Kevin De Bruyne - 2016/17 performances

[blue wang]

Se

No, he can support himself by actually putting a bit of effort in. He's culpable for the second goal and is frankly nowhere near the standard he should be.

Second goal was criminal, needs a long rest.

 

[kaz7]

Prematch pep said him and raz weren't 100% fit

 

[dubblue]

No stamina in him. He will be great for the first few months or so at the beginning of a season but it never lasts.

 

[Proy]

Most prolonged patch of poor form since he came. Sometimes it's best just to play through it, sitting on a bench won't help him.

Equally though, you have to remember what he brings even when he's well below his own standard. Case in point today, that pass was incredible.

 

[taleofbluehalves]

Superb pass for the goal and got better but gave the ball away so many times.

 

[RandomJ]

He doesn't have the fitness for the role Pep puts him in. He's blowing out his arse by the second half.

 

[ChicagoBlue]

He doesn't have the fitness for the role Pep puts him in. He's blowing out his arse by the second half.

Not quite how I would have put it, but I think that's accurate.

He is an ATTACKING FORCE, but is being tasked with being the second defensive midfielder. He was somewhat released from that in the second half, but the lad hadn't seriously trained all week due to his groin and was knackered by the time he was released to get forward down the right. However, some of those whipped in balls from the inside right position are a thing of beauty.

If fit, he is one of the first on the teamsheet, but people have to understand he is only human...with superhuman tendencies. Like Sergio, he makes lung busting runs and doesn't get the ball, which is frustrating. However, I also have to concede that he made numerous poor passes that got cut out in midfield and immediately put us on the back foot...as did others!

 

[Dazzle84]

He's not fit enough

 

[kaz7]

Kevin De Bruyne now has 11 assists in the Premier League this season, two more than he managed in the whole of last season.

 

[jay_mcfc]

Clear man of the match for me. Played a big part in both goals, hit the post twice, linked defence to attack and had excellent movement. Think people are overreacting with him, he had a very good game.

 

[Dax777]

Have to watch again, but on first take he seemed to give up a lot of balls. And some of those were without pressure.

That said why has there been a switch in the more withdrawn #8? It used to be Silva, now of late it has been Kev. I don't think that's a good switch. Silva is so much better at keeping possession and Keg better at creating from nothing.

It seems sensible that switching Silva and Debryune's instructions will help overall.

 

[Delphacito]

Have to watch again, but on first take he seemed to give up a lot of balls. And some of those were without pressure.

That said why has there been a switch in the more withdrawn #8? It used to be Silva, now of late it has been Kev. I don't think that's a good switch. Silva is so much better at keeping possession and Keg better at creating from nothing.

It seems sensible that switching Silva and Debryune's instructions will help overall.

My thoughts exactly as well. It's been that way since the Monaco game that we lost. Maybe Pep liked what he was doing so much in the 2nd half of that game? I feel like Pep is trying to turn him into Thiago. I personally don't think it's a good idea to do so. Both brings different things to the table.

 

[Arthureros]

Rewatched the game and noticed Kevin letting Monreal (or Sanchez) run past him then looking at the other players to do the running. Nico cleared the resulting cross then Arsenal scored from the corner. One of the reasons Pep is so highly rated is 'coz his players don't get away with shit like that.
I hope

 

[Bluster]

He's black and white with no grey at all.

He is capable of the most sublime skill to create goals but he loses the ball in dangerous positions far too often. As others have said, he let his man go on a few occasions in the second half. He also makes Eyal Berkovic look like Gerry Gow with his tackling. I doubt he's reached double figures for tackles wom since we signed him.

Pep has to take a view on whether the undoubted high quality is worth the downside or can be accommodated in his team.

 

[Jimbob]

Have to watch again, but on first take he seemed to give up a lot of balls. And some of those were without pressure.

That said why has there been a switch in the more withdrawn #8? It used to be Silva, now of late it has been Kev. I don't think that's a good switch. Silva is so much better at keeping possession and Keg better at creating from nothing.

It seems sensible that switching Silva and Debryune's instructions will help overall.

This.

 

[_OVO_]

Dax is spot on. He's a no.10 and should always be played there.

 

[schfc6]

Dax is spot on. He's a no.10 and should always be played there.

But we don't play a number 10. So do we drop him or sell him? Or do we expect a World class player to adapt?

 

[Dax777]

But we don't play a number 10. So do we drop him or sell him? Or do we expect a World class player to adapt?

I think that's simply Semantical. We play 3 CMs with 1 more withdrawn as the DM. But of the other 2, one often plays closer to the striker. That used to be Debryune, but of late has been Silva. Whether you call that player the 10 or the more advanced 8 is purely semantical. That player should be Debryune. Silva should be the more withdrawn 8. Why that subtle instructional change was made to move Silva closer to Aguero and Debryune to the DM. Makes little sense to me.

 

[Rolee]

I think that's simply Semantical. We play 3 CMs with 1 more withdrawn as the DM. But of the other 2, one often plays closer to the striker. That used to be Debryune, but of late has been Silva. Whether you call that player the 10 or the more advanced 8 is purely semantical. That player should be Debryune. Silva should be the more withdrawn 8. Why that subtle instructional change was made to move Silva closer to Aguero and Debryune to the DM. Makes little sense to me.

Perhaps because DeBruyne is better at passing the ball long or/and is better at carrying the ball from deep.

Could also be the case that the more withdrawn role requires a higher level of fitness?

 

[schfc6]

I think that's simply Semantical. We play 3 CMs with 1 more withdrawn as the DM. But of the other 2, one often plays closer to the striker. That used to be Debryune, but of late has been Silva. Whether you call that player the 10 or the more advanced 8 is purely semantical. That player should be Debryune. Silva should be the more withdrawn 8. Why that subtle instructional change was made to move Silva closer to Aguero and Debryune to the DM. Makes little sense to me.

It's not semantics at all.
A traditional number 10 in the mould that the poster was suggesting is something we don't play.
Think Zola, thing Bergkamp or Baggio. A second forward with little to no defensive work.

We play two 8's if you like as is popular throughout Guardiola's career with a holding/pivot player.

I've no issue with the way De Bruyne is playing, it's typical of his time at City. Outstanding interspersed with frustration.

Silva is displaying a more balanced game but De Bruyne can win a game from anywhere.

De Bruyne will either make it as one of the two advanced central midfielders or will not.

I personally think he & Silva are doing excellently in the main and just need viable rotational options. I guess that's why the Isco rumours wont go away.

As time moves on and our squad becomes more balanced and suited to Pep I see De Bruyne playing any of the front 5 positions.