Thomas Tuchel is right to encourage more dribbling from England because there isn't enough of it in the modern game. The real trick is identifying the right players who can do it.
For someone as quick, dynamic, physical and skilful as Marcus Rashford, it's a no-brainer — you should tell him to run at defenders all day long. Phil Foden is different. He doesn't have electric pace and it's his football intelligence, not dribbling prowess, which gets him into great positions.
Asking Foden to do a similar job to Rashford takes away the significant other strengths the Manchester City player does possess.
As a youth player representing England schoolboys, I had a dribbling period because at that age I was good enough to go past players. It became harder as I graduated to tougher defenders and my manager at Crewe, Dario Gradi, ordered me to stop dribbling because it negated my real threat; seeing the pictures early and making key passes.
He'd show me videos of games I'd affected with my passing and compare it to the number of times I'd lose the ball trying to beat people.
It wasn't my natural game, even though I'm still proud of a solo goal I scored against Swansea after 'forgetting' Dario's orders!
If Tuchel wants his wide players to take defenders on, which I applaud, it's Rashford, Bukayo Saka, Anthony Gordon, Noni Madueke, Morgan Rogers and Jarrod Bowen he should turn to, rather than Foden.
Though Tuchel was referring to Rashford and Foden when he said he 'hoped for more impact and aggressive runs towards the box', I think the manager's dribbling philosophy extends to his midfield players as well.
Against Albania Tuchel played with two No 8s, Jude Bellingham and Curtis Jones, who can both travel up the pitch with the ball.
It was a lovely bit of skill from Bellingham to dribble past a defender in a tight area before setting up the opening goal for Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Jones's profile as a ball-carrier suggests you'll see a lot of him in the Tuchel era. He's more suited to bursting past players than Adam Wharton for example.
As a midfielder, I used to love having dribblers around me.
On my full Liverpool debut, I spent most of the game admiring Steve McManaman destroy Aston Villa. He would glide past players with quick feet rather than pure acceleration. I wasn't surprised he won Champions League titles with Real Madrid.
I'd also count Michael Owen as one of the world's best dribblers at that time. He was always so direct, taking a risk to commit defenders and invariably skipping past them.
At Fulham, we had Damien Duff — a wide player with very good close control — and Mousa Dembele, who would run past people with nonchalance through the middle of the park. The winger on the opposite side from Duff, Simon Davies, was more comfortable cutting inside. The important lesson was no player was asked to do anything unnatural to their game.
I am glad Tuchel is taking a bold approach. He has wonderful options to make England the poster boys for a new dribbling generation — as long as he picks the right players to try it.
Jahacklnuy
1
So many gifted players have been restrained by Guardiola because they are treated as pawns in a chess game and not allowed to express their talents freely. They can never grow as their growth must be confined within the growth of the team, but then the growth of the team is confined by having 11 players who can all execute the Pep's system to a T. The game belongs to Pep Guardiola, not any player or players, that is why players like Grealish and now even Foden are regressing.
what a perfect analysis of pep,you know ball
Mosbdity
0
Foden . Since his birth in 2000, no other midfielder in Europe's top leagues had scored more non-penalty goals in a single year for club and country than the 28 Foden plundered. Lampard, De Bruyne, Kaka, Ballack, Gerrard, Toure - none of them
Wehadepty
0
Not good dribbling skills, physically weak, useless in pressing. Too much limitations both in game vision and technical skills. it's a medium level player for Europa League target teams. Guardiola bad market...
Toscallini
0
Fundamentally Foundational Fodge Enterprising Entertaining Encouraging Endeavouring Enthused Enthusiast. - Foden. - Towering Tocsin!
Piadimnpry
2
I wish barca should get phoden for a price
Redevil07
0
Foden is just overrated has done nothing for national side only scored plenty goals for all conquering Man City side but too is not happening right now for him
Nosabenpru
1
So many gifted players have been restrained by Guardiola because they are treated as pawns in a chess game and not allowed to express their talents freely. They can never grow as their growth must be confined within the growth of the team, but then the growth of the team is confined by having 11 players who can all execute the Pep's system to a T. The game belongs to Pep Guardiola, not any player or players, that is why players like Grealish and now even Foden are regressing.
Zasadimst
0
he deserve like he don't like mancity players
Kuriadavid
0
Foden is weak nd useless
Wtf are you saying
kahacdouyz
0
and you left grealish, I think you don't like grealish .
have you asked Pep the same useless question
Dapcmostz
1
let him rest then he will win enough trophies at City
tampumi
2
Foden is weak nd useless
Nonaprsu
2
come on.. man city had a worse campaign this year why on earth did foden has to be in the England squad,as simple as tht he also didn't performing under city are u blind tuchel? ur no difference comparing to southgate
Seddekoprt
1
and you left grealish, I think you don't like grealish .
Kicbdknrz
0
Damn right