14 | Nico Gonzalez - 2024/25

[Jonas.shaffer]

I can forgive growing pains, but his lack of effort for their first goal so early in the match is concerning.

 

[Brad mcfc]

Got into some decent positions to shoot but chose to pass it every time.

 

[Brewster's millions]

Just utter, utter nonsense. He was in midfield with KDB, Foden and Lewis. He was also fine in the match. Christ, people just have bizarre confirmation bias when it comes to our own players

People like to throw terms like confirmation bias around but you only have to look at him to see how slow he is and how he struggles to make up ground.

 

[Ajm1985]

He’s not any slower than Rodri. He was a one man midfield as neither of KDB and Foden (Doku & Marmoush too for that matter) tracked back. It was a suicidal setup from a defensive point of view. His performance was pretty good. Dictates play, controls tempo and made many good decisions. Not his fault that we can’t defend counter attacks

Agreed. Stick Rodri in there instead and it would have been the same outcome.

 

[jollylescott]

Nico lacked a partner in midfield. It would have made more sense to start Kova beside him, especially against the league leaders. In that sense the team selection by Pep didn't help.

 

[Brewster's millions]

He’s not any slower than Rodri. He was a one man midfield as neither of KDB and Foden (Doku & Marmoush too for that matter) tracked back. It was a suicidal setup from a defensive point of view. His performance was pretty good. Dictates play, controls tempo and made many good decisions. Not his fault that we can’t defend counter attacks

This lazy comparison with Rodri is probably the most overused cliche across the whole of Bluemoon.

Rodri is in a different league physically to this bloke.

 

[Ajm1985]

People like to throw terms like confirmation bias around but you only have to look at him to see how slow he is and how he struggles to make up ground.

I like to when I see confimation bias. You're also basing his entire performance and value around his pace - which is essentially the same as Rodri's. Do we judge Rodri on his pace anymore, after he was called Plodri? No, no we don’t.

He was injured in his first game and has played 3 games in a week, including 2 tough games with essentially no other midfielders with him.

 

[BlueMonkey79]

Hung out to dry with a lazy can't be arsed unless we're winning Foden, and a geriatric De Bruyne.

 

[Damanino]

Pep hung him out with this set up. but he did that to Rodri many times too just others were not as bad as they are now like Foden POTY last season vs this season etc.

 

[RayCTID]

Least of our concerns. He will be an be an asset once he fully adapts

 

[Axel Freed]

We have to assume either that

A. Nico's shocking lack of pace will be counterbalanced by the signing of 2 or 3 pacy athletic midfielders to play alongside him

B. Pep's stuck in a time warp

 

[tackeds]

Wincing when he came off, hope he’s not injured again

 

[RayCTID]

We have to assume either that

A. Nico's shocking lack of pace will be counterbalanced by the signing of 2 or 3 pacy athletic midfielders to play alongside him

B. Pep's stuck in a time warp

As it has been mentioned Rodri isn't quick either and had a little trouble in adapting earlier on his City career.

 

[shemnel]

There's a lot of pressure being heaped on this lad. Basically has to fix a midfield or he's 'shit'. We can't know his abilities until he's in a settled balanced team.

 

[Richie Rich]

He is not a mini-Rodri.

 

[WallyA]

Obviously he's new and he gets alot of slack for that.

But I don't think he was good.

He did all the passing we want a CDM to do, but he wasn't spraying enough long balls for my liking.

He also didn't really get stuck in enough to try to win the ball back.

Early days of course. He is still one for the future.

 

[Millwallawayveteran1988]

Even he must have feared the worst when he saw that line up and realised he was basically on his own in that midfield.

Early days yet.

 

[Bluewonder]

He’s actually slower than Gundogan and Bernado.

Another £50m down the drain on a second rate midfielder.

That’s £150m on Gonzalez, Nunes and Phillips. If we play those three in midfield every week we’d be relegated.

Sniff sniff

 

[Axel Freed]

As it has been mentioned Rodri isn't quick either and had a little trouble in adapting earlier on his City career.

You can't brush off his obvious deficiencies just by pointing out that a once in a generation special talent like Rodri isn't quick either.

Our midfield is criminally short on pace and physicality. I think most blues were hoping that if a midfielder did arrive in the window he would at a minimum possess those attributes. Instead we seem to have another snail like ball retention specialist to add to the half dozen other of those that we already have

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

I can forgive growing pains, but his lack of effort for their first goal so early in the match is concerning.

Huh? Rico messed around with the ball and gave a soft corner away.

They scored from it with a decent routine and a bit of luck with the deflection.

What should Gonzalez have done?