19 | Ilkay Gundogan - 2024/25

[NQCitizen]

Think he's actually been very good 8 this year, it's only when he's a lone 6 that he's struggled.

Give him a full preseason and Kova / Rodri / Bernardo / Nico deeper than him and he could still be a very handy player to have.

Plus now we can push him straight into the coaching team when he retired

 

[ChicagoBlue]

If we really want to be back next season he wouldn’t play once a week. His decline is obvious. He’s stunk the place out 80% of the time he’s played.

Yes he played well last night, but do we really want to keep seeing him starting next season. I for one hope I never see him starting for City again.

Out of the older midfielders, we should hold onto Kova. The rest should be shown the door.

He’s a legend who shouldn’t have come back. The chapter was closed and it needs closing again.

How do you suppose we get rid of him with a good contract in place for 12 more months?

People act like the club can force a player out when they have no such option. They can try to make his life miserable and never play him, but that’s pissing money away and cutting off your nose to spite your face!

He is a good trainer, role model and has some gravitas with the players. That could be invaluable in the same way the players like having Carson around, albeit a completely different personality. And, as others have said, he could be a player-coach with Pep losing Carlos this summer.

 

[Crooked_rain]

Think he's actually been very good 8 this year, it's only when he's a lone 6 that he's struggled.

Give him a full preseason and Kova / Rodri / Bernardo / Nico deeper than him and he could still be a very handy player to have.

Plus now we can push him straight into the coaching team when he retired

The time to rebuild is now

If Gundo is heavily featured in the team best season then we've fucked up our recruitment

 

[dhruvblue]

How do you suppose we get rid of him with a good contract in place for 12 more months?

People act like the club can force a player out when they have no such option. They can try to make his life miserable and never play him, but that’s pissing money away and cutting off your nose to spite your face!

He is a good trainer, role model and has some gravitas with the players. That could be invaluable in the same way the players like having Carson around, albeit a completely different personality. And, as others have said, he could be a player-coach with Pep losing Carlos this summer.

Give £250k a week to someone just for vibes

Sounds right , a nice business idea

 

[oldius]

He is a top player, and always has been. All teams need a blend of superstars and workers, experience and youth. In a functioning team without the decimating injury issues we have had, he will be a great success and a role-model for young players. That he has been forced to play far more than expected, like Bernardo, is no reflection on his ability.

There isn't a single player in our team who can be judged as a success this year, with the possible exceptions of Gvardiol, Nunes, and O'Reilly. We will soon rise once more.

 

[Paul1970]

Think he's actually been very good 8 this year, it's only when he's a lone 6 that he's struggled.

Give him a full preseason and Kova / Rodri / Bernardo / Nico deeper than him and he could still be a very handy player to have.

Plus now we can push him straight into the coaching team when he retired

No no no . We need to bring in fresh younger players who can compete with arsenal Liverpool and the best in Europe and gundo is well past that . Move forwards not backwards .

 

[goatfeeder100]

If we really want to be back next season he wouldn’t play once a week. His decline is obvious. He’s stunk the place out 80% of the time he’s played.

Yes he played well last night, but do we really want to keep seeing him starting next season. I for one hope I never see him starting for City again.

Out of the older midfielders, we should hold onto Kova. The rest should be shown the door.

He’s a legend who shouldn’t have come back. The chapter was closed and it needs closing again.

Think that's harsh personally. He's suffered as much as anyone else from Rodris injury at the start of the season and has had to play far more than I'm sure was ever intended when he came back.

I think he's still well worthy of a place in the squad if used sparingly and complimented with a bit more energy and legs around him. He's still got class and can clearly still do a bit as he showed the other night.

 

[ChicagoBlue]

Give £250k a week to someone just for vibes

Sounds right , a nice business idea

If that’s what his contract says, who is he to sniff at it? And, even if you give him a free, who else will pay it, and why would he want to leave?

I don’t understand your seeming anger at Gundo earning his option year (by appearances) and then being mad at him for taking what he is owed or the club honoring the deal.

I’d venture it will be a better deal than some we have signed recently.

 

[dhruvblue]

If that’s what his contract says, who is he to sniff at it? And, even if you give him a free, who else will pay it, and why would he want to leave?

I don’t understand your seeming anger at Gundo earning his option year (by appearances) and then being mad at him for taking what he is owed or the club honoring the deal.

I’d venture it will be a better deal than some we have signed recently.

No my anger is towards the club who gave him stupid wages after bringing him back and towards fans who want him and other uncle group to stay.
We need to move forward with young blood here we are justifying keeping past prime legends who despite all experience could save this season

 

[chiswick blue]

This could be a transition to coaching role, if we overpay him for a year whilst he plays less but also supports the squad with his leadership and moves more to coaching/ back room staff then I think that is still money well spent.

 

[ChicagoBlue]

No my anger is towards the club who gave him stupid wages after bringing him back and towards fans who want him and other uncle group to stay.
We need to move forward with young blood here we are justifying keeping past prime legends who despite all experience could save this season

In a team that is fully fit and with younger support, he could be a valuable squad player next season.

We needed a warm body Pep could trust and agreed that if he played a good slice of the season, he’d get another year. He played the games he needed to and here we are.

I’m not sure anyone is crying over that particular saucer of spilled milk, but seeing as it’s fashionable to beat up on the older players who stepped in when needed, but weren’t able to win any silverware, I’m going to demur.

 

[alexmcity]

Gundo is one of those players who are a bit too subtle in their contributions to the team to be properly appreciated by some parts of the fan base. It's only when he scored those vital goals, which he did more often than David Silva and other legends, that they noticed his importance.

Similar with Rodri.

I'm sure if Pep had to choose between Gundo and Yaya he would go with Gundo every day of the week.

 

[supercity88]

He'd been really sharp for Germany in the Euro's last summer but I wonder if it's a combination of the pace of the PL and the number of games he's had to play in a side that's lacked balance and energy elsewhere. That was always going to put a strain on him. I still think he can play a huge part and help the younger players and any new signings adapt and develop at the club.

I don't think we can judge any of the players too harshly this season. The likes of Savinho and Doku have needed to show a lot more consistency and quality, but others have played a lot of football and been instrumental to our success. We haven't had the right players available to play the way Pep wants to and the combinations we've used have been about getting results more than performances.

 

[Txiki Txiki Bang Bang]

Gundo is one of those players who are a bit too subtle in their contributions to the team to be properly appreciated by some parts of the fan base. It's only when he scored those vital goals, which he did more often than David Silva and other legends, that they noticed his importance.

Similar with Rodri.

I'm sure if Pep had to choose between Gundo and Yaya he would go with Gundo every day of the week.

I think Pep would play both but if it was a game where we had to win, he would definitely go with the Titan

 

[alexmcity]

I think Pep would play both but if it was a game where we had to win, he would definitely go with the Titan

Prime Yaya is more likely to score (Gundo was our top scorer in 20/21, though, and scored multiple important goals in the final 2 months of the Treble season, securing us the title vs. Villa the previous season), but prime Gundo can control games better, which is a bit harder to notice and appreciate than lung-busting runs and brilliant individual goals.

 

[youngbob]

Think he's actually been very good 8 this year, it's only when he's a lone 6 that he's struggled.

Give him a full preseason and Kova / Rodri / Bernardo / Nico deeper than him and he could still be a very handy player to have.

Plus now we can push him straight into the coaching team when he retired

Agreed. Thought he was great the other night as well. Has been a lot, lot better since we got legs around him.

 

[Dax777]

Gundo is one of those players who are a bit too subtle in their contributions to the team to be properly appreciated by some parts of the fan base. It's only when he scored those vital goals, which he did more often than David Silva and other legends, that they noticed his importance.

Similar with Rodri.

I'm sure if Pep had to choose between Gundo and Yaya he would go with Gundo every day of the week.

Prime Gundo, sure. Agong Gundo isn't as necessary. You jave to always recognize that aging players have an opportunity cost. The cost of a younger more energetic player developing.

For example what would you prefer? Milk 2 more years out of a regression Gundo or give 2 years to a developing potential 10 year superstar in O'Reilly?

That's the real analysis.

 

[CambridgeExileBlue]

Gundo is one of those players who are a bit too subtle in their contributions to the team to be properly appreciated by some parts of the fan base. It's only when he scored those vital goals, which he did more often than David Silva and other legends, that they noticed his importance.

Similar with Rodri.

I'm sure if Pep had to choose between Gundo and Yaya he would go with Gundo every day of the week.

I think he is an important sounding board for Pep and also provides an element of familiarity and continuity.

 

[goatfeeder100]

Prime Gundo, sure. Agong Gundo isn't as necessary. You jave to always recognize that aging players have an opportunity cost. The cost of a younger more energetic player developing.

For example what would you prefer? Milk 2 more years out of a regression Gundo or give 2 years to a developing potential 10 year superstar in O'Reilly?

That's the real analysis.

You can balance the two things gradually. O'Reilly will have so much to learn from someone like Gundogan not just on the pitch but in training too.

 

[waspish]

Wonder if he will become Pep Assistant next season seeing as pep assistant is leaving? Funny feeling it might be Xavi