For the second week in a row, Phil Foden shot rather than passing to Erling Haaland and Manchester City missed the opportunity to score a goal.
If there was little debate that Foden had shown a forward's greed against Bournemouth in choosing not to roll the ball sideways for the No.9 to score an easy goal, against Newcastle it was far less clear: the 22-year-old was running at full tilt and his sight to Haaland was blocked by the Newcastle defender that was trying to stop him getting there first. That uncertainty has not stopped more piling on of Foden. with some convinced Pep Guardiola was fuming at him as a result just as others thought he was hooked at half-time last week because of it.
Foden's action last week received more attention than his goal or assist did, and his miss at Newcastle has prompted far more debate than Kevin De Bruyne's near-identical effort minutes earlier. Asking why goes much deeper into how City have started the season.
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Part of the criticism comes from the fact that those players the England international is in the team ahead of command significant and loud fanbases; Riyad Mahrez has thousands of passionate Algerians fighting his corner every week while Julian Alvarez carries great expectations from Argentina. Competition for places is fierce in the City side and players have to justify their position in every week.
Another element is that it does not feel like there has been a significant contribution from any winger at this early stage of the season. Foden is the only one with a goal or assist in the Premier League, and that came in a half against Bournemouth where others were far more central to the performance.
City's centre is worth exploring. Is it a coincidence that six out of nine Premier League goals so far have come from the middle core of De Bruyne, Haaland and Ilkay Gundogan?
Maybe, but what felt like a specific plan to counter West Ham on the opening day by moving full-backs inside and playing basically within the width of the penalty areas has been seen subsequently. City appear to have started the campaign more vertically than ever, summed up by that sumptuous De Bruyne through-ball yesterday rolled down the very centre of the pitch into Bernardo Silva.
There will inevitably be goals from crosses and corners this season because City create and convert too many chances for there not to be, but is this an evolution away from the sort of goal that was a hallmark of Guardiola's side during their first few seasons together where a winger would get the ball on the byline and cut it back into the middle? There has been enough evidence already so far this season to at least consider the question.
If that is the case, those asked to play the wide forward roles can expect to find it more difficult than it has been to stand out for the right reasons.
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