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19 | Ilkay Gundogan - 2024/25
- Thread starter Blue_Lightsaber
- Start date
He left us when he did for a reason, he had the best season of his career and he also knew he would not only be unable to match it but would struggle to get anywhere near those levels in the following seasons.Age sadly catches up with everybody. I remember watching David Silva a few times in his last season and saying the magician has lost his magic. I'm hoping he finds some form soon we really need it given our injuries.
I was delighted when he returned but so far it's sadly showing you should never go back, it's rarely the same.
He left us when he did for a reason, he had the best season of his career and he also knew he would not only be unable to match it but would struggle to get anywhere near those levels in the following seasons.
I was delighted when he returned but so far it's sadly showing you should never go back, it's rarely the same.
Yes sadly that's the case so far
When does that happen?Will get better in the second half of the season when he doesn't have to play twice a week.
Champions league?
When we've signed another midfielder in January and De Bruyne's back, I think.When does that happen?
Champions league?
Think the idea when we signed Gundogan back was to go with Rodri, De Bruyne, and Foden as the main three midfielders, with Nunes, Kovacic, McAtee, and Gundogan rotating in and out - Gundogan least often.
I think he was brought back with the knowledge that Kevin can't do three games a week anymore and that this is Phil's team now. He was gonna be used to see games out and limit De Bruyne's appearances to 60-70 mins.
But since he's come back from Barca we've unexpectedly lost Rodri for the whole season, Kevin's been out for weeks on end, and Foden has taken a bit to get up to speed. Gundo's played a lot more football than we all expected.
On the quiet I also think Pep was going to use Gundo for the false nine position whenever Haaland was unfit/rested, but again, the number of injuries we've had in midfield have changed Pep's plans for the foreseeable future.
I don't know who we're going to sign in January but you expect we'll be signing another midfielder, and you expect De Bruyne will be back. At that point I think it'll be a case of less is more with Gundogan, which should help.
I think we will be busy in January for once, especially if we are in the running for the titles.When we've signed another midfielder in January and De Bruyne's back, I think.
Think the idea when we signed Gundogan back was to go with Rodri, De Bruyne, and Foden as the main three midfielders, with Nunes, Kovacic, McAtee, and Gundogan rotating in and out - Gundogan least often.
I think he was brought back with the knowledge that Kevin can't do three games a week anymore and that this is Phil's team now. He was gonna be used to see games out and limit De Bruyne's appearances to 60-70 mins.
But since he's come back from Barca we've unexpectedly lost Rodri for the whole season, Kevin's been out for weeks on end, and Foden has taken a bit to get up to speed. Gundo's played a lot more football than we all expected.
On the quiet I also think Pep was going to use Gundo for the false nine position whenever Haaland was unfit/rested, but again, the number of injuries we've had in midfield have changed Pep's plans for the foreseeable future.
I don't know who we're going to sign in January but you expect we'll be signing another midfielder, and you expect De Bruyne will be back. At that point I think it'll be a case of less is more with Gundogan, which should help.
Yeah, I think we'll be in for a DM and maybe a defender. The forwards are fine - if anything we'll have too many options. Echeverri looks like he'll be coming into the first-team set-up and Bobb will be back. But if we get Echeverri, Bobb, and maybe Zubimendi coming in for the second half of the season that should give us a big lift.I think we will be busy in January for once, especially if we are in the running for the titles.
We just have to get to January/February imo. A lot of our seasons in recent years have gone like this, where it's problems, problems, problems until about February. Then something clicks and we're off. If we're within a game of Liverpool and/or Arsenal by March 1st, we're in a cracking position to have a proper go at all three majors.
From March 1st onwards the only game that really jumps out at me as a big red flag is United away, potentially Villa at home. We've got Brighton, Leicester, Palace, Villa, Wolves, and Bournemouth at home, then Forest, United, Everton, Southampton, Fulham away. We should be getting at least 28 points from the 33 that are available there.
We just need to get through this rough patch and make it through the next international break and go from there. If we're within five points of Liverpool after the game at Anfield in December then we're still in a good position imo. You'd expect that getting three new faces into the team in January/February will give us the boost to go for five.
Agreed, this up and coming period is the one in which we often struggle but we should all know better than anyone , NEVER write off this incredible squad of players and manager, they are as hungry as ever.Yeah, I think we'll be in for a DM and maybe a defender. The forwards are fine - if anything we'll have too many options. Echeverri looks like he'll be coming into the first-team set-up and Bobb will be back. But if we get Echeverri, Bobb, and maybe Zubimendi coming in for the second half of the season that should give us a big lift.
We just have to get to January/February imo. A lot of our seasons in recent years have gone like this, where it's problems, problems, problems until about February. Then something clicks and we're off. If we're within a game of Liverpool and/or Arsenal by March 1st, we're in a cracking position to have a proper go at all three majors.
From March 1st onwards the only game that really jumps out at me as a big red flag is United away, potentially Villa at home. We've got Brighton, Leicester, Palace, Villa, Wolves, and Bournemouth at home, then Forest, United, Everton, Southampton, Fulham away. We should be getting at least 28 points from the 33 that are available there.
We just need to get through this rough patch and make it through the next international break and go from there. If we're within five points of Liverpool after the game at Anfield in December then we're still in a good position imo. You'd expect that getting three new faces into the team in January/February will give us the boost to go for five.