Pat Nevin believes Manchester City recently let a player go who was even better vision than Phil Foden, amid an ‘extraordinary’ season.
Foden has been an absolute breath of fresh air this season.
He was recently named the FWA Player of the Season, and has a very good chance of scooping the upcoming PFA equivalent, following a remarkable haul of 24 goals and 11 assists.
There are still four games left for City, and Foden will likely add to those tallies given the way he has been playing.
Without any doubt, it has been the best season of his career to date, and the way he has stepped up in the absence of Kevin De Bruyne has been especially impressive.
Foden could well win the PFA Player of the Season – but one man who could run him close is Cole Palmer, who has also enjoyed a mightily impressive season after leaving the club for Chelsea last summer.
In the eyes of Pat Nevin, Palmer actually has better vision than his former teammate…
Pat Nevin claims Cole Palmer has better vision than Phil Foden, amid ‘extraordinary’ season after leaving Manchester City
Palmer left City last summer after Chelsea decided to act on their interest late in the window.
They eventually signed him on transfer deadline day, paying City a reported £42.5 million, with many City fans pretty happy with that fee at the time.
But that fee is now looking like an absolute bargain for Chelsea, with Palmer scoring 26 goals and making 13 assists across all competitions.
He is surely the best signing made by any Premier League club last summer, and ex-Chelsea man Nevin reckons he is one of the division’s most watchable players.
He wrote in his BBC Football Extra newsletter: “This has been an extraordinary season from the youngster who has got to where I thought he would in five or six years, but it took him just a matter of months.
“In one season he has gone from Man City leftover to being in the running for the Premier League player of the year.
“He is worthy of a place in the England starting line up alongside Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka.
“There is an argument that he has the best vision of all of the above, something that will be needed in Germany.
“He has been astonishing and a joy to watch with his artistry and don’t be surprised if he eclipses them all to be a true great of his generation.”
Another BBC pundit Garth Crooks has also suggested that Palmer may actually be more talented than Foden.
Palmer and Foden are very close in terms of their vision
According to official Premier League statistics, there is very little separating Palmer and Foden this season in terms of their vision.
Palmer has made nine assists in the competition, and Foden has made eight. Palmer has created 14 ‘big chances’, whereas Foden as created slightly fewer with 10.
Palmer certainly likes to try and be direct, and has played 25 through balls so far this term. Foden has played 14.
But Foden is slightly more accurate with his general passing. His 88% accuracy beats Palmer’s 83%.
Quite simply, they are two of this country’s most outstanding young talents, and Gareth Southgate is very lucky to have them available for his England squad this summer. Hopefully, the Three Lions boss can find a way to get them both into the starting XI.
