17 | Kevin De Bruyne - 2024/25

[MCFCFanTX]

Still has skill and quality, things that can still play and last. He's getting back fit but that power to run forward with the ball is nearly gone which impacts his influence especially on transitions.

 

[Lavinda Past]

As I've said... he's a 10/20 minute impact player. He's just not got the legs to run the show anymore.
He was largely anonymous for chunks of today's gane and his passing was poor.

 

[ninjamonkey]

Should have had an assist for haaland. Didn't do much today but the danger remains. 90 minutes under his belt and his pressing was better than any of the much younger front line alongside him. A completely forgettable performance overall but it'll do him a lot of good in helping to get back a lethal kdb.

 

[blue wang]

Got to give him these last 19 matches.
These knees got a lot of wear and tear but his still ruthlessly elegant.. a vintage vehicle is our Kev. Look after him and we could get some miles out of him yet, perhaps 1 or 2 summer holidays.

 

[TinFoilHat]

CL final winner

In a perfect world that would make up for when that dirty **** took him out in our first one.

 

[N1985]

In a perfect world that would make up for when that dirty **** took him out in our first one.

He's got a CL final story to tell after being shafted out of two of them. The gods will favour us one last time.

Madrid on pens in the final

 

[Stelea]

More effort in running/pressing than any other City player today

 

[super_city_si]

Looked to be moving a bit better today. Still rusty as fuck but at least he didn’t look like he was troubled.

 

[Andouble]

His eye for a pass will never abandon him but his legs are completely gone.

 

[Dax777]

Half fit

But still a great player

Half fit, yes. Still a great player? That's a stretch on present evidence.

 

[Keeper!]

A passenger for large parts of the game, physically shot and as normal for him a player who needs a dozen games under his belt to play anywhere near his abilities.

 

[Ajm1985]

Felt like he was being kept on in the forlorn hope that he would eventually make a decisive pass, but his delivery & general passing has been way, way off his best. We fluffed a few breaks and the set piece delivery has been terrible. I honestly don’t think we are secure enough in midfield/defence to carry players who offer so little out of possession. If we get some stability & legs in midfield then it's less of an issue, but I think he currently needs to be an impact/bench player

 

[ScottSinclair]

Same as Gundo sadly. He tried the same things he has always done, just way slower. Can't keep up with the pace at the moment

 

[Scottyboi]

I thought he was poor and had zero threat, not his fault though time waits for no one especially for players like Kev who are use to controlling the game. Any energy he did have left in running the length of the pitch was wasted by Haaland not making a pass that any pro footballer should be capable of. Kova was our best midfielder but if he went forward no one else dropped in to cover him, which is pretty standard tbh.

 

[St.Pauli support]

I thought Kev looked fresh, been our most busy pressing player
(although I would stop the intense pressing up front, never anything is coming off, it's ineffective and energy wasting).

Perfect timing to Savinho for the 2nd.

His once dangerous firing and set pieces are not that anymore.

Obviously we played deeper with the whole team and Kev is still dangerous to explore the resulting spaces on the break - like our 2nd goal.

Keep the line deep and Kev fresh and more goals will come. He needs more space as does Erl and Savinho/Doku.

 

[bennyboy]

Great to see him play the full game.
Not as bad as some are saying here.
Hopefully an injury free run until the end of the season.
Put one on a plate for Haaland which he .missed and involved in minor parts fod both goals

 

[kaz7]

Watching today's game, I would say the opposite is true......we don't have enough legs at all, Leicester ran through our midfield at will.....not a sleight on KDB, but the lack of legs in the team, is clear to see.

He is not a dm and not really up to him to stop all the running through the midfield, we have a lot of young players who need to run more, it was the same when yaya had no legs left , the others adapted . Just because peak kev has passed i dont see why he is not allowed to adapt his game . Cant believe people keep writing him off

 

[southamptonblue]

He is not a dm and not really up to him to stop all the running through the midfield, we have a lot of young players who need to run more, it was the same when yaya had no legs left , the others adapted . Just because peak kev has passed i dont see why he is not allowed to adapt his game . Cant believe people keep writing him off

You didn't read my post....or rather, you read what you wanted to!
I said we don't have the legs around him (nothing about his legs) ....and if you watched yesterdays game, you would have noticed that our midfield AROUND HIM showed less pace than you would have offered ;)

 

[kaz7]

You didn't read my post....or rather, you read what you wanted to!
I said we don't have the legs around him (nothing about his legs) ....and if you watched yesterdays game, you would have noticed that our midfield AROUND HIM showed less pace than you would have offered ;)

Sorry lovely, i will try and read better

 

[Platt Lane 59]

Same as Gundo sadly. He tried the same things he has always done, just way slower. Can't keep up with the pace at the moment

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...