27 | Matheus Nunes - 2023/24

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ChicagoBlue said:
Nunes must see that he is being bedded in as the future. He is 25 years old, plays in the same national team as Dias & Bernardo, who is 4 yrs his senior, and must have understood he was being brought in as an initial squad player who was expected to transition to a regular first team player.

On tonight’s performance, I’d say he has shown he has already achieved that in a midfield that is world class. Accordingly, I believe he has earned the trust of Pep in bring a regular member of that rotation.

As you can tell, I think his trajectory could be KDB-esque at City. His running, his speed, his size…all KDB-esque already. In fact, there was one moment where he was driving forward and saw a pass to his right, but it was going to be a difficult one to make…so he tries to curl it, on the run, with the outside of his right foot!

Sadly, the pass didn’t spring the attacker, but it was a peek behind the curtain of what he thinks is in his locker, even though it didn’t quite come off.

I think he’s a semi-cut diamond that Pep is going to polish into a dazzling gem in this team…just in time to take over the mantel of one of our best players ever.
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'KDB esque' lol, he'll be playing for Sevilla in a couple years.
 
ChicagoBlue said:
Nunes must see that he is being bedded in as the future. He is 25 years old, plays in the same national team as Dias & Bernardo, who is 4 yrs his senior, and must have understood he was being brought in as an initial squad player who was expected to transition to a regular first team player.

On tonight’s performance, I’d say he has shown he has already achieved that in a midfield that is world class. Accordingly, I believe he has earned the trust of Pep in bring a regular member of that rotation.

As you can tell, I think his trajectory could be KDB-esque at City. His running, his speed, his size…all KDB-esque already. In fact, there was one moment where he was driving forward and saw a pass to his right, but it was going to be a difficult one to make…so he tries to curl it, on the run, with the outside of his right foot!

Sadly, the pass didn’t spring the attacker, but it was a peek behind the curtain of what he thinks is in his locker, even though it didn’t quite come off.

I think he’s a semi-cut diamond that Pep is going to polish into a dazzling gem in this team…just in time to take over the mantel of one of our best players ever.
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I think its too early to say yet. I have been unimpressed up until the last couple of games where I can see he has some unique skills in his locker. His assist yesterday was very very clever and was more difficult to execute than it looked and as you say his 'breaking lines' through speed is something we haven't seen for a while. I will start to get excited when he shows those attributes more consistently. I'm still not convinced about his defensive work rate yet but maybe that will come with time. Interesting player with potential, for sure.
 
ChicagoBlue said:
Nunes must see that he is being bedded in as the future. He is 25 years old, plays in the same national team as Dias & Bernardo, who is 4 yrs his senior, and must have understood he was being brought in as an initial squad player who was expected to transition to a regular first team player.

On tonight’s performance, I’d say he has shown he has already achieved that in a midfield that is world class. Accordingly, I believe he has earned the trust of Pep in bring a regular member of that rotation.

As you can tell, I think his trajectory could be KDB-esque at City. His running, his speed, his size…all KDB-esque already. In fact, there was one moment where he was driving forward and saw a pass to his right, but it was going to be a difficult one to make…so he tries to curl it, on the run, with the outside of his right foot!

Sadly, the pass didn’t spring the attacker, but it was a peek behind the curtain of what he thinks is in his locker, even though it didn’t quite come off.

I think he’s a semi-cut diamond that Pep is going to polish into a dazzling gem in this team…just in time to take over the mantel of one of our best players ever.
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He’s a good player but I’ll hold off on saying more until I’ve seen him perform as well against more testing opponents than Burnley and Huddersfield. As you say, he’s got the pace and gait to gallop away from most midfielders and defenders, but he’ll need to improve his final vertical through ball (3 wayward last night). He’s currently comfortable providing horizontal assists, when he has more time to compose himself, but weighting the killer pass forward when on the gallop is much harder. When he starts delivering those, I’ll dig out my loupe and give a carat.
 
Saddleworth2 said:
I have been unimpressed up until the last couple of games where I can see he has some unique skills in his locker.
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His ability to run with ball was obvious before we signed him. He's world class in that respect. There isn't another midfielder in the PL who can carry the ball 30-40 yards at that speed.

He needs to add more understanding of the way we play and how to react in small spaces where he can't solve problems by running with the ball. He can do it if he is patient enough. He can destroy high-pressing teams with his ability to beat 2-3 players in the middle of the park.
 
Well.. we have seen glimpses of a great footballer so far and that's not bad, especially if we consider Kalvin's situation, i.e this player can be improved and has everything to meet City's standards.

What we definitely know right now is that - he is more of an attacking midfielder, than defensive midfielder.
Due to reason that at Sporting he played more as number 8 or number 6, I thought that he would be playing as Rodri's cover and Kovacic as KDB's..

But this season showed that Kovacic can be used as number 8 and number 6, covering for Rodri or playing alongside Rodri in double pivot systems..

Matheus should be used as number 10 and number 8. Covering for KDB and Foden and competing with Alvarez for that "behind the striker" position..

We should also consider that both Matheus and Kovacic are supposed to be a squad players and not regular starters. As a regular starters in midfield we have Rodri / KDB / Foden / Bernardo, which means that for squad players they are more than OK.

In a long-term, who knows. When KDB retires and Matheus has 2-3 years experience, I can't see why Matheus shouldn't be considered as a player, who eventually plays alongside Foden in this 3-4-3 system.
 
alexmcity said:
His ability to run with ball was obvious before we signed him. He's world class in that respect. There isn't another midfielder in the PL who can carry the ball 30-40 yards at that speed.

He needs to add more understanding of the way we play and how to react in small spaces where he can't solve problems by running with the ball. He can do it if he is patient enough. He can destroy high-pressing teams with his ability to beat 2-3 players in the middle of the park.
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Thats maybe true mate. I hadn't seen a great deal of him before he was transferred to us so I could only judge his first games.
 
Ric said:
Thought that was his best game so far. Got all the attributes to become an important player for us, just needs to get a decent run of games but not sure when he'll get that given the competition for places. Just needs to be patient and takes his chances when they come.
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My only little gripe with him is that he got to learn when to release the ball . At times he holds it a tad too long otherwise he played really well last night. I agree with you it was his best game for us.
 
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blueparrot said:
He has the ability, he has the best coach in the world. Wouldn't be surprised if/when Bernardo goes he's a regular starter.
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Respect your opinion and obviously he's a good player, just feel his missing that cutting edge to be a real top midfielder for a team like City, I could be wrong though.
 
There aren't many players in the world with his profile, apart from maybe Bellingham. It fascinates me how some people on this forum underestimate this player's potential. His ability to turn and pick up speed is astounding, as is his intrinsic technique. So yes, it's much more complicated for this type of player with more weapons and technical attributes to impose himself in Pep's system than a more technically limited player like Rico Lewis, for example. I don't know if any of you followed Barca during Pep's era, but all the midfielders not trained at the club took a while to find their feet, and some even never did (Fabregas being the best example). Even Rodri struggled to make his mark with us . He's going to have a GREAT future with us.
 
He’s getting there. Said a month or so ago that when he gets up to speed with how we move and when to release the ball at the right time that he will be a big plus and he’s slowly getting there.
Still plenty more to come from him but the signs are good.
 
Gabriel said:
Difficult one to manage. Walked off the park Man of the Match, yet we probably all suspect that it's unlikely he'll start at Brentford away, so how do you keep his confidence up and give him game time? Not a criticism of either, just acknowledging that it's a tricky one for all.
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I think it doesn't work that way.
Pep always says the players are in a competition for selection, in daily training. Nunes has to compete with Kev, Bernie, Phil and Mateo. It's not tricky for Pep, only for the players.
(But then at least there's rotation in a packed fixture list.)

I also see his confidence as the key point for Nunes' game, as I think he has all skills to be top class. But he's not like Kev who just follows his instincts, pulls the gun and fires - and doesn't care much for the risk.

Nunes is a bit shy, the final pass or finish don't come free and confident. But this confidence can only come from himself. He HAS to believe in himself. That will make the difference for his game and his career. No idea about sports psychologists being involved, it's still very secret nowadays, although everybody knows how important that is.

This is another example for the importance of players' personality as a key point for successful scouting. Good players there are plenty, but we want to find the winners...
 
Only thing he needs to do when back to goal in our 3rd he should know they'll be 2/3 players on him just needs to pass it straight away or one touch and pass! He has improved from the last time he played
 
I find it strange that we win comfortably and on the post-match thread there is loads of criticism about the second half, and now Nunes who was, for me man of the match is being criticised. Obviously many weren’t around in the lean years, enjoy it! It might not last forever.
 
St.Pauli support said:
I think it doesn't work that way.
Pep always says the players are in a competition for selection, in daily training. Nunes has to compete with Kev, Bernie, Phil and Mateo. It's not tricky for Pep, only for the players.
(But then at least there's rotation in a packed fixture list.)

I also see his confidence as the key point for Nunes' game, as I think he has all skills to be top class. But he's not like Kev who just follows his instincts, pulls the gun and fires - and doesn't care much for the risk.

Nunes is a bit shy, the final pass or finish don't come free and confident. But this confidence can only come from himself. He HAS to believe in himself. That will make the difference for his game and his career. No idea about sports psychologists being involved, it's still very secret nowadays, although everybody knows how important that is.

This is another example for the importance of players' personality as a key point for successful scouting. Good players there are plenty, but we want to find the winners...
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All true, but my point is how do you keep that confidence level high when the player walks off the park MOTM but now might not start for another fortnight. maybe even longer? I don't have an answer, just hope that we can keep him included in the coming weeks.
 
Gabriel said:
All true, but my point is how do you keep that confidence level high when the player walks off the park MOTM but now might not start for another fortnight. maybe even longer? I don't have an answer, just hope that we can keep him included in the coming weeks.
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If we assume he might not (yet) start big PL and CL matches there will be many PL and cup games where we need fresh legs of such a good OM. That's exactly what Liv and Arse can't offer...

Last night was exactly what he needs for his confidence and I think he will develop in the right direction, getting more minutes on the way.
 
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