17 | Kevin De Bruyne - 2023/24

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freshie said:
Been reading comments like this every season for the last 3 seasons now. Some people never learn
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That's true but he's now getting to the age where he will start slowing and the injuries don't help. He's nearly 33, very few players even plateau at that age. It's the age the decline will start, its just some players it's a very slow decline and some it's a quicker one.

So its not just about people not learning, it's also being realistic that he's approaching his mid 30s and might only have a season or two more at a very high level, and that's being optimistic.

Just the realities of life and age. we want these elite players like KDB to be that forever but they can't be and heading towards that time.
 
I think he had two horrible games in a row vs dippers, Arse. maybe he wasnt brough off yesterday to avoid a scene on the bench again.
strange Alvarez didnt come on for 10/15 mins when we couldnt even get a shot on target all day while in other games he starts when not really needed.
 
I'm kinda on the fence about Kev. His spark upon returning from injury shows the quality is still there.

Not sure if he can still play 90mins back to back, but we do have players that can fill his void when he's rested. Foden + Alvarez did well for us in his absence, so we won't exactly be clamoring for a replacement. Or maybe he's still returning to full fitness.

Pep knows best I guess, he will probably know when it's time to phase Kev out.
 
The assumption has to be that he is carrying some sort of issue as right now he is moving through treacle. He was never Usain Bolt but he had the spark to buy himself a yard of space to pick the pass and right now he is completely unable to do so.
 
Damanino said:
maybe he wasnt brough off yesterday to avoid a scene on the bench again.
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Exactly what I said yesterday. I think there's a chance he would've been hooked yesterday if he hadn't spat his dummy out vs the dippers.

Not that I think Pep would be afraid to hook him if completelynecessary. I think it a mixture of Phil being just as anonymous yesterday and him playing 2 games for England, as well as not hooking Kev for the second huge league game in a row after his hissy fit the last time.
 
Iassel said:
The assumption has to be that he is carrying some sort of issue as right now he is moving through treacle. He was never Usain Bolt but he had the spark to buy himself a yard of space to pick the pass and right now he is completely unable to do so.
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Major hamstring injuries that required 5 months out due to surgery and nearly 33 years old.

Thats a ripe combination to lose a yard of pace sadly and probably one you'll never get back in your 30s.

Shame because for me he's the most talented player in the world in his position but the human body is what it is and he's not getting younger. His brain will make him a brilliant player still in situations, but his physical peak has been and gone.

Obviously at some point his body won't do what the brain wants it to do, as with all sports people. Hopefully Kev has enough in the tank where he still has a good year or two left to still be effective.
 
I'd like to see him used as an impact sub now and again. Gives him the advantage of playing against tired opponents and would really give us a lift too
 
Crooked_rain said:
Major hamstring injuries that required 5 months out due to surgery and nearly 33 years old.

Thats a ripe combination to lose a yard of pace sadly and probably one you'll never get back in your 30s.

Shame because for me he's the most talented player in the world in his position but the human body is what it is and he's not getting younger. His brain will make him a brilliant player still in situations, but his physical peak has been and gone.

Obviously at some point his body won't do what the brain wants it to do, as with all sports people. Hopefully Kev has enough in the tank where he still has a good year or two left to still be effective.
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Perfectly stated. Bravo.
 
Worsleyweb said:
Been incredible but carry a pound or two and well past his best. If we could get Saudi money for him I would take it.
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Would hate to see him go tbh and I think if he can get himself 100 percent fit then we still have a good 2-3 years left . Would love him to finish his career with us .
 
Still got a part to play, when he does go i hope he doesnt go to that abomination Saudi league, he will be too good for that league when he is 78.
My respect for him will go down a little if he goes to Saudi, i mean, how much fucking money do you need ?
 
Looks like the “other” KDB thread got lifted. Oh well, I guess the “joke” is on @SebastianBlue for trying to have an AFD thread on a “Chelsea legend”…which is where I first realized it was AFD!!

Kev is a future statue in waiting and deservedly so. The fact that he is the ONLY PRE-PEP PLAYER still here speaks volumes to both his ability and longevity.

I hope against hope that he takes the summer off, but it may be his last hurrah for Belgium and as Captain of his country that might be too much to ask. However, I’m a greedy City fan who wants him to play here forever!

Maybe a rest against Villa is in his best interests, but I trust City’s Sports Science experts to know that threshold, because Kev himself will never call time on himself during a game. He leaves everything, and occasionally more, out there and to think about what he went through just last season trying to drag us over the Treble Winners finishing line with a bum hamstring speaks to the drive, desire and professionalism of yesteryear.

When he’s gone, he will be missed, so I hope Pep, City and Kev himself do as much as they can to extend his career as much as possible. One of the All-Time Greats, and not just as a City player!
 
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ChicagoBlue said:
Looks like the “other” KDB thread got lifted. Oh well, I guess the “joke” is on @SebastianBlue for trying to have an AFD thread on a “Chelsea legend”…which is where I first realized it was AFD!!

Kev is a future statue in waiting and deservedly so. The fact that he is the ONLY PRE-PEP PLAYER still here speaks volumes to both his ability and longevity.

I hope against hope that he takes the summer off, but it may be his last hurrah for Belgium and as Captain of his country that might be too much to ask. However, I’m a greedy City fan who wants him to play here forever!

Maybe a rest against Villa is in his best interests, but I trust City’s Sports Science experts to know that threshold, because Kev himself will never call time on a game if during a game. He leaves everything, and occasionally more, out there and to think about what he went through just last season trying to drag us over the Treble Winners finishing line with a bum hamstring speaks to the drive, desire and professionalism of yesteryear.

When he’s gone, he will be missed, so I hope Pep, City and Kev himself do as much as they can to extend his career as much as possible. One of the All-Time Greats, and not just as a City player!
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Alas, it was indeed pulled.

And people think us former mods get leniency on here!

Anyway, Kev is a legend and is still a world class footballer.
 
SebastianBlue said:
Alas, it was indeed pulled.

And people think us former mods get leniency on here!

Anyway, Kev is a legend and is still a world class footballer.
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Not sure why it got pulled, as it was clearly an AFD joke, but I’m reminded of Basil Fawlty’s famous “Don’t mention the war!”

As you rightly state, a City legend…and we don’t joke about our legends!
 
Crooked_rain said:
Major hamstring injuries that required 5 months out due to surgery and nearly 33 years old.

Thats a ripe combination to lose a yard of pace sadly and probably one you'll never get back in your 30s.

Shame because for me he's the most talented player in the world in his position but the human body is what it is and he's not getting younger. His brain will make him a brilliant player still in situations, but his physical peak has been and gone.

Obviously at some point his body won't do what the brain wants it to do, as with all sports people. Hopefully Kev has enough in the tank where he still has a good year or two left to still be effective.
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I’m surprised that there hasn’t been more of a discussion around how his hamstring surgery is likely to have affected him, even to the point of his confidence in stretching and turning etc at full pace.

Maybe his performance when he came back against Newcastle glossed over the issue, but as you say a major hamstring injury and particularly at his age will inevitably reduce his physical peak.

Personally I think he may be more effective being introduced in the final 30 minutes of the game, giving teams something new to deal with, rather than as a starter at the moment.

Pep has a big call to make with him for tomorrow night as if we fail to beat Villa then I think we can forget about the league.
 
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