How good is Kevin De Bruyne?

Sandikan said:
He's created a bit of a mythical reputation recently, but today was back to the previous Walker rep of being a bit dim and slack, but still rescuing it with pace.
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Yup it was like first 3 months of the season Walker when every City fan wanted him dropped. His physical ability bails him out a lot but he switches off an extraordinary amount for a full back. I've seen people call him the PL's best ever right back but personally I'd at City alone take peak Zabaleta over him.
 
I'd bet that next season will be his last for City.

Let's give credit where credit is due, though, that hair is just world class.
 
Very poor today.

Probably 1 final season at City that also coincides with Pep's final season I'd say.
 
bringbackbebe said:
He seemed like he didn't care. Very odd game from him. Probably the difference today.
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Has he ever really shown what it's taken to win a one off game? Great player though, on his day, which may well have past. United had the mighty City on their knees at halftime. Pep has always been about total football and playing with eleven, this year and even last year since Haaland was signed they have shifted away from that. Other than Walker and Doku not a single City player put in a winning performance. I actually think Pep and City have burnt out. Title up for grabs next year boys can't let those scum over at Arsenal take it.
 
Apparently he's agreed personal terms with Al Ittihad.

Jumping ship before the charges hit, perhaps? Or just wanting one final payday?

Either way I'll be delighted to see the back of him.
 
How good WAS KdB? Looks very past it in Cup final and for his country. Despite the TinTin vibe, an awesome footballer at his peak
 
This'll sound biased from me but I was thinking about the cream de la creme players of his generation and is he really in there, At the top?

He's probably one of the most overestimated players around and when it's all said and done hid reputation can only go down, for me the very best of players not only leave a mark on their teams bur are undoubtedly indispensable when it comes to winning titles and for all his attributes he Simple isn't that sort of the player, of all his years at City I can't remember a single decisive big game performance from him which was pivotal in them winning the league and in Europe which let's be honest is all that matters to city at this point he was insignificant both times they managed to get to the final, hell as fate would have it he missed those two games due to injury anyway.

Not to mention he was unavailable for significant periods of time for some of their campaigns and city went about their business just about the same, a damning fact, just compare that to when rodri is unavailable.


His international career is somewhat more disappointing as hazard stole the spotlight when he still hadn't gone awol to be their clear main man when Belgium had it's best performances result wise and when he did get the chance to be their talisman he failed to leave his mark, with disappointing results which followed.


All in all he'll be rightfully called the best of his position at England for the duration in which he played at city but I don't think he'll have any business cracking a top 20 premium league player of all time for example never mind being on the all time great ones.
 
Probably needs a move to re-energize his career, but in my opinion, when playing well, he's still the best player, all-round, in the Premier League. He's quite brilliant. Works hard, never in any bother. Has looked a little off it in past two seasons and he still makes a huge difference.
 
Has age/all the injuries and stuff finally caught up with him and resulted in him dropping a level or two? Pity for us that Salah is still going strong this season and making the league a 1 horse race! KdB (& possibly Salah too) seems to be off to Saudi or are those rumors gone?
 
Red the Bear said:
All in all he'll be rightfully called the best of his position at England for the duration in which he played at city but I don't think he'll have any business cracking a top 20 premium league player of all time for example never mind being on the all time great ones.
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This is an insane take for what it's worth.
 
Red the Bear said:
This'll sound biased from me but I was thinking about the cream de la creme players of his generation and is he really in there, At the top?

He's probably one of the most overestimated players around and when it's all said and done hid reputation can only go down, for me the very best of players not only leave a mark on their teams bur are undoubtedly indispensable when it comes to winning titles and for all his attributes he Simple isn't that sort of the player, of all his years at City I can't remember a single decisive big game performance from him which was pivotal in them winning the league and in Europe which let's be honest is all that matters to city at this point he was insignificant both times they managed to get to the final, hell as fate would have it he missed those two games due to injury anyway.

Not to mention he was unavailable for significant periods of time for some of their campaigns and city went about their business just about the same, a damning fact, just compare that to when rodri is unavailable.


His international career is somewhat more disappointing as hazard stole the spotlight when he still hadn't gone awol to be their clear main man when Belgium had it's best performances result wise and when he did get the chance to be their talisman he failed to leave his mark, with disappointing results which followed.


All in all he'll be rightfully called the best of his position at England for the duration in which he played at city but I don't think he'll have any business cracking a top 20 premium league player of all time for example never mind being on the all time great ones.
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I do think De Bruyne can be too readily elevated above the other great 8s the league has seen such as Gerrard, Scholes, Lampard and Fabregas, and I'm not sure to what extent entrenched club positions drive that.

But I don't think I can agree with this. His record in Europe in the big knockout games is impressive for me:

2022/23 - in the semi-final he provided the equaliser in the Bernabeu and then two assists in the home win over Real.
2021/22 - he scored the only goal in the two legs against Atletico in the quarter-finals, and in the semi-final against Real he provided a goal and an assist in the home game. Little surprise City's late collapse then came with him off the park.
2020/21 - he scored 3 goals in their last 5 games before the final.
2019/20 - a goal and an assist in a 2-1 win away to Real in the second round, followed by the only City goal in the defeat to Lyon in the quarters
2018/19 - 3 assists in that 4-3 quarter-final humdinger against Spurs. Was injured for the 1-0 defeat.

None of that is insignificant.
 
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Looks finished.

That moment where he miscontrolled the ball and got nudged out for corner. He just looked like he wasn't up for it anymore.
 
I'm surprised he's not been moved on. I thought his performance in the FA Cup final showed his lack of influence now.

Absolutely amazing player though.
 
Looks a good couple of stone over weight these days. Very sluggish in moving around the football field. Hopefully he stays at City for a few more years!
 
He's 34 in June, just not up to the physical pace of the premier league now. He will definitely be leaving City at end of season. What a player he was though. Up their with Scholes/Lampard/Gerrard. He wanted to go this summer but was convinced to stay another year. His decline is probably on par with Casemiro's.
 
Looks done, what a player in his prime though, so versatile and world class in most positions.
 
honirelandboy said:
He's 34 in June, just not up to the physical pace of the premier league now. He will definitely be leaving City at end of season. What a player he was though. Up their with Scholes/Lampard/Gerrard. He wanted to go this summer but was convinced to stay another year. His decline is probably on par with Casemiro's.
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Yeah, Rodri's absence, coupled with KdB and Gundogan's decline is a massive reason City's struggling. They've spent money but haven't seemed to replace the 2 of them, nor Rodri (I suppose that's much easier said then done, considering their peak levels).

I would say "long may it continue" but with there seemingly being no other challengers to Pool, it's a little scary. Hopefully Salah, TAA & VVD all feck off too.
 
Fenômeno said:
Looks done, what a player in his prime though, so versatile and world class in most positions.
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Hell of a player, but he was basically always an 8 or a 10? Hardly makes him Ruud Gullit.
 
No Rodri and a washed up KDB. Goes to show how important the midfield is. I'd imagine especially so for a Pep side.
 
V.O. said:
Hell of a player, but he was basically always an 8 or a 10? Hardly makes him Ruud Gullit.
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sherrinford said:
A great player, but not a versatile one. Could only play one position, really.
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He could (and did) play on either wing, as a proper central number 10 and as an 8. He was pretty poor at the base of midfield when tried there, not that it matters much. So yeah, he was pretty versatile, especially compared to more traditional number 10s, while not being Ruud Gullit (City have Ake for that).
 
V.O. said:
Hell of a player, but he was basically always an 8 or a 10? Hardly makes him Ruud Gullit.
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He's also played 100+ games out wide in his career. Plus a very important stint as a false 9 that in 2021 when City won the league and made it to the CL Final with no recognised striker.

You can be versatile player who plays predominantly in your favoured position when you're a world class versatile player.
 
I think he could provide some team some Milner type years. Not us though. He’d be terrible for us.
 
sherrinford said:
A great player, but not a versatile one. Could only play one position, really.
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So he's excelled as a wide playmaker, central in the 10, deeper albeit not quite the pivot, and as a false 9 or in a 2 in a false 442 setup... what do we mean by "one position" here?
 
You mean, was? Great player in his time. Never liked him - whining git - but what a talent
 
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