Kevin de Bruyne

[Weckerz 3,781]

He's not what we need lol

Half our team don't know the basics of football, we can't string 3 decent passes together, we have attacking mids who severly lack end product but we couldn't do with KDB, the embodiement of efficiency.

The crap you read here sometimes

[Hostedenis 556]

No, neither are what we need - my point is that we will not win more with KdB than we do with Oscar now because it will just add to the same problem; small game players. Fabregas is a small game player, but in 14/15 we had enough big game players to balance it out. It seems Drogba made the difference. Look at that City team now; most are small game players which is why they rely on Aguero and Toure to fire, and if both do not then they don't win.

I have an agenda against KdB? No, I've just had enough of people saying he would solve our problems when he would not. He would exacerbate them, yesterday against Watford we had to send on Mikel to shore up the midfield even with Oscar in there. We need an upgrade on Oscar but the answer is certainly not KdB and certainly not Mata; we need a CM like Pogba and that's the end of it, and only then should we consider another #10 - but it's more likely Hazard would slot in there.

You're not thinking in terms of an overall impact of the team, you're thinking on an individual basis. KdB has quality, I'm not denying that but he won't work in a team with Fabregas and Hazard in there. We would literally become an embodiment of Arsenal.

I don't get this KdB is a small game player idea. He's shown he can do it in the big games as well (Bayern Munich victory with Wolfsburg being the biggest example).

People were saying the same things about Suarez at Liverpool, how he scored four against a bottom club but couldn't score against us. Now look at where he is.

[Special Juan 28,133]

The fat of the problem is some people can't swallow the fact he has gone, and kicked on. He would walk into this side right now, he's playing some really good football, yet he's still young and learning.

[CurlyHairLikeLuiz 1,625]

I don't get this KdB is a small game player idea. He's shown he can do it in the big games as well (Bayern Munich victory with Wolfsburg being the biggest example).

People were saying the same things about Suarez at Liverpool, how he scored four against a bottom club but couldn't score against us. Now look at where he is.

Suarez is the best striker in the world. KdB isn't even the best RW in England.

That argument is akin to Oscar surviving on his Juve game - I think the same points are being made, so I'll leave it there.

[Hostedenis 556]

Suarez is the best striker in the world. KdB isn't even the best RW in England.

That argument is akin to Oscar surviving on his Juve game - I think the same points are being made, so I'll leave it there.

I never said KdB is the best RW in the premier league. That's open to debate.

But KdB's Bayern game isn't akin to Oscar surviving on his Juve game! Oscar's was two/three years ago, KdB's was last season. And Oscar has never hit 15 goals and 25 assists in one season, which KdB did last year. (source: http://www.whoscored.com/Players/73084/History/Kevin-De-Bruyne)

I'm not a huge KdB fan, but there's no denying he's becoming (if he isn't already) a very big name, not in the premier league but internationally. I'd take him over Oscar, yes, in a heartbeat. But that ship has sailed. Does that sadden me? No, not really.

[The Skipper 20,609]

I still see him as a player who shines against small teams and disappears against big or decent ones. This thread went literally 2 weeks without any post when I prompted it. I knew the moment he smashed an almighty team like Sunderland it would come to life again. As I said, it's enough to shine against small teams. Thing is people say a lot about how our current team is awful, but City with their great team, is rallying after Leicester and Arsenal. Even if Pellegrini is a moron, the quality of the team alone should have them carrying away with the title. But they didn't exactly show a lot against big or decent teams have they?

On the other hand, I do admit I'm not looking forward to them having Guardiola though.

You need flat track bullies in your team, honestly.

[The Skipper 20,609]

No, neither are what we need - my point is that we will not win more with KdB than we do with Oscar now because it will just add to the same problem; small game players. Fabregas is a small game player, but in 14/15 we had enough big game players to balance it out. It seems Drogba made the difference. Look at that City team now; most are small game players which is why they rely on Aguero and Toure to fire, and if both do not then they don't win.

I have an agenda against KdB? No, I've just had enough of people saying he would solve our problems when he would not. He would exacerbate them, yesterday against Watford we had to send on Mikel to shore up the midfield even with Oscar in there. We need an upgrade on Oscar but the answer is certainly not KdB and certainly not Mata; we need a CM like Pogba and that's the end of it, and only then should we consider another #10 - but it's more likely Hazard would slot in there.

You're not thinking in terms of an overall impact of the team, you're thinking on an individual basis. KdB has quality, I'm not denying that but he won't work in a team with Fabregas and Hazard in there. We would literally become an embodiment of Arsenal.

Why do we need a CM like Pogba? Elaborate how KDB wouldn't be an upgrade on Oscar either...

[positivefootball 195]

The guy did get a shot here but he wanted more. That's fair enough and José accommodated that wish by allowing him to leave.

Yes it would be lovely to have kept him and hindsight is 20/20 for those wishing to rake over past mistakes but the interesting discussion is surely on how we learn from this going forward.

The individual cult is quite scary I must say.

[CurlyHairLikeLuiz 1,625]

Why do we need a CM like Pogba? Elaborate how KDB wouldn't be an upgrade on Oscar either...

Because we're getting shot in midfield, that's why we need a proper CM. Could do with an upgrade on Matic too, but that is a different topic. KdB will not be an upgrade on Oscar because our midfield will be even more open than before and we will concede even more goals.

Fabregas, Hazard and KdB cannot exist in the same team together without equal defending - to make our system work currently we have to deploy orthodox fullbacks and at times 2 holding midfielders, with yet another non defending player we will need to compensate further. I'm adamant that it won't work unless he comes here and proves me wrong.

[lucio 5,418]

Because we're getting shot in midfield, that's why we need a proper CM. Could do with an upgrade on Matic too, but that is a different topic. KdB will not be an upgrade on Oscar because our midfield will be even more open than before and we will concede even more goals.

Fabregas, Hazard and KdB cannot exist in the same team together without equal defending - to make our system work currently we have to deploy orthodox fullbacks and at times 2 holding midfielders, with yet another non defending player we will need to compensate further. I'm adamant that it won't work unless he comes here and proves me wrong.

don't think matic can be upgraded, just needs a better system and midfield partners. much better with luiz next to him

[CHOULO19 24,332]

You need flat track bullies in your team, honestly.

I think as was proven again last season, flat-track bullies win you leagues, while big game players win you cups.

[Barbara 15,149]

De Bruyne is a flat track bully who only turns up against smaller teams and not the bigger ones?

Seems 'strange' coming from some people when they probably didn't mind Fabregas doing the same thing last season.

Didn't know once you have an opinion about one player you can't about other. You guys are cute

I've always acknowledged Cesc's limitations and continue to do and I did say it was enough - about both Kev and Cesc.

But very cute anyway

[Barbara 15,149]

You need flat track bullies in your team, honestly.

Definitely! It wasn't a criticism, but a pattern I see. He's played how many big games, big teams or difficult teams and people keep bringing the one match against Bayern...

I think he's a great player, I said many times he could mature his game and start shining in big teams. Right now he isn't there yet which is okay.

I don't like his posture and attitude and Jose, Wolfsburg and Belgium managers have all commented on his attitude, but I'd get him back in a heartbeat, something I wouldn't do about any of other ex-players mentioned here. Bertrand, Luiz, Mata, Lukaku weren't, aren't and hardly will be ever be Chelsea level. They're at most squad players, but as we have many players who also aren't good enough is fashionable overestimate the players that aren't here anymore.

Kdb was the only player worth keeping, but he wanted to leave because he didn't accept the bench. Whether Mourinho made a mistake or not, whether Kev should have fought for his place further or not, it doesn't matter now. Both are gone and it won't change.

What sometimes bothers me is how we worship players we let go, overlooking their limitations and stressing and sometimes even exaggerating their quality - like Mata, for example, who never really did anything special at Utd - for the sake of highlighting what in their opinion bad business. Don't know if this trend is new or has always been like this. This happens all the time on football, I don't know why people don't get over it.

So, for the record, I'd have Kev back any time, although I don't sugarcoat his attitude when he left. He's an upgrade on any AM we have now, especially if you can keep him happy.

[Hybrid Angel 2,130]

Wouldn't have been that annoyed if we got rid of him for a proper alternative. The fact that we have an average player like Oscar taking on the responsibility is what makes me livid.

[The Mak 4,459]

The guy did get a shot here but he wanted more. That's fair enough and José accommodated that wish by allowing him to leave.

Yes it would be lovely to have kept him and hindsight is 20/20 for those wishing to rake over past mistakes but the interesting discussion is surely on how we learn from this going forward.

2 league starts in half a season is a 'shot'? I suppose RLC has had his 'shot' then as well?!? By that logic, I suppose we should ship him on in January.

And 'hindsight'? This is the guy who was touted as Lampard's ready made replacement since he was signed, more specifically, after his stint at Bremen. The potential was there. The vast majority of people here could see it - but José couldn't? Because he didn't run around as much as Oscar?

It is far more than just 'hindsight' behind the reason why people are still angry about letting him go...

I still see him as a player who shines against small teams and disappears against big or decent ones. This thread went literally 2 weeks without any post when I prompted it. I knew the moment he smashed an almighty team like Sunderland it would come to life again. As I said, it's enough to shine against small teams. Thing is people say a lot about how our current team is awful, but City with their great team, is rallying after Leicester and Arsenal. Even if Pellegrini is a moron, the quality of the team alone should have them carrying away with the title. But they didn't exactly show a lot against big or decent teams have they?

On the other hand, I do admit I'm not looking forward to them having Guardiola though.

I would love to know who your ideal attacking midfielder is...besides the likes of Hazard and Neymar of course. I'm not making slight of you when I say this (I respect all of your posts). Honestly, I would just love to know due to your previous praise of Oscar (when Mourinho started favouring him over Mata) and Fabregas. Because, if I remember correctly, you think that:

Mata - needs a team built around him.

KDB - only plays well against small teams.

Both of those players would be vast upgrades on Oscar right now.

For me, Mata doesn't need a team built around him. He just needs to not be under a manager that plays shit football while playing him on the wing (sounds very familiar). We also never got to see him with Matic in behind him.

Say what you want about KDB, but we are halfway through the season and the boy has 10 goals and 10 assists in 23 appearances. If that is not Lampard territory, I don't know what is. And at 24 years of age?! I'm sorry, but that is fucking scary. Particularly when you consider Frank's tally for us at that age was a total of 8 goals in an entire season...plenty of room to become a 'big game player' wouldn't you say?