It's Quiet Thread 15 - Txiki Blinders

[City_Sean]

Quite surprised at how many people would swap Bernardo for Joao Felix or Jack Grealish.

Personally I'd be saying not to both those deals because Grealish won't ever be as good as Bernardo, and Felix for all his grace and talent feels like a luxury player with no real defined position.

Bernardo is our Swiss army knife. Can play almost anywhere and be world class.

Personally I think Bernardo is the one to go for Grealish if it were to happen.

I like Bernardo, he's infectious with his work rate, but he doesn't give the numbers or even the threat that he should from that position. He's also unfortunately not nailed down a spot, and is constantly being shifted around. When we sign a striker he won't be in the first XI.

I think he's the one who could be moved. He hasn't played at his best level since the treble season. I appreciate he works hard, but his end product isn't there for me.

 

[BillyShears]

Personally I think Bernardo is the one to go for Grealish if it were to happen.

I like Bernardo, he's infectious with his work rate, but he doesn't give the numbers or even the threat that he should from that position. He's also unfortunately not nailed down a spot, and is constantly being shifted around.

I think he's the one who could be moved. He hasn't played at his best level since the treble season. I appreciate he works hard, but his end product isn't there for me.

I like him because he's not a numbers guy, he's a football guy. Bit like David Silva in that sense, although they are very different players.

I'd be gutted if we shipped Bernie out and brought Grealish in. Very gutted. And I like Grealish and rate him, I just think the difference between the two is big in terms of talent. Grealish is easy on the eye, but Bernardo is more effective IMO.

 

[domalino]

I disagree. Think he's shown to be world class when playing wide right of a front three, and playing in both the 8 positions.

He's only played half a dozen games as the left sided #8 in 4 seasons though, usually in cup games when people are rested and the right sided 8 is what I meant by KDB's position.

He did have a great spell in 2018/19 back on the right, but there's half a dozen options preferred ahead of him now. Is he going to replace Mahrez, Sterling, Jesus, Torres?

He's a bit lost in this side, and I wouldn't blame him at all if he wanted to move on. I don't think he's even a guaranteed starter for Portugal any more.

 

[BillyShears]

I love Bernardo as a personality, but he's not been world class anywhere but KDB's position really.

He's had some great games as an extra man in the strikerless formation, but he's also had some absolutely anonymous ones. He's going to be immediately benched by Kane/Haaland and then where is he getting back in the side? Ahead of Mahrez/Sterling/Jesus/Torres on the right wing? Not often. Ahead of KDB? Only if he's injured.

I hope he stays, I hope he finds a position, because currently he's drifting, no better than he was when we signed him at 23. I thought when we signed him he could be one of the best players in the world. I remember Pol Ballus saying Pep thought he could be Messi without the goals on your podcast. He's not been anywhere near that unfortunately outside of the winter of 2018.

Having said that Grealish I don't see being much different, except he'd be competing with Gundogan on the left side of midfield and maybe that's more attainable. Felix is a proper false 9 so he would offer something new to the squad, but he's obviously far too expensive so it's a non starter.

Do you think it's Bernie who drops once a 9 comes in?

 

[Otamendi's Beard]

Personally I think Bernardo is the one to go for Grealish if it were to happen.

I like Bernardo, he's infectious with his work rate, but he doesn't give the numbers or even the threat that he should from that position. He's also unfortunately not nailed down a spot, and is constantly being shifted around.

I think he's the one who could be moved. He hasn't played at his best level since the treble season. I appreciate he works hard, but his end product isn't there for me.

While I can see where you're coming from, not all players need to be stat padders for goals and assists.

Bernardo is crucial to our ball retention and tempo. He's extremely intelligent and enables other players to shine.

But if we were to judge him on stats, I imagine he's up there for ground covers, passes completed, etc.

 

[skillman]

Hopefully a kick in the bollocks for Spurs

 

[BillyShears]

He did have a great spell in 2018/19 back on the right, but there's half a dozen options preferred ahead of him now. Is he going to replace Mahrez, Sterling, Jesus, Torres?

It's a good question. I don't know is the honest answer but I'm not sure that he's so far behind them all that it rules him out. I guess when I'm looking at Grealish/Felix I'm not instantly going "wow that's an upgrade". I appreciate that Felix is a false 9, but for arguments sake, how much better than Foden is he as a false 9?

 

[City_Sean]

I like him because he's not a numbers guy, he's a football guy. Bit like David Silva in that sense, although they are very different players.

I'd be gutted if we shipped Bernie out and brought Grealish in. Very gutted. And I like Grealish and rate him, I just think the difference between the two is big in terms of talent. Grealish is easy on the eye, but Bernardo is more effective IMO.

I think this is where Grealish would be even more effective than Bernardo. He's the third most creative player in the league and that's with him missing three months of the season and also playing at Villa. Imagine how good Grealish could be in this side with the quality around. As well as the micro-management from Pep and his staff.

I also think he's got the ability to play the pausa role. For me at the moment Bernardo offers work rate but nothing else. Everyone works hard in this team.

 

[Gumzy97]

It's a good question. I don't know is the honest answer but I'm not sure that he's so far behind them all that it rules him out. I guess when I'm looking at Grealish/Felix I'm not instantly going "wow that's an upgrade". I appreciate that Felix is a false 9, but for arguments sake, how much better than Foden is he as a false 9?

Felix is an anomaly , at Atletico he has moments of brilliance taking on multiple players showing the talent he had at benfica then some games he looks frustrated and annoyed. There was rumours half way through the season when the teams form dropped of a cliff that Felix and Simone had a huge fall out why he was dropped for a couple of games. He seems like a player that wants to be creative and attack but is stifled by Atleticio‘s defence formation.

when i have watched him in the games he’s been brilliant In, he looks unplayable easily getting past the defenders creating chances etc, his passing needs to improve but his decision making and confidence when attacking is his greatest asset. When he’s confident and enjoying his football he glides past players. When he’s not enjoying his football he’s a passenger.

I think if he played in this City team he would explode into life, he’s still that Benfica gem that cost a lot of money he just needs the right manager to flourish. Pep would be perfect

Also his brother looks a special player as well in Benficas academy, he’s a more ruthless finisher than Joao.

 

[urban genie]

Hopefully a kick in the bollocks for Spurs

The fact the rags are passing up on a chance to ditch ole and get in someone who may push them on is quite funny in all this.

Also a source of anguish with some or them at work ;-)