Absolutely diabolical tonight. I mean really really insipid.
There's a lot of people look back at his season through ginger-tinted spectacles. He hit some great form when he came back from injury and people assumed he'd been like that all season.
Nonesense.
He's been inconsistent. When on form he's showed flashes of absolute brilliance. Usually against teams that allow him loads of space, and leave space in behind for him to hit early balls or drive in to space. But he's had plenty of completely anonymous games, most of which have been discussed at length earlier in the thread.
The problem he's got is when teams don't give him space, they don't leave space in behind, he's completely ineffective, like tonight. He hides, he doesn't show for the ball, he's not brave enough to demand the ball to feet in tight spaces. If he wants to play as a number 10 against a decent side they're not just going to allow him to hit an early ball over the top of them, he's going to have to figure out another more subtle, cuter way.
And then when we are out of possession he's a complete liability. If Yaya had allowed his runner go as easily as DeBruyne did on their goal he would get absolutely hammered on here. But DeBruyne is the new kiddies fave so he apparently doesn't have to put in a shift.
Silva has been injured this season and has struggled for form and fitness. But in the 5 years I've been watching him I've never seen him hide. He'll still demand the ball, show feet, get on the half turn, try and create something. He'll work hard for the team, he'll always do his best. He's a very brave footballer, particularly when we have the ball. De Bruyne shit himself tonight. He bottled it.