jude Bellingham is going to be the No.10, the playmaker on the ball all the time, all Foden will be is a bit-part player. Work hard, defend, give the ball to Bellingham.
“Therefore, what is he doing there? It doesn’t matter what position he plays. The football, the tactics, the template of how they play, the way they move the ball… unless it’s going to be like Man City, you’ll never see the best of Foden.”
An air of panic would be too premature at this stage but both Gareth Southgate and whoever his future successor will be must prioritise the task of unearthing Foden’s limitless talent at international level, if England are to finally get over the line at a major tournament.
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News Summary:
- I had the same problems as Phil Foden and gave simple 10-word message to England manager about tactics
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