Team Focus: Is De Bruyne a Necessity for Manchester City?
As far as starts to the season go, Manchester City’s has gone very much according to plan. The only team to boast a 100% start to the campaign, having scored 8 goals and conceded 0, they have stated their intentions early on in their bid to usurp Chelsea atop England’s top tier. The 3-0 win over the defending champions earlier this month laid down a marker for what could well be a successful season for City.
The two-time Premier League champions are expectedly confident of securing top spot come May, though, despite such a great start to the new season, they are keen on strengthening further before the transfer window slams shut. The Kevin De Bruyne-shaped elephant in the room continues to rear its head as August creeps towards September, with the Citizens keen on landing the Belgian before Monday’s deadline.
Reports on Wednesday suggested a deal was close to completion, though Wolfsburg sporting director Klaus Allofs said on Thursday that the creator-in-chief will not join City “at this time”. Nevertheless, City are unlikely to give up in their pursuit of the youngster until it is impossible to secure his services. As one would expect, this is a deal that could go to the wire.
Indeed, if that were to be the case, Manuel Pellegrini’s side would certainly reap the benefits of signing one of Europe’s creative stars. Since the beginning of last season, De Bruyne has registered more assists (20) than any other player in Europe’s top 5 leagues. Only Dimitri Payet (140) has played more key passes than the Belgium international (113) over the same period - 10 more than potential teammate David Silva (103). As such, many may consider De Bruyne to be the final piece needed for Pellegrini to complete his City jigsaw.
While the primary concern over the summer was in the midfield and defence, areas rectified by the arrivals of Fabian Delph and Nicolás Otamendi, in attack, Pellegrini’s side required strengthening. Any side with Sergio Aguero and Silva to call on is hardly short of attacking talents but beyond the duo, City were rather thin in reserve. Indeed, their title charge stuttered when Silva was sidelined, with the likes of James Milner and Samir Nasri unable to replicate the performances of the 29-year-old Spaniard.
The duo were capable stand-ins in the attack, but neither are of the standard of Silva. In Sterling and De Bruyne, though, Pellegrini’s offensive options could improve. While the Chilean is unable to call on Milner’s tenacity in the final third, the now-Liverpool midfielder does not provide the same attacking threat as Sterling, with the summer arrival favouring to drive at the opposition with his explosive pace. A preference to cut onto his right from the left has also benefitted the marauding Aleksandar Kolarov, who has been one of City’s stand out performers already this season, along with Silva and Yaya Toure.
In De Bruyne, meanwhile, Pellegrini would have at his disposal a more consistent creator than Jesus Navas to complete his attacking midfield triumvirate. The Spaniard has started the season brightly, but his end product can leave a lot to be desired. Granted, he is capable of beating his opponent at a whim, but it counts for little when you can’t back that up with a goal or an assist.
The advantage of this, though, is that City can stretch opponents with ease. Sterling and Navas' pace on either flank deflects attention away from Silva in the middle of the park, allowing him to flourish. His WhoScored rating (8.25) is currently the second highest in the Premier League and his best in England since his move to City back in 2010. The introduction of De Bruyne could well hinder Silva’s impact behind the strikers, with the Spaniard suffocated by the Belgian’s preference to operate more centrally.
Furthermore, while breaking inside from the right would open up gaps in the attacking third, this would leave the right-back - at the moment the unassuming Bacary Sagna until Pablo Zabaleta’s return to fitness next month - dangerously exposed. Sagna’s fondness to remain closer to his goal rather than the opposition’s runs the risk of the Frenchman being doubled up on by opposing wingers and left-backs.
De Bruyne’s natural inclination to come inside from the right could certainly benefit City, particularly with Silva operating freely across the final third and Aguero constantly on the move, but it’s a risk. With Navas, the speedster hogging the touchline means opposing left-backs would feel less inclined to push forward, with the 29-year-old capable of tracking back to support the defence. Navas’ average of 2 tackles per game is bettered only by midfielder Fernandinho (3.3) of all City players this season, accentuating the hard work the winger puts in off the ball.
Last season, though, City lacked strength in depth in offensive areas beyond Silva, with Nasri and Navas often underwhelming. While the reliable presence of Milner has departed, Sterling replaced his compatriot and the prospective arrival of De Bruyne further swells City’s offensive ranks, so much so that the Citizens could rightly claim to have the best attack in the Premier League by a distance.
Dubbed ‘The Engineer’, Pellegrini, though, would have his work cut out to find a system that would ensure City maintain their fine start to the campaign, while not compromising their defensive solidity. As such, the arrival of De Bruyne could raise more questions than providing answers for the Citizens.
Will City win the league if they sign Kevin De Bruyne before the close of the transfer window? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below
unnecessary buy considering he can only replace silva here(i was really laughing at ppl who considered he was replacement for yaya toure). Should have gone for decent winger rather number 10. Juan Cuadrado would have perfect if chelski were willing to sell. They could also gone for someone like raibot but we are talking psg aren't we? The thing is they could have especially gone replacement for yaya toure. Silva can get injured but ur sure as heck he would go to african cup nation like yaya toure. But Kevin De Bruyne is not bad addition like ben mcaller said city bad times started when silva got injured. Though they could still gone yaya toure replacement as well. Fabian Delph is the option they got tell you how much this position is covered.
A robbery in broad daylight I call this! Sterling+KDB=110 MILLION POUNDS..... For the price of KDB Manchester City could've gone a different route and bought more/better players.... For 60mill they could've had Vidal Central Midfield/CDM who costed Bayern 22mill, Douglas Costa AM/Wing 20mill and Pedro who went to Chelsea Wing 22mill.. Price would have totalled to 64mill which is 5mill more than what KDB by himself just cost City... To make it worse the 3 aforementioned would have been perfect for City's current squad!
@Mr_Knowledge Yup, true, but buyingone of best young winger, and best asist man wich id uneder 25 you can call mistake?
@xBogusx Tbh age isn't an excuse, when u spent 110mill based on "potential" then as a club it shows how clueless they are. The 3 players I mentioned earlier were merely just examples of experienced yet middle age guys who are all easily better than KDB and could have cost much less.. I mean Vidal is 27-28, Costa 23-24, Pedro 27. City wants to win a champions league whilst Silva, Aguero, Kompany, Yaya are all in their prime. Spending a fortune on the future won't help those players win TODAYS UEFA!
@Mr_Knowledge- Costa especially looking worth every penny, albeit early in the season.
@Mr_Knowledge your probably right but things don't always work out the way you would think, who knows the bureaucracy the managers deal with and also it is demanded of pellgrini to win the CL more than the BPL so i think they are doing a Real Madrid here buying the players with the best stats at the moment since KDB got highest assists Wolfsburg get to demand what they want, sterling is expensive just cause he is english and has some talent, (some not alot but low supply of english players with talent and high demand = expensive ass player).
@meesh Forget Sterling for a min because regardless of which team wanted him LFC wanted 50mill.... But KDB for 60mill is ridiculous! City constantly gets ripped off in the transfer market. last season they went and bought Mangala for 38mill???????????? WTF LOL
@Mr_Knowledge first off its 52 million pound not 60 mil pound. Secondly Kevin De Bruyne had a valid 4 years contract left with him and thirdly this 4 year contract with team that is second richest in Bundesliga after bayern and fifth he is proven performer best player in Germany Last season. So they did not any obligation to sell him. Citeh wanted so bad and they got it and he was best player in germany last season and even given award for that for breaking or equalling assist record, infact his actually tally would be 22 had it not given bad offside decision. Ur saying forgot about sterling why? He only 1 year left and he went for 49 million pound isn't that day light robbery as well and when you compare some one like depay who scored 22 goals last season in eredivise going so cheap as 25 million pound and is of the same age then what would think that of?
Maybe City should try a 4-2-2-2 system. Both Silva and De Bruyne are CAMs who like swerving to the flanks.
Edit: I wouldn't worry too much about City's tactical concerns. Pellegrini has a knack of implementing new players and doctoring any incidental line-up issues. Read this: aliveforfootball.com/blog/2015/02/13/engineer-magic-rectangle-story-manuel-pellegrinis-4-2-2-2-formation/. I wouldn't be surprised if Pellegrini were eager to return to that system once again and KDB may well be the one acquisition who could help him achieve it. Hart Zaba - Komps - Mangala - Kolarov Touré - Fernandinho KDB - Silva Agüero - Sterling
@Maarten- Pellegrini also has a knack of getting it terribly wrong. The 4-2-2-2 formation will not work against "footballing" teams as good or better than them- Arsenal, Chelsea (when they aren't in bus mode) in the league, Real, Barca, Bayern in Europe. Granted that's a small amount, but I always feel a club should have a set system and buy players to suit it and changing formations to suit the opposition doesn't really work, well except for when Fergie's Utd went from 4-4-2 to 4-3-3 to counter Arsenal's midfield. Unfortunately that generally worked. Ha
De Bruyne was underwhelming to put it politely when he played as a winger at Chelsea. He then went to Wolfsburg and played primarily as a number 10 and had a very productive season. So naturally City are buying him to play on the wing! Makes sense given Pellegrini's tactical fails in the past. De Bruyne isn't worth £59m as a #10 yet alone a winger. If City wanted an upgrade to Navas, they should've bought Hermannn who would cost £30m tops. As poor as Navas' final product is, the fact he's a genuine winger with pace stretches defences allowing Silva & Yaya space to pass/run into. De Bruyne wont want to or be able to do that consistently, and certainly wont be happy playing out of a position he was considered potentially world class in. This transfer reeks of buying for the sake of stopping another club buy. Wolfsburg have done an excellent job of milking City though. I've said in the past how easy it is to get money from Arab owners, this is just further proof I'm right.
@SteveHyland Agree, they already have one of the best #10s in the world, why do they want this one? To get in his way? Unless they deem him a ready-made replacement for Silva (who's still not all that old at 29), buying a right-wing upgrade on Navas would seem to make much more sense (Kevin Volland, Sofiane Feghouli?).
@anthony.beswick.10- Yep, multiple better options on right wing. Even Bellarabi. Silva's game doesn't revolve around pace so I can see him still being great in 3 or 4 years time.
@SteveHyland hey why ru bringing karim bellarabi name now? Didn't u said considered bayer leverkusen did had single star in their roooster and you said that thing saturday? Now change ur position in matter of 3 days? Plus when i mentioned about you were creating fake history or rather about bundesliga(5 titles each for dortmund and mochengladbach) during that saturday game u disappeared in manner very similar to Houdini. Its really remarkble though ur bringing bellarabi name for manchester city now. Wat about Heung Son Min? wasn't he only superstar that bayer leverkusen had?
@Ffaris- I actually wrote this first, check the days. And I didn't say anything about "superstars" at Leverkusen, I specifically said "world class" and I'm sure the majority would agree Bayer have zero world class players, although Bellarabi is the one with true world class POTENTIAL. You'll notice the transfer window has closed and no bids went in for anybody other than Son. Guess the scouts from all the big teams got it wrong. :-p . I'm not sure what you're going on about "fake" Bundesliga titles because but those figures are correct. Dortmund (94/95, 95/96, 01/02, 10/11 and 11/12 seasons) and BVfL (69/70, 70/71, 74/75, 75/76 and 76/77 seasons). You do realise it wasn't called the 'Bundesliga' before 1963 right and the whole structure of the league changed? This is the problem with not understanding words Ffaris, you end up making mistakes. ;-)
@SteveHyland @SteveHyland Though I agree ,they do not direly another number ten of that calibre having Silva, especially not for £59m. But De Bruyne is only 24, he has played right midfield before for Genk and Bremen. I think he could readapt his game back on to the right wing. Plus they don't have much depth at the pure #10 role anyway. If Silva were to get injured again their choices would be between Delph, Roni Lopez (who is promising but still raw) , and Nasri (who is way more effective on the wings), given you want to play Yaya in the midfield. Having De Bruyne there adds a world class talent at the position, and adds the depth needed to make it through a few injuries throughout the season. I think his addition would make the difference in Champion's League, and local cups. Man City already have the scale tipped in their favor, if they can afford getting De Bruyne that adds some pounds to the scale. He would also give the franchise another face for the future.
@sebaromero08 SPENDING 59 MILLION POUNDS ON DEPTH???? JUST WOW!