#17 | Kevin De Bruyne - 2020/21 Performances

[mosssideblue]

Apparently his playing style doesn't fit in the new system so far. His stray passes, especially when city are dominating possession in the final third, would probably have the team kicked out in the Champions League knockout stage. Let's make it simple, he should not be started at least in all those important matches if the new system keeps on working perfectly without him.

I will watch with interest what replies you will get to your post

 

[Young Blue]

Kev's our most important player, it takes time to adjust to the pace and rhythm of the games. He tries the most extraordinary passes, hopefully he will find his top form for the business end of the season. No one works harder.

 

[FantasyIreland]

I will watch with interest what replies you will get to your post

His card will be marked,lol

 

[samarasra]

In the new system pep is playing, there are 3 positions I see where the player has freedom to take risks with movement and passing: LCM, wherever Cancelo is on a given day, and the false 9. KDB is at his best at RCM but the control Bernie offers in the middle makes him undroppable there imo. Kev definitely has a spot in our best 11 when he’s in form, but in the current system that would have to be in Gundos spot or upfront, and Gundo is just playing much better right now. Whenever Kev is in the team he needs coverage for his risk taking. He has been at his best alongside David Silva (control) and Fernandinho (coverage), Rodri and Gundo as a double pivot, and with walker at right back behind him. In the current system our control has come through midfield and our creativity has come from the wings and cancelo. I think KDB could get back to his best in this system, but it can’t come at the sacrifice of Bernardo. I also don’t think he can play with cancelo on the same side as him. He would need to be at LCM or upfront, with a Laporte or ake behind him. Could inject a load of creativity down that side for Foden to play off of too.
Side note: I am deathly curious how he would do in cancelos position with Laporte-Dias-stones alongside him

You make some excellent points imo. I love watching Kevin play when at or even near his best. But the great rhythm and balance we had with Cancelo, Stones, Dias, Zinchenko, Bernardo, Rodri and Gundogan evaporated when an off form Kevin came back. Our defensive solidity softened, Rodri and Gundogan were less effective than they had been, Bernie disappeared and the team ethic was reduced. Even a below par Kevin can still change a game, any 3 from Raheem, Mahrez, Jesus, Phil and a fit Sergio, can play up front. You suggest Kevin instead of Gundogan or play Kevin up front, maybe as a false 9, why not, he could run around as much as he wants, he can score, is great at set pieces and if his deft touches don't come off at least the whole defense won't look so vulnerable. Gundogan showed he can score when playing with Rodri, Bernie & Cancelo. I think playing Kevin up front, at least until he gets his mojo back, could work, because I think the system that evolved is currently more important than changing it to get Kevin on the pitch. I would like to see, based only on current form, Ederson, Cancelo,Dias, Zin,Bernie, Rodri, Gundogan, Foden, Kevin and 1 of Raheem/Riyad/Jesus/Torres as our starting 11 for big games. I thought Utd. were good enough and had the benefit of the early goal, but I felt our team balance deteriorated from previous games to a greater extent than their form had improved.

 

[lasereyes]

He's had a few poor games around a fairly serious injury. Well I seem to remember Steve Waugh or Tendulkar getting out for single digits a few times. I have an inkling many of the posts here ain't gonna age well.

 

[Hart of the Matter]

He's had a few poor games around a fairly serious injury. Well I seem to remember Steve Waugh or Tendulkar getting out for single digits a few times. I have an inkling many of the posts here ain't gonna age well.

Hope you are right but his form was hardly great before the injury.

 

[BillyShears]

Kev will be fine. He's obviously struggling for form, and there's an element of psychology involved in it. When you see passes other people can't and then execute them it becomes about instinct, but when that radar goes amiss it can take a bit of time to find the rhythm and confidence again. He's still the first name on the team sheet for me.

 

[eastmanc]

Kev will be fine. He's obviously struggling for form, and there's an element of psychology involved in it. When you see passes other people can't and then execute them it becomes about instinct, but when that radar goes amiss it can take a bit of time to find the rhythm and confidence again. He's still the first name on the team sheet for me.

This all day long. KDB will come good. He will have a game where his all his passing starts to come off and his confidence will start to build . He will be fine sooner rather than later. He is too good of a player for this poor form to continue.

 

[BlueDejong]

 

[Craig]

Selling him isn't an option - the problem is that both Gundogan and Kev aren't as good as Bernardo
when it comes to first touch and keeping the ball under a pressure. Yesterday team struggled without
Bernardo in that component..

So if he plays as LCM like he did against Wolves and Bernardo plays as RCM - we are much stronger and there is also a big space for improvement and that's why Kev is better option than Gundogan on that position..

---------------------Ederson-------------------------------
Walker-----Ruben----------Stones/Laporte---Cancelo
----------------------Rodri----------------------------------
----Bernardo/Foden-----------Debruyne/Gundogan---
Sterling/Mahrez---Jesus/Aguero--Foden/Sterling----

That's our best team and I don't think someone needs to go..

Pep just needs to know that Debruyne and Gundogan together won't work against tough opponents,
you need someone who has skills in small spaces.

Agree with most of that apart from I think Gundogan is also superb at retaining the ball in tight spaces whilst under pressure. What he’s not a patch on Bernado for is getting back quickly or pressing once we lose possession which is obviously important against the better sides. This becomes a big problem for us when KDB is constantly giving the ball away quite needlessly at times. You then see Gundo trying to run 50/60 yards and he starts to look like he’s treading water.

Not a problem when we’re maintaining the ball very well and able to pressurise teams high up the pitch as a unit but it definitely is when we lose the ball unexpectedly and Kev is usually chief culprit for this.