David Silva - City's Greatest Ever?

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Re: David Silva - City's Greatest Ever?

Postby freshie » Tue Nov 28, 2017 11:34 pm

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Re: David Silva - City's Greatest Ever?

Postby phips » Fri Dec 01, 2017 2:07 am

David Silva is still an underrated figure for Manchester City

There were 35 minutes gone at the John Smith's Stadium last Sunday and David Silva was standing over the ball around 40 yards from the Huddersfield goal. Manchester City's usual passing patterns were not working against the massed ranks of blue and white shirts, so he took it upon himself to try something different.

With a drop of the shoulder and a burst of acceleration, he sped away from Aaron Mooy and jinked past Jonathan Hogg. Suddenly, space opened up in front of him. When Kevin De Bruyne cushioned the ball back into his path, Silva slid a precise, first-time pass through to Sergio Aguero. But for a heavy touch, City would surely have gone in front.

It was the standout moment of individual quality in a first-half in which every other City player seemed flummoxed by Huddersfield's stiff resistance. Silva set up Aguero for a second time with a deft flick a few minutes later, and just after the break, it was his perfect through ball which forced Scott Malone to concede the penalty for City's equaliser.

Nobody could begrudge Raheem Sterling the headlines that followed the win, but it was typical that Silva's contribution faded into the background. He has won every domestic trophy going since his arrival in English football and his place in Manchester City's history books is assured, but there remains a subtlety to his craft which lends itself to passing under the radar.

That trend has been more apparent than ever this season. City's dramatic 2-1 win over Southampton - by no coincidence their most disjointed display yet - was the first Premier League game of the campaign they have started without Silva. And yet while everyone from Aguero to Ederson has been lavished with individual praise, the shaven-headed Spaniard has been broadly overlooked.

It is reflected by the bookmakers. While his midfield partner De Bruyne is already regarded as the favourite to land the PFA Player of the Year award, Silva is rated as a 20/1 outsider. He is behind not only the Belgian but also Aguero and Gabriel Jesus. Harry Kane and Mohamed Salah are also deemed more likely contenders.

Perhaps it is simply that his brilliance is taken for granted. Silva is in his eighth season at Manchester City and he is not the type to court attention, preferring to keep a low profile off the pitch and rarely putting his hand up for interviews. There is also the fact that he is not a prolific scorer. With one goal so far this season, he is behind Fernandinho and level with left-back Fabian Delph.

The goals are left to others but nobody is more important when it comes to providing the service. In fact, there is even an argument that, at 31, this could be Silva's best season yet. He has provided more assists than any other Premier League player and single-handedly created more clear-cut chances than either Swansea, Burnley, Bournemouth or Huddersfield.

Opta's new passing sequences data is even more revealing. Sequences are defined as uninterrupted passages of play in which the ball is in possession of one team. This season, Silva is one of only three players in the Premier League to be involved in more than 90 sequences leading to shots from open play. Compared to De Bruyne and Christian Eriksen, however, he has reached that total in fewer minutes.

Silva's influence does not jump out in highlight reels but it is certainly not lost on Guardiola. "I admire him a lot," he said this week. "He perfectly suits Spanish football but here with the speed and the weather, the wind and the tough conditions, he has survived for a long time. I put a lot of attention on how players react in bad moments. David is always there and that's so important for the club."

It's important for his team-mates too. "It's insane how not a lot of people are really talking about him," said De Bruyne in the Sky Sports Match Zone earlier this month. "I think he is very underrated. He has played for Spain more than 100 times. He has won everything that he needs to win. For me, he gives the team the perfect balance."

De Bruyne has been rightly lauded for his performances since moving back into a deeper midfield role, but would he have made the transition so seamlessly without Silva by his side? Guardiola describes the Spaniard as a "master" of the position and De Bruyne has been a willing apprentice.

"I have learned a lot from him about retaining the ball," he added. "When I came here I was more of a high-risk player, taking opportunities and creating chances but also losing the ball more. I still like to take risks, I don't want to lose that, but there are a lot of things I have learnt from him."

And yet there are elements of De Bruyne's game which tend to overshadow his team-mate's. Silva is a slight figure who excels in providing a platform for others, while De Bruyne is a physical powerhouse who produces decisive moments himself. His spectacular goals against Chelsea, Arsenal and Leicester highlighted his ability to conjure something out of nothing.

Still, though, it tends to come back to Silva. He may not operate in the spotlight but he is always there, spotting the passes and finding the spaces. City have plenty of players capable of unlocking a stubborn defence, but even after all these years, nobody can see what's coming quite like David Silva.
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Re: David Silva - City's Greatest Ever?

Postby johnny crossan » Fri Dec 01, 2017 10:33 am

phips wrote: David Silva is still an underrated figure for Manchester City etc


is young Nicholas a relation of yours phips - he deserves a mention anyway because the full article includes some interesting stats ;)

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Re: David Silva - City's Greatest Ever?

Postby phips » Fri Dec 01, 2017 1:29 pm

johnny crossan wrote:
phips wrote: David Silva is still an underrated figure for Manchester City etc

is young Nicholas a relation of yours phips

funny joke.

but in all honesty i will always think Silva is underrated. my fav player ever and he will unfortunately never get the recognition he deserves.

for those elephant-minded folk on here that will try to troll me by mention when i brought up the idea of City selling Silva a few years ago: read that again. i never said i thought the club should do so. i was merely floating the idea as a conversation point due to his age and the idea of the club selling at the peak before any potential decline.
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Re: David Silva - City's Greatest Ever?

Postby johnny crossan » Mon Oct 29, 2018 5:09 pm

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Re: David Silva - City's Greatest Ever?

Postby Nigels Tackle » Mon Oct 29, 2018 5:18 pm

johnny crossan wrote:


does he live in a gastropub?
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Re: David Silva - City's Greatest Ever?

Postby john@staustell » Mon Oct 29, 2018 6:13 pm

One can only imagine the joy of finally getting Puma boots :D
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Re: David Silva - City's Greatest Ever?

Postby Justified logic » Tue Nov 06, 2018 8:19 pm

"David Silva - City's Greatest Ever?"

Yes. He's got magnetic boots and eyes in the back of his head.

How can we ever replace hm?
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Re: David Silva - City's Greatest Ever?

Postby Nigels Tackle » Tue Nov 06, 2018 8:44 pm

Justified logic wrote:"David Silva - City's Greatest Ever?"

Yes. He's got magnetic boots and eyes in the back of his head.

How can we ever replace hm?


there's plan b. silva
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Re: David Silva - City's Greatest Ever?

Postby sheblue » Tue Nov 06, 2018 10:35 pm

David Silva can not be replaced.
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Re: David Silva - City's Greatest Ever?

Postby Justified logic » Sat Nov 10, 2018 10:00 pm

johnny crossan wrote:

This guy is so modest and unassuming, I just love him!

And we'll need someone with a super-football-brain to replace him, the guy is just so instinctive in his play, eyes in his ears as well as the back of his head...
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Re: David Silva - City's Greatest Ever?

Postby Kippax Sean » Sun Nov 11, 2018 8:43 am

For me the best, a true gentleman and already a City legend.
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Re: David Silva - City's Greatest Ever?

Postby sheblue » Sun Nov 11, 2018 1:55 pm

How much would a 24 / 25 year old Dave be worth now.
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Re: David Silva - City's Greatest Ever?

Postby Mase » Sun Nov 11, 2018 7:02 pm

Never been to a testimonial for any player and probably wouldn't. But when Dave has one when he leaves I'll be there 100%

He's still our best player.
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Re: David Silva - City's Greatest Ever?

Postby nottsblue » Sun Nov 11, 2018 7:04 pm

Mase wrote:Never been to a testimonial for any player and probably wouldn't. But when Dave has one when he leaves I'll be there 100%

He's still our best player.

Could play it at Wembley and it would sell out
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Re: David Silva - City's Greatest Ever?

Postby iwasthere2012 » Sun Nov 11, 2018 7:12 pm

nottsblue wrote:
Mase wrote:Never been to a testimonial for any player and probably wouldn't. But when Dave has one when he leaves I'll be there 100%

He's still our best player.

Could play it at Wembley and it would sell out

We’d never subject him to playing on that surface.
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