Gio Kinkladze Documentary

It's difficult to know how good he actually was, as it seemed no one was on his wavelength when he played for us. He did not amount to much after he left us and I don't think he would have been good enough for any of our title winning teams. But he gave a lot of us a little hope during some of our darkest days.
 
Amazing skilful player. I can still see the tears in his eyes when we got relegated. The slalom runs were a sight to behold.
 
20 goals in 106 appearances. But those goals were a true breath of fresh air at a bad time for City. He had Messi skills in a team that were not good enough to support him. The other Georgians who followed him were pretty poor. Great for City at that time and no-one came close to his skills for many a year. Gio, not quite a legend, in terms of Bell, Kompany etc but nearly there.Love all City player documentaries and this one that would particularly be brilliant.
 
jamesha said:
I'll bet there was a tale behind his friendship with McGrath - was Kinky a big drinker?
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We still had a core of players from the Kendall/Reid era who used to have team meetings in the pub every week.

It was the start of the new era in terms of professional standards in Football - I think it was Kevin Keegan who was the first Manager to do really shift things on for us in terms of clearing out the boozers.
 
Fantastic player, a genius on the ball and bar Messi, Maradona I have never seen a player which such balance on the ball and ability to beat a man.

Abiding memory for me would be the 10 minutes after he scored against West Han in the cup. He was like a magnet to the ball, orchestrated everything and the crowd was completely captivated. Only comparison I can think of is Agueros debut v Swansea.

Loved him and will always be my favourite player
 
Someone said on here. He was the only thing we had that the Rags could possibly have wanted. Loved to see him in full flow. Always remember when Vince whatsisname called him over at the end of season lap of honour and asked him to stay another year. Didnt sit right with me at the time and still doesnt.
 
franksinatra said:
Fantastic player, a genius on the ball and bar Messi, Maradona I have never seen a player which such balance on the ball and ability to beat a man.

Abiding memory for me would be the 10 minutes after he scored against West Han in the cup. He was like a magnet to the ball, orchestrated everything and the crowd was completely captivated. Only comparison I can think of is Agueros debut v Swansea.

Loved him and will always be my favourite player
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Great post. He was magical. I think perspective often gets lost, he started off with some top class players but managed by an idiot and ended up with a dreadful team but managed by one of our better managers.
The ability to beat several players at pace was incredible. Sure he had his weaknesses but at a period where life was not too good both personally and football wise, he was a jewel I'll never ever forget
 
Stiff Little Wingers said:
Great post. He was magical. I think perspective often gets lost, he started off with some top class players but managed by an idiot and ended up with a dreadful team but managed by one of our better managers.
The ability to beat several players at pace was incredible. Sure he had his weaknesses but at a period where life was not too good both personally and football wise, he was a jewel I'll never ever forget
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He was a flawed genius and also football was very different back then. There was always arguments about his best position, but if you look at football now he could play anywhere along the 3 of a 4-2-3-1.

There was not much to cheer on the field and as the club went on the slide so did Kinkladze to some extent. Still in 96 he was making mugs of international defenders week in week out.

Always sad his next move never worked out. Ajax seemed perfect but the manager leaving, Litmanen staying etc put paid to that, plus his own demons.

Still an unforgettable player and if I was able to be transported back in time to watch one player again, it would be Kinkladze.
 
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Echoing much of whats been said. Undoubtedly a world class talent, capable of anything. Balance, skill, low sense of gravity, vision, could finish.

Poor mans messi, more direct version of Bernardo (without the work rate).

I absolutely worshipped him as a kid watching all that shite. Was at oxford, boro, west ham games but missed Southampton due to a best pals 11th bday party!
 
PeteBeard said:
Total Genius
Never ever seen anything like him at the time
Sublime Strikes and brilliant provider
Shame he never went onto the glory he deserved at City
Shame too Joe Royle slated him
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I think Joe Royle slating him was just preparing the ground for selling him. Gutted when he went, but can remember the relief it wasn't to the rags - I thought that nasty scottish **** might buy him just to further rub our noses in it at the time.
 
I went to Georgia in 1997 for a week. There were only 13 visas issued that year and the war had not been finished long.

We met some Georgians in one of the few bars open at the time and watched Kinky play for Georgia v Italy with them.

I started a Tbilisi / Georgia supporters club on my return and recently made contact with the Georgians we met and am arranging to go out there again when all this China virus shits over.

I think the country is totally different now to when we went so cant wait to see the changes.
 
Mazzarelli's Swiss Cheese said:
I think Joe Royle slating him was just preparing the ground for selling him. Gutted when he went, but can remember the relief it wasn't to the rags - I thought that nasty scottish **** might buy him just to further rub our noses in it at the time.
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Ferguson was on the Panel to approve him a work permit in this country I did read
 
I truly believe that if he had been 20 years later we could be talking of him as our greatest ever. For me he could pass as well as Silva, dribble more effectively than Silva, shoot and score much more effectively than Silva, and he could score both penalties and free kicks like it was a game.

My only reservation, and perhaps how he has gained weight since retirement might give you an answer, is did he have the self discipline and mental strength to be part of a team for a long time, where he wouldn't have been a certain 1st choice and others around him were equally as astounding. Of course we will never know, but I thank him for the glimpses of brilliance he provided at a time when supporting City was grim.
 
Under Pep and surrounded by the players we have now I honestly think he could have been a great.

Will always be my fav player
 
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