2 | Kyle Walker - 2024/25

[Trickyblues]

I’d like to know what the fuck is going on with the training all these injuries WTF is going on

Our players barely train. The injuries are a consequence of the 100s of games our players have played over the last few seasons unfortunately

 

[Mr HJ]

Walker has been undoubtably a great player for us. However, I think the way he handled himself during the contract negotiations told us a lot about him. I compare it to how Ferna acted in his autumn years - single season contract extensions due to his age then when he realised the PL is not maybe the place for a 36 year old to have solid game time he went home. He was a fantastic captain and had an excellent balance of putting both club and himself first. Kyle on the other hand used the Saudi interest to get a longer deal.

For me it's odd because some of our greatest football played over recent seasons leading up to the CL final was when we played with either Akanji or Johnny boy as a right back. I don't know why we haven't reverted to that again - it seems as it's either Kyle, Rico or nothing when both are not defensively minded first. Both see themselves more of hybrid defenders/midfielders who want many touches on the ball. Recently we seem to be so vulnerable to attacks down the wings and other coaches have recognised that. I would never second guess Pep but when we are a team that struggles to keep clean sheets perhaps it's a time to try having our best defenders in as a quartet and then build from there. Of course injuries affect that but it maybe worth a go.

Kyle is not the player he once was and whereas I don't like the pile on about how poor he's been age catches up with every player and he should have just had the one year deal instead of 2 at prime player wages.

 

[Gaylord du Bois]

Not at his best yesterday but valuable game time, all the same.
Looks like it's it's going to be all hands to the pump, for a while. His experience will be a huge asset when it comes to the next few weeks.

 

[Quilted]

People laughed at me back when I said if Walker didn't have pace, he'd be playing for Oldham Athletic.

Throughout his career, you'd be naive to say his pace hasn't been his redeeming factor.

When a player has such an abundant amount of pace, they never have the need to develop their technical ability, decision making and positioning. All 3 very important aspects of a full backs game alongside pace.

So, throughout Walker's entire career up until now, his pace has bailed him out for every minute of game time he has played.

Look at Sergio Busquets, perfect example of the point im making.

Busquets excels extremely well in technical ability, decision making and positioning BECAUSE he lacks pace and this would have been identified about him as a player since he was in academy.

If busquets lacked technical ability and IQ, he would have been discarded by his academy due to his sluggish nature.

Likewise, the inverse applies to Walker.

Remember, football is not a game of athleticism, but rather intelligence.

 

[Barcon]

People laughed at me back when I said if Walker didn't have pace, he'd be playing for Oldham Athletic.

They laughed at you because it's like saying, "If my auntie had balls she'd be my uncle".

 

[Dawsenna]

pr campaign in full swing. It’s time pep admitted to himself that Kyle is done that performance was nothing to do with sharpness or fitness he’s been playing like that for at least 12 months

 

[Chopper2115]

I hope he finds a move in January tbh, every single game he gets absolutely battered online by people who can’t even show their own face. He’s obviously online and this will hurt his mental health to which a move is the best option for him.

 

[Man_City_Loyal]

has he come out and said something?

 

[Zabbasbeard]

People laughed at me back when I said if Walker didn't have pace, he'd be playing for Oldham Athletic.

Throughout his career, you'd be naive to say his pace hasn't been his redeeming factor.

When a player has such an abundant amount of pace, they never have the need to develop their technical ability, decision making and positioning. All 3 very important aspects of a full backs game alongside pace.

So, throughout Walker's entire career up until now, his pace has bailed him out for every minute of game time he has played.

Look at Sergio Busquets, perfect example of the point im making.

Busquets excels extremely well in technical ability, decision making and positioning BECAUSE he lacks pace and this would have been identified about him as a player since he was in academy.

If busquets lacked technical ability and IQ, he would have been binned by his academy due to his sluggish nature.

Likewise, the inverse applies to Walker.

Remember, football is not a game of athleticism, but rather intelligence.

They laughed at you because it is a ridiculous, ignorant, ill-informed comment.

 

[Keeper!]

I hope he finds a move in January tbh, every single game he gets absolutely battered online by people who can’t even show their own face. He’s obviously online and this will hurt his mental health to which a move is the best option for him.

"He’s obviously online and this will hurt his mental health"


For a man that has gone behind his wife and kids back numerous times and has had at least 2 kids in those "relationships" he is the last one we should be worried about.

Great player but a twat of a man off the pitch.

 

[Chopper2115]

"He’s obviously online and this will hurt his mental health"


For a man that has gone behind his wife and kids back numerous times and has had at least 2 kids in those "relationships" he is the last one we should be worried about.

Great player but a twat of a man off the pitch.

You know what you are right tbh, he doesn’t help himself at all but it’s the clubs fault he’s here not Walker’s.

 

[Keeper!]

You know what you are right tbh, he doesn’t help himself at all but it’s the clubs fault he’s here not Walker’s.

Opinions, Walker was a great player and never let us down on the pitch and that's all that is important.

But was is the issue, he is a weak link now and it's been an issue for 12/18 months now, this is not a sudden loss of form, he was poor also for England in the Euros and I am amazed he is still getting picked at 34.

 

[youngbob]

If he's not the best right-back in the club's history then he's definitely the most successful. The way some people talk about him is absolutely nuts. "He'd be playing for Oldham if he didn't have pace", Jesus man you are kidding yourself on. This is someone who was genuinely feared across Europe by teams like Madrid, Bayern, PSG, etc. for years because he completely shut his wingers out of massive games time and time again. Mbappe, Vinicius, the list goes on.

Sure, he's a fool off the pitch, but he's always been a fool and it hasn't affected his form for City at all during the seven years he's been here. What is affecting his form is age (and fitness) - the bare facts are that he's 34 now. But the thing is, he's allowed to be 34. A lot like Gundogan at the moment, if our other options for Walker's position were in a better place in terms of fitness and quality he wouldn't be getting hung out to dry like he currently is.

There's a reason all the other lads in the squad elected him as captain and it comes down to that night in Istanbul. Left out of the starting XI for very obvious tactical reasons, he didn't kick up a fuss. Not starting the biggest game of your life - the occasion you've worked your whole career for - must have crushed him. But instead of sulking he gathered the boys round him in the dressing room and said "My dream is in your hands, go out there and get it".

We don't owe him anything, and bad performances are fine to be called out, but as always with this place the criticism is way over the top. Instead of just coming to the conclusion that he's not up to being a top-level right-back anymore, some people just have to start dismissing his achievements, saying he was never any good in the first place, saying that only pace has "bailed him out". Do you people not hear yourselves? Do you know who you're on about?

When we were shite, the constant rallying cry from the supporters was "We just want the lads to go out there and give 100%". Who can honestly say without a shred of doubt that Walker hasn't given 100% in a City shirt? He's played over 300 games for us and has won 17 trophies in the process. Yet another player in the current era who achieved more than the hundreds of players we had in the 70s, 80s, and 90s combined but is being spoken about like he's Danny Mills.

 

[Roachy]

My gut feeling is he's finished at the top level. Pace is faltering and he's losing a bit of positional sense. Off the field shite cannot have helped either. However, he's been fabulous for us with some outstanding performances and there'll be one or two more of them before he departs. We were in desperate need of a RB when he signed so job done. I think that time has arrived again.

 

[HelloCity]

People laughed at me back when I said if Walker didn't have pace, he'd be playing for Oldham Athletic.

That’s because it’s utter bollocks.

You don’t get to where Walker has just by being fast, otherwise you could just plonk Usain Bolt in defence.

He’s one of the best signings of the Mansour era in terms of value for money and consistency and he’s held his position for so long despite competition failing to surpass him long term - Danilo, Cancelo.

Clearly, he’s approaching the end at the very top level but that’s completely normal. He’s 35 at the end the season and we’ve seen even the likes of Yaya and Silva drop off as they got to that age.

For me, he’ll go down as the best full back I’ve seen play for City….although if Gvardiol carries on, that record might not last long!

 

[Quilted]

That’s because it’s utter bollocks.

You don’t get to where Walker has just by being fast, otherwise you could just plonk Usain Bolt in defence.

He’s one of the best signings of the Mansour era in terms of value for money and consistency and he’s held his position for so long despite competition failing to surpass him long term - Danilo, Cancelo.

Clearly, he’s approaching the end at the very top level but that’s completely normal. He’s 35 at the end the season and we’ve seen even the likes of Yaya and Silva drop off as they got to that age.

For me, he’ll go down as the best full back I’ve seen play for City….although if Gvardiol carries on, that record might not last long!

I agree with your points, he's had an amazing career and will go down as one of the best right backs in Premier League history. But you should have read my post in its entirety, rather than just the first sentence.

The Premier League is built for players that excel in aspects such as pace, athleticism and physicality due to the sheer intensity of this league. So this league emphasises the severity at which these attributes compensate for decision making, technique and IQ.

 

[ninjamonkey]

Same with grealish, he needs to withdraw from this. he's walking wounded after picking up an injury last international camp and now hes going on international duty again without ever being fit for us?

He's 34 and captain of the club, he should have ruled himself out of selection before he was picked. Look at kdb who made that decision last month. That's the example he should be setting or at least following.

Rico and foden are the only English lads who should be going.

 

[northmr8]

Got his eyes set on 100 caps according to his podcast, mad considering Southgate had to persuade him not to retire.

 

[MCFCFanTX]

Hopefully Saudi comes in with an offer. His form has been really poor so that might not even be a viable option.

 

[levets]

That’s because it’s utter bollocks.

You don’t get to where Walker has just by being fast, otherwise you could just plonk Usain Bolt in defence.

He’s one of the best signings of the Mansour era in terms of value for money and consistency and he’s held his position for so long despite competition failing to surpass him long term - Danilo, Cancelo.

Clearly, he’s approaching the end at the very top level but that’s completely normal. He’s 35 at the end the season and we’ve seen even the likes of Yaya and Silva drop off as they got to that age.

For me, he’ll go down as the best full back I’ve seen play for City….although if Gvardiol carries on, that record might not last long!

100% in agreement.