17 | Kevin De Bruyne - 2022/23 Performances

[skillman]

I disagree,i think we have others who can offer more over the 90,both individually and (this is the important bit) as a team.

We'd have plenty of energy and creativity,and more importantly balance and rythym,with Bernie and Grealish sat behind a front 3.

When we’re not particularly creating many chances as it is, having our most (consistently) creative player sat watching from the stands just isn’t the way to go in my opinion.

 

[FantasyIreland]

When we’re not particularly creating many chances as it is, having our most (consistently) creative player sat watching from the stands just isn’t the way to go in my opinion.

Exactly,so try something different but very likely to reap reward.

In my opinion.....we just cant afford Kev's current output and productivity,something amplified by Gundo partnering him.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

Exactly,so try something different but very likely to reap reward.

In my opinion.....we just cant afford Kev's current output and productivity,something amplified by Gundo partnering him.

So we can't afford Kev's current output and productivity?
Hmm, it's best in the league by a distance this season. And, by not such distance, since the world cup.

 

[FantasyIreland]

So we can't afford Kev's current output and productivity?
Hmm, it's best in the league by a distance this season. And, by not such distance, since the world cup.

Yeah,sorry,youre right......he can do no wrong.

 

[Draikin]

Can’t believe he’s being written off. He’s just in a bit of poor form, lacking confidence. He’s 31, not 37.

He's not a natural athlete and suffered pretty bad injuries during his career

 

[Zin 'messiah' Zimmer]

So we can't afford Kev's current output and productivity?
Hmm, it's best in the league by a distance this season. And, by not such distance, since the world cup.

No we can’t, the stats are weak indicators of the truth sometimes; he has heavily stacked numbers but the ‘whole’ Kev game is off by some distance; he is turning more balls over than in any season I can remember, his conditioning is poor and if I’m being honest, his head looks all over the show, why? The Belgium national squad could tell you!

 

[Colin Bell (genuine name)]

Can’t believe some of the comments here. We’ve obviously became so spoiled that when a player who could walk in to any team in the world is not consistently matching his exceptionally high standards then he must be finished.
The man still produces, not all the time, but he’s by far the best midfielder we have and having him on the pitch is a far better option than having him sat on the bench.
If he wasn’t fit then he wouldn’t be making those 40yard sprints to close down the keeper which he seemed to be the only one doing last night.

 

[JewelZee]

has he forgotten how to be a midfielder? these days just stand around hoping to get the ball and make a couple of risky passes that comes off sometimes. the player who was dominating the midfield is nowhere to be seen.

I have to agree. Other than the ball he almost bent into the back post I can't recall him doing a single thing. I love KDB but I love City even more. Maybe getting Bernardo back in could help, but him with Gundo it is not working.

 

[JewelZee]

This , people never fucking learn and have no patience with out great players

We can have patience and have him on the sideline until he regains some form. Can not afford to have him playing like this and expect to win anything of consequence this year

 

[JewelZee]

When we’re not particularly creating many chances as it is, having our most (consistently) creative player sat watching from the stands just isn’t the way to go in my opinion.

Yeah,sorry,youre right......he can do no wrong.

You have to get on the ball to create chances. A static DeBruyne paired with an aging, slow Gundo puts an unreasonable strain on everyone else. Blind loyalty to any player equals disloyalty to the squad as a whole.

 

[domalino]

His biggest problem is he’s become the bottleneck.

The Brentford manager told everyone what to do - don’t worry about Haaland, choke De Bruyne and you stop the problem.

We need to find someone to play in the other 8 position who will be the playmaker that everything can run through when KDB is being taken out of the game. 2023 Bernardo can’t do it, Gundogan can’t do it.

If we fix that position, opponents will have to adjust and KDB won’t be getting as much attention and he’ll start delivering again.

 

[WallyA]

His biggest problem is he’s become the bottleneck.

The Brentford manager told everyone what to do - don’t worry about Haaland, choke De Bruyne and you stop the problem.

We need to find someone to play in the other 8 position who will be the playmaker that everything can run through when KDB is being taken out of the game. 2023 Bernardo can’t do it, Gundogan can’t do it.

If we fix that position, opponents will have to adjust and KDB won’t be getting as much attention and he’ll start delivering again.

Entering Foden.

Foden has energy, playmaking and goals.

Want Foden right away developing a connection with Grealish on the left as KdB has a good one with Mahrez on the right.

Then Gundogan can sub Kev, while Bernie subs Foden.

Alvarez can play as a 8/10 in the future too. I see him and Foden centrally as the future.

 

[bobbyowenquiff]

His biggest problem is he’s become the bottleneck.

The Brentford manager told everyone what to do - don’t worry about Haaland, choke De Bruyne and you stop the problem.

We need to find someone to play in the other 8 position who will be the playmaker that everything can run through when KDB is being taken out of the game. 2023 Bernardo can’t do it, Gundogan can’t do it.

If we fix that position, opponents will have to adjust and KDB won’t be getting as much attention and he’ll start delivering again.

Agreed: I reckon Foden can play the number 8 role. Would like to see Pep try it anyway. Our best ever team (2017/18) had KDB and Silva swapping positions from 8 to 10 relentlessly and no one could live with us. You can't stop two of them at the same time.

 

[skillman]

You have to get on the ball to create chances. A static DeBruyne paired with an aging, slow Gundo puts an unreasonable strain on everyone else. Blind loyalty to any player equals disloyalty to the squad as a whole.

You’ve both alluded to it so a genuine (non-digging) question to you and @FantasyIreland - would you rather have Gundo in than KDB?

You’ve both said they can’t play together but are hinting at KDB needing to be the one that makes way so curious. I’m a big, big fan of Gundo, love the bloke and his strengths, but KDB is above him in terms of importance.

 

[FantasyIreland]

You’ve both alluded to it so a genuine (non-digging) question to you and @FantasyIreland - would you rather have Gundo in than KDB?

You’ve both said they can’t play together but are hinting at KDB needing to be the one that makes way so curious. I’m a big, big fan of Gundo, love the bloke and his strengths, but KDB is above him in terms of importance.

I'm not hinting,i'm convinced.

Gundo helps our midfield flow better,he links play and orchestrates,Rodri and Bernie bounce off him far better and the team just looks more settled and balanced.

 

[Bluewars]

His biggest problem is he’s become the bottleneck.

The Brentford manager told everyone what to do - don’t worry about Haaland, choke De Bruyne and you stop the problem.

We need to find someone to play in the other 8 position who will be the playmaker that everything can run through when KDB is being taken out of the game. 2023 Bernardo can’t do it, Gundogan can’t do it.

If we fix that position, opponents will have to adjust and KDB won’t be getting as much attention and he’ll start delivering again.

We dont play with #8s anymore, which is a more serious problem than Kdb's poor form.

We set up in a 4-4-2 then Rico pushes up into midfield to make a 3-2-3-1-1 with Kdb doing whatever tf he wants.

Pep said it earlier this season that he 'feels' Kev plays better when he has that freedom and is not restricted to one posistion in midfield, I couldnt disagree more with that statement.

Contrary to some posters opinions, he's not above criticism, the past 2 seasons hes played well for 6 months, Pep and Martinez have both mismanaged him during that period.

 

[Larry Stranger]

Kev is one of the best at quick transitions when the ball turns over. The problem atm is that Haaland is running, but opposition CB's are blocking the passing lanes into him because he's central. Kev's passing at his best was when we had Sane and Sterling running into space from the wings. We don't have that anymore with Jack and Mahrez. So it looks like he's off his game, but there is a lack of options in those moments so he tries forcing passes.

 

[yankblue]

Entering Foden.

Foden has energy, playmaking and goals.

Want Foden right away developing a connection with Grealish on the left as KdB has a good one with Mahrez on the right.

Then Gundogan can sub Kev, while Bernie subs Foden.

Alvarez can play as a 8/10 in the future too. I see him and Foden centrally as the future.

Theoretically he does, unfortunately we're yet to see it consistently and who knows what's going on with him lately

 

[FantasyIreland]

Kev is one of the best at quick transitions when the ball turns over. The problem atm is that Haaland is running, but opposition CB's are blocking the passing lanes into him because he's central. Kev's passing at his best was when we had Sane and Sterling running into space from the wings. We don't have that anymore with Jack and Mahrez. So it looks like he's off his game, but there is a lack of options in those moments so he tries forcing passes.

Which suggests he isnt currently the best option in our midfield.

 

[skillman]

I'm not hinting,i'm convinced.

Gundo helps our midfield flow better,he links play and orchestrates,Rodri and Bernie bounce off him far better and the team just looks more settled and balanced.

Fair enough. I agree for what it’s worth.

But I feel the pay-off from KDB is greater than that. Personally feel he shouldn’t be anywhere near midfield but we play with wingers and not sure he’s suited to that either so has to be shoehorned in elsewhere. That’s the conundrum Pep has faced all season I reckon.