David Silva - 2016/17 performances

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

He did take a penalty and passed it to the keeper.

I couldn't believe that penalty! I swear I could have blown it harder!

 

[Tugay One Cup]

And that was the game when he showed what he really could be. He was fucking sensational that day and scored a wonderful goal that was Yaya-esque and I haven't seen that anywhere near enough. People think I'm knocking him but I think he's got as much talent as Messi and that's what frustrates me about him because he doesn't deliver that extra 10% that would put him up there with players like Messi or Zidane.

To be fair mate, saying you'll "remember him as a nice player who turned it on against Hull" is downplaying his influence and could easily be construed as knocking him. That performance against Hull isn't why he's won 100+ caps for Spain, it's not why he captained them last night, it isn't the reason he's so highly rated around the world, it isn't why Pep has retained his services and given him an important role and it isn't why he'll be remembered as one of the best we've ever had.

That's all because he's a genuinely world class player and has been since before he joined us. Who's better than who is of course entirely up for debate.

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

2) Munich (a) 2013/14
3) Blackburn (a) 2010/11
4) Munich (h) 2011/12
5) Blackpool (a) 2010/11
6) Wigan (h) 2010/11
7) Bolton (a) 2011/12
8) QPR (a) 2011/12
9) Arsenal (h) 2011/12
10) Spurs (h) 2012/13

I was at many of those and read the match reports to be sure:
2) That's a fair shout but I'll remember Milner as the player who best fitted my requirement as the guy who took the game by the scruff of the neck that night.
3) We fucking stuffed them that day from the first whistle to the last so that doesn't meet my criteria.
4) We played their reserves and I don't really recall us being in trouble.
5) He was good that day but again it doesn't meet my criteria for really taking a team that was struggling by the scruff of the neck.
6) He scored a goal that rolled through Al Habsi's legs but that wasn't a game we were really ever in trouble.
7) He scored the first but we were 2-0 and 3-1 up in that game
8) That game was a battle but I wouldn't agree that Silva was the difference.
9) Half a point for that. He scored the only goal but Hart had a stormer that day and it was a tight game generally.
10) I'd say Mancini had more to do with us winning that game when he changed things and brought on Maicon, using him and Kolarov for additional width. He assisted the winning goal but he couldn't be described as the difference between the two sides in that game.

So maybe two half-points out of 9 possible. And look at the dates of those games.

 

[aguero93:20]

I was at many of those and read the match reports to be sure:
2) That's a fair shout but I'll remember Milner as the player who best fitted my requirement as the guy who took the game by the scruff of the neck that night.
3) We fucking stuffed them that day from the first whistle to the last so that doesn't meet my criteria.
4) We played their reserves and I don't really recall us being in trouble.
5) He was good that day but again it doesn't meet my criteria for really taking a team that was struggling by the scruff of the neck.
6) He scored a goal that rolled through Al Habsi's legs but that wasn't a game we were really ever in trouble.
7) He scored the first but we were 2-0 and 3-1 up in that game
8) That game was a battle but I wouldn't agree that Silva was the difference.
9) Half a point for that. He scored the only goal but Hart had a stormer that day and it was a tight game generally.
10) I'd say Mancini had more to do with us winning that game when he changed things and brought on Maicon, using him and Kolarov for additional width. He assisted the winning goal but he couldn't be described as the difference between the two sides in that game.

So maybe two half-points out of 9 possible.

Opinions eh? Pretty sure he was awarded MOTM in 4,6,7,8 and 9. 5 he scores the goal that made Blackpool drop their heads and was instrumental in one of Tevez's goals. That was off the top of my head and I could have named more than 10 though tbh, not bad going playing with the likes of Tevez and Yaya who made more spectacular contributions from the platform he created and took a disproportionate share of the credit.

 

[Exeter Blue I am here]

This thread! I can't believe the stick that one of the greatest and most elegant players ever to pull on the shirt is getting.
"He'll be remembered as a bloke who once turned it on at Hull"??? WTF?!!! I think I'll prefer to remember arguably the greatest pass ever seen from a City player at the Swamp to set up Bosnian Bob, or one of similar brilliance that teed up Adam Johnson at Upton Park, or the two he bagged at Klanfield when the heat was on, or the exquisite dink for Edin to grab a last minute winner at home to Spurs, or the goal of the month award he won for his dribble and shot at West Ham, and any one of about a thousand other exquisite touches and passes.

Unbelievable Jeff

 

[Tugay One Cup]

6) Wigan (h) 2010/11

Wigan in September 2011 was the first time I got to see Aguero in the flesh and despite him scoring a hat trick that day, it was Silva who stole the show. He was absolutely magical from the first moment to the last.

 

[mcfcdave80]

And that was the game when he showed what he really could be. He was fucking sensational that day and scored a wonderful goal that was Yaya-esque and I haven't seen that anywhere near enough. People think I'm knocking him but I think he's got as much talent as Messi and that's what frustrates me about him because he doesn't deliver that extra 10% that would put him up there with players like Messi or Zidane.

I was waiting for that game to be mentioned. His best ever game for City. Utterly immense and showed every single quality a top footballer should have. Skill on the ball, passing, tackling, leadership, influence and goalscoring. A true 10/10 performance.

 

[Zin 'messiah' Zimmer]

And that was the game when he showed what he really could be. He was fucking sensational that day and scored a wonderful goal that was Yaya-esque and I haven't seen that anywhere near enough. People think I'm knocking him but I think he's got as much talent as Messi and that's what frustrates me about him because he doesn't deliver that extra 10% that would put him up there with players like Messi or Zidane.

Correction, this is the worse thing you've ever posted (: fucking messi lol

For what it's worth I agree regarding his influence, a cracking little player, one I'll remember fondly....

 

[RandomJ]

Oh dear some of the patients have escaped the asylum I see.

 

[aguero93:20]

Wigan in September 2011 was the first time I got to see Aguero in the flesh and despite him scoring a hat trick that day, it was Silva who stole the show. He was absolutely magical from the first moment to the last.

Yeah that one was in my head but it would have been disputed due to Sergio's hat trick, don't think people value the control he has over space and tempo, an awful lot of the goals scored by Aguero, Tevez and Yaya were down to either Silva's movement creating space for them or his speeding up of play to allow them to take advantage of gaps in the defence, or his slowing down of play to let them get into position (especially Yaya).

 

[BerkshireBlue]

He's the best player I've ever seen wear a city shirt and one of the best players to grace the premier league. End of story

 

[blueparrot]

He's the best player I've ever seen wear a city shirt and one of the best players to grace the premier league. End of story

We'll all have different views on who has been the very best player we have seen in the last few years, which is why as I posted earlier it's a bit pointless trying to put them into some kind of top five in any order as they all have different attributes. What isn't up for debate as I see it is Silva being one of a group of very very good players that have taken us to a new level.

 

[Rammy Blue]

This thread! I can't believe the stick that one of the greatest and most elegant players ever to pull on the shirt is getting.
"He'll be remembered as a bloke who once turned it on at Hull"??? WTF?!!! I think I'll prefer to remember arguably the greatest pass ever seen from a City player at the Swamp to set up Bosnian Bob, or one of similar brilliance that teed up Adam Johnson at Upton Park, or the two he bagged at Klanfield when the heat was on, or the exquisite dink for Edin to grab a last minute winner at home to Spurs, or the goal of the month award he won for his dribble and shot at West Ham, and any one of about a thousand other exquisite touches and passes.

Unbelievable Jeff

It's a truly shocking few pages of the thread that I wish I had not ventured into.

 

[Tugay One Cup]

It's a truly shocking few pages of the thread that I wish I had not ventured into.

On the bright side, at least you now know he didn't get injured.

 

[malg]

It's all about opinions. For me, on his day, he is a very, very good player. I never really bought into the 'Merlin' stuff myself, but more than happy for people to describe him as such if that's how they feel about him. I've said before that I'd have a couple of players ahead of him as being my favourite player since the takeover, and I genuinely don't understand why anyone would describe him as the greatest every City player, but hey, it'd be shite if we all agreed.

 

[simon23]

so i do genuinely wonder who people would describe as city's greatest players (top 5)...Im guessing its predictable but I would like to hear why. Its also potentially a mute argument before it even begins however as well as some of the argument will be clouded by a sense of attachment as another poster already described and a sense of nostalgia.

I wonder what would have happened IF messi had every signed for us (Not going to happen) ...but if he had would the players people describe as the best still be considered that? I think for some people the answer would be that messi (or anyone else) would still not be as good as some of the players from the 60's etc because of that nostalgia/wanting to cling onto history and a sense of romanticism (call it what you will).

Tevez for me is one of the most influential players in a city shirt Ive ever seen (loathe him all you will for what happened off the field but on it he was a different class) and he rightly (for me) sits up there with some of the rest of the current crop (yaya, silva, kun, Kompany.

 

[aguero93:20]

so i do genuinely wonder who people would describe as city's greatest players (top 5)...Im guessing its predictable but I would like to hear why

Born in the mid eighties so they'll all be post takeover.

1) Kompany - leader of the most successful City side in history.
2) Aguero - best striker in the PL era, possibly world no. 1.
3) Silva - a joy to watch, a role model and the architect of some of our greatest performances.
4) Zabaleta - an absolute warrior, plays with the passion of a fan and in his prime was up with the world's best in his position.
5) Tevez - signing this lad was a real turning point for the club and his performances and goals helped to change the clubs and fans mentality to a winning one.

Yaya misses out because of his actions off the pitch, Dinho was a difficult omission as were GazBaz and Joe. KDB hasn't been here long enough, nor have Gundogan and Sterling but I think all 3 could break into that top 5 before they're done.

Special mentions to Uwe, Kinky, Dunnie, Weaver, Kennedy, Berkovic, Benarbia, Dickov and the Goat pre takeover loved them all but they're not in the league of any of the above - if they were they wouldn't have been playing for us at the time.

 

[Blue Pete]

We have some right muppets on here. Silva is one of the best players we have ever had. He also has over 100 caps for Spain as an attacking midfield player covering an era that includes Xavi, Iniesta (possible spains best two players ever), Fabregas, Mata.

In my opinion the only blues who would not rate him would the the sort who decide take every opportunity in a match to shout 'hit him' and 'get stuck in'. Who think getting stuck in in the pub team they tried to play for 30 years ago is the way to play 'proper' football.

Silva has been the best player to watch since he joined. He is unlikely to 'get stuck in' he is not going to win a header or a 50/50 (or even 60/40) but give him the ball and enjon watching a man who can play football as it should be played.

 

[bluesilver]

Funny, I knew when I saw several pages on this thread come up, I thought-there's no way he was injured, I'dve known about it.
I realized it had to be the new brigade of naysayers. Can't believe I'd ever lump PB, Zin with Jack, which is a f'in shame (to me).

Silva is my favorite player and ofc I'm biased. He is 1 of our few players universally admired by neutrals, envied by rivals that he's ours.
Football brains have aptly described what he does best and why he's so different from Yaya and Tevez, and he may soon be passed by
the longer Sergio and Kevin stay here as 1 of the best City players of modern era. But he'll never need that qualifying comment-
"quality on the pitch, c*nt off it".

He'll always be a quality ambassador for City after he retires, encouraging class players to come and stay, just like he has his time here.
Silva will be missed by 99.9% of fans when he decides to hang up the boots and the 0.1% might realize what exactly he brought when he's gone.

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

He is held in such high esteem in the same way as Andres Iniesta is.
They are both glorious footballers with a level of ball control that is almost supernatural.
They are both fantastic ambassadors for their teams, never a word out of place and a role models for kids
They both come over as humble and good human beings in a sport where there are many many players that don't demonstrate those qualities
They both have been fantastic servants for their country.

Well said, mate.