Ilkay Gundogan

Proy said:
Playing as a number 10, there is nobody better in my opinion than De Bruyne. He is absolute quality.

I'd also say, that despite our midfield being so fluid now, he isn't directly competing with Silva. Gundogan/Silva and Fernandinho are playing for 2 positions in my opinion.

Sane/Sterling/Nolito and Navas for the wide positions with Aguero up top and Kevin behind.

I think KDB is a shoe in for 90% of our fixtures.

Pep seems to have found a new role for Spanish Dave. A xavi type of position.

Last season we were using 2 holding midfield players which meant that KDB and Silva were directly competing with each other.

Silva has now become part of that 2, even though they are not holding midfielders, if you see what I'm saying.

Look at it this way. Could you imagine the same midfield that we have used so far this season under Manuel? That would have been a fucking car crash in his rigid system.

But now it works. Dave is a bit deeper and working a lot harder.

Ilkay will have the same role as Silva IMO. It's then just a case of who does it better. I've yet to see Gundogan in the PL so it could be difficult, but with my tin hat on here, if you ask me who is the better footballer I'm going to say Gundogan.
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Have you watched any of our games this season? Genuine question.
 
Proy said:
Million and one variations and tbh mate, under Guardiola, I wouldn't put anything past him. If the cap fits he'll wear it he's that tactically able.

Based on what I've seen so far I just think it's a straight shoot out between Ilkay and Silva.

I could be miles away.

I think I know my football. Maybe I'm just shit at it really :-/

We shall see.
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Strangely enough. I think Dihno switches to RB. But based on performance, KDB has been 3rd best so far. But he'd start banging in goals soon and all that will be elementary.

Positionally, @Proy is right Silky Ilkay is best at the position Silva currently plays, and he is a better all round CM than David probably is. But David is probably currently better than KKev at the slightly more advanced role.

But Kev brings an edge that no one else brings. I'm thinking Dihno moves to RB.
 
Dax777 said:
Strangely enough. I think Dihno switches to RB. But based on performance, KDB has been 3rd best so far. But he'd start banging in goals soon and all that will be elementary.

Positionally, @Proy is right Silky Ilkay is best at the position Silva currently plays, and he is a better all round CM than David probably is. But David is probably currently better than KKev at the slightly more advanced role.

But Kev brings an edge that no one else brings. I'm thinking Dihno moves to RB.
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I'm hoping to see Fernandinho get a chance to play in one of the advanced midfield roles, think he'd be devastating as part of the attack.

I also think Gundogan would be better at doing the job that Fernandinho is currently doing simply because his vision and range of passing is superior to Fernandinho's.

It's fun trying to second guess Pep.
 
Proy said:
With my tin hat firmly strapped on for this one.

Silva.

Bring it motherfuckers. I'm ready and lubed.
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You're entitled to that opinion but I cant see any basis to which you've come to that conclusion.
Silva will start.
I should add I'm only talking this fixture. Further down the line I expect Dave to be rested/rotated.
 
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Dax777 said:
Strangely enough. I think Dihno switches to RB. But based on performance, KDB has been 3rd best so far. But he'd start banging in goals soon and all that will be elementary.

Positionally, @Proy is right Silky Ilkay is best at the position Silva currently plays, and he is a better all round CM than David probably is. But David is probably currently better than KKev at the slightly more advanced role.

But Kev brings an edge that no one else brings. I'm thinking Dihno moves to RB.
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I'd say Sterling, Nolito, Silva, Fernandinho and Kolorav have all had better starts to the season than Kev so far.
 
City_Sean said:
Totally agree. On the case of Gundogan, he's looking very sharp in the new CityTV training video. Can't wait to see him in action
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Me too, mate. I can't wait to see him and if it is for Silva so be it. It would surprise me at this stage considering the start he's had. I suppose with him playing all games plus internationals a case could be made to rest him but I wouldn't personally - the man is on fire.
 
I wonder if he'll start instead of KDB who'll have had less time since a game than other midfield options? That would allow Fernandinho to remain in his more defensive role (swapping with Stones etc).

I wonder too if Kompany will start ahead of Otamendi for the same reason and maybe Sané plays instead of Aguero to keep Nolito, Silva, Sterling in their current roles.

Bravo would make sense but he's too mysterious for our tiny minds at the moment.

If that was all the case it'd be 4 debutants for the derby. Exciting but jazus do I hate international football and the associated breaks in real football.
 
Pablo1 said:
Me too, mate. I can't wait to see him and if it is for Silva so be it. It would surprise me at this stage considering the start he's had. I suppose with him playing all games plus internationals a case could be made to rest him but I wouldn't personally - the man is on fire.
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Well we can rest Silva in the EFL cup, but you're right, at some point he's going to need a few games off. We've got a great squad to cope though.
 
Pablo1 said:
Pep has already come out and said he sees KDB as more of a wide player so I don't see him being given the responsibility of the 10 just yet.
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Josep will play his most productive players where there is the most space.
That is in the middle when he plays with the two line huggers.

Perfect for KDB.
 
What a great problem to have. Personally can't wait to see him play. Think he'll be a star.
 
I wouldn't start him unless the current players are fatigued or unless we are playing without a striker, with KDB advanced.

Just back from injury, no match sharpness, new team, new league, derby. Makes no sense to throw him in, when we've won every game so far, imo.

An hour in, if Silva or KDB are struggling, would be ideal. To get the energy levels back up. Or earlier if we are not clicking as a team.
 
Neville Kneville said:
I wouldn't start him unless the current players are fatigued or unless we are playing without a striker, with KDB advanced.

Just back from injury, no match sharpness, new team, new league, derby. Makes no sense to throw him in, when we've won every game so far, imo.

An hour in, if Silva or KDB are struggling, would be ideal. To get the energy levels back up. Or earlier if we are not clicking as a team.
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Totally agree. The intensity of our starts has been great but we have struggled to keep that up towards the end of matches. Makes perfect sense to start with players who are match fit and bring Gundogan on as players start to tire.
 
As much as I'd like to see Gundogan start at Old Trafford, it seems unnecessarily risky after a long lay-off. Hopefully he'll be on the bench, but it'd make more sense to ease him in gradually in the games against Bournemouth and Swansea (League Cup).
 
Lancet Fluke said:
Totally agree. The intensity of our starts has been great but we have struggled to keep that up towards the end of matches. Makes perfect sense to start with players who are match fit and bring Gundogan on as players start to tire.
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We're not going to win this on strength, but if we can keep out their aerial stuff & keep & pass the ball when they give it to us, then Utd's big units will have a lot of running to do & we potentially have a lot of pace & energy on the bench.

Having said all this, it's Pep, so we could just as well be starting with Gundogan Delph & Fernandinho in midfield & Silva, KDB Sterling up front if he sees a tactical advantage in it.
 
Neville Kneville said:
I wouldn't start him unless the current players are fatigued or unless we are playing without a striker, with KDB advanced.

Just back from injury, no match sharpness, new team, new league, derby. Makes no sense to throw him in, when we've won every game so far, imo.

An hour in, if Silva or KDB are struggling, would be ideal. To get the energy levels back up. Or earlier if we are not clicking as a team.
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This will be a tactical decision by the manager. Ten players are a shoe in, with Nacho or Gundogan the big call. The game plan should be to starve United of possession and dominate the midfield, so it's Gundogan for me.
 
Hard to believe it was only 10 years ago we had Sir Joey & Old man Hamann running the show, now we have Gundogan, Silva, KDB doing their stuff.
The future is well & truly blue.
 
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