Players Did Not Take Their Chances
Early rounds of the Cup competitions are a tried and tested opportunity for fringe players to stake their claim. They get a chance to play for 90 minutes and impact a result, reminding Pep Guardiola and his assistants of what they are missing at the same time too.
Against Fulham though in what was an eminently winnable game – the kind of game a year ago we would have been ruthless in and secured at least an 8-0 victory – City laboured to a sparkle less display. Players who had their moment to claim a first team berth did not fully do so.
For Phil Foden we have so many high expectations and here was a chance for him to excel. Instead he was competent with some classy touches. That is not enough of an endorsement to have displaced any of the team in front of him at this moment.
Instead, we are left wondering if maybe Phil does need to go on loan to cut his teeth and apply his considerable talents to impacting a game.
Does this mean we will have to wait until next season until we see some more of him? I suspect not, but he could surely have done much more to worry the first team .