#8 | Ilkay Gündoğan - 2020/21 Performances

[FCBarca]

Remarkable run of form atm, I am still a bit in disbelief at how well he is playing. Not so much that he did not have it in him but that we have not seen it this consistently in a long time

Tremendous really

 

[feedmpenzaandhewillscore]

Remarkable run of form atm, I am still a bit in disbelief at how well he is playing. Not so much that he did not have it in him but that we have not seen it this consistently in a long time

Tremendous really

When he first came in 2016 he was up at that level, he did have a really good game against Barcelona around that time. The injury happened shortly after that, what a player at the moment. A joy to watch and he can find the back of the net better than Spanish Dave.

 

[FCBarca]

When he first came in 2016 he was up at that level, he did have a really good game against Barcelona around that time. The injury happened shortly after that, what a player at the moment. A joy to watch and he can find the back of the net better than Spanish Dave.

I don't agree at all. He was recovering from whatever sort of back surgery he had and had never reacquired the level he had pre-injury

Now, it's hard to believe he is the same player - it wasn't so long ago he was rumoured to be heading back to Germany but now he looks like he could still play a significant role

 

[decmancity]

On another level, been crying out to see 'Dortmund Gundo' for years and as much as he frustrated me I knew deep down he was doing what Pep wanted. Pep now wants something else and Gundo is delivering. Superb player.

 

[Manchester_lalala]

He’s never been as bad some make out. He’s had to compete with City’s best ever player in David Silva and city’s best player in the making in KDB. He filled in the gap just alright when called up on and also played a crucial part in our title win in 18/19. He’s come into form now as he’s got a permanent place in the squad. Momentum is everything in football and he’s got that at the minute.

 

[Shaelumstash]

And that my friend is why you're not a manager.

He's been absolutely brilliant the last 3 months, last night in particular.

But that, my friend, doesn't affect his performances for the 3 years previous.

 

[David Silva]

I’m not buying the “same Gundogan” talk. He looks, feels, acts and plays like a different player. Sure he may have had a lot of these traits @ Dortmund in his locker - running with the ball, getting at players, not pulling out of challenges, playing with supreme knowledge of his abilities but he has never really showed them for various reasons. Confidence, fitness, positionally, personnel, whatever.
I genuinely think he’s been a disappointment. It’s been years of mostly 5-7 out of 10s.

This Gundogan feels remarkably different and I’m delighted to be able to say that, for him especially as he’s had to take a lot of shit, and the team. And hold my hands up that I never thought I’d see this.

Spot on. Prior to this year his best run for us had been as the lone pivot towards the end of 18/19. He had always flattered to deceive as an 8, and go back to the start of this thread you’ll no doubt see people saying exactly that. Hence all the calls for Aouar in summer on here.

In prior years as an 8 he always seemed scared to play that risky pass or to take someone on, something that he is doing so well currently. Confidence and coaching has to have played a huge part.

 

[jimmygrimblesboots]

100% nail on the head

Not really, people that criticised his slow play and lack of goals had valid points and he wasn't the player he is at the moment. Even allowing for perhaps a more forward role he is playing , he is sharper, never looked as quick and never scored as many as he has at the moment. Anyone that hasn't seen the step change in his performance needs to take off the rose coloured spectacles. I was a critic of his play, always maintained he was a closer , not a starter and his goal record was too low. Happy to say he is a lot better than he was. Perhaps he read some of his bad press?

He wasnt the player he is now because he wasnt playing in his natural position , Pep played him as a holding midfielder and that wasnt his game , he replaced Dinho who was playing centre back Gundogan was square peg in a round hole . But the relentless criticism bordering on hate for the player was ridiculous , he played out of position to help the team through some difficult injury situations and got roundly abused on this forum to the extent another thread was started the "Gundogan blindspot" , so the usual shitheads could put both boots in. A disgrace that Bluemoon allowed another player thread so he could get another kicking, but as an administrator was one of the main protagonists in the hate campaign , no real surprise.

 

[Ashleymcduff]

Ilkay has never been stealing a living or a bad player , he just wants Spanish Dave or Kev whom no matter how shite they were on a match day were devoid of criticism

 

[Tugay One Cup]

Ilkay has never been stealing a living or a bad player , he just wants Spanish Dave or Kev whom no matter how shite they were on a match day were devoid of criticism

Let's get it right, plenty of regular users on this site wrote David off as an overrated luxury player before the success under Pep and Kev gets called fat and accused of not being interested whenever he has a couple of crap games.

Gundogan has had way too much disrespect from people who have absolutely no idea what a decent player looks like but don't make the mistake of thinking he's the only one.