🇧🇪 Kevin de Bruyne

[Hutcho 8,443]

It's possible he could start on the right, but I could also see Oscar in the middle and Mata on the right or even just Oscar on the right. He will definitely get playing time. And yes, he was a very good attacking force last season but that, like Schurrle, was based on unsustainable usage and unlike Schurrle, he was on a very poor squad. This is a team, that in the 7 games KDB played against the top-4 teams in the Bundesliga was outscored 23-4 (and De Bruyne had 1 meaningless goal in those 7 games). Saying look what he did at Bremen is useless without understanding the concept of how a player is used in a squad.

People need to understand usage when talking about statistics. For example, as middle statistically as Oscar's first Premier League campaign was, you have to put in context of a team and a system. Bremen was set up for their attacking midfielders to succeed and Hunt and De Bruyne were their two best players and ran the team's offense and both were among the best offensive players in the Bundesliga on a team that was near relegation. .Oscar was often Chelsea's 4th offensive option and he had to do a lot of defensive responsibilities on a team that was fighting for trophies which De Bruyne didn't. De Bruyne had a higher usage rate than even Mata did for Chelsea. KDB took 2.7 shots a game. He attempted 7.6. long balls per game The manager gave him free reign which allowed him to have an awful 76.8 passing percentage. He had a role on Bremen he simple was never going to have on Chelsea. We have too many other talents and players that need that ball to have players repeat their offensive numbers at smaller clubs. He's still likely to be a key player, but people need to keep their expectations in check.

Yeah i take that point. But I don't want this to become an oscar vs KDB thing. They are both great players which we are very lucky to have.

If mata is moved to the right (which doesn't make great sense to me, but i trust Mourinho's judgement and he knows far better than me), then yes I would probably slot oscar into the CAM role right now.

But if he doesn't move mata which I definitely wouldn't of then, KDB imo is the best option we have for the right hand side, Becuase of the reasons I mentioned (right footed, great delivery, set pieces, can still cut inside to link up with mata, work-rate etc.)

Whatever happens it's a good problem to have.

[Fernando 6,585]

Because the bundesliga absolutly sucks and bayern schalke dortmund leverkussen all play in the italian league since 2004. Why am I even wasting time on you. You are obivously to thick or baised to see it. We were discussing 1 aspect of the game as clearly insinuated. Please stop quoting me.

Well you said it's all about work rate. So then we can use that same excuse for any league in the world then.....

I don't doubt that Bundesliga is a decent league. But it is nowhere near close to playing a full season of PL and some CL.

In CL Oscar was boss, especially against a veteran like Pirlo, PIRLO!!!!!!

[Goemaere 131]

Well you said it's all about work rate. So then we can use that same excuse for any league in the world then.....

I don't doubt that Bundesliga is a decent league. But it is nowhere near close to playing a full season of PL and some CL.

In CL Oscar was boss, especially against a veteran like Pirlo, PIRLO!!!!!!

I should have been more clear, I was commenting on the sole fact that De bruyne has a slight! edge in workrate over Oscar. The rest of their abilities are equal exept for tackling (oscar) and Long range passes (de bruyne). And then everybody lost their mind, well everybody who hasn't seen enough of the bruyne ^^

De bruyne did extremly well against Dortmund,Bayeren and kroatia. But you are right, oscar has proven himself on a higher level but I think the bruyne will eventualy push oscar back a line.

Well that's my opinion in a nutshell, i respect yours too and I hope we're both right and the'll play in the same XI

[Keikoismad 162]

It's about workrate. League is almost irrelevant to it. Van ginkel has a great work rate or is it shit all the sudden because he comes from the eredivisie.

You can't compare because you haven't seen a SINGLE match of werder bremen.

Please only quote me when you have seen more than 15 de bruyne games. I'm not discussing nuclear physics with a history teacher, so don't argue if you have only seen oscar...

I am enjoying the discussion and tend to intervene but some historians know something about nuclear physics dude

I'm an historian myself and I accidently have a professor being passionated about physics too.

@ the moderators: sorry for going completely off topic, but I'm bored working in the archives and it's a strange experience to come to this forum and see a reference to historians

on topic: of course Oscar has proven more for Chelsea than De Bruyne at this very moment, but Kevin will get his chance and he will prove what he's worth

[Goemaere 131]

I am enjoying the discussion and tend to intervene but some historians know something about nuclear physics dude

I'm an historian myself and I accidently have a professor being passionated about physics too.

@ the moderators: sorry for going completely off topic, but I'm bored working in the archives and it's a strange experience to come to this forum and see a reference to historians

on topic: of course Oscar has proven more for Chelsea than De Bruyne at this very moment, but Kevin will get his chance and he will prove what he's worth

Damned, I was hoping that was the less likely one. Didn't want to be insulting to someone Do you go the Ugent, or are you graduated, because i was thinking of changing from veterinary medicine to history

Ot: De bruyne said on twitter that he's feeling fine and he'll know the results tomorrow

[Keikoismad 162]

Damned, I was hoping that was the less likely one. Didn't want to be insulting to someone Do you go the Ugent, or are you graduated, because i was thinking of changing from veterinary medicine to history

Ot: De bruyne said on twitter that he's feeling fine and he'll know the results tomorrow

Well, actually i'm studying in Leuven, currently preparing for my doctorate, specialisation is Western European Medieval Christian History

I KNOW, that sounds really BORING to most people

[Stingray 9,441]

Well, actually i'm studying in Leuven, currently preparing for my doctorate, specialisation is Western European Medieval Christian History

I KNOW, that sounds really BORING to most people

NO it doesnt :-)

[Bir_CFC 3,455]

Someone put KDB's face on this:

[ja1 1,166]

If we stay 4-2-3-1 there's currently a third space up for grabs..I can see KDB making it his own.

[Chelsea? 892]

juan and only???

true, but I can't remember ever seeing a team with 2 #10s that worked out. It'll be interesting to see how Mata and KDB/Oscar play together.

[Wiillowhobo 28]

They really are not. 2/3 of all teams in the bundesliga are championship level ...just with less money.

I strongly doubt he will be one of the best in the world. he will be a really good footballer. But what position will he become the best in the world ? CM? surely not, does not have the defensive abilites at all. Wing? Too slow. CAM? Not even close to being as creative as Mata or Oscar...

I'm not going to get into the De Bruyne vs. Oscar discussion (time will tell) but I do want to say that quite a lot of people here underestimate the strength of the bundesliga and overestimate the EPL quite a bit. I'm definitely with Stingray on this one. "2/3 of all teams in the bundesliga are championship level"....I mean....championship right? Seriously? That sounds really unworldly.

[mediator 2,026]

We saw during the last champions league final, Bundesliga is weak...

[Chelsea? 892]

Hazard.xxx.Mata

That middle will be between Oscar and KDB I think. When you think about it, Mata spent most of his time on the right.

[Gilvorak 3,734]

Bundesliga is a joke outside 3/4 teams. Compared to the quality of the PL anyway.

[didierforever 7,349]

true, but I can't remember ever seeing a team with 2 #10s that worked out. It'll be interesting to see how Mata and KDB/Oscar play together.

the possibilities are mind-boggling... but all we have to do is trust JOSE.

[The Skipper 20,609]

Haven't people learnt from Marin just last season that you should not take pre season too seriously? Now I'm not saying that KDB is on Marin's level or anything, he's obviously far more talented, but people need to chill. Personally, I've seen nothing that surprises me from Kevin because I watched him play quite a bit in the Bundesliga - it seems that the people who haven't really seen him before are the ones that are overreacting.

Just chill. Pre season against very poor opposition should not be taken so seriously. It is not a direct indicator of how well a player will do over the course if the season.

Personally I'm looking more forward to the American pre season as we will face quality teams there but even then I won't draw serious conclusions.

It's not just KDB though mind. It's the likes of Essien (who people suddenly want as our starting DM because he put in two solid appearances against poor opposition) as well.

[Magic Lamps 11,692]

I'm not going to get into the De Bruyne vs. Oscar discussion (time will tell) but I do want to say that quite a lot of people here underestimate the strength of the bundesliga and overestimate the EPL quite a bit. I'm definitely with Stingray on this one. "2/3 of all teams in the bundesliga are championship level"....I mean....championship right? Seriously? That sounds really unworldly.

Bundesliga has Bayern, one of the best teams in the world due to unique advantages due to corruption, then there is a big gap to Dortmund and then there is a huuuuuuuuge gap to Leverkusen and Schalke and maybe Stuttgart and then there is an even huger gap to all other teams. Teams like Hoffenheim, Freiburg, Augsuburg, Fürth, Bochum, Köln and whatever shit are just unworldly underwhelming. They do not even try. It is a mircale BAyern fuck it up every other season even though their squad and their budget is 100 times that of most teams in the league. The bundesliga apart form its top teams, just like La liga is utter shit. that is mainly because Bundesliga does not even get a fraction of the TV money English clubs get. The richer German clubs compete with English bottom5 clubs for players on the transfer market. As long as this stays so, Bundesliga will never have consistent success. BVB adn Bayern were great last season, but that was an unique situation with them being lucky BArcelona were out of form and without Messi and REal and Mourinho fucked it up. Won't happen again.

[Barbara 15,149]

Yeah i take that point. But I don't want this to become an oscar vs KDB thing. They are both great players which we are very lucky to have.

If mata is moved to the right (which doesn't make great sense to me, but i trust Mourinho's judgement and he knows far better than me), then yes I would probably slot oscar into the CAM role right now.

But if he doesn't move mata which I definitely wouldn't of then, KDB imo is the best option we have for the right hand side, Becuase of the reasons I mentioned (right footed, great delivery, set pieces, can still cut inside to link up with mata, work-rate etc.)

Whatever happens it's a good problem to have.

Yeah, but Mourinho already said he prefers wrong-footed players in the wings. So he wants a leftie in the right wing - which is why he's thinking of moving Mata there as he's the only leftie in the five

I agree the comparison doesn't make sense. To play the amount of matches we do and also the different kind of opposition is amazing to have two guys that are amazing and promising playing as attacking midfielders, but bringing completely two different games. It's win-win. Some matches will fit more Kevin others Oscar. Even matches can become tough and changing the style and formation could solve.

So I don't mind if Kevin starts more often, or if Oscar does, if they're on top of their form they will probably play other matches, being subbed or coming from the bench and maybe together at the same time in the team.

I don't see either threatening Mata though, not only because of style, but mainly because how can the arguably best player last season (as many considered Hazard the best) just leave the team for a guy that hasn't played one official Chelsea match in EPL or CL?

I think Mourinho is lucky for having so many alternatives, but I also wouldn't like to be on his shoes, because choosing between those guys is going to be difficult, supposing they will live their potential - all things considered such as adaptation, possibility of injuries, etc..

I still think Hazard will be the guy this season - but that definitely doesn't come from his two matches in the pre-season. He was far from what I expect. But then again this is pre-season and Eden is a lot like myself. Friendlies aren't his thing

But I welcome Kevin's maturity and he alternative he offers.

[Chelsea? 892]

Bundesliga has Bayern, one of the best teams in the world due to unique advantages due to corruption, then there is a big gap to Dortmund and then there is a huuuuuuuuge gap to Leverkusen and Schalke and maybe Stuttgart and then there is an even huger gap to all other teams. Teams like Hoffenheim, Freiburg, Augsuburg, Fürth, Bochum, Köln and whatever shit are just unworldly underwhelming. They do not even try. It is a mircale BAyern fuck it up every other season even though their squad and their budget is 100 times that of most teams in the league. The bundesliga apart form its top teams, just like La liga is utter shit. that is mainly because Bundesliga does not even get a fraction of the TV money English clubs get. The richer German clubs compete with English bottom5 clubs for players on the transfer market. As long as this stays so, Bundesliga will never have consistent success. BVB adn Bayern were great last season, but that was an unique situation with them being lucky BArcelona were out of form and without Messi and REal and Mourinho fucked it up. Won't happen again.

how are bayern corrupt? And even with messi, barca had no chance.

[Magic Lamps 11,692]

how are bayern corrupt? And even with messi, barca had no chance.

messi was injured and/or out of form

And it is common knowledge Bayern's dominance is built on 40 years of tax dodging and illegal donations (mostly by the Bavarian government). Of all federal countries Bavaria enjoy the most sovereignity and they think they are better than other federal countries. Hence FC bayern has been a prestige project of the government, making it as easy for them as possible. Bavarian MPs such as Strauß, Stoiber and Seehofer have had a personal attachment to FC BAyern, too, funding them with official events financed by public money. As much as the Spanish government funds Reals and BArcas success with this crazy tax rule, Bavaria funds BAyern, with the difference being they actually can afford it.