33 | Nico O'Reilly - 2025/26

[domalino]

Not at their ages, you see it a lot in youth football but by the time they get to the 1st team they're usually set, especially the ones that have played 1st team football for years.

Pep just sees the game better than most though.

I think partly it's because he has the authority to do so. It's a bit different with Nico and Zinchenko as they were teenagers when he moved them, but if most managers went to a 26 year old £53m signing and said "You're a right back now" they'd either tell him to fuck off, or just not buy into it so it wouldn't work.

Pep's earned the authority and trust of any footballer so if he decides to move you around, you go for it.

 

[HelloCity]

Zinchenko too. Is there another manager out there who redefines players like this?

Just saw he's on loan at Forest.

He might as well have stayed at City and been a squad player for the career he's had since leaving.

 

[Tevez City]

Got all the ingredients to succeed

 

[Didsbury Dave]

Just saw he's on loan at Forest.

He might as well have stayed at City and been a squad player for the career he's had since leaving.

Can you remember when he and Jesus first went to Arsenal, they started the season better than us and all of the pundits decided that Arteta had pulled off a masterstroke at Pep's expense.

Didn't quite work like that did it?

 

[HelloCity]

Can you remember when he and Jesus first went to Arsenal, they started the season better than us and all of the pundits decided that Arteta had pulled off a masterstroke at Pep's expense.

Didn't quite work like that did it?

Zinchenko must really regret it.

He'd have been part of the treble squad, was liked by the players, fans and manager.

 

[Man_City_Loyal]

Zinchenko must really regret it.

He'd have been part of the treble squad, was liked by the players, fans and manager.

still chuckle at him saying a certain arsenal player was better than Rodri

 

[city2]

Typical City buy a left back who gets injured and this lad comes through the academy and makes the position his own, undroppable now.

 

[jamesha]

Nico is looking absolutely quality at the moment at LB, I don't see how Ait Nouri gets into the team, unless Pep can turn him into a midfielder!

The irony of this is immense - we finally sign a proper left back and he cannot get a game because of a kid out of the EDS is looking like the best in that position in the country.

 

[Legal Alien]

Nico's playing so well and he's so versatile, he has to be in the team.

I was a bit worried yesterday morning and i know that wasn't vintage Salah, but for Nico to keep him quiet like that was one of the main reasons we looked so dominant.
Well played lad!

 

[OB1]

Mental he’s currently the best left back in the country and it’s not even his position…

Already strong as an ox and will get even stronger, the kid could be the best to come through under Pep

Better than Foden?

 

[OB1]

Zinchenko too. Is there another manager out there who redefines players like this?

No.

 

[FromPollockToSilva]

He’s just a complete thoroughbred, as elegant as he is athletic

We’ve played 13 games with NOR and Nunes starting together at fullback. 12 wins and a 0-0 draw. Imagine saying that 12 months ago

 

[yankblue]

Zinchenko too. Is there another manager out there who redefines players like this?

Steve Bruce, could turn anyone into a defender

 

[jollylescott]

I just watched the replay of the buildup to Haaland's goal.

Nico O was literally trapped in our left hand corner, his back to the Liverpool goal and using his strength to hold off Salah. He was able to slip a pass to Phil, who then slipped a pass to Nico G, who then did brilliantly to pass to Nunes flying down the wing. A few passes later Nunes crosses to Haaland and he scored with the header.

This has to be one of our most underrated goals of the season. The critical involvement of both Nicos, Phil, Nunes and Haaland was amazing.

In regard to O'Reilly, his calmness under pressure is a tremendous asset. This allows him to almost always make the right decision with and without the ball. He's also the archetype of the modern footballer - versatile, physically strong and technically superior.

What a player we have on our hands!

 

[Dax777]

Madueke, Saka, Mbuemo, and now Salah.


This man's list of victims keeps growing

 

[Nascent Blues]

Some just don't get it...

Go to 12:20 ish.

 

[kingn6]

This O’Reilly performance against Salah was the best game any of our left-backs has had against him since he came into the league back in 2017.


Everyone’s struggled with him — Laporte, Zinchenko, Cancelo, Delph, you name it. He’s scored some proper scrappy goals too, ones that just bounce off him and end up in the net. But none of that applied last night — he was absolutely pocketed, just as he deserved.


Proper Nuno Mendes vibes.

Ake locked him down in a game or two. However Nico can do that plus attack as well. Sky is the limit for this chap. Not felt like this about an academy player since Lakey and Phil.

 

[Betterdeedthan red]

This lad is a natural footballer.
What he's doing now is so much down to his ability.
So much to his attitude.
And so much down to pep.
This lad can be what ever he wants..but has to listen to the great man.
But well done blue you've been brilliant

 

[The Stockport Iniesta]

Ake locked him down in a game or two. However Nico can do that plus attack as well. Sky is the limit for this chap. Not felt like this about an academy player since Lakey and Phil.

He's very comfortable in the final third, could have done better with a few shots against the dippers but at that point he'd already ran himself into the ground and looked knackered. Gives his all this kid, leaves absolutely nothing out there.

 

[Zin 'messiah' Zimmer]

Better than Foden?

I kind of see a clearer path, Foden is superb but i genuinely see this kid being more dominant, actually salivating at the potential…. Apples and oranges as Foden has climbed that mountain before, however, O’Reilly is presenting, to me, as someone who will eventually have a greater fear factor