Kevin De Bruyne | Appreciation thread

[69FACUPfinal]

Thank you x

Back at you.

We had an horrendous big C diagnosis for my hubby 18 months ago. There was a CL game that night and for about a month, until we knew what was happening I didn't give a monkeys about my beloved Blues.

Fortunately had a great surgeon and excellent local hospital. Life is different 18 months on, footyback to being a bit of a distraction.

Just take your recovery slowly and steadily and you'll get there x

 

[Prophet of Doom]

Where’s this highest wage bill in the league from?

UEFA report last month. Second highest in Europe and that is for last season before the £200m signings in Jan and before Haaland’s new contract.

Revealed: The highest wage bills in European football

The highest wage bills in European football for the 2023-24 season have been revealed, with six Premier League clubs taking up spots in the top 10.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Centurions]

The Prophet of doom for a reason.

The Prophet of Bollocks more like...

 

[Centurions]

UEFA report last month. Second highest in Europe and that is for last season before the £200m signings in Jan and before Haaland’s new contract.

Revealed: The highest wage bills in European football

The highest wage bills in European football for the 2023-24 season have been revealed, with six Premier League clubs taking up spots in the top 10.

www.dailymail.co.uk

And how much of that is win bonuses or are you going to ignore that?

 

[Prophet of Doom]

And how much of that is win bonuses or are you going to ignore that?

Didn’t ignore anything. Just stated we have head and shoulders the highest wage bill in England. Some scoffed that it was fantasy and was asked where that was stated so linked up the UEFA report. The win bonuses assist that - but then these figures are not including the wages of £200m worth of new signings in January and giving Haaland a big wage increase that makes him head shoulders highest paid player in the country which will impact it as well.

My whole argument was we have the biggest wage bill - Grealish Stones Bernado are on deals that no other team will match - it’s gonna be very difficult to offload them and will all be loans with City paying big chunks of the wages.

We sent Walker on loan and that has failed so he is another that will be back on the payroll and difficult to shift.

Grealish has a amortised book cost of £33m outstanding and £30m owed on wages. Who is shelling that out for a 30 year old that’s scored 1 goal in a year !!

 

[Toffeedude]

Cracking player. Been a pleasure watching him play over the years. Glad to see the whole ground applaud him when he went off at our gaff on Saturday. Great footballer.

 

[Johnny Mars Bar]

I wouldn’t disagree - but it’s gonna be very expensive to show the door to all those players except KDB who is out of contract. All will be loan deals with City paying most the wages.

We already have the highest wage bill in the country so can’t see there is much room more signings if we can’t sell.

Viana has come into a car crash created by Txiki and Pep. Ageing squad who almost all to a man have time left on inflated contracts. Lack of academy introduction and big trouble with home grown quota for next year. And a mind boggling January window where most of the signings seem in the cold already.

Not finishing top 5 will be make it even harder.

We have 3 centre half’s injured yet Reis can’t get in the squad and is wandering around the Trafford Centre on Match Day.

Complete mess.

Looking forward to the match mate?

 

[paulchapo]

Cracking player. Been a pleasure watching him play over the years. Glad to see the whole ground applaud him when he went off at our gaff on Saturday. Great footballer.

Thanks much appreciated. He is also a family man and gentleman, very level headed and speaks well. I guess that level headed calmness has helped him reach the top of his profession.

 

[paulchapo]

Looking forward to the match mate?

Absolutely.......

 

[Blackley_Blue]

Right so Shay Given's been reading this thread... Shall we have a sweep on his bluemoon username?

 

[u2fme2]

When the news started to break i honestly thought it was his decision to leave, didn’t cross my mind we wouldn’t offer some kind of contract

 

[richards30]

It stings no doubt but the time is right.

 

[Bald fraud]

Here we go. Villa have held internal talks about signing Kev according to sky.

 

[eyalluvitt]

Here we go. Villa have held internal talks about signing Kev according to sky.

Must have passed his initial interview last night

 

[GX Blue]

Just fuck off abroad, Kev.

 

[Pingu the Penguin]

Kev hasn’t got another PL season in him, here or anywhere. Can’t see a PL club along a chance on him at the money he’d want. MSL would be favourite

 

[spiny]

The intensity of play coupled with the lack of rest breaks to recover makes it difficult for any City player to maintain performance levels whilst stay injury free. KdB is no longer young enough to recover quickly and not alone in this respect within the City squad.

He still has a lot to offer but he is not the player he was and needs younger legs around him. You cannot fault his commitment and he still shows occasional trademark flashes of brilliance. The truth is that the team needs a rebuild and not just Kev. Other players also need replacing to stabilise and re-energise the side.

This season we have had the added uncertainty over Txiki and Pep to add to all the PL charges and unforeseen injuries. They require difficult decisions for the future. I believe the Club is in safe hands and trust any decisions because us supporters do not have access to the same information nor are we party to future plans.

 

[Boo or Boo-urns]

Here we go. Villa have held internal talks about signing Kev according to sky.

Melissa Reddy is the sauce, ignore it.

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

Here we go. Villa have held internal talks about signing Kev according to sky.

Haha, load of bollocks, but was inevitable someone would try to stir up bullshit.

Villa can't even afford Rashford's wages and United are paying a hefty contribution.

Even if Kev were to accept £200k a week (and why would he) there would also be a minimum £25m signing fee to any serious club outside of MLS.

It's a minimum £50m outlay for two years on someone who turns 34 next month and can't stay fit.

There's also the small matter of Kev wanting to play the World Cup, he needs the right league to be kinder to him.

I struggle to see Kev joining any English club out of respect.

If anything, there would be more chance of City offering him another 12 months at the last minute, just like we did with Gundo before he left for Barca.

 

[Coatigan]

Haha, load of bollocks, but was inevitable someone would try to stir up bullshit.

Villa can't even afford Rashford's wages and United are paying a hefty contribution.

Even if Kev were to accept £200k a week (and why would he) there would also be a minimum £25m signing fee to any serious club outside of MLS.

It's a minimum £50m outlay for two years on someone who turns 34 next month and can't stay fit.

There's also the small matter of Kev wanting to play the World Cup, he needs the right league to be kinder to him.

I struggle to see Kev joining any English club out of respect.

If anything, there would be more chance of City offering him another 12 months at the last minute, just like we did with Gundo before he left for Barca.

I don't think respect would have anything to do with it, think he'd join a top 6 PL club if one were mad enough to offer it. Below that, don't see what would be in it for him, proves nothing re top level.

Agree with all the rest, which is why I think no way he stays in the PL, despite people being desperate to milk it.

It would take Chelsea levels of craziness for something to be even remotely possible.