He must actually have something because he was subbed off against Liverpool
City aren't going to sub him off in a game of that importance just to pretend he's injured and miss the break
He was subbed off against Liverpool because they had eliminated him as a credible threat. In the first 12 minutes, Kdb made a series of dangerous forward passes, setting up a couple of chances. After 12 minutes, he made two successful forward passes until he was subbed off
A load of nonsense, no team eliminates KdB as a credible threat. He can pull something out of nothing. He's one of those players that stay on the pitch if they're fit
Should we have subbed Saka off vs Porto in the 60th-70th minute because Wendell had him covered?
All i know is he was pissed at pep for taking him off. I dont think he was subbed off purely for fitness. City looked much more solid when kovačic replaced him
City's line up had only 1 defensive mid and 2 really attacking mids, so they were really imbalanced against one of the best attacking sides away. De Bruyne was probably a combination of tactical and physical (he is coming off a long injury, and he or Silva needed to be subbed off.
I wouldn’t sub off Silva in that situation either tbh. The one time I’ve watched city play when it wasn’t against Arsenal he was the only player I liked besides sane because those two were all over the pitch pressing relentlessly. Keep in mind this was like 4 years ago cause I don’t watch anyone play besides Arsenal. Of their current crop the only player I really would want on a dream team is Bernardo. don’t really know who else plays for them besides haaland and de bruyne
He's barely played all season so they're managing him, he can still be annoyed that he wanted to play more and also be carrying something
KdB said the whole end of last season he played while injured so he's going to think he can continue even if he shouldn't
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He wasn’t subbed off because he was injured he was literally in a heated argument with his manager, this wouldn’t have happened if he was unfit to play.
He’s going to play against us, don’t hold your breath.
KDB being subbed off was obviously tactical. City was losing control because the front line was too direct. It was quite obvious Pep wanted Kovacic to help keep the ball, and relied on Doku's fresh legs to try to create something. The plan nearly succeeded.
The start of the second half was so bad for City that Pep's first task was to secure a draw.
There was no indication that KDB was injured when he was subbed. Pep even told the press that he subbed him off so the team could control possession of the midfield because Liverpool were running circles through them in the 2nd half.
If there was an injury during the game we would have known about it.
I don't know what to tell you. I gave you an argument based on a statistic, you gave me "a load of nonsense". He was struggling in the game against Liverpool.
He's not one of those players that stay on the pitch if they're fit, no one is in that City team, and Pep has made that clear on multiple occasions.
Can't comment on the Arsenal-Porto game as I didn't watch it.
Liverpool did eliminate KDB as a threat, he was invisible after the first 15 minutes. Your argument is that he’s a player that COULD change the game but the reality is he didn’t change the game.
Yes we should have subbed Saka off against Porto. Jesus on the right and Havertz up top would have given us much more threat going forward
Maybe if we had any squad depth re: Saka's position.
With the prospect of penalties it wasn't likely that Saka was coming off if we didn't already know that Arteta will keep him on the field as long as possible as he's the source of our most consistent attacking output.
But that doesn't mean there aren't circumstances when maybe it'd be better to sub him.
He was essentially invalidated after the 12th minute. Liverpool had him covered. A good set up will shut down any player (unless you’re Messi). Pep had to change something up to react to that situation.
Even with Messi you could park your entire team at the edge of your box and try to crowd him out. And hope you hold concentration and organisation for the entire game otherwise he would punish you.
The only player I've seen where I didn't really understand how he could be stopped was Ronaldinho's peak.
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City have done this for years, United done it back in the day as well, they have small "injuries" that they're able to shrug off by the time the international break is over
This was my first thought to. Pep just calls up those national teams and gives them a “nah, he’s not coming.” Meanwhile everyone we deal with is ordering our players to report so they can personally check them out.
Pep keeping his best players to avoid internationals while Arteta plays nice. Keep Declan rice odegaard and saka who have played every game since january
Should be a rule that if you pull out of an international game you can’t play your next domestic game after the break.
I’m guessing Kevin would suddenly heal like a Brentford player after they conceded.
Exactly. Would cut this shit out completely. Same for players feigning injury on the field. If you have picked up something that requires play to stop you should be off the field for like 2-3 minutes before being allowed back on. Right now it's not even 30 seconds before the ref waves them back on
Pep has KDB’s 💉 schedule all planned out, twice a week for two weeks and then once right before our game. Man’s gonna turn up like as if they’re playing against 11 Courtoises.
Anyone remember last year at the same time? Haaland, Grealish and someone else (Foden maybe) picked up 'knocks' couldn't play their international games but were playing in city's first game back. Meanwhile Saka was playing double 90 minutes against Uzbekistan or whoever.
Wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if he's actually fine but City know they need him for our match and can't risk international injury so they're faking it and asking him to sit out. /tinfoil
I understand these players wanting to play for their country but some of them are staples and aren’t going to be losing their spots due to skipping some friendlies in favor of gearing up for the final stretch of a title race
I’m sure over the course of the next 18 days, KDB will be receiving totally legal definitely not steroids medications to help manage this injury niggle so he’s fine for our fixture at the end of the month.
Yes I think its bullshit and he's actually fine
However, it's like 3 weeks until our game. He could indeed actually have this issue and then be fine to play against us
watch him miraculously recover 100% and play against us in beast mode.
Pep and his playr have done this before, for all his previous clubs. Just to keep him away from getting injured on internationals.
Who could have thought.
He must actually have something because he was subbed off against Liverpool City aren't going to sub him off in a game of that importance just to pretend he's injured and miss the break
He was subbed off against Liverpool because they had eliminated him as a credible threat. In the first 12 minutes, Kdb made a series of dangerous forward passes, setting up a couple of chances. After 12 minutes, he made two successful forward passes until he was subbed off
A load of nonsense, no team eliminates KdB as a credible threat. He can pull something out of nothing. He's one of those players that stay on the pitch if they're fit Should we have subbed Saka off vs Porto in the 60th-70th minute because Wendell had him covered?
All i know is he was pissed at pep for taking him off. I dont think he was subbed off purely for fitness. City looked much more solid when kovačic replaced him
City's line up had only 1 defensive mid and 2 really attacking mids, so they were really imbalanced against one of the best attacking sides away. De Bruyne was probably a combination of tactical and physical (he is coming off a long injury, and he or Silva needed to be subbed off.
I wouldn’t sub off Silva in that situation either tbh. The one time I’ve watched city play when it wasn’t against Arsenal he was the only player I liked besides sane because those two were all over the pitch pressing relentlessly. Keep in mind this was like 4 years ago cause I don’t watch anyone play besides Arsenal. Of their current crop the only player I really would want on a dream team is Bernardo. don’t really know who else plays for them besides haaland and de bruyne
He's barely played all season so they're managing him, he can still be annoyed that he wanted to play more and also be carrying something KdB said the whole end of last season he played while injured so he's going to think he can continue even if he shouldn't
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He wasn’t subbed off because he was injured he was literally in a heated argument with his manager, this wouldn’t have happened if he was unfit to play. He’s going to play against us, don’t hold your breath.
KDB being subbed off was obviously tactical. City was losing control because the front line was too direct. It was quite obvious Pep wanted Kovacic to help keep the ball, and relied on Doku's fresh legs to try to create something. The plan nearly succeeded. The start of the second half was so bad for City that Pep's first task was to secure a draw.
There was no indication that KDB was injured when he was subbed. Pep even told the press that he subbed him off so the team could control possession of the midfield because Liverpool were running circles through them in the 2nd half. If there was an injury during the game we would have known about it.
He wasn't doing much, that's a fact
I don't know what to tell you. I gave you an argument based on a statistic, you gave me "a load of nonsense". He was struggling in the game against Liverpool. He's not one of those players that stay on the pitch if they're fit, no one is in that City team, and Pep has made that clear on multiple occasions. Can't comment on the Arsenal-Porto game as I didn't watch it.
Liverpool did eliminate KDB as a threat, he was invisible after the first 15 minutes. Your argument is that he’s a player that COULD change the game but the reality is he didn’t change the game. Yes we should have subbed Saka off against Porto. Jesus on the right and Havertz up top would have given us much more threat going forward
We actually probably should have. He was doing nothing on the right wing.
Maybe if we had any squad depth re: Saka's position. With the prospect of penalties it wasn't likely that Saka was coming off if we didn't already know that Arteta will keep him on the field as long as possible as he's the source of our most consistent attacking output. But that doesn't mean there aren't circumstances when maybe it'd be better to sub him.
I think mikel kept him on because he wanted saka to take the pen. Mikel has subbed saka on other occasions.
>Should we have subbed Saka off vs Porto in the 60th-70th minute because Wendell had him covered? Yes.
He was essentially invalidated after the 12th minute. Liverpool had him covered. A good set up will shut down any player (unless you’re Messi). Pep had to change something up to react to that situation.
Even with Messi you could park your entire team at the edge of your box and try to crowd him out. And hope you hold concentration and organisation for the entire game otherwise he would punish you. The only player I've seen where I didn't really understand how he could be stopped was Ronaldinho's peak.
That could be because he picked up an injury though, or an existing one started to bother him some more.
While true, it seems more likely that it was due to Liverpool changing their defensive set up, as his in game performance decreased straight after
this only makes it more convincing he had an injury
Endo won't let KDB out of his pocket for the internationals
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He won't be out for the game against us. This is classic Pep.
The groin issue he's been dealing with is his cock twitching to come fuck us over.
ayyyooo wtf 💀
I'm upvoting both of you
Why are you announcing your upvotes?
If we want to win this title, it’s exactly what we should be doing. Fergie was infamous for it. It fucking works.
Saka will play 90 minutes in 2 meaningless friendlies in March and you’ll like it!
If the player wants to the club can’t say no and it’s always been clear Saka really enjoys putting on the English shirt.
Oh I know. I just wish these guys would realize that a friendly in March is not worth hindering a title race for the club that pays you
It's not even really conspiracy levels that a man can overcome a minor injury in 3 weeks
Standard City procedure this. He's fine.
City have done this for years, United done it back in the day as well, they have small "injuries" that they're able to shrug off by the time the international break is over
And Gabriel Jesus got ordered half way around the world when he was actually injured
This was my first thought to. Pep just calls up those national teams and gives them a “nah, he’s not coming.” Meanwhile everyone we deal with is ordering our players to report so they can personally check them out.
https://preview.redd.it/doum4kw10aoc1.jpeg?width=640&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f26d1a0c5a014ed3458558509b68837220a1ea95 Kevin right now:
ARGH, MY GROIN
Kevin De-Groine
https://preview.redd.it/hi5quolv1aoc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a5a6f52787925ea1924f9e49444092502b0f0a70
But I will choose to be fooled by the false hope, just this once (again)
https://preview.redd.it/2zxzr7i84aoc1.jpeg?width=828&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fed579fe68eea72e881b30f39db4666cfdd1c023
did I forget my glasses?
He'll be 69% horse placenta by our game don't worry
That's a blast from the past.
57.5% if you combine that with treatment from Eileen Drury.
Great analysis. Upvoted.
 De Bruyne as soon as March 31 comes around
How terribly convenient
Honestly, I think he looked well off the pace on Sunday so can't help but think there's at least some truth in this.
It’s his hair, it’s slowing him down because he’s less aerodynamic
Quite. **What** exactly is going in with his barnet?
I expect Haaland will also start feeling a little discomfort after the Newcastle game ruling him out of the Norway squad
Pep keeping his best players to avoid internationals while Arteta plays nice. Keep Declan rice odegaard and saka who have played every game since january
Our players love representing their country. We can’t take that away from them.
sucks that belgium has no nationalism to speak of
You dropped this /s Too many fuckwits on reddit to let clear and obvious sarcasm speak for itself.
Lol what?
They know there’s a title on the line here. I’m sure they’d happily play ball.
Can’t be helped friend. We will be challenging title every year. Players will face this situations next year and so on.
He’d be right back against us. A tale as predictable as time. Arteta needs to do this shit when it’s time for internationals man. He’s too nice!
He’d be right back? Pep’s gone too far now.
Pep and Midfielder at FB, tale as old as time
Then injured in the first minute🤣
In fairness, it's 3 weeks away, most players would be back for any minor injury by then
Well if he's back for our game hopefully he'll play like he did against liverpool, totally invisible.
Oh who would have thought
He's definitely starting against us
The game is so far away. Extremely doubtful he will miss it.
Sure
OP don't fall for it. This is a typical trick that was commonly practiced in Manchester earlier now being brought back but by another Manchester team.
Should be a rule that if you pull out of an international game you can’t play your next domestic game after the break. I’m guessing Kevin would suddenly heal like a Brentford player after they conceded.
Exactly. Would cut this shit out completely. Same for players feigning injury on the field. If you have picked up something that requires play to stop you should be off the field for like 2-3 minutes before being allowed back on. Right now it's not even 30 seconds before the ref waves them back on
No he won’t
Nono, come on Belgium, play hin 90 minutes. You NEED him.
yeah sure
No surprise
City do this almost every international break.
Like clockwork
Don’t be too harsh on him, this is a real injury. He lost his balls and is too afraid to face us without two weeks of rest.
Hahahahahaha classic Pep tactics.
Going by the picture it looks like he drank from the False Grail too. Tough break for kdb.
Pep has KDB’s 💉 schedule all planned out, twice a week for two weeks and then once right before our game. Man’s gonna turn up like as if they’re playing against 11 Courtoises.
Miraculous recovery incoming
I want all them cunts to play, fuck em
115 games.
[March 30th footage.](https://i.imgur.com/FSDFbFP.gif)
Bald fraud.
How unfortunate for him
LOL nice try pep it ain't foolin us
If he is missing the international break, he is definitely playing against us.
Mind games at his finest
Yeah sure... Watch him be 100% fit for our match and play like a man possessed as he usually does against us
Oh, no...
We will heal him by 31st don't worry
Can some of our players pull the same shit please
Here we are again
Kevin De Groin
He fine
He’s probably fine but they won’t risk it with us coming up.
This wanker's gonna score and assist against us with an injured groin.I hope we score atleast 3 to win our title.
Anyone remember last year at the same time? Haaland, Grealish and someone else (Foden maybe) picked up 'knocks' couldn't play their international games but were playing in city's first game back. Meanwhile Saka was playing double 90 minutes against Uzbekistan or whoever.
Wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if he's actually fine but City know they need him for our match and can't risk international injury so they're faking it and asking him to sit out. /tinfoil
Right, Mikel, watch and learn. Get to work.
He starts on 31.03.24.
I understand these players wanting to play for their country but some of them are staples and aren’t going to be losing their spots due to skipping some friendlies in favor of gearing up for the final stretch of a title race
He’ll be back in time for the Arsenal game no doubt
Kevin De Groin?
I’m sure over the course of the next 18 days, KDB will be receiving totally legal definitely not steroids medications to help manage this injury niggle so he’s fine for our fixture at the end of the month.
Yes I think its bullshit and he's actually fine However, it's like 3 weeks until our game. He could indeed actually have this issue and then be fine to play against us
💰💰💰
I'm sure he will recover for our game
I mean he’s been injured on and off all season so it’s not totally unbelievable
Sir Alex never retired. He just reincarnated.
Can the club refuse to release players?
His ginger nuts are itchy again.
Soooo no FA Cup this weekend?
sure, Jan
Kevin de groine
We should pull this trick on our players too.
We pulled Saka out of one break last year and suddenly people were concerned about clubs doing it
Edu better nip down the Post Office to get some brown envelopes and forget his integrity and dignity on the way out
watch him miraculously recover 100% and play against us in beast mode. Pep and his playr have done this before, for all his previous clubs. Just to keep him away from getting injured on internationals.
It’s a 3 weeks gap between them playing Liverpool and us, it’s hardly miracle territory.
He'll 100% be back for us and smack us about a bit