14 | Nico Gonzalez - 2025/26

Pep just doesn't trust him in my opinion.

Even when he came on against United at 3-0 up he was the worst midfielder on the pitch. Got skinned a few times and was lucky to not get a red.

I think what happened in January is we went for Baleba, got quoted too much and moved to a panic target in Gonzalez. Hence why he was a deadline day signing. We needed anybody, somebody who could fill the Rodri void in whatever manner to ensure the season wasn't going to be a complete disaster and not qualify for Europe.

Strangely enough, I actually think 8-10 years ago he would be a good player at the top level, but the game has become so pace and power driven that he looks a boy amongst men at times on the football pitch.
 
Taylor’s Nod Down said:
He has now made at least 4 rugby tackles that I can recall. That isn’t normal. He constantly stretches, even with successful passes. Yesterday, it cost him. It cost the team. He’s way too slow and is constantly off the pace

Maybe it’s match sharpness, maybe adjusting to the tempo. I can handle that without getting on his case. But stop flapping your arms at everyone else Neco, you’re not Rodri or Pirlo. You’re barely Jamie Pollock, the last cheerleader/ remonstrator I can remember in this position.
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I think it’s more match sharpness. Even Rodders has been doing that but it’s happening less and less the more he plays.
Gonzo doesn’t have the same credit in the bank as Rodders.
Iv seen enough to see he is a better player than what he is showing.
Probably trying too hard too. Trying to impress in a few minutes.
A full game against Huddersfield will help him
 
I wanted him to come on to be honest but one thing i have noticed about him is he goes down to the ground to easily for a big lad .
Two times in yesterdays game he went down like a sack of spuds .
Toughen up lad & start bullying them back
 
mexico1970 said:
You'd think that one of the prerequisites for a move to City would be an ability to control the ball and pass it, specially a midfielder.

The "Oh he'll learn" doesn't really hold any water these players were born with a football at their feet it's one of the most basic skills you can master.
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I think it's a concentration thing rather than technical ability. Not sure that makes it any better
 
vicblueman said:
I wanted him to come on to be honest but one thing i have noticed about him is he goes down to the ground to easily for a big lad .
Two times in yesterdays game he went down like a sack of spuds .
Toughen up lad & start bullying them back
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He seems to have major problems with his balance - he’s either close to falling over or already on his arse, and it also seems to make him a bit awkward when he’s receiving the ball.

If he’s not at the required level either physically or technically then it’s difficult to see how he’s going to make it in the PL.

Will be interesting to see how he gets on against Huddersfield as you’d think they’ll be trying their best to unsettle us on the ball, but he needs a good performance as he’ll have even fewer opportunities once Kovacic is fit.
 
Dazzle84 said:
I think it's a concentration thing rather than technical ability. Not sure that makes it any better
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Yeah, I'm not sure it's technical. I'm just now sure he has the awareness of what's going on around him, so he sometimes has less time than he thinks - or has more but, takes his eye off the ball, or rushes.

If it is this, I'd let him off a bit for Sunday because when he came on almost everyone was playing behind him, so the positional aspect was a bit mad. Needs to take the chances he gets soon though.
 
Assuming Rodri can stay fit and with Kovacic due to return soon i don't see him getting many minutes. Don't think he will make it for us. Will be gone in January or next Summer. I'd sell him and sign Baleba.
 
He’s no slower than Rodri in terms of pure physical ability to run, it’s the anticipation and positioning etc that is missing but it will come in time hopefully, just like it did with Rodri and our other midfielders of yesteryear.

He’s for sure got all the raw ingredients, not amazingly quick but I don’t think he’s slow by any means.
 
Got an absolute earful from Pep when he substituted him for Phillips.
Doesn’t look good for him imho.
Kovacic back next month as well.
 
I think its really easy for players in certain positions to play well in a game like this. Holding midfielder is one of those, its easy mode when you're so much better than your opponents.

Nevertheless, he played well tonight, cut out a lot of balls and mopped things up to keep us on the front foot throughout and passed it well, good tempo and some nice forward passes. Good night for him.
 
Looked good, especially when he started to break the lines with his passing. A few times in the first half, he wasn't making himself available for the ball enough but did well apart from that.

Hopefully he's a tough love sort of guy, as Pep was giving him a thorough coaching session after the game
 
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