Thursday Gossip

by MCFC Editorial

Bellamy: Foden will flourish at City

Manchester City top Group F with a win over Hoffenheim, Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling impress, and Phil Foden started and earned plenty of plaudits for his display. It was a superb Wednesday evening at the Etihad.

And that is reflected on this morning’s back pages, which are full of praise for the quality of City's play.
Let’s start with the Telegraph’s chief football correspondent, Jason Burt, who described Sane and Sterling as a “devastating" pairing.
“Manchester City have their own “SAS": Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane, with the latter scoring two superb goals to win a wild, attacking encounter against Hoffenheim and also win their Champions League group," Burt writes.
“The combination play between the pair was devastating at times, the only criticism being that more goals should have been scored, while City were unfortunate to also strike the woodwork twice.
“Add a fit-again Sergio Aguero – an alternative “A" in that SAS – and that may well have been remedied. Either way, after a sluggish start, City indulged in an end-to-end encounter against Julian Nagelsmann’s young side."

The Manchester Evening News’ Stuart Brennan was also full of praise for both Sane and Sterling in his post-match player ratings.
Brennan gave Sterling 8/10 and Sane, who bagged a brilliant double, an even more impressive 9.
Brennan writes: “Raheem Sterling: A thorn in the Germans' side throughout, and his direct running and shrewd pass was responsible for Sane's second goal - so important for City these days. 8
“Leroy Sane: Drove at Hoffenheim all night long and deserved the sublime strike which drew City level. Took unselfishness to a new, silly level before tucking away his second. 9"

Moving on to Foden, who played 90 minutes and looked more than comfortable, particularly in the second-half where he grew in stature and prominence.
Former City forward Craig Bellamy, speaking on Sky Sports' The Debate, was suitably impressed, and believes Foden is at the right place to refine his talents.
"He is definitely, at younger age groups, one of England's best players coming through and you want to see him get game time. You don't want to see his development get stalled," said Bellamy.
"But I actually believe he's at the right club. He's definitely with the right manager. He is getting game time, he is involved with the squad. He isn't maybe getting enough games but he's 18.
"How many 18-year-olds, at the level Manchester City are this present moment, are really getting regular game time, breaking into their teams?
"You always get the odd one, the odd two exceptions. You know [Lionel] Messi can go in and hold down his position but these are once-in-a-lifetime types of players.
"I do believe he has a future at Manchester City, with the players he's training with and the manager.
"He's going to learn so much and actually I do believe he's going to come through the Man City ranks, get more game time as the season goes on. I wouldn't say next year, I'd say the year after he'd be looking to hopefully establish himself in the first team."
That’s all for this morning’s Media Watch. Stay with us throughout the day as we continue our build up to this weekend’s game at home to Everton.