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Manchester City expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany believes that the performance of Omar Marmoush against Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend has sent a “slight warning” to his out-of-form teammate Phil Foden.
The Citizens played out an entertaining 2-2 home draw with Brighton in the Premier League and Man of the Match Marmoush contributed to both of the hosts’ first-half goals, firstly winning the penalty converted by Erling Haaland before scoring himself with a thunderous 20-yard strike.
After scoring 15 Bundesliga goals in 17 games for Eintracht Frankfurt at the start of this season, Marmoush has made a notable impression for Pep Guardiola‘s side since joining Man City in January, primarily operating in an advanced central role behind Haaland.
Marmoush has stepped up for City at a time when Foden has endured a difficult 2024-25 campaign; the Englishman enjoyed a purple patch in front of goal at the beginning of this season, scoring six goals and registering two assists across six games in January, but he has since contributed with only one assist in his last 11 appearances.
There was hope that Foden would cement his place as Man City’s chief creator and as one of the main attacking outlets in Guardiola’s side after winning the Premier League and PFA Player of the Season awards in 2023-24, but his alarming drop-off in form has surprised many, and McInerney feels that a confident Marmoush is now making the most of his first-team opportunities as a result.
Speaking to Sports Mole, McInerney said: “Marmoush looks a proper footballer. He looks like he has the right attitude. It was a very Aguero-esque strike for his goal. A beautiful finish from 20 yards. Reminded me of the Swansea goal from Aguero on his debut.
Should Foden be concerned by Marmoush’s impact at Man City?
“I was very impressed with his overall game, not just his goal that will have grabbed the headlines, but he won the penalty, his link-up play, a couple of lovely through-balls, good movement, finding the pockets of space as Guardiola would say. The guy looks confident.
“The main worry when you’ve got a person tearing it up in the Bundesliga is can they take their confidence into a new league? Can they find the same space and have the same effect? And it looks to me that Marmoush absolutely has that potential. He looks like a quality footballer. I like him an awful lot.
“I think the most important thing is quality, but you have to have that self-belief. You have to believe you’re good enough to impact the game at this level and the guy reeks of confidence, really, really self-assured.
“So much talent, good footwork, good movement, good link-up play. I’ve got zero doubts whatsoever that with a fully-functioning Manchester City at their best, that guy’s a 20-goal-a-season player with 10-15 assists, because he looks like he wants to be involved in everything.
“To be honest, it’s a little bit of a slight warning for maybe someone like Phil Foden, who’s not had a good season, who should arguably be the guy in that role (centrally in behind the striker) given last year and given Kevin De Bruyne‘s decline with age and so on.”
McInerney has also shared his thoughts on “lively” pair Jeremy Doku and Savinho, two pacey and technically-gifted young wingers who have shown signs of promise, but at present are lacking an end product.
Doku, Savinho impact at Man City assessed
In the Premier League, Doku has chipped in with just three goals and four assists in 20 appearances so far this season, while Savinho has scored only once and has provided seven assists in 24 top-flight matches since joining Man City last summer.
Discussing whether Man City are playing to Doku and Savinho’s strengths and if there is room for improvement from both wingers, McInerney said: “It’s hard to know where I stand with Doku, because one part of me feels like he could be a great player, one part of me feels like he might just be the same player until the end of his end of his career.
“There are a lot of players you see that have that much skill, but they don’t really develop much further because that’s just who they are. It doesn’t mean he’s going to ever be a bad player. He’s still very good, don’t get me wrong and he has such a unique skill set, one that I’d rather have in my squad than not, but I do wonder how far those dribbles will take him.
“It could be said that maybe he’s a guy built to be in an aggressive-transition side where you’ve got loads of runners around him. The amount of times he beat his man [against Brighton] with his pace and dribbling, but then he was so far up the pitch compared to everyone else and you look into the box and it’d just be Haaland at the back post marked by three Brighton players and there’s no way to pick him out.
“I just wonder if City can find the best way to make the most of his skill set. I think we need to do that.
“Savinho needs to get better at finishing, he just he does. He’s young, 20 years old, he wouldn’t be the first attacking player who gradually goes through the gears in front of goal and before you know it, 23-24 (years old) banging 15-20 goals a season – it happens all the time.
“I’ve noticed the tendency for Savinho to not really strike with conviction when shooting from the right-hand side when he’s got to open his body up. He’s not a natural on that.
Doku, Savinho “question marks” emerge – Can they become world class?
“I was looking at his goals when he was at Girona, and both the goals he’s scored at City actually have come from the left wing, striking across the ball. He just seems to be a lot more comfortable doing that for whatever reason.
“Savinho and Doku were both good in their own way (against Brighton) in terms of getting into the right positions, but there are question marks about, if not their ability, their current effects on this side.
“Doku’s a great dribbler, but are we getting enough bodies around him to make it useful. Savinho gets into positions really well, works really hard to create chances for us, but he can’t take them right now.
McInerney does not believe that either Doku or Savinho can be classified as world-class players just yet, adding: “I don’t think Doku will ever be a great goalscorer, I don’t think that seems to be his skill set, but I do think he could create a lot more chances. I think it is entirely down to a lack of movement around him… I think Savinho needs to get better at finishing from that (right) side.
“I think they’re both going to get better, I just don’t know how much better they’re going to get, but I would love to see them in a more confident, aggressive side when Rodri‘s there, the summer rebuild has kicked on a little bit, and they’re a year older, because they’re both reasonably new to English football still.
“They’ve definitely not world class yet. Can they get there? Hopefully. Do they have the skill set? They do, but a little bit of luck and timing and hard work will take them to the next step, hopefully’
Press play on the video at the top of this article to hear the full discussion.
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