17 | Kevin De Bruyne - 2024/25

Platt Lane 59 said:
I think this season there are more teams playing with a much quicker tempo.
Possession is no longer the main objective for many more teams.
Look at how well Bournemouth are playing with quick passing and many rapid players.
Even Liverpool have adapted their style where the midfielder trio are piling forward.
Unfortunately, City seem to be getting left behind, tactically.
It's getting more about energy and taking risks.
Faster, younger players are getting selected, with all 5 subs being used to keep tempo going...
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Totally agree with this. Fotball is moving towards directness and pace. But take a look at Gundogan and De Bruyne, you will see them multiple times try and do feints, or pirouettes, or dribbles or whatever during a game, the type of stuff we have seen them do multiple times over the years. The type of moves they have built their game on, the type of stuff that are second nature to them. If you close your eyes you can literally see excactly what their next move would be if they succeeded. But the reality is that their bodies are too slow. They do everything a bit off and it upsets their whole game. Prime De Bruyne and prime Gundo would still run every midfield on the planet. But they are really struggling now and it is painful to see. It happens to basically everyone. We saw it with David Silva. A player that didn't rely on pace or atleticism at any point in his career, just his brain and his fantastic manipulation of the ball. Same as Gundo, and to a lesser degree Kevin who in his prime were athletic as fook as well. But they will all reach a point where their body stagnates to a tempo where it upsets their whole rhytm as footballers. It even impacts how they weigh their passes and their decisions on the pitch.

They can roll back the years at times, which would be great to see. But we can't demand them be what they used to be. It just isn't fair
 
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ScottSinclair said:
Totally agree with this. Fotball is moving towards directness and pace. But take a look at Gundogan and De Bruyne, you will see them multiple times try and do feints, or pirouettes, or dribbles or whatever during a game, the type of stuff we have seen them do multiple times over the years. The type of moves they have built their game on, the type of stuff that are second nature to them. If you close your eyes you can literally see excactly what their next move would be if they succeeded. But the reality is that their bodies are too slow. They do everything a bit off and it upsets their whole game. Prime De Bruyne and prime Gundo would still run every midfield on the planet. But they are really struggling now and it is painful to see. It happens to basically everyone. We saw it with David Silva. A player that didn't rely on pace or atleticism at any point in his career, just his brain and his fantastic manipulatotion of the ball. Same as Gundo, and to a lesser degree Kevin who in his prime were athletic as fook as well. But they will all reach a point where their body reaches a point where it upsets their whole rhytm as footballers. It even impacts how they weigh their passes and their decisions on the pitch.

They can roll back the years at times, which would be great to see. But we can't demand them be what they used to be. It just isn't fair
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Yes, well put.
If we can see it, why does Pep not realise that sticking with all the "old guard", will not get City into a Champions League place.
Subs are playing a bigger role as the game's play is getting faster.
With West Ham at home this weekend, Pep please give a couple of the youngsters a start...
 
We still need a couple of the old guard to stick around at the first part of our rebuild. It is difficult to predict who we should retain in the summer. If Kev can prove he can adapt his game and can really help us out of this run of the form then give him another deal although it shouldn't be longer than 2.
 
RayCTID said:
We still need a couple of the old guard to stick around at the first part of our rebuild. It is difficult to predict who we should retain in the summer. If Kev can prove he can adapt his game and can really help us out of this run of the form then give him another deal although it shouldn't be longer than 2.
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Zero chance he stays, he's done with us, just surprised he is not going to NYCFC, maybe we are totally aware that his body is done even for the MLS.
 
Keeper! said:
Zero chance he stays, he's done with us, just surprised he is not going to NYCFC, maybe we are totally aware that his body is done even for the MLS.
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I am not sure he can really cut it in the MLS either with the injuries whether it NYCFC or any other club. An ecouraging sign he has completed his first full game in a long while.
 
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We have to keep De Bruyne!

We have not lost any of the last 34 games De Bruyne has started other than United the other week, and in that game he was substituted when we were 1-0 up. He is our game changer.

De Bruyne has the second most chances created per minute played this season. Get De Bruyne fit for a prolonged period and I reckon we finish in the Top 3, easily.

IMG_9107.jpeg

Yes, his legs aren’t what they were, his pace isn’t what it was, he isn’t going to get any better, we do need to sign his long term replacement… but we still need our King of the Kippax as much as we need Rodri. They’re our best two players by a mile despite all the things going against Kev at this stage in his career.
 
Psychedelic Casual said:
We have to keep De Bruyne!

We have not lost any of the last 34 games De Bruyne has started other than United the other week, and in that game he was substituted when we were 1-0 up. He is our game changer.

De Bruyne has the second most chances created per minute played this season. Get De Bruyne fit for a prolonged period and I reckon we finish in the Top 3, easily.

View attachment 141712

Yes, his legs aren’t what they were, his pace isn’t what it was, he isn’t going to get any better, we do need to sign his long term replacement… but we still need our King of the Kippax as much as we need Rodri. They’re our best two players by a mile despite all the things going against Kev at this stage in his career.
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Don't want to argue the toss over the stats but to my eyes anyway he is no longer a game changer. Maybe 25 will see a bit of a resurgence if he builds up fitness but sadly I fear his glory days may be gone.
 
For the remainder of this season we need to be surrounding KDB with young, fit and hungry players. Unfortunately, we don’t have these in the club at the moment
 
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