8 | Ilkay Gundogan - 2022/23

[chris85mcfc]

Hurts me to say it, but he was woeful.

Takes him 2 or 3 touches to get himself into the right position and turns like a double decker bus

Him and Kev together just doesn't work, both look leggy and don't give Rodri any support at all

 

[Trojan1962]

Can’t give him a new deal surely. Lovely footballer but too slow now

 

[OrigamiNinja]

Hurts me to say it, but he was woeful.

Takes him 2 or 3 touches to get himself into the right position and turns like a double decker bus

Him and Kev together just doesn't work, both look leggy and don't give Rodri any support at all

This is the killer for me. We end up playing a midfield one. It’s a good job Rodri is the real deal.

 

[kun]

Fucking hell he’s one of our best players almost every week, you lot will be eating your words just like when KDB was “done” and Stones was “done”.

 

[Goater=Legend]

Age waits for no man and unfortunately his time is up. Hes been amazing for us but we can't keep playing him in key games.

 

[DATOIA]

Except Rodri, none of our midfield players have been playing decent football for the last 3-4 months..

Yep, KDB is delivering an assists, but in terms of midfield and movements and really dominating the midfield area - no one is contributing like the Rodri does.. So this is the big problem..

Hopefully KDB, Bernardo and Gundo will improve..

About Phillips I'm not sure we will get anything at least this season, but other ones have to, cause Rodri is a machine but, he has his limits and may burn out..

 

[chris85mcfc]

This is the killer for me. We end up playing a midfield one. It’s a good job Rodri is the real deal.

Think this is another large reason as to why Rico is getting games, to try and shore up the middle alongside Rodri

Must say I felt more comfortable with Walker at RB once he came on

 

[kun]

We won against the highest placed team in England, without ever losing control of the game, but apparently Gündogan can’t play against the big boys anymore?

 

[BLUEisville]

Hurts me to say it, but he was woeful.

Takes him 2 or 3 touches to get himself into the right position and turns like a double decker bus

Him and Kev together just doesn't work, both look leggy and don't give Rodri any support at all

I think that's the crux of it.

Rodri is great but he's always needed someone beside him with energy. If the rest of the midfield is off, he'll be off too. I suspect that's why Pep has instructed Rico to tuck in, because he is capable at doing the running for Rodri.

While it might work against lower teams it just doesn't come off against the top opposition... Rodri ends up not putting his stamp on the game because the rest of the midfield is totally bypassed.

We need to play one of KDB or Gundo, and I am really thinking we try Grealish in the middle, he's got excellent control, runs his bollocks off and gives us a more direct option.

 

[DATOIA]

KBD - Gundo played a huge role against Aston Villa in those last 10-15 minutes, so it's not completely true, that this duo doesn't work..

I would say, against lower table teams or when you definitely have to score, that's the best midfield duo we can use..

But against tougher opponents, you need someone like Bernardo to handle the pressure and keep the ball, make good build-ups..

Ideally, if Pep used Rodri-Bernardo + Grealish as a LCM and Foden as a LW - would be very interesting to watch that team and how Jack does in that area... But it's more likely Pep will use Foden in midfield, than Jack :D

Reason is Jack's poor defensive contribution. Great at keeping the ball, but in overall Jack is our worst player defensively..