Kevin de Bruyne

[Styles 9,790]

JT. He got MOTM IIRC. Now you name one player that played worse than Kevin in that game.

Of course you'd name a defender. With the 'tactis' Mourinho so often deploys in away games, the defenders are well protected, much to the detriment of any attacking game. Even Cahill looked like a world beater in 2013-2014 when we know he's distinctly average if we aren't parking the bus.

Name one attacker in that game who performed even marginally better than Kevin.

[borriske 330]

Sorry for only responding now, I couldn't yesterday.

That bolded part is interesting because it was something similar to some things people were assuming here, but I suppose you would be in the best position to make that call. Is that general perception of Kevin in the Belgian media then? A bit stubborn?

In the Belgian media he is pretty much idolized, perhaps even more so than Hazard. But i don't think anyone will disagree with the fact that he at the very least is very outspoken, he even admitted it himself iirc. Besides that you can see it clearly in his reactions on and off the field. If he doesn't like something you're gonna notice it.

He grew up only a few miles from where i live, and i know someone who knew him when he was kid. Apparently even then he wasn't the most popular kid on the block. He was always knocking on peopl's doors asking if they wanted to play football with him, but rarely anyone ever wanted.

[hazardousteddybear 16]

Are we still going over this? As much as I like KDB, the facts are (at least I hope they're correct):

- Kevin had a hard time breaking through with Jose experimenting with the squad just after he returned to Chelsea, Jose was experimenting and found better options at the time;

- World Cup was nearby and KDB himself says he needs playing time to be in his top shape (not sure if this is a weakness, but on the plus I think he has a pretty injury-free record so far, though he's still young);

- Upon joining Wolfsburg he said he harbored no bad feelings towards Chelsea and Jose. This can be seen in two different ways: he doesn't have a grudge or he does have but does not express it, in which case he has a professional attitude (which I think he has because of his response concerning Courtois and the Belgian national team)

- Have you heard sensational remarks coming from KDB about Chelsea lately? Nope, hence all is fine and the best we have is our speculation. Compare with Luiz or for a more extreme example Lukaku.

Now the real question may be: is there a chance of KDB coming back in the future, and if so would we want him? While I think the first one is positive, I figure the answer to the second question is a no. I have seen him defend from time to time, but not to a standard that would satisfy Mourinho. Under a Mourinho system I can't see De Bruyne being granted a "free-roaming" role, when Hazard has that privilege. I feel De Bruyne belongs in a counter attacking club or one that focuses most its attacks through the center (rookie opinion).

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Of course you'd name a defender. With the 'tactis' Mourinho so often deploys in away games, the defenders are well protected, much to the detriment of any attacking game. Even Cahill looked like a world beater in 2013-2014 when we know he's distinctly average if we aren't parking the bus.

Name one attacker in that game who performed even marginally better than Kevin.

All of them hence why Kevin was the first to come off.

While no attacked had a great game that day, I distinctly remember how nervous Kevin looked and how he looked like he couldn't cope with the pressure of the match.

Seriously, what is your alternative explanation? Jose just woke up one day decided "I'm going to screw this guy over for absolutely no reason" and then laughed an evil laugh?!

[zolayes 14,489]

for about 4 years at least we cried out for more creative players .. we signed some then wanted them to defend more and got rid of them when they werent defenders

[iseah100 5,612]

So...does no one think he's great at Wolfsburg cause that team is built around him? How much defensive work does he actually put in? He seems very big headed.

[Stingray 9,441]

So...does no one think he's great at Wolfsburg cause that team is built around him? How much defensive work does he actually put in? He seems very big headed.

Not really, he did the same in Genk and Bremen (and i watched his games there as I do now). The 395 blue minutes here kinda biases some opinions imo.

[Styles 9,790]

All of them hence why Kevin was the first to come off.

While no attacked had a great game that day, I distinctly remember how nervous Kevin looked and how he looked like he couldn't cope with the pressure of the match.

Seriously, what is your alternative explanation? Jose just woke up one day decided "I'm going to screw this guy over for absolutely no reason" and then laughed an evil laugh?!

Oscar has played like this more times than I can remember and yet he is repeatedly given chances. Like others have said: there seems to be one rule for some players and another rule for others.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Oscar has played like this more times than I can remember and yet he is repeatedly given chances. Like others have said: there seems to be one rule for some players and another rule for others.

The difference, as I've said already, is that at the time Jose did not know who his best team was so he was willing to give other players chances and switch things around, and more importantly, we FIVE players for two starting spots while right now we just have two and Cuadrado who doesn't seem like he has started fitting in the team.

But assume I bite, why do think Jose has different rules for different players? What exactly does he gain by not treating players equally and hence ending up with a team that he knows is not the best possible?

[SoulTaker 46]

The difference, as I've said already, is that at the time Jose did not know who his best team was so he was willing to give other players chances and switch things around, and more importantly, we FIVE players for two starting spots while right now we just have two and Cuadrado who doesn't seem like he has started fitting in the team.

But assume I bite, why do think Jose has different rules for different players? What exactly does he gain by not treating players equally and hence ending up with a team that he knows is not the best possible?

If I remember correctly Jose said early last season ( I think it was a few days before the Swindon game) that he wanted to build the team with Oscar as his main #10.

[Term-X 7,891]

City being linked with him, please say we added some sort of buy back/first choice option in the deal.

[edetarod 2,155]

City being linked with him, please say we added some sort of buy back/first choice option in the deal.

KDB has embarrassed Mourinho

even if we had a buy back clause Mourinho wouldn't bring him back because of his ego

[hamad138 190]

City being linked with him, please say we added some sort of buy back/first choice option in the deal.

City wont get him cause VW wont sell. Unless they bid 100Mil

[stroey 2,525]

If I remember correctly Jose said early last season ( I think it was a few days before the Swindon game) that he wanted to build the team with Oscar as his main #10.

And that's a big mistake IMO, not for playing Oscar who was good in form. But to commit yourself to one player by saying "he is my 10, I want to build the team around him" so early on in the season (october/november).

While you have 3 other natural number tens in KDB, Willian and Mata who were all eager to proof themselves. They just had to fight it out on the right wing, along with Schurrle, 4 top players fighting for 1 unnatural spot.

One of the few things I really disagreed with Mou over the last decade.

[johnnythefirst 1,076]

even if we had a buy back clause Mourinho wouldn't bring him back because of his ego

Even if he wanted him back, Kevin wouldn't come. ;-)

[SoulTaker 46]

And that's a big mistake IMO, not for playing Oscar who was good in form. But to commit yourself to one player by saying "he is my 10, I want to build the team around him" so early on in the season (october/november).

While you have 3 other natural number tens in KDB, Willian and Mata who were all eager to proof themselves. They just had to fight it out on the right wing, along with Schurrle, 4 top players fighting for 1 unnatural spot.

One of the few things I really disagreed with Mou over the last decade.

I agree. I just pointed it out since the discusion keep going on weither de Bruyne was good enough or if he was willing to fight for his place, which is a bit stupid if there was no spot to fight for in the first place. And I'm not blaming Jose for it, Oscar was the type of player he was looking for, fair enough. But blaming de Bruyne saying he was unwilling to fight for his place is harsh... And in my opinion it's no coincidence his drop in form coincide in time with that comment.

ps: That comment was actually made in September.

[Atholy 1,293]

No surprise here:

Titel says: Bayerns wants Debruyne. The Wolfsburg star player would come as successor of Robben or Ribery for more than €50 million.

[iseah100 5,612]

No surprise here:

Titel says: Bayerns wants Debruyne. The Wolfsburg star player would come as successor of Robben or Ribery for more than €50 million.

Fucking ridiculous