17 | Kevin De Bruyne - 2022/23 Performances

[skillman]

Look at him from 3 years ago and he looks twice the size.

Maybe one of the reasons he looks knackered all the time.

That and we have no one to rotate him with.

I sometimes think this too when I see 17/18 highlights but then there’s plenty of times he’s non-stop for the full 90 and doing lung-bursting runs late on as well.

 

[Willtaylor]

Terrible today and I agree with others doesn't look in the best shape

 

[Zin 'messiah' Zimmer]

Bobbins today, nothing came off and he looked laboured,
However he’ll have moments like this when his outlets on the wing are failing to drive, no real space for him to function is the reality and it frustrates his flow!

 

[mdj0520]

We KNOW gundogan and Bernardo are an excellent pairing for the two 8s. Kdb should be limited to a couple of games in a row and then rested. He always looks better after a good rest.

 

[WallyA]

Just to echo, Pep has seemingly no problem resting Gundogan, but will play KdB into the ground.

Now its probably because he thinks we need him to win, but its working against him when he is overplayed.

Foden and Alvarez are in prime years, play them into the ground, their bodies can handle it, but be smarter with KdB.

 

[eastmanc]

I sometimes think this too when I see 17/18 highlights but then there’s plenty of times he’s non-stop for the full 90 and doing lung-bursting runs late on as well.

We seen what has happened with Kalvin Phillips and other players under Pep's management, there is no way that he is over weight. He is just older, it comes to every player.

 

[eastmanc]

We KNOW gundogan and Bernardo are an excellent pairing for the two 8s. Kdb should be limited to a couple of games in a row and then rested. He always looks better after a good rest.

He had a good rest after the World Cup, he only played three times, same with Gundo and Foden.

 

[Bluewars]

This season he has been poor more often than he has been good. Not worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as David Silva.

That's harsh..both world-class players. Although Ive never seen David Silva drop a 3/10 performance, ive seen Kev have 4 or 5 this season alone.

 

[eastmanc]

Oh do fuck off with that shite

Stop sitting on that fence and say what you really mean.

 

[DATOIA]

KDB will be playing at this level, for 2-3-4 years without any doubt..

Since last season, Pep doesn't use him as a box2box midfielder, he is more of a second striker / number 10 or whatever Messi played during World Cup..

That's why Bernardo or Gundo play more nearer to Rodri, than KDB.. And that's why we signed Phillips, cause for just rotating with Rodri, club wouldn't have payed 60m.. Maybe there is a plan, that we will see Rodri - Phillips duo in midfield (especially when both Bernardo and Gundo can be sold at the end of this season..) and KDB will play upfront, focusing more on goals and assists and less about defense and build-ups.. Basically our formation is 4-2-4 now..

So in that system, you can rotate KDB with a lots of players.. For example young Julian can play second striker and team-up with Haaland.. Or you can play Grealish as a number 10 and check how he does there, maybe he is better number 10 than a left winger (and we all know, that's the truth :D).. Foden can play everywhere, so as long as KDB is rotated, he may play less games, but quality will be there for sure..

I think our transfer strategy and new formation / system is based on club's wish or goal - to use KDB as long as it's possible and shape our team so, that even though he will decline with the age, we still could use his phenomenal attacking skills.

Like for example whole Argentina team was shaped during this World Cup and recent years, so that Messi could still be used and played..