heslops barnet
Well-Known Member
Saw flashes of his old self last night……thought he had a very good game
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14 | Nico Gonzalez - 2025/26
- Thread starter Kippax Kidd
- Start date
I think there are 2 ways to play the position. With one player or with 2. Playing Reijnders at the 6 solo against Wydad tells me he intends to use him there in a double during the season.Not impossible but I'd say there's very little chance reijnders will be starting a league game as a 6. You'd have to have no fit or ready rodri, kovacic, bernardo gundo or Nico for that to happen. Wolves away will most likely be bernardo as the 6 with reijnders 8 and then any of the 10's or even gundo filling put the midfield unless there's a drastic upturn from Nico before then.
I suppose it would be him and Bernardo. You can call whichever one you want "the 6" but it will be in essence 2 holding midfielders with 3 attacking players ahead of them.
His size, quickness, and vision makes him a lock to play double pivot at many points in the upcoming season.
It won't happen for a simple reason, that never dawned on me until lately.Can see him playing with Rodri. What's more, it might become Pep's preferred combo in big games, with Reijnders operating in front of them, Foden/Cherki supporting our forwards from the wing when we attack. Generally, both Foden and Cherki should work harder in defence to merit a starting place in the big games, say, Anfield, Bernabeu, etc.
What do you think an 8 is in Pep's system, the player next to the 6?
Think about who we have played there in the entirety of Pep's time, even recently, It had been primarily Gundogan, or Bernie or Kova.
These are all players who can play in small spaces and between the lines, even Rodri who we all said for years could play as an 8, is vastly reduced in quality if you ask him to do this, he isn't as elite in the pockets as he is in his qualities as a 6.
Watching Nico G last season and currently, unfortunately, his frame is TOO big, he doesn't look like he can be a small spaces player.
Reijnders, who is relatively tall, 6'1 vs Nico's 6'2, can do it, because he is also kind of skinny and has developed that ability to play between the lines.
When I also look at Nico G's stats and his strengths:
1) He is aerially dominants
2) Has wide passing range, and specifically, good long ball accuracy
3) Very aggressive tackler in the middle 3rd (helps us to counter press).
4) Decent finisher
I think the 4th point, he has a good shot on him, is why we want him to play as an 8, completely avoiding the fact that physically, he isn't suited there, and is way more suited as a 6.
Yes in defence, he can play as an 8 sitting next to the 6, but Pep's 8's ALWAYS push up between the lines eventually, that will never be Nico G.
I don't think we will ever see Reijnders as the 6 tbh, that 1st game is not indicitive of anything imo.I think there are 2 ways to play the position. With one player or with 2. Playing Reijnders at the 6 solo against Wydad tells me he intends to use him there in a double during the season.
I suppose it would be him and Bernardo. You can call whichever one you want "the 6" but it will be in essence 2 holding midfielders with 3 attacking players ahead of them.
His size, quickness, and vision makes him a lock to play double pivot at many points in the upcoming season.
He will most likely play as an 8 who partners the 6 in a midfield double pivot, but who then pushes up between the lines to let him be more like Gundogan.
Rodri, Nico G, and Kova is enough options to play as the 6.
Brewster's millions
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 9 Apr 2012
- Messages
- 5,242
He’s probably wondering why we bought him when he’s a couple of levels below what’s required to be a regular starter for us.The fact pep took him off and left Gundo on when Rodri’s came on says a lot to me.
I don’t think pep rates him particularly highly
It won't happen for a simple reason, that never dawned on me until lately.
What do you think an 8 is in Pep's system, the player next to the 6?
Think about who we have played there in the entirety of Pep's time, even recently, It had been primarily Gundogan, or Bernie or Kova.
These are all players who can play in small spaces and between the lines, even Rodri who we all said for years could play as an 8, is vastly reduced in quality if you ask him to do this, he isn't as elite in the pockets as he is in his qualities as a 6.
Watching Nico G last season and currently, unfortunately, his frame is TOO big, he doesn't look like he can be a small spaces player.
Reijnders, who is relatively tall, 6'1 vs Nico's 6'2, can do it, because he is also kind of skinny and has developed that ability to play between the lines.
When I also look at Nico G's stats and his strengths:
1) He is aerially dominants
2) Has wide passing range, and specifically, good long ball accuracy
3) Very aggressive tackler in the middle 3rd (helps us to counter press).
4) Decent finisher
I think the 4th point, he has a good shot on him, is why we want him to play as an 8, completely avoiding the fact that physically, he isn't suited there, and is way more suited as a 6.
Yes in defence, he can play as an 8 sitting next to the 6, but Pep's 8's ALWAYS push up between the lines eventually, that will never be Nico G.
Pep is more flexible than you seem to think. Of course, he can make it work, and I think we'll see Rodri and Gonzales together more often than you expect.
SambaStyle
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 29 May 2009
- Messages
- 1,839
He'll come good and give Rodri much needed rest
Well I quite literally gave you evidence of what Pep does. Too invalidate all that by saying Pep is more flexible offers no insight without evidence.Pep is more flexible than you seem to think. Of course, he can make it work, and I think we'll see Rodri and Gonzales together more often than you expect.
Unless one of them plays as a CB, I highly doubt it.
Yeah I agree. Playing both would give more freedom for the fullbacks to get high up tooPep is more flexible than you seem to think. Of course, he can make it work, and I think we'll see Rodri and Gonzales together more often than you expect.
Well I quite literally gave you evidence of what Pep does. Too invalidate all that by saying Pep is more flexible offers no insight without evidence.
Unless one of them plays as a CB, I highly doubt it.
Time will tell, I think they are going to play together.
Pep can come up with many tactical schemes and formations. To think that his No 8 has a completely fixed role is wrong.
We'll revisit this discussion towards the end of the season. Or even earlier when it becomes obvious that Pep starts them together in multiple games.
I never described his 8 as having a fixed role? You seem to keep making assumptions to what I have said.Time will tell, I think they are going to play together.
Pep can come up with many tactical schemes and formations. To think that his No 8 has a completely fixed role is wrong.
We'll revisit this discussion towards the end of the season. Or even earlier when it becomes obvious that Pep starts them together in multiple games.
I didnt say both cant play together, but specifically Nico G as an 8 wont work, he doesnt have the qualities for it, and Pep doesnt force players in positions they aren't comfortable in.
I can definitely envision a scenario where Nico G may play with Rodri as double 6s, and two high wide fullbacks, playing deeper to the 2 CBs.
But I am never expecting him to do what Gundogan or Reijnders will likely do for us, and have the ability to float in the final 3rd.
It's not about me saying Pep isn't flexible or he has fixed thinking.
It's a very simple player role analysis.
I never described his 8 as having a fixed role? You seem to keep making assumptions to what I have said.
I didnt say both cant play together, but specifically Nico G as an 8 wont work, he doesnt have the qualities for it, and Pep doesnt force players in positions they aren't comfortable in.
I can definitely envision a scenario where Nico G may play with Rodri as double 6s, and two high wide fullbacks, playing deeper to the 2 CBs.
But I am never expecting him to do what Gundogan or Reijnders will likely do for us, and have the ability to float in the final 3rd.
It's not about me saying Pep isn't flexible or he has fixed thinking.
It's a very simple player role analysis.
Both Rodri and Gonzales can play higher up the pitch in comparison to a mere 6. Whether you describe that as an 8 is a semantic issue. Rodri can be/is a better 8 than most actual 8s in the world, including the PL. In 23/24 he had more goals/assists than Pedri and McAllister had last season...
Whatever, it will be interesting to see whether Pep plays Rodri and Gonzalez together and in what formations. Can't wait.
dadnlad
Well-Known Member
ill bet wife and bank manager are happyHe’s probably wondering why we bought him when he’s a couple of levels below what’s required to be a regular starter for us.
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Gaz (FMwkdsoul)
Guest
Report is from Fijaches. Utter Bollocks.Nico has been linked to Villarreal in Spanish newspapers. Don’t see where Pep will find a place for him personally. I’m not convinced Pep even rates him.
Agreed. Rodri is not the same and won't be for months - it's such a horrible injury - it's gonna take a while for him to get back to normal. For this reason alone we need Nico.He'll come good and give Rodri much needed rest
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Gaz (FMwkdsoul)
Guest
Nico seems a bit ideal for the DM splitting the CBs idea we've talked about, to make the back 3 IF they get a RB and go wide from there until Rodri gets up to speed anyway.Well I quite literally gave you evidence of what Pep does. Too invalidate all that by saying Pep is more flexible offers no insight without evidence.
Unless one of them plays as a CB, I highly doubt it.
1) He is aerially dominants
2) Has wide passing range, and specifically, good long ball accuracy
take that role off Dias in the middle three.
He was basically doing this in the recent game.Nico seems a bit ideal for the DM splitting the CBs idea we've talked about, to make the back 3 IF they get a RB and go wide from there until Rodri gets up to speed anyway.
1) He is aerially dominants
2) Has wide passing range, and specifically, good long ball accuracy
take that role off Dias in the middle three.
We played a 316, but Nico dropped in the defensive line to make a 4 again.
When we played with 2 wide fullbacks last season, Bernie and kova did this alot as well.
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Gaz (FMwkdsoul)
Guest
I've no problem with the backup CMs being Nico and Silva, they cover so much from a utility point of view. I'd let the rest go tbhHe was basically doing this in the recent game.
We played a 316, but Nico dropped in the defensive line to make a 4 again.
When we played with 2 wide fullbacks last season, Bernie and kova did this alot as well.