Ilkay Gundogan - 2018/19 performances

[mccity]

He's being criticised for the sake of it.

Which is a joke as Sterling had a phenomenal season.

Ilkay is in season number 3 here and the signs aren't great this year. He's played perhaps 6 decent games for us, and maybe 2-3 very good ones.

There is absolutely zero comparison to Raheem.

Yeah, but the bolded sounds like what a lot of England fans use against Sterling. Which is what the comparison refers to.

 

[Thaksinssoldier]

Yeah, but the bolded sounds like what a lot of England fans use against Sterling. Which is what the comparison refers to.

No it doesn't. Sterling's criticism by blues is purely down to them being brainwashed by the racist media, coupled with the lads uncanny ability to miss open goals at times. They ignore what's plain as day when it comes to watching him and stats/goals.

But this is Ilkay's thread and he has nothing to defend himself with, so you can't compare the two. One has stepped up time and time again, this fella hasn't and as far as I'm concerned deserves criticism until such a time as he goes out and proves us wrong on the field.

 

[normskih]

I just don't get the vitriol against him. He may not make the 'sexy' 50 yard passes or the lung bursting 80 yard box to box runs time and time again but he goes about the game quietly. Sweeps up behind others, annoys the hell out of other midfielders by always being around just as they think a pass is on.
Having just said that, in the last couple of games, a City player in attack has been free to pass the ball back to oncoming players arriving in the area, on both occasions these players have included Gundogan, twice, the player chose to ignore the incoming players.

 

[kippax_blueboy]

I am not sure which is silky Ilky's best position. Of the three midfield roles in a Pep team which one does Gundogan fill best or which one is the best understudy for? Fernandinho's DM role? Not for me, I cannot see Gundogan taking over from Dinho. David Silva's AM role? Gundogan is nowhere near the level to take over from David Silva. Bernardo Silva has a much better chance at doing this. Kevin De Bruyne's AM role? Maybe Gundogan can fill is for KDB but he is not the box-to-box playmaking midfielder that KDB is.

 

[mccity]

No it doesn't. Sterling's criticism by blues is purely down to them being brainwashed by the racist media, coupled with the lads uncanny ability to miss open goals at times. They ignore what's plain as day when it comes to watching him and stats/goals.

But this is Ilkay's thread and he has nothing to defend himself with, so you can't compare the two. One has stepped up time and time again, this fella hasn't and as far as I'm concerned deserves criticism until such a time as he goes out and proves us wrong on the field.

It's not criticism of Sterling by City fans that is being compared to Gundogan. It's criticism of Sterling by England fans that is being compared to criticism of Gundogan by City fans.

And it's not the criticism itself, it's the relentless and unnecessary criticism. He deserves criticism for not playing a perfect game, but the fact is that we didn't win yesterday and this thread is filled with people calling him mentally weak and not good enough, when there were other players who were worse and on top of the fact he wasn't actually that bad.

Whenever England had an underpar game, England would criticise Sterling first and foremost. They would ignore anything positive about his game and only focus on the negatives, all the same time as giving other players a much easier ride. Then when challenged,they'd bring out every excuse to say that he somehow merited this OTT criticism.

That's what some are doing in this thread with Gundogan. People have their agenda with him and won't be persuaded otherwise. There's a difference between constructive criticism and unfair criticism and I'm seeing a lot of the latter in this thread.

 

[Manchester1894]

You see the players your picking out as not getting as much stick has won us countless games where Gundogan has maybe won us 1 vs Barcelona saying if was ok today like most games he plays.

Gundo also gets stick because people expect him to be an attacking midfielder that creates chances and scores. Whereas I think Pep see's him as a metronome in our side. Someone who can keep to his method of moving the ball quickly and accurately. He doesn't have to win matches alone.. think back to Chelsea when we broke records with passing. He does a lot of the work that makes it possible for others to shine.

 

[mccity]

Gundo also gets stick because people expect him to be an attacking midfielder that creates chances and scores. Whereas I think Pep see's him as a metronome in our side. Someone who can keep to his method of moving the ball quickly and accurately. He doesn't have to win matches alone.. think back to Chelsea when we broke records with passing. He does a lot of the work that makes it possible for others to shine.

Yep. It's what he was at Dortmund. I agree with your description as to how I think Pep ses him, minus the metronome bit. Because technically he's not the metronome of the Yaya or Jorginho variety where controls the tempo and sets the plays. He's a constant support act, he gets around the pitch helping players out with what they do, exactly as you said.

And exactly as you said, I think some people have him down as a player he isn't, so he consistently disappoints. He could be better, but he's not looking out of place or playing poorly. The calls for him to be dropped for 18 year old Foden seem a bit harsh.

 

[Goater=Legend]

How is he a flat track bully when he played a key part in the majority of the big games excluding anfield which everyone was shit in.

 

[BlueTG]

He supports others? So when they're misfiring then he's fulfilling a pointless task.
He's not a creator or AM? So when we need a player to step up, we shouldn't expect him to do it regularly.
He's not a DM? So we can't expect him to do Fernandinho's job, and put in a decent challenge instead of backing out.

He's a bit of a non-entity most of the time. He's in his third season and we're still arguing where exactly he should and can play. He's made about 70 appearances and about a handful stand out for the right reasons. I remain underwhelmed 80% of the time.

 

[PrezIke]

He supports others? So when they're misfiring then he's fulfilling a pointless task.
He's not a creator or AM? So when we need a player to step up, we shouldn't expect him to do it regularly.
He's not a DM? So we can't expect him to do Fernandinho's job, and put in a decent challenge instead of backing out.

He's a bit of a non-entity most of the time. He's in his third season and we're still arguing where exactly he should and can play. He's made about 70 appearances and about a handful stand out for the right reasons. I remain underwhelmed 80% of the time.

Talk about harsh. Ouch.

So, it's his fault if he sets up others and they fail to convert or make something of it?

As was said, he's more of a "metronome" there to link defence to attack.

He's had some good moments for us, scoring a few key goals against Liverpool ad in CL. Those free kick deliveries were immense, but I don't think anyone is saying he's been a world beater for us either and could do more at times.

It seems some of our fans focus mostly on his mistakes and comment on every one, as happens with players that have made us nervous over their repeated offences on the pitch over the years -- Kompany, Nico, Stones, Savic, Kola, Clichy, Lescott, Mangala, Bravo, Joe. Some have deserved it more than others, but these have been comfortable scape goats, and it seems Gundo is the latest incarnation.