Ilkay Gundogan - 2018/19 performances

[St.Pauli support]

We need players to challenge DS, Fern & KDB imo.

I thought especially DS, Fern & KDB are top professionals with a great attitude and work ethics.
DS only needs a healthy family.
KDB wants to win anything in the world on any new day.
Fern has to be stopped to not getting a burn out at 33, still ongoing.

They need cover to have some rest in games where we can afford to leave them out.
It seems Gundogan is doing a good job exactly then. (He even did vs top sides, no?)

Btw, they have a coach who is famous for taking immediate measure in case they start sitting back.
But they won't, as it lies deep in their personality.
Strange enough, you know all that.

We should have another midfield player who fans in general are excited to see, in the starting lineup.

Nah, aware of the variety of opinions on here I clearly prefer Txiki's and Pep's daily insight, profound expertise and philosophy
over a democratic fan decision (based on what exactly?), honestly.

We haven't done too shabby since.

 

[BigOscar]

We don't have room for one until either Silva or Dinho leave, we could bring in an understudy for Dinho but that's not the same thing. We should definitely be extending Gundogan's contract if he wants to stay in my opinion, plays all 3 positions in our midfield well even if not to KDB or Dinho's level.

I'd rather just sign a proper long term replacement for Dinho, then allow Foden to step into Gundogans boots as the 4th CM/CAM tbh. Not convinced keeping him does much beyond getting in Fodens way once we've gotten someone to cover Dinho

 

[Gareth Barry Conlon]

I'd rather just sign a proper long term replacement for Dinho, then allow Foden to step into Gundogans boots as the 4th CM/CAM tbh. Not convinced keeping him does much beyond getting in Fodens way once we've gotten someone to cover Dinho

No guarantee that a different midfielder will be any better than Gundo. Look at Fred at the rags - well rated before they signed him but form is utter garbage.

If we get DeJong from Ajax then Gundo is surplus but I don't see many others where i would be very confident that swapping for Gundo is a guaranteed upgrade.

 

[aguero93:20]

I'd rather just sign a proper long term replacement for Dinho, then allow Foden to step into Gundogans boots as the 4th CM/CAM tbh. Not convinced keeping him does much beyond getting in Fodens way once we've gotten someone to cover Dinho

How long do you reckon Silva has as a first choice player mate? Foden will probably be 3rd choice if he overtakes Gundogan and less flexible position wise.

 

[BigOscar]

How long do you reckon Silva has as a first choice player mate? Foden will probably be 3rd choice if he overtakes Gundogan and less flexible position wise.

Daves not about to retire, not in the next year or two anyway. I can see him dropping to 3rd choice as Bernardo and Kev become the starting pair sooner rather than later, with Foden 4th getting increasingly more time as Dave gets older. I don't see much point in keeping Gundogan around for the next 3 years just because Dave is getting older. Frankly, if it turns out we need another player in that position then we'd just buy someone, probably someone significantly better than Gundogan

 

[aguero93:20]

Daves not about to retire, not in the next year or two anyway. I can see him dropping to 3rd choice as Bernardo and Kev become the starting pair sooner rather than later, with Foden 4th getting increasingly more time as Dave gets older. I don't see much point in keeping Gundogan around for the next 3 years just because Dave is getting older. Frankly, if it turns out we need another player in that position then we'd just buy someone, probably someone significantly better than Gundogan

If we buy someone significantly better than Gundogan (not necessarily possible) Foden's best option would be to find a new club.
Silva might not leave for another season or two but face it, he's pretty much 3rd choice already.

 

[Gareth Barry Conlon]

Daves not about to retire, not in the next year or two anyway. I can see him dropping to 3rd choice as Bernardo and Kev become the starting pair sooner rather than later, with Foden 4th getting increasingly more time as Dave gets older. I don't see much point in keeping Gundogan around for the next 3 years just because Dave is getting older. Frankly, if it turns out we need another player in that position then we'd just buy someone, probably someone significantly better than Gundogan

As above - buying someone significantly better than Gundo is easier said than done. We have quite a mix of players for our midfield - there is a significant bias toward forward thinking, small skillful players. Gundo is a more rounded player and that helps to balance the squad. Not sure who we could get to keep the balance (other than F DeJong who looks a natural fit).

 

[BigOscar]

If we buy someone significantly better than Gundogan (not necessarily possible) Foden's best option would be to find a new club.
Silva might not leave for another season or two but face it, he's pretty much 3rd choice already.

That's kind of my point, I wouldn't be looking to buy another midfielder if we were going with the 4 of the Bernie/Kev/Dave/Foden as that's more than enough. Maybe a young player to add depth (hell, Zinchenko would probably be front of the queue), but in that scenario, someone like Gundogan is excessive and frankly he'd be worth more to someone else than to us as a 5th choice who we have to keep finding excuses to play. I only mentioned the possibility of signing someone as an option if Dave left or something happened to make that 4 unviable.

At the moment, we have 3 players almost equal for those 2 positions, then Gundogan who is levels below them as 4th choice, then Foden who is probably still levels below him as 5th choice but with potential to be better, but in need of games to get there. That's fine for now, but as time goes on Foden needs to overtake him. We can't just let him stagnate as 5th choice until Dave leaves

 

[Mon Autre]

Daves not about to retire, not in the next year or two anyway. I can see him dropping to 3rd choice as Bernardo and Kev become the starting pair sooner rather than later, with Foden 4th getting increasingly more time as Dave gets older. I don't see much point in keeping Gundogan around for the next 3 years just because Dave is getting older. Frankly, if it turns out we need another player in that position then we'd just buy someone, probably someone significantly better than Gundogan

Didn't he sign a contract extension til 2020 with it being widely acknowledged at the time it would be his last? That will take him to May next year? That's less than 18 months away.

 

[BigOscar]

Didn't he sign a contract extension til 2020 with it being widely acknowledged at the time it would be his last? That will take him to May next year? That's less than 18 months away.

When he leaves, we'll need someone to replace him as a genuine competitor to the two who start (Bernardo and Kev) and I don't see Gundogan ever being that player. Foden could be, but he won't if he spends the net 18 months sat behind Gundogan. (I wouldn't be that surprised if Dave signs for another year when the time comes, it's far from set in stone that he's leaving then)