17 | Kevin De Bruyne - 2024/25

[Newman Noggs]

Please don't go there with the fecking corner taking. My blood pressure has just raised. It's every time every game, total shiiite. Such a waste.

We should just hoof corners straight back to Ederson, cut out the middle men.

 

[sh249]

Please don't go there with the fecking corner taking. My blood pressure has just raised. It's every time every game, total shiiite. Such a waste.

There were some belters last night. An inswinger from De Bruyne that barely reached the front of the 6-yard box at ankle height, and one each from him and Foden that were looped about 20 feet over everyone’s head beyond the far post. On one of them, their player was able to just trap it and set off running - without any of our players anywhere near him.

 

[super_city_si]

Its not so much his agility that is concerning, its his general sharpness. He still gets in good positions and makes good runs but a small percentage of his passes are well struck or accurate. He overhits a lot of balls or makes poor contact. His shot last night was a mis kick and his corners were abysmal.

That's why I've not given up on him yet, as technique should return, its just a lot slower these days.

 

[69FACUPfinal]

There were some belters last night. An inswinger from De Bruyne that barely reached the front of the 6-yard box at ankle height, and one each from him and Foden that were looped about 20 feet over everyone’s head beyond the far post. On one of them, their player was able to just trap it and set off running - without any of our players anywhere near him.

I remember both only too vividly. Sometimes I am sat there with my mouth open ( usually effing and jeffing) but looking on in disbelief at what the latest corner debacle I have just seen. This has been going on for some years now - I remember when we were really good - about 3 years ago saying to my mate that it was such a waste that Kev and Phil took corners, never amounted to much. But in those days we managed to score goals and defend pretty well, so whilst every shiitte corner was a wasted opportunity, in the scheme of the game it didn't really matter. But now, dear gawd just unfeckingbelievable. We need a new set piece coach as much as we need a Rodri back up imo.

 

[mexico1970]

Kev might have 2 players to thread a ball to from hereon in, and if he kicks into a bit of fitness and form our trajectory is only going up.

 

[Gaz76]

We should just hoof corners straight back to Ederson, cut out the middle men.

You jest air but it's actually happening already, we had a few corners last night and on Sunday that ended up back with Eddie after two passes

 

[Newman Noggs]

You jest air but it's actually happening already, we had a few corners last night and on Sunday that ended up back with Eddie after two passes

I wasn't joking. Our corners are more dangerous to us than the opposition

 

[BlueMonkey79]

We should just hoof corners straight back to Ederson, cut out the middle men.

My thoughts exactly. That way we can't get countered on at least.
I've seen a few corners this year where we take it short and the return pass back to the corner taker barely gets there.

Corners should be a weapon. Sadly we can't execute them to a decent standard.

 

[Dax777]

I wasn't joking. Our corners are more dangerous to us than the opposition

Marmoush will take over those duties hopefully.

 

[sh249]

Right decision to leave him out, but thought it was a really selfless performance when he came on.

 

[skillman]

Won the header for the third and used his body well with a few long balls. Felt weird to see him put out on the wing but did a lot of running and hard work for the team when he came on.

 

[Millwallawayveteran1988]

Won the header for the third and used his body well with a few long balls. Felt weird to see him put out on the wing but did a lot of running and hard work for the team when he came on.

He did. He also had the sense to calm it all down a bit when we were 2-1 and a bit gung ho.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

We seem to have entered the KDB target man phase of his career.

 

[Frankie lad]

Kev behind Marmoush and H has goals all over it.
He never stops running and still has a massive part to play in where we may be season end.

 

[WallyA]

I think there is still perhaps a way to make him work in this new system.

We essentially played a 235 and had all 3 midfielders play close to the CB to draw Chelseas man marking press and played balls behind.

But what if teams sit back? Does this triple deep CM setup make sense?

It might make more sense to have 1 of the CMs be more forward thinking and more like a 2215, playing behind the 3 "forwards".

KdB would thrive having 3 runners in front of him.

Long term, I think Oscar Bobb would be wonderful in this role as well.

 

[Manchester_lalala]

I think there is still perhaps a way to make him work in this new system.

We essentially played a 235 and had all 3 midfielders play close to the CB to draw Chelseas man marking press and played balls behind.

But what if teams sit back? Does this triple deep CM setup make sense?

It might make more sense to have 1 of the CMs be more forward thinking and more like a 2215, playing behind the 3 "forwards".

KdB would thrive having 3 runners in front of him.

Long term, I think Oscar Bobb would be wonderful in this role as well.

Nunes Dias Ake/Stones Gvardiol Cambiaso

Bernardo Kovacic

De Bruyne

Haaland Marmoush

I think Cambiaso will end up signing before the end of the week so I’d like to see this line up. Ideally you’d want a midfielder with a bit more youth but it is what it is. Cambiaso, Nunes or Gvardiol could also step into midfield. There’s so much flexibility with that side and it changes it up a little bit. You could drop Kev and play inside forwards either side of Haaland but you’d what Kev behind them feeding them balls. It would also help if Dias, Stones or Ake could stay fit.

 

[WallyA]

Nunes Dias Ake/Stones Gvardiol Cambiaso

Bernardo Kovacic

De Bruyne

Haaland Marmoush

I think Cambiaso will end up signing before the end of the week so I’d like to see this line up. Ideally you’d want a midfielder with a bit more youth but it is what it is. Cambiaso, Nunes or Gvardiol could also step into midfield. There’s so much flexibility with that side and it changes it up a little bit. You could drop Kev and play inside forwards either side of Haaland but you’d what Kev behind them feeding them balls. It would also help if Dias, Stones or Ake could stay fit.

Personally not a fan of back 5 setups.

Not sure id want to play ALL the fullbacks.

Cambiaso can rotate as a fullback in a back 4, left or right.

I think Pep got it spot on with this 433.

 

[tackeds]

Heard on the commentary that it looked like he asked to be subbed… didn’t have a stream, did it look like he had a knock?

Not a good night for him tonight but he’s been great last few prem games. Probably knackered.

 

[super_city_si]

Huffs and puffs but provides nothing. Cant kick a ball cleanly at the moment. We’re waiting for the magic but I think this is his new normal with a flash of brilliance every now and then. Shouldnt be starting now we have Marmoush. Painful to say but I think its a harsh reality.

 

[pbueno16]

Huffs and puffs but provides nothing. Cant kick a ball cleanly at the moment. We’re waiting for the magic but I think this is his new normal with a flash of brilliance every now and then. Shouldnt be starting now we have Marmoush. Painful to say but I think its a harsh reality.

It's real apparent that him, Gundo and Bernardo are being run into the ground but Bernardo is the only one who seems to have developed another lung. Even Kova isn't immune to the number of minutes he's played and will have pushed on him for the rest of the season. If we're going to get anything out of KdB or Gundo, we need to rotate them much more frequently. Not like we don't have anyone who can contribute anything less in terms of work rate or chance creation.