27 | Matheus Nunes - 2024/25

Status
Not open for further replies.
Given that PR piece just sent out by the clubs website, with him doing the usual thank the fans, someone’s had words. He mentioned that he was happy but just didn’t show it!!
 
I don't think he's got much of a future here beyond this season - and I still think we signed him as a bit of a favour to Wolves and Mendes after we missed out on Bellingham and Paqueta - but he works hard for the team when he's playing and that's about all you can ask for really. Not a completely atrocious record either, given the circumstances. That's a goal and six assists in about 35 games. Not amazing but considering he plays all over the place that's not too bad. Hopefully he sees a bit more game time this season and goes up a gear. Not expecting him to set the world alight but every squad needs lads who accept their role and do their best with it - I think if we promised him a big move to Portugal or Spain, or Saudi Arabia, he'd get his head down this season and do his best.
 
freshie said:
This is Pep basically calling him a Poznan sub

Click to expand...

“Lovely guy” means your City career is over.

Also, those “special qualities” are things that Pep actively tries to avoid on the pitch. It’s over for Nunes already, and maybe he already knows it and that’s why he has to be forced to smile.
 
Tricky_Trev said:
“Lovely guy” means your City career is over.

Also, those “special qualities” are things that Pep actively tries to avoid on the pitch. It’s over for Nunes already, and maybe he already knows it and that’s why he has to be forced to smile.
Click to expand...
While I agree that it’s hard to see him having a long-term future with us, I wouldn’t write him off quite yet. We are again running with a small outfield squad, one already stretched through injuries, so another injury and he’s going to have to play more. What a joy that we play Newcastle next!

I think he would have loved a crack in Rodri’s position last night, more of the ball and a chance to impress, but that responsibility went to a kid and that might just have peeved him. That Portuguese/Brazilian machismo again…
 
Gabriel said:
While I agree that it’s hard to see him having a long-term future with us, I wouldn’t write him off quite yet. We are again running with a small outfield squad, one already stretched through injuries, so another injury and he’s going to have to play more. What a joy that we play Newcastle next!

I think he would have loved a crack in Rodri’s position last night, more of the ball and a chance to impress, but that responsibility went to a kid and that might just have peeved him. That Portuguese/Brazilian machismo again…
Click to expand...
Without Rodri, I’d assume we are going to see a double pivot quite a lot. I think all of these players would be used ahead of Nunes:

Kovacic
Bernardo
Gundogan
Rico
Stones
Foden (Pep has mentioned many times about wanting him to play deeper)
And then after more coaching, even Gvardiol.

He’s perhaps 7th choice right now, even without Rodri, soon to be 8th as Pep introduces more strings to Gvardiol’s bow. The only player I think he’s above at the moment is O’Reilly and depending on Nico’s development, that could change soon.

I think he genuinely has more opportunities to play as inverted full back or as a left winger than he does as a midfielder. And even then, it’s a last resort.
 
Tricky_Trev said:
Without Rodri, I’d assume we are going to see a double pivot quite a lot. I think all of these players would be used ahead of Nunes:

Kovacic
Bernardo
Gundogan
Rico
Stones
Foden (Pep has mentioned many times about wanting him to play deeper)
And then after more coaching, even Gvardiol.

He’s perhaps 7th choice right now, even without Rodri, soon to be 8th as Pep introduces more strings to Gvardiol’s bow. The only player I think he’s above at the moment is O’Reilly and depending on Nico’s development, that could change soon.

I think he genuinely has more opportunities to play as inverted full back or as a left winger than he does as a midfielder. And even then, it’s a last resort.
Click to expand...
I agree. The one thing, however, that he has over all of those players is genuine pace, in both directions. I reckon we’ll cope with ball-retaining pivots in most games, but that might mean being more patient and cautious in the final third, because the more often we lose possession, the more those pivots are going to have to run back. Newcastle will be an interesting test of how we will cope against the better sides.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Unread Posts

Don't have an account? Register now and see fewer ads!

SIGN UP
Back
Top