19 | Ilkay Gundogan - 2024/25

[Gobshiight]

W9 D1 L1 of the games he's started in 2025, including wins against Spurs, Bournemouth, Newcastle and Chelsea

He's been alright

 

[chris85mcfc]

Much better last few games

 

[WallyA]

Gundogan fit is always good.

Problem is, this shows why we have to buy a replacement for him, Im not sure Nico G will be silky enough for the role, he may have to be a 6 for us in the future like today.

Rico Lewis and James McAtee could be a good back up 8, but I want an elite one.

 

[ninjamonkey]

Quality never leaves. You'll still get knobheads bemoaning his inclusion in thr starting 11 though.

 

[City_Sean]

Said it in the Nico thread but the pair of them did a really good job of controlling the game. His legs are not what they used to be but he's still excellent at shifting and popping the ball through the midfield quickly. I do think with more legs around him you'd see more quality.

 

[Claytop]

If Rodri had have been available I’d wager Gundogan would have slotted back in like he’d never left.

 

[super_city_si]

Plays better with Gonzalez. Not getting caught ahead of the ball as much. Playing well recently.

 

[dragonman98]

It’s April, so it’s normal that the old Gundo returns. By the end of the month he’ll start scoring clutch goals again

 

[Bluewonder]

W9 D1 L1 of the games he's started in 2025, including wins against Spurs, Bournemouth, Newcastle and Chelsea

He's been alright

Psst, it's Gonzalez, not Gundo.

 

[Gobshiight]

Psst, it's Gonzalez, not Gundo.

Next you'll be telling me that 9 other players started alongside them...

 

[It'sBlue93:20]

Yeah no doubt he’s took a step forward - although I do think Nico has helped a lot. Out of our older midfielders: Kovacic, KDB, Gundo, Bernardo - he would be the one I would think would be the best bet to keep ahold of. Quality hasn’t left him still a tidy, versatile player, good in the pockets and a leader.

 

[K-Bo]

reckon Gundo might survive to next season, as others have said.

 

[WallyA]

Isnt his 1 year extension automatically triggered?

I think he is with us.

It also seems like Kova, Bernie and even KdB may all stay as well.

And as we are now seeing Jack play more in midfield, McAtee and Lewis are getting subbed in there as well, we may not see any arrivals for the 8/10 position.

 

[blueparrot]

Isnt his 1 year extension automatically triggered?

I think he is with us.

It also seems like Kova, Bernie and even KdB may all stay as well.

And as we are now seeing Jack play more in midfield, McAtee and Lewis are getting subbed in there as well, we may not see any arrivals for the 8/10 position.

Think a 6/8 ,maybe Wharton,is more likely and may be the only midfielder we bring in.Think Kovacic the most likely to leave.

 

[WallyA]

Think a 6/8 ,maybe Wharton,is more likely and may be the only midfielder we bring in.Think Kovacic the most likely to leave.

Agree, a 6/8 is more likely.

Wharton is my pick too. Would offset losing a Kova or Bernie, while being a good Gundo backup.

His shot creating actions (his progressive passing is so high) and defensive contributions are already elite.

He doesnt really play "between the lines" as a true 8 like Gundogan does, but if Gundogan stays id be fine with O Reilly, McAtee or Lewis being a backup.

Some have mentioned Reijnders as that more true 8, and I like the look of him too.

 

[blueparrot]

Agree, a 6/8 is more likely.

Wharton is my pick too. Would offset losing a Kova or Bernie, while being a good Gundo backup.

His shot creating actions (his progressive passing is so high) and defensive contributions are already elite.

He doesnt really play "between the lines" as a true 8 like Gundogan does, but if Gundogan stays id be fine with O Reilly, McAtee or Lewis being a backup.

Some have mentioned Reijnders as that more true 8, and I like the look of him too.

Yes, the only problem we may have with Reijnders is it could be easier to find space in the HG list than the free.That said,wouldn't surprise me if Gundogan stayed bu was left out of the C/L squad, to help make a bit of room.

 

[Bluewonder]

Isnt his 1 year extension automatically triggered?

I think he is with us.

It also seems like Kova, Bernie and even KdB may all stay as well.

And as we are now seeing Jack play more in midfield, McAtee and Lewis are getting subbed in there as well, we may not see any arrivals for the 8/10 position.

I really fucking hope they don't all stay.

If you think this season has been bad, next season would be a car crash with all those lot staying.

 

[WallyA]

I really fucking hope they don't all stay.

If you think this season has been bad, next season would be a car crash with all those lot staying.

I get where your coming from.

But I think alot of what went wrong this season is that 3 of them (Gundogan, Bernie and Kova) played all the time and got no rest.

I do think simply having Nico G come in and getting eliminated from games helped them loads, completely different in terms of energy.

Im also thinking O Reilly, Grealish, McAtee and the like will be trusted more in the future to deputize.

But if somebody goes, then yeah, we need another like Reijnders.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Not sure I’ve ever seen Gundogan be as aggressive in the tackle than against Bournemouth.

Silently ran the show last night too.

 

[Bluewonder]

I get where your coming from.

But I think alot of what went wrong this season is that 3 of them (Gundogan, Bernie and Kova) played all the time and got no rest.

I do think simply having Nico G come in and getting eliminated from games helped them loads, completely different in terms of energy.

Im also thinking O Reilly, Grealish, McAtee and the like will be trusted more in the future to deputize.

But if somebody goes, then yeah, we need another like Reijnders.

We can probably keep one as an occasional back-up but we need to fundamentally move on.