seem to remember Rodri looking like that and some idiots calling him Plodri - see how that tuned out...I agree it shocked me how slow he was he was left floundering a couple of times, think he will be good in a 3 when not isolated.
I'm a bit gutted that Nico still isn't the pacey, energetic legs we desperately need in midfield. I think he'll be a good player when we get back to being a top team and dominating the ball, but out of possession last night chasing the game wasn't his game at all. Quite alarming that he's slower than an over-the-hill Gundo who is 11 years his senior.
Remember it took rodri a year to settle. Nobody is shining in that performance lat night.I agree it shocked me how slow he was he was left floundering a couple of times, think he will be good in a 3 when not isolated.
His legs have gone, he was awful in the 1st leg at home. Best midfielder the premier has ever seen but he's no longer that player and next year he's only going to decline further.DeBruyne has still created more chances than anyone else in our midfield this season, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s created more chances than the rest of our midfield combined! Sell him and we’ve got no creativity in our midfield even though we’ve got shitloads of midfielders.
Keep: Nico Rodri Wright DeBruyne Foden Bobb McAtee Echeverri O’Reilly Mukasa
Sell: Kovačić Gündoğan BSilva Nunes
Buy: Wirtz
Keep Bernardo Silva and Kovacic and move KDB on (providing we do sign Wirz or if we do have a geniune alternative lined up). I think we are going cut two of our seniors loose in the summer. It is anyones guess who they are going to be.DeBruyne has still created more chances than anyone else in our midfield this season, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s created more chances than the rest of our midfield combined! Sell him and we’ve got no creativity in our midfield even though we’ve got shitloads of midfielders.
Keep: Nico Rodri Wright DeBruyne Foden Bobb McAtee Echeverri O’Reilly Mukasa
Sell: Kovačić Gündoğan BSilva Nunes
Buy: Wirtz
He sprained his ankle. Don’t know if it’s the same leg he broke or whether it’s a Grade 1, 2 or 3 sprain (1 ~ 2-3 weeks out; 3 ~ 3-4 months out).What is wrong with Bobb? Has he had a setback: he was training about 4 weeks ago. Not been seen since.
Use him sparingly like Madrid do Modric. He creates so much more than everyone else we have.His legs have gone, he was awful in the 1st leg at home. Best midfielder the premier has ever seen but he's no longer that player and next year he's only going to decline further.
Look closer.We haven't been playing 442 at all. 4-2-3-1 to be exact!
Oh yes I can see that, but does he want that ,?Use him sparingly like Madrid do Modric. He creates so much more than everyone else we have.
Agree he's done in. However I'd be tempted to keep him around for 1 more year. Use him off the bench. He's the type of character to keep around.His legs have gone, he was awful in the 1st leg at home. Best midfielder the premier has ever seen but he's no longer that player and next year he's only going to decline further.
His legs have gone,
he was awful in the 1st leg at home.
Best midfielder the premier has ever seen but he's no longer that player and next year he's only going to decline further.
Ive been looking closely enough fella for over 45yrs - no difference last night ffs!Look closer.
We play 4-4-2 without the ball and transition to a 2-3-2-3 with it, which often looks like 2-5-3 when we gave a team pegged back
There’s definitely an argument for that. I’m just not sure we can on his wages as that would likely stop us bringing in a ready made talent that can play the rest of the games. Added to that, Modric comes on a floats about dictating the pace of the game and gives control. Does/can Kev do that? Dictating pace yes, but he’s a player that goes forward rather than holding onto the ball.Use him sparingly like Madrid do Modric. He creates so much more than everyone else we have.
Yes I'd take that if KDB was up for it.Agree he's done in. However I'd be tempted to keep him around for 1 more year. Use him off the bench. He's the type of character to keep around.
True, True and True I'm afraid and no difference of opinion will change that. He's no longer able to consistently deliver.Nonsense.
Opinion.
Newsflash!!!
Fwiw.New legs for Kova? His top speed is 32.5 km/hr - KDB's 32.25, Jack's 31.91, Rodri's 31.66, Bernie's 29.43, Gundo's 28.33
- so he's actually the quickest MF apart from Nunes at an amazing 36.28, faster than anyone else in our squad.
Agree with much of that.but I still think Kovacic has a role to play for us.You can't play a Guardiola pressing system when you don't have the Guardiola players to do so.
Sadly KDB, Gundo, Kovacic and Bernies legs look like they have sadly gone. Father Time beats all I'm afraid.
We've absolutely got to deploy Foden centrally in every game for the rest of the season, as he's one of the few who can actually run and get up/down the park. Gonzalez behind him, Savinho on the right and either Grealish or Marmoush on the left depending on the opponent. KDB/Gundo can then be rotated in/out of the other slot to get the best out of them with the younger legs alongside them, without them having to play every 3 days.
In summer we need 2-3 new faces in central midfield minimum - in the 22-25 age bracket as well.
Nice thought no doubt, but that's a valuable squad place being used up possibly.Agree he's done in. However I'd be tempted to keep him around for 1 more year. Use him off the bench. He's the type of character to keep around.