Ilkay Gundogan

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Yeah like I said earlier in the thread, my main reservations would have been him coming into the twilight of his career and a weird feeling I have that players returning to previous clubs don't seem to do as well.

But as a player, and on a short-term contract i.e. 1 or 2 years, he still has it in him to be excellent. He's clearly one of the best midfielders in the world still.

A big part of his game is his intelligent runs though and you wonder if he will be able to make so many as he gets older. But in general he'd obviously be a big addition to your squad.
 
People just saying he's too old, or too fragile for the PL now are akin to lazy journalists who write factless stories about city. Do your research on facts and stats and you will note (as some posts above have) that Gundo remains an elite player at the top of his game, capable of scoring match winning goals and MOTM performances. How anyone could not want him back is a bit baffling, especially with the fact he would require zero bedding in period in the league or club
 
Moss Side's Finest said:
People just saying he's too old, or too fragile for the PL now are akin to lazy journalists who write factless stories about city. Do your research on facts and stats and you will note (as some posts above have) that Gundo remains an elite player at the top of his game, capable of scoring match winning goals and MOTM performances. How anyone could not want him back is a bit baffling, especially with the fact he would require zero bedding in period in the league or club
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I 99 percent agree with you, but...

I don't think people think he's too old now. I think some people are just worried he has two years or so of elite performances then he will start to decline. I think that is fair enough.

Even Modric - when he got to 36 or 37 he started to be used more sparingly for Real Madrid. There's no shame in it. Gundogan is 34 almost and he will likely be a tremendous player until he's 36 or so. After than then he could be used as a squad player and transition into coaching or whatever.

People are just saying him going back to City makes a lot of sense - but on a short-term contract. They could be wrong and he could maintain this level until he's 38 or 39, but I am just saying that - even with the advances in nutrition and sports-science - father time is undefeated.
 
Nightmare Walking said:
Due to advances in science, diabetes is no longer a death sentence.
Due to advances in science, turning 30 in no longer the end for footballers.

Things have changed. Gundo will be in far better shape than 20 somethings were, a decade ago.
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Yet, of our great players since the takeover:

Yaya - finished by the time Pep arrived at the age of 33.

David Silva - took a step down to Sociedad at the age of 34.

Aguero - was released at the age of 32 (almost 33) with a dodgy knee.

Kompany - took semi retirement at Anderlecht at the age of 33.

Fernandinho - kept going at a high level until 35 then deteriorated a little at 36. Bucks the trend.

The prevailing theme, however, is for our high level players to come to the end at about 33. Gundo is 34 in October.

Anyway, as a rotational option he could be valuable like Fernandinho was in his final season.
 
Coatigan said:
I don't think it is unreasonable to have reservations about this one.

Depends on how far you take it I suppose.
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I don't think anyone is seriously expecting him to win us the treble single handedly (not saying you are, by the way). But will he be an improvement in the squad? Undoubtedly. He's not going to play 50 odd games for us this season. But he'll be invaluable (hopefully) in the crunch games in the league and in Europe.
 
Bluewonder said:
Yet, of our great players since the takeover:

Yaya - finished by the time Pep arrived at the age of 33.

David Silva - took a step down to Sociedad at the age of 34.

Aguero - was released at the age of 32 (almost 33) with a dodgy knee.

Kompany - took semi retirement at Anderlecht at the age of 33.

Fernandinho - kept going at a high level until 35 then deteriorated a little at 36. Bucks the trend.

The prevailing theme, however, is for our high level players to come to the end at about 33. Gundo is 34 in October.

Anyway, as a rotational option he could be valuable like Fernandinho was in his final season.
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He isn’t going to be a weekly starter. He knows that.

Even if he barely kicks a ball it’s well worth bringing him back purely for the leadership and frankly, vibes.
 
Bluewonder said:
Yet, of our great players since the takeover:

Yaya - finished by the time Pep arrived at the age of 33.

David Silva - took a step down to Sociedad at the age of 34.

Aguero - was released at the age of 32 (almost 33) with a dodgy knee.

Kompany - took semi retirement at Anderlecht at the age of 33.

Fernandinho - kept going at a high level until 35 then deteriorated a little at 36. Bucks the trend.

The prevailing theme, however, is for our high level players to come to the end at about 33. Gundo is 34 in October.

Anyway, as a rotational option he could be valuable like Fernandinho was in his final season.
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Even players outside of Man City

Ronaldo - despite what his PR will tell you, he has been in decline since 33. Though he relied much more on pace than Gundogan ever did

Messi - brilliant in a World Cup aged 35 but he is Messi. Even then, he went to MLS aged 36 (even if I feel he could still do well in Europe).

Kroos - could likely still be a top player. But went out on a high aged 34.

Modric - amazing midfielder but clearly not been the same player since about 36, though he still managed to play well in Qatar.

There's more examples too.

Pepe is really the main one who is doing well at aged 41 (a lot older than Gundogan admittedly). And even he had to drop down to a 'non-elite' club and looked dodgy at times in the Euros.

Maybe it is just a thing I have, but when players get to 35 you expect them to decline starkly. It's maybe a mental block of mine.
 
Johnny Mars Bar said:
He isn’t going to be a weekly starter. He knows that.

Even if he barely kicks a ball it’s well worth bringing him back purely for the leadership and frankly, vibes.
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That's fine, I'm just addressing the myth that top players continue at a high level well into their 30s these days, which is blatantly untrue (in the most part).
 
MafeotulBlue said:
I think Madrid winning two UCL's and 2 La Liga's and two Club World Cups, and two Supercups with Kroos and Modric at 33-35+ should give you some answers. if we haven't found the players, the board won't move. We haven't found the players yet.
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I wouldn't use that as an example (I'm sure there are countless examples of older midfields that haven't won leagues, UCLs etc) but I would say that even with Madrid, they looked long-term by signing Camavinga, Tchouameni & Bellingham.
 
I thought he left way too soon, tbh.
One thing you can't teach is experience and Gundo has it is spades for us. The squad will be invigorated by his return, the mood will lift and as long as we don't place too high an expectation on him, it's nothing but a positive move.
 
Ajm1985 said:
Think I'm in the camp where I am happy enough for Gundo to come back (low risk deal) but also disappointed that we've not taken meaningful steps to address the position for the future. Unless we really believe Nunes can have a breakout season, and there's been no indication we believe that, our 6 options are getting on. By June next year our midfield options for 6 will be Rodri 29, Kovacic 31, Gundogan 34.
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But that also highlights why getting Gundogan back is such a great deal.

There are not the players on the market.

When City found a player suitable for the role they were prepared to pay upwards of 90 million for Declan Rice, it is not for a lack of trying. They have also shown interest in Guimares for top money but Newcastle don’t really want to sell.

Liverpool started with Gravenbach and Macallister at weekend. For a couple of years they have tried to sign a holding midfielder, Caicedo, Lavia, Zubimendi and they are in a worse position than ourselves as we have the best holding midfielder in the world.

Players like Caicedo, Lavia, Fernandez, Tchouamanei have gone for an average of about 90 million pounds.

And we’re in a position where we can get a player in on a free, who plays a multitude of roles and people are pulling their faces. It’s the best possible deal imaginable.
 
jimharri said:
Would he be happy to come back and be a squad player?
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If memory serves he commented that he didn't feel he could keep pace with the demands of the premier league every week, I see him as playing 25 games and dovetailing with de bruyne as the winter months arrive.
 
I think the overall theme is that most people would like him to return - but on a short-term deal (understandably given he's almost 34) and also with the proviso that he's not going to play every week and burn himself out.

His experience and intelligence is invaluable, and could rub off on younger players. Plus he can always do something in the biggest of games, and will be important at various points during the season.

Managing him well would actually likely lead to increasing his longevity too.

Anyway, I am a big fan. I think him and Kroos (before retirement) are brilliant German midfielders.
 
MafeotulBlue said:
If you look not only at his 19 G/A, but at his distance ran, chances created, he tops charts, or is in the top 5 in La Liga, amongst 500+ players.

I don’t know what else to say to convince the nay sayers.
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Yeah. Not sure where this narrative is coming from that he’s got no legs. He was Barca’s best player last season and was driving them forward whenever I saw them.

Not only that, his footballing brain is so brilliant that it’ll help keep his legs going for even longer!

Also, Pep isn’t one for sentiment. If he brings him back, it won’t just be to generate a good feeling around the club!
 
Fucking staggering that people are finding fault with this potential deal (well it’s Blue Moan so maybe not that staggering).

Others have already posted his stats in La Liga last season, where incidentally he was in the team of the season. He then played for one of the top teams in the Euros - if his legs have gone then how did he play all bar 6 mins of their 3 group games (came off when 5 1 up to the sweaties) and played in their knockout games where he was taken off for tactical reasons. So if his “legs have gone” his managers at club and country level didn’t spot it.

In addition -

He is a cracking intelligent player

He has never relied on pace

Is multi positional

He is fully respected by Pep

He is fully respected by our squad who voted him csptain

He won’t expect to play every minute

He is a game changer

He will cost no transfer fee

He is a player who can dictate our play, keeps the ball moving, spots runs and makes runs

He has started working towards his coaching badges, he did lots of work with our youth teams when at City

He adds depth to a thin squad


I guess apart from all that there is absolutely nothing good about Ilkay coming back
 
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