Bernardo Silva - 2018/19 performances

[Zin 'messiah' Zimmer]

Pep is turning him into our messi..... repeat, our messi

Sure he doesn’t have the numbers but the example is in the ball retention he affords us. Those who watched Barca on any level under Pep, were able to see that Messi was much more than the goals and assists, it was about the first phase of attack. He would invariably take 2/3 men out of the equation, which would lead to floods of panic in the opposition but also generate the numerical advantage up top.

Bernie is as important to Peps City as Messi was to his Barca..... fecking crackers

 

[schfc6]

Wrong, Xavi was an assist machine - 62 assists during Pep era (only Messi had more - 68).
https://fbref.com/en/players/c1b4188c/Xavi

Iniesta's stats is less impressive, 31 in 4 years. Dani Alves 50.

So he effectively had an assist every 5 games. Bernardo is well on them lines.

 

[cyan]

I think his best position is in the centre - I was going to say inside forward, but he is more than that because he works box to box - he is more like an old fashioned right half who morphs into an inside forward when we go on the attack. Yet he is so good on the right wing gives an out ball, a way of retaining possession and attacking again - defenders don't know whether to position themselves for the cross or the dribble.

But the moment he is really dangerous in when he switches inside - that moment when Sterling comes outside him, Gundogan has dropped back and whichever defender was supposed to pick him up when he is in the inside right position goes missing - space - attack - goal! Game almost over. Much like when Yaya switched from deep midfield into attack - defenders who aren't switched on get punished.

As to the assists/goals stats - he is the player that provides the assist, or the player that creates the space for the scorer to move into, or the playing making the first tackle and wrestling possession back 30yards from goal. He is immense - so glad he came to City.

 

[BlueRebel7]

Above all else his passion and determination is something else. Shows more emotion when a goal is scored than Pippo Inzaghi did after every 1 inch tap in he'd score. Bernardo clearly loves the club, so happy for him.

 

[Andrew___K]

So he effectively had an assist every 5 games. Bernardo is well on them lines.

175 games, 62 assists. 1 assist every 2.8 games.

 

[schfc6]

175 games, 62 assists. 1 assist every 2.8 games.

I was going on career Barcelona.

 

[City_Sean]

Looked so much better when he moves centrally. The link up between him and Raz was excellent, he continually keeps the ball. A joy to watch.

 

[Andrew___K]

I was going on career Barcelona.

He was a defensive midfielder initially, replaced injured Pep. I would say Xavi before and after Guardiola came are two different players, hence his stats before 2008 aren't that relevant.

 

[ali benarbia's studs]

Obrigado Berny! you dancer!!!!

 

[Deleted member 77198]

The moment he went central the game never looked in doubt.

Indeed.

He has the energy that is essential in the middle in the big games but with the class to go with it. That combination is indomitable.

They could outpace and outwork Gundogan in the first stanza even though he’s a classier player than all of theirs. But they couldn’t handle Bernardo centrally second half. Especially as Sané and Sterling’s wider positions spread their defence and midfield out more creating more space in the middle of the pitch.