17 | Kevin De Bruyne - 2023/24

[blue wang]

The thing with Kev is, he could easily play until he's 36 changing his role slightly and just being a pass and move "play it safe and keep the ball" midfielder. His legs might go slightly, he might lose energy, but he's technically so good he could easily play that. However, it's just not Kev. He wants to make things happen. He wants to drive forwards, destroy teams, carry the ball or play the ridiculous pass. I don't think it's in him to suddenly play a different role and change the way he plays. It's all or nothing with him and I hope he's got a good amount of time left with us, but I'd imagine he's got a couple of seasons left at best realistically. What a fucking player.

That's not Kev, it's like buying a Ferrari and driving the speed limit. Don't see him having the temperament for it and that what makes him the special.

 

[Bournemouth Blue]

He doesn’t strike me as the kind of guy that would quit a top team just to grab the money, as long as he regains his fitness I think he will see his contract out, but it would be wise for City to do a bit of research for a replacement

 

[Chippy_boy]

He doesn’t strike me as the kind of guy that would quit a top team just to grab the money, as long as he regains his fitness I think he will see his contract out, but it would be wise for City to do a bit of research for a replacement

To be honest, my opinion (but who knows) is that Kev strikes me as the consummate professional footballer, i.e. someone who regards this as a profession for which he must apply himself to the max and do the best job he can. But ultimately that it is a job, not a passion or a hobby and I wonder if he has any particular allegiance to City? I would suspect not, if I was asked yes or no. And I don't think we should think worse of anyone who decides to leave to further their own objectives, PROVIDED they do it with some honesty and integrity. (@JAMES Milner, not like what you did!)

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

God but I just adore this guy. Not afraid of anyone whatsoever.. Can play football a bit, too.

Miss you, man. When Back Soon?

 

[OB1]

Why do you say that ? A throw away, not be disrespectful comment when asked a direct q , he would fry out there

He is being offered so much money that he is seriously considering going.

 

[OB1]

To be honest, my opinion (but who knows) is that Kev strikes me as the consummate professional footballer, i.e. someone who regards this as a profession for which he must apply himself to the max and do the best job he can. But ultimately that it is a job, not a passion or a hobby and I wonder if he has any particular allegiance to City? I would suspect not, if I was asked yes or no. And I don't think we should think worse of anyone who decides to leave to further their own objectives, PROVIDED they do it with some honesty and integrity. (@JAMES Milner, not like what you did!)

I think he loves playing football and I think he may well have a strong allegiance to City but he will have a bigger allegiance to his family and he can secure his kids and probably grandkids futures etc by going to Saudi.

Riyad didn't want to leave City but the money won out in the end.

 

[Chippy_boy]

I think he loves playing football and I think he may well have a strong allegiance to City but he will have a bigger allegiance to his family and he can secure his kids and probably grandkids futures etc by going to Saudi.

Riyad didn't want to leave City but the money won out in the end.

That said, wild horses would not get me to visit Saudi, let alone live there, or even worse, take my family there. No way Jose!

It might have been a bit easier for Riyad. And there does come a point where you have "enough" money and even loads more isn't enough to tempt you. Or so I am told, having never experienced such a luxury myself!

 

[Gaylord du Bois]

God but I just adore this guy. Not afraid of anyone whatsoever.. Can play football a bit, too.

Miss you, man. When Back Soon?

Its fake.

 

[ThisCharmingManCity]

He is being offered so much money that he is seriously considering going.

Do you have any source for this?

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

Its fake.

Aaah, I was taken in. Naive of me. Seemed just about plausible, though. He thought it, even if he didn't say it!

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

Putting a more positive spin on it, he's still 32 ;-)

And maybe the surgery is a final fix to something that's been bothering him for a long time and having recovered from the surgery, he'll be fit and healthy for another 4 or 5 years?

I don't like to think of a “life after Kev”. When I think of sitting in the South Stand and watching the way he absolutely destroyed those pretenders to the throne from north London last spring — that took me back, incidentally, to watching him destroy those other pretenders to the throne from north London in December 2017 — I don't like to think that the time will come when we no longer see such masterclasses.
32? Nothing. I am more than twice his age, and I tootle around town on my bike all the time.

 

[Chippy_boy]

I don't like to think of a “life after Kev”. When I think of sitting in the South Stand and watching the way he absolutely destroyed those pretenders to the throne from north London last spring — that took me back, incidentally, to watching him destroy those other pretenders to the throne from north London in December 2017 — I don't like to think that the time will come when we no longer see such masterclasses.
32? Nothing. I am more than twice his age, and I tootle around town on my bike all the time.

I'm with you mate. I hope he plays until he's 40!

 

[nellyonthewing]

I didnt see Bell but for me KDB is the best footballer MCFC has ever had

I had the pleasure in my 30's of playing against Colin in a game organised by Frank Carrodus. Even on one leg he was amazing. Colin and Tommy Booth still had so much composure and seemed much taller than I expected.

 

[OB1]

Do you have any source for this?

Yes.

 

[Churchlawtonblue]

Its fair to say that the football World is a sadder place without the mercurial KDB strutting his stuff on the pitch. I can't recall missing a player so much as I do Kev. The results can still be positive, but there is a definite lack of joy and excitement to our play without Kev . Hurry back soon Kev.

 

[Bluesince1979]

I had the pleasure in my 30's of playing against Colin in a game organised by Frank Carrodus. Even on one leg he was amazing. Colin and Tommy Booth still had so much composure and seemed much taller than I expected.

Pro footballers are so many levels above us mere mortals , until you actually play along side them its difficult to comprehend.

I was lucky to play at a very good amateur level, but if we ever had an ex semi pro play with us it was like playing with zico.

I played for a team in my late 30s that were a decent saturday afternoon team. We used to have gareth whalley (ex crewe, played for bradford city in the prem) play for us when he was about 38. It was honestly like playing with zidane.
The increase in talent at each level is mind blowing

 

[Gaylord du Bois]

Aaah, I was taken in. Naive of me. Seemed just about plausible, though. He thought it, even if he didn't say it!

I hope he thought it too.

 

[nellyonthewing]

Pro footballers are so many levels above us mere mortals , until you actually play along side them its difficult to comprehend.

I was lucky to play at a very good amateur level, but if we ever had an ex semi pro play with us it was like playing with zico.

I played for a team in my late 30s that were a decent saturday afternoon team. We used to have gareth whalley (ex crewe, played for bradford city in the prem) play for us when he was about 38. It was honestly like playing with zidane.
The increase in talent at each level is mind blowing

Absolutely . I played for a Sunday pub team where Jimmy Rimmer frequented . He played at centre half with us once and got bollocked by the ref . Dave Connor as well trained with us - couldn’t get the ball off him.

 

[Bluesince1979]

Absolutely . I played for a Sunday pub team where Jimmy Rimmer frequented . He played at centre half with us once and got bollocked by the ref . Dave Connor as well trained with us - couldn’t get the ball off him.

The team i played for where gaz whalley played for us had a lad that played 1 league cup game for county when he was 19 , he was mid 30s and was awesome and another who was a crewe reserve in his early 20s , was 45 when he played with us , centre half, couldnt run, turned like the QE2, but was amazing

 

[Chippy_boy]

Pro footballers are so many levels above us mere mortals , until you actually play along side them its difficult to comprehend.

I was lucky to play at a very good amateur level, but if we ever had an ex semi pro play with us it was like playing with zico.

I played for a team in my late 30s that were a decent saturday afternoon team. We used to have gareth whalley (ex crewe, played for bradford city in the prem) play for us when he was about 38. It was honestly like playing with zidane.
The increase in talent at each level is mind blowing

I cannot echo that personally but perhaps 20 years ago, my mate used to play in a Sunday league. He was pretty handy, having a trials for the likes of Bristol City in the past but never quite made it. Anyway I asked him how he had got on at the weekend and he we lost 10-1. He went on to say however that it was not a terrible result because the team he was playing against had a load of ex-pros in it and they had been destroying everyone in the league... and my mate had been left to mark Ian Rush. He was in his 40's at the time but apparently still utterly ridiculously good and scored 5 or 6 that day (can't remember exactly how many, it was a long time ago).