Riyad or İlkay? Who have we missed most this season?

[jamielowndes]

We miss them for different things.

Gundo is one of the smartest players I've ever watched. His football IQ and his ability to control a game was unreal.

Mahrez had an insane first touch that buys you a few vital seconds in an attack to create space and was frequently capable of sparking an attack almost out of nothing.

 

[Gorbachev]

I think had De Bruyne not got injured against Burnley, we wouldn't have missed Gundogan as much as we have.

Foden has stepped up this season, and even once Kev got himself back, he has been fighting with his body to regain consistent form that we don't know yet will ever come back.

Mahrez got us 28 goal contributions last season. 28!! Can you imagine having that many more goals in our team this year?

It's a lack of goals that has really killed us this season because our possession stats are still amongst the best if not the best in Europe.

Goal contributions from our wide areas in particular have been an abomination this year.

 

[IOWBlue]

Gundogan was integral to us retaining possession in the middle of the park but also knowing when to carry the ball forward, even if that stopped at the opposing box. Mahrez allowed us the ability to pause on the right and stretch opponents. The loss of both Mahrez and Cole has reduced that opportunity, especially in the absence of Grealish, but Gundogan was more important overall. That said, we’d squeezed as much juice as we could from both and it was the best time to move on for all parties.

is that the cole who played a huge 19 career games for us? most as sub or in cups?

 

[spider blue]

At this stage of the season, has to be Ilkay. He came alive in the final weeks of the season.

100% this

 

[Mike N]

We’ve missed them both.

Always knew we’d miss Gundo’s quality and goals but after watching the Netflix documentary I now appreciate Mahrez more.

He didn’t always start but he closed-down so many games when he came on late and scored.

 

[meltonblue]

Gundogan. We’ve only really missed Mahrez because Grealish has either been out or not on form that much this season either.

He looked back more like his old self the other night though, think he’s going to be key to the rest of the season.

 

[69FACUPfinal]

100% this

The team miss him, I miss him. Txiki messed up massively there. I have even warmed a bit to his wife, following the Amazon doc ( married to the game) and I think she would have been ok with staying - get food sent in as she had an aversion to chip barms..


Seriously miss both, Riyad was excellent in CL 2021 season and got us to FA Cup final with his 3 v Sheffield.

Oh for prolific scorers....

 

[timperleyblueboy]

Both as they both scored important goals!

 

[Gabriel]

is that the cole who played a huge 19 career games for us? most as sub or in cups?

Indeed. It’s the same Palmer that had come through the system and understood that role. In the unexpected but prolonged absence of Grealish (821 league minutes), it has often meant we have been down to one natural wide man (Doku), who is learning the system, or either playing a midfielder there (Foden/Bernardo), which people have complained about, or allowing Walker to hold an entire flank, which people have also complained about. I’m not arguing that we should have retained Palmer, simply pointing out that one unforeseen injury has had far-reaching consequences.

People often get fixated about the lack of goals (Haaland) and the lack of assists (de Bruyne), but arguably the greatest problem we have had this season has been the absence of a wide man who can pause play (Grealish/Mahrez/Palmer). Their contribution is often selfless and misunderstood (‘he doesn’t shoot’; ‘he can’t cross’), but in stretching play and opponents’ minds and lungs, they allow the others to flourish.

 

[Corky]

We’ve missed them both.

Always knew we’d miss Gundo’s quality and goals but after watching the Netflix documentary I now appreciate Mahrez more.

He didn’t always start but he closed-down so many games when he came on late and scored.

1 last season Spurs, he scored 2 of his 5 PL goals that day.