Bernardo Silva - 2017/18 performances

[13/05/12]

Pep's doing it right biding time with him.

Bernardo is a superb footballer and once he gets into the team he'll prove himself to be one of, if not the best dribbler in the league.

However at this moment our present attack is on fire so Pep needs to keep them together for two purposes - a) to keep their confidence and b) to build that cohesion. The players need to translate the movement and traits of each other from the training ground to matches. You only do that by allowing them to make mistakes when it counts as they'll be stronger for it. It's the long game.

Come winter Bernardo would have had a few months to acclimatize and understand Pep's methods. Then we can unleash him fully fit and motivated when the games start piling up. The first year is never easy for a foreign player, particularly a young one and that's partly because we heap too much expectation from the start. It is not too dissimilar to how Pep integrated Sane and look how quickly he's come on since.

 

[bluealf]

To paraphrase David Brent; different games, different needs.

Really, just sounds more like you didn't know who you would drop for him tbh :p

 

[Tevez City]

Pep's doing it right biding time with him.

Come winter Bernardo would have had a few months to acclimatize and understand Pep's methods. Then we can unleash him fully fit and motivated when the games start piling up. The first year is never easy for a foreign player, particularly a young one and that's partly because we heap too much expectation from the start. It is not too dissimilar to how Pep integrated Sane and look how quickly he's come on since.

Actually Bernardo doesn't need time like Leroy.

Bernardo is already one of the best midfielder in Europe and he is more than matured and ready to start any & every game.

 

[prestonibbo_mcfc]

Thought he was brilliant against West Brom, alongside Gundogan. They bossed the midfield, but he looked lost once Ilkay
had to go off.

 

[fatbloke]

Actually Bernardo doesn't need time like Leroy.

Bernardo is already one of the best midfielder in Europe and he is more than matured and ready to start any & every game.

It's doesn't matter how good he is, it still takes time. Bernardo needs time to get to understand his new manager and teammates; what positions to take up, what runs to make, what runs his teammates will make, where they want the ball etc.

 

[bluealf]

Actually Bernardo doesn't need time like Leroy.

Bernardo is already one of the best midfielder in Europe and he is more than matured and ready to start any & every game.

I guess you would drop Silva mark one then ?

Silva mark two isn't quite ready to start just yet, you can plainly see he is needing a little time to adjust, he will be good to go next season after he gets used to the kicking he will get in the prem by all and sundry with no freekicks given etc etc

 

[dennishasdoneit]

Pep's doing it right biding time with him.

Bernardo is a superb footballer and once he gets into the team he'll prove himself to be one of, if not the best dribbler in the league.

However at this moment our present attack is on fire so Pep needs to keep them together for two purposes - a) to keep their confidence and b) to build that cohesion. The players need to translate the movement and traits of each other from the training ground to matches. You only do that by allowing them to make mistakes when it counts as they'll be stronger for it. It's the long game.

Come winter Bernardo would have had a few months to acclimatize and understand Pep's methods. Then we can unleash him fully fit and motivated when the games start piling up. The first year is never easy for a foreign player, particularly a young one and that's partly because we heap too much expectation from the start. It is not too dissimilar to how Pep integrated Sane and look how quickly he's come on since.

I did say some months back it would take a bit of time for Bernardo to acclimatise, he looks a fantastic player tho.

 

[jollylescott]

Pep's doing it right biding time with him.

Bernardo is a superb footballer and once he gets into the team he'll prove himself to be one of, if not the best dribbler in the league.

However at this moment our present attack is on fire so Pep needs to keep them together for two purposes - a) to keep their confidence and b) to build that cohesion. The players need to translate the movement and traits of each other from the training ground to matches. You only do that by allowing them to make mistakes when it counts as they'll be stronger for it. It's the long game.

Come winter Bernardo would have had a few months to acclimatize and understand Pep's methods. Then we can unleash him fully fit and motivated when the games start piling up. The first year is never easy for a foreign player, particularly a young one and that's partly because we heap too much expectation from the start. It is not too dissimilar to how Pep integrated Sane and look how quickly he's come on since.

Good post. Bernardo is being perfectly managed.

 

[ChicagoBlue]

Young lad, top drawer quality, no rush. He will do more and longer cameos as he gets to grips with the pace and ferocity of the game, but there is no doubting his technical skills are exactly what City need. He is a ready made replacement for a player who has no desire to be replaced yet, which is a good thing for every City fan in the world, because David Silva may be the best player to have worn the shirt to date. He is certainly the most accomplished.

 

[Andrew___K]

Pep's doing it right biding time with him.

Bernardo is a superb footballer and once he gets into the team he'll prove himself to be one of, if not the best dribbler in the league.

However at this moment our present attack is on fire so Pep needs to keep them together for two purposes - a) to keep their confidence and b) to build that cohesion. The players need to translate the movement and traits of each other from the training ground to matches. You only do that by allowing them to make mistakes when it counts as they'll be stronger for it. It's the long game.

Come winter Bernardo would have had a few months to acclimatize and understand Pep's methods. Then we can unleash him fully fit and motivated when the games start piling up. The first year is never easy for a foreign player, particularly a young one and that's partly because we heap too much expectation from the start. It is not too dissimilar to how Pep integrated Sane and look how quickly he's come on since.

I think Pep is moulding Bernardo into a 8, it will take some time. Playing as a winger is miles easier in tactical sense as you're always shielded by the touchline and don't need to constantly assess the situation around. The ways of dismarking also differ a lot and are more difficult, require more awareness. In his first game as 8 Bernardo looked like a rabbit in the headlights and showed almost zero productivity, he still thinks like a counterattacking player, struggles to create space in the middle for himself and teammates. No surprise that all our possession play went tits up after Gundo's injury.

Think moulding into a perfect 8 could take a season, thankfully he's quite versatile - performing as an inside forward/winger will allow to get more minutes and ease the integration a bit.

 

[ADegenerate]

I think Pep is moulding Bernardo into a 8, it will take some time. Playing as a winger is miles easier in tactical sense as you're always shielded by the touchline and don't need to constantly assess the situation around. The ways of dismarking also differ a lot and are more difficult, require more awareness. In his first game as 8 Bernardo looked like a rabbit in the headlights and showed almost zero productivity, he still thinks like a counterattacking player, struggles to create space in the middle for himself and teammates. No surprise that all our possession play went tits up after Gundo's injury.

Think moulding into a perfect 8 could take a season, thankfully he's quite versatile - performing as an inside forward/winger will allow to get more minutes and ease the integration a bit.

I kind of struggled to see how he was going to fit into the squad on a regular basis going into the season because I don't see him playing wide in a front three like a lot of folks seemed to be slotting him into. I have a personal bias against slow creative players in that position and I was fairly sure that Pep didn't want him playing there regularly either. He's perfect playing wide in a traditional old school 4-4-2 / counter attacking system like you pointed out. I prefer direct, strong, pacey wingers and Pep does as well I think so if anything he's more of a fallback there. We already have enough finesse in the squad as. A front three of Raz/Aguero/Silva would have me pretty anxious tbh but different strokes for different folks I guess. I'm not saying he can't or wont play there but I don't see it as ideal for how we want to play.

He'll be perfectly fine in the long term and I'm not worried about him but I think he's kind of caught in no man's land for the time being.

So I think you're right about him being molded into an 8 and personally I'm ex-tactic about that.

Edit: Hey @Dax777 interested to get your take here. Don't/didn't you see him as a forward? Think I'm off base with this one?

 

[Delphacito]

I knew from day one that Bernardo will be playing centrally to replace Dave. As Dave fades away, Bernardo’s influence will come through. Just have to be patient. He will come good I’m sure of it. Not easy to replace Dave.

 

[Hungarian blue]

One of the few who will start both qualifiers for their team and tonight's being a huge one as Portugal needs a win if they don't want to the playoffs. So I'm assuming business as usual and David and KdB against Stoke as both only had to play one game.

 

[Hungarian blue]

He was brilliant by the way against Switzerland.

 

[born2bblu]

He was superb against Switzerland. Best player in the two teams. Soon he will become an outstanding player for City.

 

[jollylescott]

He was superb against Switzerland. Best player in the two teams. Soon he will become an outstanding player for City.

Agree. He was outstanding and must be very close to starting on the weekend against Stoke, unless Pep holds him back for the Napoli game.

 

[eversince 76]

Again few seem to forget BS only played a handfull of games for us so far, still getting used to life in England and at City with new teammates, a new manager, new style(s) of play etc. I think his start and the minutes he played so far has been really good. His role in the team so far are various and none compared to what he was used to at Monaco. Pep likes to give mainly the versatile players a role that differs depending on the opponent and the various systems that he plays during matches. You simply can't say a player is an 8, or a 10 other than his position in the starting line-up on paper.
Btw, yesterday playing for Portugal it was obvious again what a great player we have in BS. I can understand why Ronaldo thinks BS is the best Portugese player he has ever played with.

 

[EL APACHE TEVEZ]

What an outstanding footballer this lad is superb for Portugal last night,can't wait until he takes over Dav's throne in a few years.

 

[its a Barm]

What an outstanding footballer this lad is superb for Portugal last night,can't wait until he takes over Dav's throne in a few years.

The king is not dead yet, please don't say stuff like this it upsets me, David Silva will be here for another 10 years hopefully.

 

[EL APACHE TEVEZ]

The king is not dead yet, please don't say stuff like this it upsets me, David Silva will be here for another 10 years hopefully.

El Mago will never disappear,sorry it came out like that Barm,barneys only 23 but you've got to look to future.