Our best ever player

[Gigant]

 

[Buckshaw Blue]

View attachment 138533

Kompany for Stones/Dias and Yaya for Bernardo

 

[alexmcity]

Weirdly, most Treble winners seem a bit underrated. They did much better in the CL than their predecessors, not just winning it but going 26 games unbeaten, an all-time record in European club competitions.

As good as Yaya, David Silva and Aguero were, they weren't successful in the CL with City, both before Pep and with Pep. It's the likes of Rodri, Bernardo, Haaland, Gundogan, Foden, Dias... who made City the best in the world.

My controversial take: Bernardo is very underrated in comparison to David Silva or Yaya. Bernardo has scored more goals against the big teams in England than David, especially away from home, and has been much better in the CL, with many MOTM performances against the likes of Real and Bayern. Plus, he runs and presses more, being thus more helpful in defence. Fabulous player. There isn't a world where Pep picks Yaya over Bernardo.

 

[s1ty m]

Kompany for Stones/Dias and Yaya for Bernardo

Yaya has to be in it. Amazing player.

 

[Gesario]

Kompany for Stones/Dias and Yaya for Bernardo

Yaya HAS to be in any all time team Superb player

 

[Robanompivenov]

David Silva holds a special place in my heart and I didn't think my mind would ever be changed as him being number 1. But Kevin has reached entirely different levels to anyone else.

He's in the conversation vs Henry as the best Premier League player of all time in my opinion.

 

[.db.]

David Silva holds a special place in my heart and I didn't think my mind would ever be changed as him being number 1. But Kevin has reached entirely different levels to anyone else.

He's in the conversation vs Henry as the best Premier League player of all time in my opinion.

Not just by City fans either. Across many fanbases it’s Henry or De Bruyne.

 

[supercity88]

Weirdly, most Treble winners seem a bit underrated. They did much better in the CL than their predecessors, not just winning it but going 26 games unbeaten, an all-time record in European club competitions.

As good as Yaya, David Silva and Aguero were, they weren't successful in the CL with City, both before Pep and with Pep. It's the likes of Rodri, Bernardo, Haaland, Gundogan, Foden, Dias... who made City the best in the world.

My controversial take: Bernardo is very underrated in comparison to David Silva or Yaya. Bernardo has scored more goals against the big teams in England than David, especially away from home, and has been much better in the CL, with many MOTM performances against the likes of Real and Bayern. Plus, he runs and presses more, being thus more helpful in defence. Fabulous player. There isn't a world where Pep picks Yaya over Bernardo.

I don't think it's controversial to say Bernardo should be held in higher regard.

We hadn't had world class players for a long time before the likes of Yaya, Sergio and David rocked up. We were blessed with seeing players who could do things we hadn't witnessed for a couple of generations - and do it consistently.

I love David, he's probably my favourite. But when it comes to greatest I do have a question mark over him. I don't think he scored enough, I think it was a weakness to his game and meant he often looked to pass over shooting. I think we've had a lot of players who didn't have a weakness to their game like that. Bernardo has won us lots of games. He is a wonderful player to watch, with the ability to keep the ball as if it's glued to his feet. But also the tenacity and fight to get stuck in to the opposition.

As for Yaya, ignoring off the field things I think he's a player who Pep would be considering with De Bruyne rather than Bernardo. But putting that to one side, you're talking about a player who won us the FA Cup semi against the rags and then the final - our first trophy in 35 years. He delivered so many huge moments for us and could win a game on his own quite frequently. He won us that tricky game at St James' Park in 2012 where a lot of the team looked flat. I said before, had he stayed on the pitch we'd have beaten QPR 3-0 and all would have been comfortable. So we can also thank him for going off injured and getting the Aguero moment that will continue to be a highlight forever more.

 

[LangleyBlue1970]

I know why the conversation is there with KDB, but I can’t see passed Silva for our best ever player. I absolutely love watching him play football. Simply sublime and I’m gutted he never got the final match goodbye he deserved from the fans, and from him to us. That would have been some moment for all concerned.

 

[alexmcity]

I don't think it's controversial to say Bernardo should be held in higher regard.

We hadn't had world class players for a long time before the likes of Yaya, Sergio and David rocked up. We were blessed with seeing players who could do things we hadn't witnessed for a couple of generations - and do it consistently.

I love David, he's probably my favourite. But when it comes to greatest I do have a question mark over him. I don't think he scored enough, I think it was a weakness to his game and meant he often looked to pass over shooting. I think we've had a lot of players who didn't have a weakness to their game like that. Bernardo has won us lots of games. He is a wonderful player to watch, with the ability to keep the ball as if it's glued to his feet. But also the tenacity and fight to get stuck in to the opposition.

As for Yaya, ignoring off the field things I think he's a player who Pep would be considering with De Bruyne rather than Bernardo. But putting that to one side, you're talking about a player who won us the FA Cup semi against the rags and then the final - our first trophy in 35 years. He delivered so many huge moments for us and could win a game on his own quite frequently. He won us that tricky game at St James' Park in 2012 where a lot of the team looked flat. I said before, had he stayed on the pitch we'd have beaten QPR 3-0 and all would have been comfortable. So we can also thank him for going off injured and getting the Aguero moment that will continue to be a highlight forever more.

I don't doubt David and Yaya, I question the relative (worse) standing of Bernardo.

One can argue that Dickov made more decisive contributions than Bernardo, but we discuss here the overall quality.

Bernardo vs Liverpool in January 2019, and Bernardo vs Bayern and Real in 2023 were better performances against better teams than David's and Yaya's best performances which came against lesser teams (United were a dying giant back then, nowhere near as good as Liverpool and Real). I think people conflate the emotional significance of beating United and winning first trophies in the PL era with objective quality. Taking into account the whole package, namely technique, intelligence, big-game mentality, productivity vs our domestic and European rivals, work rate, defensive contributions, big trophies, etc... Bernardo is not worse than David and Yaya. It's because he played in a better team with world stars like KDB, Haaland and now Rodri that he is a bit underrated.

IMO, he's much more of a Pep player than Yaya, who I'm not sure could press and run like Bernardo. Ultimately, Bernie has 3-4 advantages over Yaya: consistency over many years, top performances against the best in Europe, work rate and intricate play in small spaces (which Pep adores).

 

[supercity88]

I don't doubt David and Yaya, I question the relative (worse) standing of Bernardo.

One can argue that Dickov made more decisive contributions than Bernardo, but we discuss here the overall quality.

Bernardo vs Liverpool in January 2019, and Bernardo vs Bayern and Real in 2023 were better performances against better teams than David's and Yaya's best performances which came against lesser teams (United were a dying giant back then, nowhere near as good as Liverpool and Real). I think people conflate the emotional significance of beating United and winning first trophies in the PL era with objective quality. Taking into account the whole package, namely technique, intelligence, big-game mentality, productivity vs our domestic and European rivals, work rate, defensive contributions, big trophies, etc... Bernardo is not worse than David and Yaya. It's because he played in a better team with world stars like KDB, Haaland and now Rodri that he is a bit underrated.

IMO, he's much more of a Pep player than Yaya, who I'm not sure could press and run like Bernardo. Ultimately, Bernie has 3-4 advantages over Yaya: consistency over many years, top performances against the best in Europe, work rate and intricate play in small spaces (which Pep adores).

The rags got to the CL final that season and only lost 7 games all season, also winning the league. Liverpool and Real were better teams yes, but so were we. 35 years without a trophy, a team without much experience winning things either - that requires special players to step up.

There's definitely the sentiment of us having great teams not great individual players. I think the fact Pep rotates so much means only certain standout performances get the praise they should. Haaland scores loads so stands out for praise. Rodri plays and usually wins so the same is true. De Bruyne delivers goals and assists and highlight reels galore. Bernardo is consistently brilliant and delivers in big games but is perhaps lost amongst other headlines unfairly.

You're right about Pep's view and the metrics in Bernie's favour.

Ultimately it's hard to separate favourite moments and players from greatest.

But De Bruyne wins anyway!

 

[alexmcity]

The rags got to the CL final that season and only lost 7 games all season, also winning the league. Liverpool and Real were better teams yes, but so were we. 35 years without a trophy, a team without much experience winning things either - that requires special players to step up.

There's definitely the sentiment of us having great teams not great individual players. I think the fact Pep rotates so much means only certain standout performances get the praise they should. Haaland scores loads so stands out for praise. Rodri plays and usually wins so the same is true. De Bruyne delivers goals and assists and highlight reels galore. Bernardo is consistently brilliant and delivers in big games but is perhaps lost amongst other headlines unfairly.

You're right about Pep's view and the metrics in Bernie's favour.

Ultimately it's hard to separate favourite moments and players from greatest.

But De Bruyne wins anyway!

Good points. Still think United were in decline after they peaked between 07 and 09. They won the league in 2011 with 80 pts and were lucky in the CL. Pep humiliated them in the final. Can't forget Ferguson's shaking hand.

Of course, United still were a force and our lads did brilliantly to beat them. And then Liverpool in 13/14 when Yaya was sublime.

 

[bhayes]

I think the fact that KdB is in the debate for possibly top 3 greatest PL players of all time by other fanbases and pundits and David Silva isn't answers the question

 

[ChicagoBlue]

It’s all personal, because objectivity and football rarely go together, especially over the decades and different football eras.

In his day, and as a local lad, Colin Bell would have been considered a top, top player, but Franny Lee was a bigger star in that era, and neither were considered especially as the top players of their day domestically, let alone internationally, so placing any of that era in with global superstars who did it for club and country is much harder, without blue-tinted specs.

All-Time? Well, I can only comment on my 50+ years of watching City and create a handful of players who could have played for any team in the world while they were at their best playing for City.

KDB - Best all-rounder over last decade
Sergio - Best pure striker I’ve ever seen
Yaya - Most dominant midfield presence
David - Most skillful and exquisite touch
Rodri - Strongest current all-rounder ITW.

It’s no secret I think Godri is the best player in the world at the moment, but best all-time…while at City?

I’ll stick with the order above, because Rodri is another season or two from the rest. He may move up that pecking order, but let’s see what he looks like next season, and the one after that, and the one after that.

 

[alexmcity]

It’s all personal, because objectivity and football rarely go together, especially over the decades and different football eras.

In his day, and as a local lad, Colin Bell would have been considered a top, top player, but Franny Lee was a bigger star in that era, and neither were considered especially as the top players of their day domestically, let alone internationally, so placing any of that era in with global superstars who did it for club and country is much harder, without blue-tinted specs.

All-Time? Well, I can only comment on my 50+ years of watching City and create a handful of players who could have played for any team in the world while they were at their best playing for City.

KDB - Best all-rounder over last decade
Sergio - Best pure striker I’ve ever seen
Yaya - Most dominant midfield presence
David - Most skillful and exquisite touch
Rodri - Strongest current all-rounder ITW.

It’s no secret I think Godri is the best player in the world at the moment, but best all-time…while at City?

I’ll stick with the order above, because Rodri is another season or two from the rest. He may move up that pecking order, but let’s see what he looks like next season, and the one after that, and the one after that.

I agree with much of what you say, but I think that KDB is an all-rounder only attacking wise, he is lacking defensively, except for high pressing in his younger years. He's a genius at completing passes that other players can't even see.

The beauty of Rodri is he can do everything from top defending to top passing to scoring top goals. He is *the* all-rounder. His main (aesthetical) problem is that he is exceptional at things that don't capture the imagination, like being utterly complete in all phases of the game, being able to read the game like a manager, and also being able to receive and progress the ball under intense pressure as if the oppo players aren't there. Unlike other legends, Anfield couldn't bother him.

Yaya had the talent to do such things, he played as a CB in a CL final! But I'm not sure he had the stamina and attitude to do what Rodri did over 4 consecutive seasons. Rodri was covering most distance for club and country. Also, he is more of a natural leader than the other picks.

 

[bondsman]

I agree with much of what you say, but I think that KDB is an all-rounder only attacking wise, he is lacking defensively, except for high pressing in his younger years. He's a genius at completing passes that other players can't even see.

The beauty of Rodri is he can do everything from top defending to top passing to scoring top goals. He is *the* all-rounder. His main (aesthetical) problem is that he is exceptional at things that don't capture the imagination, like being utterly complete in all phases of the game, being able to read the game like a manager, and also being able to receive and progress the ball under intense pressure as if the oppo players aren't there. Unlike other legends, Anfield couldn't bother him.

Yaya had the talent to do such things, he played as a CB in a CL final! But I'm not sure he had the stamina and attitude to do what Rodri did over 4 consecutive seasons. Rodri was covering most distance for club and country. Also, he is more of a natural leader than the other picks.

Agree. Imagine if we had Rodri and peak Yaya in same team frightening. KDB very special though. How many times has he been the difference for us.

 

[alexmcity]

If we compare our record with and without our best players over the years, I'd be surprised if any of the the other legends came close to Rodri.

Le's hope he's back for the club WC in June/July. That's maybe the only big trophy we can win this season, unless Foden and Haaland start playing like Ballon d'Or winners.

 

[Quilted]

Best 'footballer'? David Silva

Best contribution? Kevin De Bruyne

Really depends on what lens you use to view it.

 

[alexmcity]

Best 'footballer'? David Silva

Best contribution? Kevin De Bruyne

Really depends on what lens you use to view it.

What makes David Silva a better player than KDB? Genuine question.

I think it's pretty clear that KDB is the better player. He has been recognized as one of the best 10 players in the world for many years, sometimes as a top 3 or 5 player in the world, even with Messi and C. Ronaldo around. He's more of a goal threat than David, much better passer in the final 3rd, one of the best passers in history, more athletic and faster, better at high pressing, etc. And he has won more with City.

David Silva was brilliant for City, but even in a year in which he won the PL and the Euros, 2012, he wasn't considered a top 10 player in the world. 7 Spanish players were nominated for Ballon d'Or that year, Yaya too, but not David.

How to explain the disconnect? People don't like to change their opinions and heroes. David, Yaya, Sergio were from the generation that beat Ferguson's United and won us the first trophies in the PL era. Many still rate this as a more important or greater achievement than winning the Treble and 4 in a row. Objectively seen, it's wrong. But it's very natural too, for people follow the club for emotional reasons.

 

[flook]

It's Kev isn't it. Consistently the best, all the others mentioned, with the possible exception of Rodders, had weak points to their game, Yaya wasn't consistent over a number of seasons, or generally even through a single season, David only used his right leg for standing on, Aguero, brilliant striker but as a striker his ability to influence the rest of the pitch was limited, so really it's got to be a midfield player overall.

In fact thinking about it Rodders weak point is his lack of goals, harsh maybe, but I'm going with it