#17 | Kevin De Bruyne - 2021/22 Performances

[mccity]

Not great, but still some good runs and an absolutely insanely brilliant cross that led to the moment of madness. Also put in a particularly good corner that Dias could've scored from iirc.

Fortunately with KDB he has that quality that on his weaker days he could still come away with multiple assists. But I don't think he'll be happy with how many sloppy moments he had.

 

[bluegaz13]

Was at the game tonight….so didn’t get the same perspective as on tele………however what was obvious is he gives the ball away in dangerous situations and if I remember correctly lost a tackle leading to the first goal.
When he’s not on song he can be a liability.

I would have started Foden instead of De Bruyne tonight……might be being harsh but I with everyone fit should he be an automatic choice ?

 

[LongsightM13]

Not great, but still some good runs and an absolutely insanely brilliant cross that led to the moment of madness. Also put in a particularly good corner that Dias could've scored from iirc.

Fortunately with KDB he has that quality that on his weaker days he could still come away with multiple assists. But I don't think he'll be happy with how many sloppy moments he had.

Nailed it. A lot more to come from him, still feeling his way in after an injury blighted pre-season

 

[twosips]

The worst part about his game today was that he was quite cowardly with the ball.

Loads of times Sterling or Bernardo would make runs in the box where 2018 KDB would slip them in, and 50% of the time it would get cut out but the other 50% they'd have a shot on goal from the 6 yard box.

He also kept getting the ball in good positions to shoot or pass first time and instead knocked it back to Cancelo and asked him to do something instead.

I can't remember who said they realised they'd seen the best of KDB a week ago or so, but I think I've had the same crushing realisation today and its really sad. I didn't think it would be over at 30 and I didn't expect it to be like this, he's looked like every touch and pass of the ball, every stride he takes is a massive effort for most of this year.

The worst thing is he used to look like he had so much time, he was thinking faster than everyone else and plotting attacks 3 moves ahead and now he just looks normal, rushed even, and having to lunge into his second touch because the first was so bad.

Im desperately hoping this is temporary, maybe the ankle is still causing him issues and he's going to come back and stand head and shoulders above everyone else again soon.

Yeah that was me who said that and it was a gut instinct and I still think I'm right. I think he'll be better than what he was tonight generally btw, but I don't think we're seeing him at his magnificent best week in week out again anymore now.

 

[super_city_si]

Yeah that was me who said that and it was a gut instinct and I still think I'm right. I think he'll be better than what he was tonight generally btw, but I don't think we're seeing him at his magnificent best week in week out again anymore now.

Hard to tell, he was brilliant for Belgium at the Euros so I think he still has it but he hasnt really shone for a season now at city and I wonder whether its down to us really having no focal point in our attack without a striker. Also hes still short of match sharpness.

 

[Gundog’s Gundog]

Whilst he wasn’t great tonight at least he got another 90 minutes under his belt.

Isn’t that pretty much three 90 minutes on the bounce in under a week though ? The sports science guys will know best but to the layman it looks like he’s fatigued

 

[Long Slow Goodbye]

He’s always been levels below the likes of David Silva, Yaya Toure etc in pure quality, but his prolific - almost freakish - capacity to create chances distracted from his fundamental inconsistency in every element of an orthodox midfielder’s game.

Now his legs are going, he needs to be utilised in one of the wide forward positions - absolved of defensive responsibly and told to purely focus on having an impact in the final third. Give Grealish and Bernardo the responsibility of controlling the midfield.

 

[Shaffer92]

He’s always been levels below the likes of David Silva, Yaya Toure etc in pure quality, but his prolific - almost freakish - capacity to create chances distracted from his fundamental inconsistency in every element of an orthodox midfielder’s game.

Now his legs are going, he needs to be utilised in one of the wide forward positions - absolved of defensive responsibly and told to purely focus on having an impact in the final third. Give Grealish and Bernardo the responsibility of controlling the midfield.

I agree with you but every position in Pep's system involves a tremendous amount of work off the ball, even those 'wide forward' positions you're talking about.

 

[bballchinaski]

He’s always been levels below the likes of David Silva, Yaya Toure etc in pure quality, but his prolific - almost freakish - capacity to create chances distracted from his fundamental inconsistency in every element of an orthodox midfielder’s game.

Now his legs are going, he needs to be utilised in one of the wide forward positions - absolved of defensive responsibly and told to purely focus on having an impact in the final third. Give Grealish and Bernardo the responsibility of controlling the midfield.

ive been thinking the same, he would kill on the left if city had a striker but yeah. lacking pace there is not ideal either but hes had too much physical issues to stay with the workload he has in the middle

 

[Mike N]

Isn’t that pretty much three 90 minutes on the bounce in under a week though ? The sports science guys will know best but to the layman it looks like he’s fatigued

He certainly looks fatigued but Pep said he usually takes a lot of games to get back up to speed, unlike others. I wouldn’t be surprised if he turns up at Anfield and puts in a performance. Let’s hope so.