Should be playing in the middle of the park, don't know if he is today?
He was unplayable at the start of the season. Hasn't quite performed the same, from what I've seen, but I guess it'd be hard to keep up that level of performance.
Definitely feel he suits a 4231, as attacking midfielder, rather than a centre midfielder in a 4141, though.
100%. He is for me the most talented natural footballer in this side, and he showcases it most when he's playing just behind the strikers. He's suffering because Pep is forcing Silva and De Bruyne into the side alongside each other, which given the alternatives is probably the right thing to do at this stage, but over time given their ages you'd expect the team to be built around De Bruyne.He was unplayable at the start of the season. Hasn't quite performed the same, from what I've seen, but I guess it'd be hard to keep up that level of performance.
Definitely feel he suits a 4231, as attacking midfielder, rather than a centre midfielder in a 4141, though.
Very good player but has gotten overrated on here.
He has some inherent flaws in his game & tends to go missing away from home.Nah.
He has some inherent flaws in his game & tends to go missing away from home.
100%. He is for me the most talented natural footballer in this side, and he showcases it most when he's playing just behind the strikers. He's suffering because Pep is forcing Silva and De Bruyne into the side alongside each other, which given the alternatives is probably the right thing to do at this stage, but over time given their ages you'd expect the team to be built around De Bruyne.
They talk about Jesus, Sane and Sterling being the future. But at 25 it's De Bruyne sat behind these front 3 that will really take it to a level hard to easily replicate as a front line. You have to build this team around him in the next few years, he's that good.
What's his best position/role then?I'm a big fan but I think he was terrible today. I don't think Pep's formation suits him at all, but that doesn't stop him making simple 5 yard passes and showing some impetus when pressed/needing to press to recover the ball.
I've called him out since he signed for City.
He has a fantastic final ball but he isn't athletic nor is he nimble ala Silva etc. Added to an average goal scoring record and I struggle to see what sets him apart as elite.
Imo he needs to be played wide right, put that final ball to good use
What's his best position/role then?
Through the middle as a number 10, I'd say with some certainty. You lose his incredible dead-ball delivery that he's capable of pulling from the right but his statistical output in terms of goals and assists is incredible if you let him work his magic. This is the man who had a mediocre striker like Bas Dost feasting on chances at Wolfsburg. He's at his best in the final third where the transitions are happening at some speed. It's certainly not this weird number 8 role that Guardiola wants him to play: the differences between himself and Silva in this scenario are just abundantly clear.What's his best position/role then?
He's definitely not world class but he's still a very good player, not sure this system suits him at all though, looks worse than when he first joined them.
I've called him out since he signed for City.
He has a fantastic final ball but he isn't athletic nor is he nimble ala Silva etc. Added to an average goal scoring record and I struggle to see what sets him apart as elite.
Imo he needs to be played wide right, put that final ball to good use
I think he's probably our best player and arugably the best no.10 in the prem. The problem for him is Pep doesn't play a no.10 and atm he's adapting to playing b2b something he doesn't have the defensive nous for.
He has been pretty average this season. Pep magic?
Would certainly explain why he's having a worse season, when great attacking players are made to defend I really do think people underestimate how much it can take out of their game.I think he's probably our best player and arugably the best no.10 in the prem. The problem for him is Pep doesn't play a no.10 and atm he's adapting to playing b2b something he doesn't have the defensive nous for.
Would certainly explain why he's having a worse season, when great attacking players are made to defend I really do think people underestimate how much it can take out of their game.
He goes missing far too much when they need him and if that was Pogba who played like this tonight...
Last week against Stoke when they needed to win to keep their title hopes alive again he was anonymous and they needed David Silva to come on and give them the impetus.
In a vacuum those stats are definitely impressive, but since the turn of the year (14 matches) he has 2 goals and 0 assists. Really disappointing for a player of his calibre, and the - entirely valid - caveat of him being played out of position cannot absolve all guilt.He's scored 6 goals has 13 assists, 5 motm performances this season. He's also hit the woodwork in the prem 6 times (more than anyone) all in playing a deeper role. While he's not suited to his current position thats hardly average.
