Man City key talking points: Ederson a master of his craft but Phil Foden can't wait around forever

Master of his art: Ederson proved his ability with both hands and feet at Goodison Park
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James Robson @jamesrobsonES28 September 2019

Turns out Ederson is pretty good at his day job too.

The Brazilian is that most modern of modern goalkeepers that the meat and drink aspect of the role often gets overlooked.

After all, when you are that good with your feet, who cares about your hands?

With Ederson it's all about the distribution, the build up from the back and the missiles he launches that could clear 20 double decker buses and then some.

His shot-stopping is rarely up for debate.

That's the way it goes when you play for a Manchester City side that dominates possession against 99.9 percent of opponents – and is constantly looking forward, rather than back.

But at Goodison Park Ederson showed that side of his game so rarely required under Pep Guardiola.

A 3-1 win against Everton sounds comfortable enough – but if not for their keeper it would have been a very different story.

Going into the game eight points adrift of Liverpool, it needed three wonderful second-half saves from Ederson to deny an Everton team who preyed on City's vulnerability without the injured Aymeric Laporte and John Stones.

Twice he clawed away headers from Yerry Mina as the home side dominated from set plays – and the speed with which he was out to close down Dominic Calvert-Lewin with the score at 2-1 came at a crucial point of the game.

The concern for Guardiola will be the number of times his keeper was called upon to ensure the Premier League champions stayed within touching distance of Jurgen Klopp's leaders.

Marco Silva's plan to capitalise on City's absentees at the back would have worked perfectly if not for Ederson.

And it is surely a tactic other teams will look to replicate.

Calvert-Lewin fed off Jordan Pickford's launched balls that dissected midfield – dominating Nicolas Otamendi and Fernandinho aerially.

And from set-pieces it was a virtual non-contest and Mina made City's penalty box his own.

With better finishing on some occasions, perhaps even Ederson would not have been able to keep the home side at bay.

Foden can't wait around forever

Phil Foden spent the pre-match warm-up showcasing his ball skills.

He pulled out the complete bag of tricks to mesmerise those fans who'd got to their seats early enough to catch it.

He's still only 19 and it's clear he's never more in his element than when on the pitch.

The problem for English football's great hope is that he's simply not getting on it anywhere near enough.

AFP/Getty Images

Guardiola describes him as the best talent he's ever seen – and Gareth Southgate is just waiting for an excuse to get him into the England squad.

But for all his potential, we will never truly know how good Foden is until he gets real run of games.

And on another day when he was overlooked by Guardiola, the question is whether that will happen before next summer's Euros.

Few would expect the teenager to be able to hold down a regular place in the face of such stellar and experienced competition at City.

But Guardiola's much-changed starting XI against Everton underlined the challenge he has ahead of him.

David Silva and Bernardo Silva were named on the bench, while Fernandinho continued to deputise in defence.

Still there was no place for Foden.

And when the time came to make changes late on, it was the two Silvas who got the call, rather than the brightest prospect the club's much-celebrated academy has produced.

Or is he?

REUTERS

Right now Jadon Sancho would have a strong claim to that title, given his rise since swapping City's reserves for Borussia Dortmund.

The teenaged winger's impatience has paid off in spades for him, his club and his country.

He is now one of the most exciting attacking talents in Europe and when he does eventually move on again, he is all but certain to break the £100m-mark.

Foden wouldn't be human if he didn't look at his friend and think 'what if?'

Jesus keeps pressure on Aguero

PA

In a week when Gabriel Jesus voiced his frustration over his lack of playing time, the Brazilian issued another statement to Guardiola.

His diving header to put City ahead in the first half was his 22nd goal in his last 21 starts for club and country.

He's also scored in each of last six starts for the champions.

While the sense remains that Sergio Aguero is still the man to topple at the point of City's attack, Jesus' form is reminder of the depth of talent Guardiola can call upon when required.

How long Jesus will be content to play back up, remains to be seen.

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