#8 | Ilkay Gündoğan - 2020/21 Performances

[WallyA]

What's impressing me more than anything lately is his ability to dictate the pace of play.

At the level we play at, that's no easy feat.

He's really grown alot more into that David Silva role that we needed. Perhaps out of necessity, but love that he can basically play anywhere in the midfield.

 

[David Silva]

He's really grown alot more into that David Silva role that we needed. Perhaps out of necessity, but love that he can basically play anywhere in the midfield.

Definitely that’s what has been impressive of late. In past seasons he’s always looked lost as an 8, and far better suited as a pivot.

Something has just clicked in the last few weeks, his passing, movement & timing of runs into the box has gone up a gear completely.

 

[Mike N]

Another excellent game tonight.

 

[Tricky_Trev]

He’s undroppable right now (except for when he needs to be rested of course)

 

[Dax777]

Definitely that’s what has been impressive of late. In past seasons he’s always looked lost as an 8, and far better suited as a pivot.

Something has just clicked in the last few weeks, his passing, movement & timing of runs into the box has gone up a gear completely.

You leaving perhaps? :p

 

[mccity]

You leaving perhaps? :p

Almost certainly.

You and I, being two posters who've largely been behind Gundogan from way back when, know that he's not really doing anything he's never done before. He's as good on the ball as ever, he's defending in the exact same way (although I'd argue he's become more tenacious as of late) etc.

The only thing that's changed is that he's been coached to play a differing role, and as he's been getting games under his belt he's grown in stature.

He's basically undoing 2017-20 in a way. When he first arrived he was doing all the things he's doing now, but since the 2017 he's basically been the utility guy for ALL THREE of Fernandinho, Silva, AND De Bruyne. Had he been trained to carry on as he had been doing then in 18/19 when we needed him to fill in for DM he might not have been a good fit. Had he not been trained to replace Silva then much of last season would have been even worse, plus the stretch after Silva's son had been born could have been very awkward. And then in 18/19 he was covering for all three of De Bruyne, Silva, and Fernandinho in the 1st half of the season. He was arguably hampered by his own utility. Like a significantly better and more sophisticated version of Milner.

This is the first time in forever that he's been both a starter and had a definitive role. Although it looked like he was a DM, that was when Pep made City super conservative and compact. As the weeks have gone by we've become more attacking and open and he's slowly drifted forwards, and now he's blossoming as almost the complete midfielder.

Go back to his 17/18 thread round the time shortly after he came back from his injury and I assure you I was saying he would be the Silva replacement one day. I didn't expect it to take this long nor take this path, but here we are.

 

[ninjamonkey]

Second 7/10 In a week

 

[FantasyIreland]

Second 7/10 In a week

Harsh

A 9 on Sunday and an 8 last night IMO.

He and Stones have clearly got their eye on the most improved player trophy ;-)

 

[Hungarian blue]

He's everything that United needed yesterday instead of Pogba (or even Bruno for the matter), which makes it all the more sweeter. Brilliant performance.

 

[Bluesince1979]

His free-er role suits him so much more than that restricted DM role