14 | Nico Gonzalez - 2025/26

[Lavinda Past]

He needs Rodri next to him and that base wiuld be solid. Then get Anderson and now you can rotate the 3

Although I hope he does, I have serious doubts over Rodri coming back at Ballon D'or level.
Rotation with Nico G, and Anderson would allow Rodri to get back gradually. Nico won't let us down!

 

[Dax777]

Although I hope he does, I have serious doubts over Rodri coming back at Ballon D'or level.
Rotation with Nico G, and Anderson would allow Rodri to get back gradually. Nico won't let us down!

Totally agree. I don't expect 2023 Rodri. Just a good CM with strong control. Get Anderson so we can protect him .

 

[richards30]

Nico and Rodri should play together as it just wouldn’t be right to drop Nico when Rodri comes back! I understand that it will be one of the other at times for rest but Nico has earned his place now in that role, absolute class!!

 

[Mid Wales blue]

Rodders had Kev as an outlet also. This is a different set up altogether, and he's smashing it so far.

If Pep gives the freedom he gave too KDB, to Cherki then we’ll be in good hands!

 

[MCFCFanTX]

Nico was really good today.

 

[ChicagoBlue]

Nico was really good today.

He was, but he allowed himself to be pulled waaaay out of position for their goal.

Tbf, he’s being asked to do an awful lot and is doing it like the Spartan he is, but he’s starting to look leggy in the second half of every game now. Rodri needs to get back on the pitch to either allow his to rest or provide strong back-up.

Either way, Nico is not going to be able to go 2-3 times per week until June!

 

[Blue Hefner]

He was, but he allowed himself to be pulled waaaay out of position for their goal.

Tbf, he’s being asked to do an awful lot and is doing it like the Spartan he is, but he’s starting to look leggy in the second half of every game now. Rodri needs to get back on the pitch to either allow his to rest or provide strong back-up.

Either way, Nico is not going to be able to go 2-3 times per week until June!

I agree and it’s been noticeable for a whole that he his high and caught out. So much so, that I assume it’s the strategy. But he looked shattered at about 70Mins when chasing back

He hasn’t got the passing range of Rodders but those back heel flicks in the first half were beautiful

That was a high level performance which can’t carry on forever so we need a midfielder in Jan

 

[PALESTINIAN HEARTED MANC]

Very concerned we overplay him like what we did with Rodri until he had to voice it out. God knows when Rodders will be back next to him otherwise a DM might be the absolute priority in Jan.

 

[lol yank]

I don’t understand dm shouts for January. So what are they doing with Rodri? They’re putting him on ice for the entire season or planning to sell him? He’s going to be back in a matter of weeks or maybe they do sell him. But if he’s back he’s playing a good bit. Nico will be fine. If anything play Nico there and bring in ait nouri to cover lb

 

[Zabbasbeard]

Nico was very good indeed again. Such strong, mature, excellent positioning and good judgement and execution of a pass. Skilful as well.

 

[ninjamonkey]

I don’t understand dm shouts for January. So what are they doing with Rodri? They’re putting him on ice for the entire season or planning to sell him? He’s going to be back in a matter of weeks or maybe they do sell him. But if he’s back he’s playing a good bit. Nico will be fine. If anything play Nico there and bring in ait nouri to cover lb

I agree we dont need a dm. I think most are just misusing DM when they just mean a central midfielder as that is what we desperately need. I think you're being rather optimistic with regards to Rodri though, he might get on the pitch in a matter of weeks but he isn't going to be reliably available every game. We went into the season expecting Rodri to be well on his way towards being properly back now and to have kovacic back, we're two players light in that position, we'll get half a player back soon-ish, we've got to use the market to fill the void.

 

[lol yank]

I dk. Am I being dense that if he plays Tijjani for Bernardo it solves the issue? Tijjani isn’t a 6. We have too many better 10s. See what he can do at 8 and give bernardo rest. If that doesn’t work buy Anderson in the summer.

It should be solved by Rodri coming and Nico playing the 8. Or swap perhaps

 

[KS55]

Including internationals, Rodri played almost 150 games in two years. He was run into the ground and his body rebelled. We must not make the same mistake with Nico. Get Anderson asap, pay big if necessary.

 

[Tomblue]

I think Rodri is done to be honest as much as it pains me to say, it’s incredibly hard to recover from an ACL they are lots of the time career ending injuries. Nico has been really good this season and I hope we give him some cover so he doesn’t end up the same way.

 

[Blue Hefner]

Including internationals, Rodri played almost 150 games in two years. He was run into the ground and his body rebelled. We must not make the same mistake with Nico. Get Anderson asap, pay big if necessary.

100%. He needs help - he looked shattered at points yesterday and is covering a lot of ground, he’s holding the midfield on his own at times

 

[BooksReject]

Including internationals, Rodri played almost 150 games in two years. He was run into the ground and his body rebelled. We must not make the same mistake with Nico. Get Anderson asap, pay big if necessary.

I understand what you are saying about his playing time, but his body didn't give up, he was targeted and assaulted. Simple as that. Agree fully with Anderson though ;)

 

[Nightmare Walking]

I don’t understand dm shouts for January. So what are they doing with Rodri? They’re putting him on ice for the entire season or planning to sell him? He’s going to be back in a matter of weeks or maybe they do sell him. But if he’s back he’s playing a good bit. Nico will be fine. If anything play Nico there and bring in ait nouri to cover lb

If we get Elliot Anderson, we will piss the league this season and be set in midfield for the next generation. We would be idiots not to try and get a midfielder of Andersons ilk in this window, as that is the only area where we are short.
We have to go to most of the tough away grounds in the 2nd half of the season, we are yet to play Chelsea and we will have all the cup competitions to play for. We can't do that with just Nico and Bernie. We can't pin our hopes on Rodri. We need some quality and legs in midfield.
The drop off without Nico playing is there for everyone to see. He needs help.

 

[richards30]

If we get Elliot Anderson, we will piss the league this season and be set in midfield for the next generation. We would be idiots not to try and get a midfielder of Andersons ilk in this window, as that is the only area where we are short.
We have to go to most of the tough away grounds in the 2nd half of the season, we are yet to play Chelsea and we will have all the cup competitions to play for. We can't do that with just Nico and Bernie. We can't pin our hopes on Rodri. We need some quality and legs in midfield.
The drop off without Nico playing is there for everyone to see. He needs help.

If Forest were still interested in Rico maybe that helps? Bobb on loan as well?

 

[Nightmare Walking]

If Forest were still interested in Rico maybe that helps? Bobb on loan as well?

I can't see Rico going anywhere. Just signed a new contract and bought a gaff in Woodhouses.
Pep clearly has faith in him. People forget he's still so young. Let's hope he can develop further as he clearly has something about him.

 

[Berti No Show]

It was a proper coming of age performance last night. He didn’t just cope, he controlled that midfield for large parts of the game. The lad just took the sting out of the game, slowed things down when it needed slowing, and sped it up when there was space. Players with high football IQ will always improve, like Rodri did.

What I loved most was how he constantly gave the team an out ball. Whenever someone looked trapped or pressed into a corner, Nico had already dropped into a little pocket of space, offering himself, making the simple pass look easy. That’s the stuff you don’t always see on the highlights, but it’s what keeps a team ticking.

And the defensive work, unreal as he has been so many times this season. He won so many second balls, so many last ditch interceptions, little recovery moments that stopped Madrid playing through us. For a young lad on that stage in that stadium, he showed serious composure.

He's doing this without the physical presence of a Rodri next to him. No experienced destroyer behind him, no safety blanket and he's learning on the job as an apprentice. Yet he still controlled the tempo, bossed their midfielders, and carried himself like he’d played in games like this for years.

And honestly, imagine him with someone like Elliot Anderson next to him, a complete midfielder who can do a bit of everything. The whole dynamic would further improve instantly. We’d run through teams with that kind of balance. Nico dictating play, Anderson breaking lines and carrying the ball, the pair of them rotating and suffocating teams with energy, power and intelligence.

Top performance again from Nico.