14 | Nico Gonzalez - 2025/26

Ajm1985 said:
Yerp, I have never doubted or questioned him passing through the lines - I posted that in here to counter the nonsense people say about him. He isn't always perfect, can take too many touches on occasion and doesn't trust his passing enough but he's a good player with lots of potential.

If Pep wants to persist with 4 2 2 2, then away in the CL he could have Nico & Rodri as the pivots with Nico O & Bernardo ahead. Does require a lot from the FBs but is absolutely solid in defence & on the ball.
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And there is a lot of nonsense spoken about him.
 
I remember some months back arguing on here with experts who were telling me Nico G had no passing range. LMAO
 
Every game, we should use at least two strong pivot midfielders from O’Reilly, Rodri, and Gonzalez to control the midfield. To pair only one of them with players not suited to the deeper role, like Foden, Bernardo, or Reijnder, makes it easy to lose control, like in the poor games vs Spuds and Forest.
 
bluethai said:
Every game, we should use at least two strong pivot midfielders from O’Reilly, Rodri, and Gonzalez to control the midfield. To pair only one of them with players not suited to the deeper role, like Foden, Bernardo, or Reijnder, makes it easy to lose control, like in the poor games vs Spuds and Forest.
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Agree 1 billion percent!
 
Great understudy to Rodri. I think it's very unlikely we'll see much of him and Rodri together as they're just not suited to playing together in the PL. Maybe to see out a CL game in the last 10 minutes we may see it, but beyond that it isn't going to happen.
 
BillyShears said:
Great understudy to Rodri. I think it's very unlikely we'll see much of him and Rodri together as they're just not suited to playing together in the PL. Maybe to see out a CL game in the last 10 minutes we may see it, but beyond that it isn't going to happen.
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Not sure they’ve played together enough in the PL to label it unsuitable just yet.

Agreed otherwise though, a great understudy. I like him.
 
BillyShears said:
Great understudy to Rodri. I think it's very unlikely we'll see much of him and Rodri together as they're just not suited to playing together in the PL. Maybe to see out a CL game in the last 10 minutes we may see it, but beyond that it isn't going to happen.
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Just listened to this part of the latest pod and I'm not sure I agree with a few things. One of the main aspects is that Pep isnt a coach who sits in a mid/low block to close out games - usually no, but he's definitely been doing that this season in second halves, where we've sat deep & gone long. Also don't think the idea would or should be that he replaces O'Reilly, as you need the athleticism etc but he could step in for Bernardo. Or those 4 could stodge the fuck out of midfield in a tight CL away game.
 
freshie said:
Such an underrated player. I think we’re a much better team with him in it

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If he doesn't start tomorrow then I'll be bewildered at Pep.

That said, Pep will 100% go with NOR, Rodri and Bernie so there's no room in there for Nico G unfortunately.
 
BillyShears said:
Great understudy to Rodri. I think it's very unlikely we'll see much of him and Rodri together as they're just not suited to playing together in the PL. Maybe to see out a CL game in the last 10 minutes we may see it, but beyond that it isn't going to happen.
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I heard you say that on the pod, but I don't feel Nico G is significantly less mobile than Bernardo. He managed to play #6 on his own before O'Reilly went into midfield, so I feel like he should be able to do a job in Bernardo's role better than Reijnders or Foden in the games when Bernardo can't play.


Although Kovacic coming back might make that moot - again not a player you'd call fast though.

I feel it would be pretty similar to playing Rodri-Gundogan as a 2 which Pep was fond of but with NOR beefing it up to make it more 2026 friendly.

I'd like to see it at least once to see how it goes!
 
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Considering how physical the league has gotten, I wouldn't be surprised to see the trio of O Reilly, Rodri and Nico G all starting at the same time to solidify us.

Maybe not all the time, because I think Pep will want to use the technical players/wingers some more, but i could see it in certain games.
 
domalino said:
I heard you say that on the pod, but I don't feel Nico G is significantly less mobile than Bernardo. He managed to play #6 on his own before O'Reilly went into midfield, so I feel like he should be able to do a job in Bernardo's role better than Reijnders or Foden in the games when Bernardo can't play.


Although Kovacic coming back might make that moot - again not a player you'd call fast though.

I feel it would be pretty similar to playing Rodri-Gundogan as a 2 which Pep was fond of but with NOR beefing it up to make it more 2026 friendly.

I'd like to see it at least once to see how it goes!
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In theory I agree with a lot of your first paragraph. I was probably a bit harsh. But equally I'm not sure that Nico G has the elite game intelligence which Bernardo/Gundo had which allowed them to mitigate their lack of physicality and athleticism when playing as 8's. That's something that Nico G currently hasn't quite got.

Also, I think I'm just very down on him because of the way that Connor fucking Gallagher ran off the back of him in the build up to Spurs' equaliser the other week. His performance against Newcastle was unbelievable and as good as any I've seen this season (he was my MOTM).
 
This team has to start Nico Gonzalez every single game now. Rodri alone is just not enough anymore. They either need to find a way for Nico and Rodri to coexist, or do something, because Rodri can't handle it by himself.
 
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