Tony Cascarino believes Manchester City have two players who are not at the level they once were.
It is fair to say that Cascarino’s claim is a bold one.
Even if some of City’s players have not been at the standard they perhaps were last season, it would not be outlandish to suggest that they are superior to a majority of the talent in the Premier League.
Potentially even in the world.
As a result, their standards are sky-high.
Having won the treble during the 2022/2023 season, their individual standards were bound to undergo somewhat of a decline.
Cascarino says two City players are not as good anymore
But to conclusively state the players in question are not at the same standard might be viewed as a stretch by some.
For instance, even if Jack Grealish has not been at his absolute best this season, his recent displays are a reminder of why he remains one of the standout wide players in the Premier League.
The same goes for Nathan Ake, who has largely had an impressive season.
Of course, during the previous campaign, City’s number six was remarkable.
But it is a challenge to make such conclusive arguments against a group of players who continue to make history and prove their doubters wrong.
However, Cascarino is seemingly a brave man.
Tony Cascarino feels Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker are not at the level they once were.
“Of course, Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker are not the players they were, which were, spectacular. They are in their thirties now”, he said on The Times’ The Game Football Podcast.
To make such a claim about Walker is fair but not De Bruyne
In our view, Tony Cascarino is right about Kyle Walker being past his best but to say the same about Kevin De Bruyne is premature.
De Bruyne has had an injury-riddled season and to have expected him to be at his flawless best upon his return to fitness is rather unreasonable.
Even so, the Belgian has showcased his genius in games against Newcastle, Real Madrid and Luton Town.
As for Kyle Walker, he has been making errors left, right and centre as he did by failing to mark Rodrygo against Los Blancos in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final.
Walker’s pace has not necessarily declined to a significant degree but his positioning and decision-making has been below par since the start of the season.