Better ball carrier? No. Better passer in general? No. Kyle's whole game was predicated on blanketing top wide players. He was elite at that. His pace allowed him to recover over and over. Once he lost a step his flaws came to the front.
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27 | Matheus Nunes - 2025/26
- Thread starter samuelyeboah
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WesthoughtonJohn
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Nunes could well turn out to be a very good hybrid of Cancelo/Walker - now hear me out on this.I seriously think some people really overrated Zabaleta. He always gave his all and was a proper competitor, but was he ever one of the best few in the world? No. I'm not sure he'd get in most of Pep's teams tbh.
Cancelo was fairly weak defensively. Walker was brilliant over the years, but not perfect nobody is. Nunes is currently playing brilliantly and deserves his place based on performances. It's only reputation that he loses out on, and if you look past that you see good performances time and time again.
Nunes has the crossing ability of Cancelo and the speed of Walker. If he continues learning the positional aspects required, and cuts out some of the fouls he'd get away with further forward, he'll be a great FB
Always felt there was a good player in him - never thought it'd be FB though, nice one Pep (same with O'Reilly, but that lad will be different mustard once he moves into MF where he belongs)
Gingers Dad
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Walker was the RB when we were the best team in the world. Just didn't get picked for the CL final when he played a major role in getting us there.I'm not arguing anything. I'm just sticking to the facts. Need I remind you that we never became the world's best with Zaba or Cancelo. And thankfully Walker was not in the first 11 when we finally did...
Walker was the RB when we were the best team in the world. Just didn't get picked for the CL final when he played a major role in getting us there.
Akanji played at RB in the big games before Ake got injured in the 2nd leg vs Bayern and Akanji played at LB when he was out. Then Walker started at RB. Ake was fit for the CL final and Pep played Akanji at RB again.
Basically, Walker started big games in the run in when Ake wasn't available. Pep preferred Akanji at RB when anyone was fit.
Gingers Dad
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In 2022/23 Walker played againstAkanji played at RB in the big games before Ake got injured in the 2nd leg vs Bayern and Akanji played at LB when he was out. Then Walker started at RB. Ake was fit for the CL final and Pep played Akanji at RB again.
Basically, Walker started big games in the run in when Ake wasn't available. Pep preferred Akanji at RB when anyone was fit.
Arsenal home and away
utd home and away
Madrid home and away
Spurs home and away
Villa home and away
Newcastle home and away
Chelsea home and away
Some big games in there.
In 2022/23 Walker played against
Arsenal home and away
utd home and away
Madrid home and away
Spurs home and away
Villa home and away
Newcastle home and away
Chelsea home and away
Some big games in there.
Most of those games were before the run in when Pep discovered the winning formula (Stones in midfield in possession, Akanji at RB). That happened soon after after Spurs away in February.
Vs Arsenal (h) and Real Ake wasn't available.
Walker started big games in the run in when Ake was out injured. When Ake returned, Walker was benched (the CL final). There's little doubt that Akanji, Stones, Dias, Ake was the first choice defence when all fit and available.
Gingers Dad
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A lot of those games were right in the thick of the run in. Looking at the line ups there was definitely rotation between the three of them. Pep liked the 4x CB's system but Walker was definitely first choice for the Arsenal and Madrid games. Probably the two biggest games outside of the CL final. Walker played 27 PL games that season and those included nearly all the big ones.Most of those games were before the run in when Pep discovered the winning formula (Stones in midfield in possession, Akanji at RB). That happened soon after after Spurs away in February.
Vs Arsenal (h) and Real Ake wasn't available.
Walker started big games in the run in when Ake was out injured. When Ake returned, Walker was benched.
Blue Llama
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Think you are exaggerating suggesting Nunes has Walker's pace. Walker was one of the fastest if not the fastest sprinter in the league at his best.Nunes could well turn out to be a very good hybrid of Cancelo/Walker - now hear me out on this.
Nunes has the crossing ability of Cancelo and the speed of Walker. If he continues learning the positional aspects required, and cuts out some of the fouls he'd get away with further forward, he'll be a great FB
Always felt there was a good player in him - never thought it'd be FB though, nice one Pep (same with O'Reilly, but that lad will be different mustard once he moves into MF where he belongs)
A lot of those games were right in the thick of the run in. Looking at the line ups there was definitely rotation between the three of them. Pep liked the 4x CB's system but Walker was definitely first choice for the Arsenal and Madrid games. Probably the two biggest games outside of the CL final. Walker played 27 PL games that season and those included nearly all the big ones.
Again, Ake wasn't available vs Arsenal home and both legs vs Real. That's not rotation. Akanji was 1st choice at RB when Ake was fit enough to start at LB.
Gingers Dad
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I like all three so I'm not going to do any of them down. Walker started 27 PL games so either Akanji wasn't the first choice RB or Ake was injured an awful lot. The facts are that Walker did play against Arsenal and Madrid and played very well in all four games.Again, Ake wasn't available vs Arsenal home and both legs vs Real. That's not rotation. Akanji was 1st choice at RB when Ake was fit enough to start at LB.
My opinion is that Walker would have played against Madrid regardless to mark Vinicius. All three are treble winners and played significant roles throughout the season. My opinion on Walker is that he is the best RB that I've seen at City and definitely the most successful. Maybe the best of the PL era.
To go back on topic Nunes is reminding me lot of Walker at the moment
My opinion on Walker is that he is the best RB that I've seen at City and definitely the most successful. Maybe the best of the PL era.
I agree with that.
He certainly played his part but not starting in a CL final would have been unthinkable in seasons prior.Walker was the RB when we were the best team in the world. Just didn't get picked for the CL final when he played a major role in getting us there.
Gingers Dad
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Despite Walker marking Vinicius out of the game in the two semi finals, I didn't think he would get picked for the final. Pep liked the 4x CB system and it worked. Walker like Cancelo lost out a little because of it. If we'd played a team with a quality pace merchant Walker would have played. Not starting the final seems to be a bit of defining factor on Walkers career which i don't think is fair.He certainly played his part but not starting in a CL final would have been unthinkable in seasons prior.
B\connellblue
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Nice one Pep? It took him long enough to admit his choice of Rico Lewis at RB was suicidal. Nunes was his back up.Nunes could well turn out to be a very good hybrid of Cancelo/Walker - now hear me out on this.
Nunes has the crossing ability of Cancelo and the speed of Walker. If he continues learning the positional aspects required, and cuts out some of the fouls he'd get away with further forward, he'll be a great FB
Always felt there was a good player in him - never thought it'd be FB though, nice one Pep (same with O'Reilly, but that lad will be different mustard once he moves into MF where he belongs)
WesthoughtonJohn
Well-Known Member
No manager is flawless, believe it or not.Nice one Pep? It took him long enough to admit his choice of Rico Lewis at RB was suicidal. Nunes was his back up.
The "nice one Pep" was a comment on seeing a player in the squad who could be utilised in a different role - for which he has a rich history.
I spent alot of last season criticising Pep for being inflexible in his approach, so it goes both ways
WesthoughtonJohn
Well-Known Member
I wasn't suggesting he's an exact match in either case - he's potentially a hybrid of the 2Think you are exaggerating suggesting Nunes has Walker's pace. Walker was one of the fastest if not the fastest sprinter in the league at his best.
Kyle's top ever recorded speed is 37.31 km/h. Nunes' top speed is 36.7 km/h. That translates to 19 inches over 30 meters. That means Walker is very fast and Nunes is pretty rapid himself : )Think you are exaggerating suggesting Nunes has Walker's pace. Walker was one of the fastest if not the fastest sprinter in the league at his best.
blueparrot
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It really hurts you when Pep gets praised doesn’t it. Strange you have to twist a positive into a negative.Nice one Pep? It took him long enough to admit his choice of Rico Lewis at RB was suicidal. Nunes was his back up.
Blue_Lightsaber
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Nice one Pep? It took him long enough to admit his choice of Rico Lewis at RB was suicidal. Nunes was his back up.
Careful.. maybe Rico is our new Right Winger since we don't exactly have one these days!
B\connellblue
Well-Known Member
It doesnt hurt at all. What annoys me is every positive is Peps doing , when it doesn't work its someones elses , never peps fault. Rico was his first choice at RB . He stubbornly stuck with him too.It really hurts you when Pep gets praised doesn’t it. Strange you have to twist a positive into a negative.