17 | Kevin De Bruyne - 2024/25

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

Kevin hasn't dominated a big game since 22/23, Arsenal at home. Last season, he was poor vs Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Real, United (FA Cup final). The trend continued with Inter.

Hope he gets back to his best days. He still can boss weaker teams, e.g. Palace away, which can help us win the league again. But something essential is missing in the big games. Foden should start ahead of him. And also Bernie, whose bottom level is much better than Kevin's.

I think he won't get back to his best days. His performances so far this season have had a faint whiff of 'this is my last season'!

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

I didn't think he was great most of last season and he's not improved this season so far. He's always got something in him but his passing, at which he was the best in the world not that long ago, is poor now and he loses possession too easily. First thing he needs to do is retire from international football.

 

[1Basti]

Kevin hasn't dominated a big game since 22/23, Arsenal at home. Last season, he was poor vs Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Real, United (FA Cup final). The trend continued with Inter.

he played well against Real & Chelsea wasn`t bad either

 

[Gabriel]

De Bruyne has his place and will have many great games, but if we play against a really well-disciplined side such as Internazionale, then we need to play those who thrive in the short passing and quick movement game. At the moment, de Bruyne, Savinho, and Doku run a higher risk of conceding possession, and at that point it's all hands to the pump trying to cover. With Haaland largely detached in such games, we cannot afford more than one of the others at a time.

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

I think he won't get back to his best days. His performances so far this season have had a faint whiff of 'this is my last season'!

I think for quite some time to come, maybe a couple of season, he'll be able to pull out the game that astonishes us. The killer pass, the explosive run from midfield, the curling shot from the edge of the box beyond any keeper's reach.
But it's a fair while since we've really depended on him. That is the honest-to-God truth. Gutted about him being injured, if he's out for Sunday. But the truth is now that we've got other options — particularly one called Philip Walter Foden. But not only.
Hope he gets back soon. Above all, he's just played two ninety-minute games for his country. I'm now certain that injuries are coming from him simply playing too many games. He can't do that any more. He has to understand that. So does Pep. So does Belgium.

 

[CC1]

Not sure about some of the takes on Kevin on here. However, we need to accept that his playing time will have to be significantly reduced from now on. His body just isn't up to it any more. These "non impact" injuries are becoming more and more common.

Agreed. And also can’t believe the negative comments on here. One “not so good game” & they write him off.
Great fans

 

[youngbob]

Not sure about some of the takes on Kevin on here. However, we need to accept that his playing time will have to be significantly reduced from now on. His body just isn't up to it any more. These "non impact" injuries are becoming more and more common.

This is it for me. Needs to have his playing time reduced - which is why we brought Gundogan back - but he can still produce huge game-shifting contributions in marginal moments. His ability to run matches almost on his own is dwindling, but his ability to stand back from the chaos and produce magic is still there. We saw it so much last season, where his running stats and overall number of touches dropped but his productivity in key moments went through the roof. He finished the season with 26 G/A in 26 games. Those numbers are insane. And if you dig into the numbers you find goals or assists that changed the course of the entire season. Newcastle away, Palace away, Liverpool away, Forest away, and, more than any other, Spurs away. We need Foden fit and firing like he was last season to be able to manage Kevin's minutes properly - thankfully now he's back some of the strain on Kev can be eased - but we saw against West Ham literally three weeks ago that Kevin's still got that kind of performance in him, but it'll only come more regularly if he drops out of the Belgium set-up and manages his playing time carefully.

 

[Gaz (FMwkdsoul)]

Didnt look very mobile at all last night even before the kicking.

 

[Dazzle84]

I said this last season and I think it's even more pertinent this season - we need to consider using him as an impact sub from time to time.

It seemed odd that he played last night & I think it probably indicates that the plan was for him not to start v arsenal anyway, but we're heavily into the transition for him now I think

 

[Georgian Maestro]

I love him to bits but when he's bad he's very bad