14 | Nico Gonzalez - 2024/25

[Paul1970]

Disappointed not to see him recently. I'd rather give the games to someone with long-term potential like Nico than the old farts who shouldn't even be here next year.

I agree mate but I don’t see him playing much this his season apart from maybe a sub role . I fear for next season as I still think pep will pick his favourites and not play to our strengths as pass pass pass is ok against lesser teams but we will not be able to live with Liverpool arsenal etc .

 

[Craig]

I agree mate but I don’t see him playing much this his season apart from maybe a sub role . I fear for next season as I still think pep will pick his favourites and not play to our strengths as pass pass pass is ok against lesser teams but we will not be able to live with Liverpool arsenal etc .

What’s this lad going to add other than pass pass pass though? Hardly going to start driving us forward is he? Find it absolutely mental that after so many months of having no legs in midfield we bought someone so slow. Yes Rodri isn’t quick but he’s freakishly good at everything else.

This lad can’t get a game now so what hope is there when Rodri is back? Against 90% of teams we play you don’t need 2 holding midfielders. I’m still hoping we return to having 2 world class number 8’s at some point with Rodri sat behind them. An absolutely pointless signing and i’ll be amazed if he suddenly becomes a mainstay of a side hoping to regain the title. Over 150m on him, Nunes and super Kalvin is fucking crazy

 

[Paul1970]

What’s this lad going to add other than pass pass pass though? Hardly going to start driving us forward is he? Find it absolutely mental that after so many months of having no legs in midfield we bought someone so slow. Yes Rodri isn’t quick but he’s freakishly good at everything else.

This lad can’t get a game now so what hope is there when Rodri is back? Against 90% of teams we play you don’t need 2 holding midfielders. I’m still hoping we return to having 2 world class number 8’s at some point with Rodri sat behind them. An absolutely pointless signing and i’ll be amazed if he suddenly becomes a mainstay of a side hoping to regain title. Over 150m on him, Nunes and super Kalvin is fucking crazy

You are probably right. Think there is a good player in there though and think he should be getting a bit of game time .

 

[117 M34]

I find it very strange that we were desperate for a midfielder in January, we paid £60m for one and now we don't play him.

 

[Sir peace frog]

hes in a pivotal position ,but doesnt know the system well enough, when he does things will look a lot different ,hopefully we will see what pep saw in him next season

 

[Millwallawayveteran1988]

I find it very strange that we were desperate for a midfielder in January, we paid £60m for one and now we don't play him.

The window was an odd one to say the least.

 

[Brewster's millions]

The window was an odd one to say the least.

When you’re desperate for a midfielder and in the middle of a terrible run of form, and then you wait until the final day of the window and pay somebody’s release clause, you have to ask questions.

 

[dadnlad]

The window was an odd one to say the least.

we didnt win a game for months ?
guess we shouldve just sat on our hands
it's squad game they'll all play

 

[ninjamonkey]

I find it very strange that we were desperate for a midfielder in January, we paid £60m for one and now we don't play him.

Do you find it strange that a new player might struggle to instantly understand everything guardiola demands from them? I've yet to see a single player in this central position immediately grasp peps style and that's including the Balon d'or winner and treble winning legends like bernardo etc. There's nothing strange about it at all, it's the complete opposite actually and is the norm.

 

[ScottSinclair]

He would have played in the current situation under any other manager in the world.

Fortunately unlike earlier in the season, Pep is getting results again while still being a bit too stubborn

Also after Plodri-gate I have no idea why anyone wants to write off a new young midfielder signed in january in his first 6 months, coming into a dysfunctional side. He has even played well

 

[117 M34]

Do you find it strange that a new player might struggle to instantly understand everything guardiola demands from them? I've yet to see a single player in this central position immediately grasp peps style and that's including the Balon d'or winner and treble winning legends like bernardo etc. There's nothing strange about it at all, it's the complete opposite actually and is the norm.

But he hasn't looked out of place when he has played. He's not performed badly so no reason for him not to play

 

[Blue Abroad]

What’s this lad going to add other than pass pass pass though? Hardly going to start driving us forward is he? Find it absolutely mental that after so many months of having no legs in midfield we bought someone so slow. Yes Rodri isn’t quick but he’s freakishly good at everything else.

This lad can’t get a game now so what hope is there when Rodri is back? Against 90% of teams we play you don’t need 2 holding midfielders. I’m still hoping we return to having 2 world class number 8’s at some point with Rodri sat behind them. An absolutely pointless signing and i’ll be amazed if he suddenly becomes a mainstay of a side hoping to regain the title. Over 150m on him, Nunes and super Kalvin is fucking crazy

Nico regularly played further forward for Porto (both to start and moving from DM or CM within matches) and was quite effective in attack (one of the reasons we bought him). He has only been in arguably the most difficult team to play for, under the most difficult manager, in the most difficult league in the world, in one of the most complicated systems for about 6 months.

I think it may be a bit early to be writing him off, as was the case with many blues calling the reigning Ballon d’Or winner “Plodri” in his first 18 months.

 

[Xhavenjoe]

I find it very strange that we were desperate for a midfielder in January, we paid £60m for one and now we don't play him.

I think Pep has been reading too much Agatha Christie.
Started off with Bah, Reiss, Khusanov, Nico G and Marmoush.
There's one disappearing week by week.

 

[ninjamonkey]

But he hasn't looked out of place when he has played. He's not performed badly so no reason for him not to play

I wouldn't agree with that assessment. He looks like somebody still trying to understand what to do and where to be that isnt at the pace we need yet to me but even if we accept your assessment, The reason is simple, others have been better. Kovacic and bernardo are putting in motm performances. Who are you dropping?

 

[Gaz (FMwkdsoul)]

Last 10 PL games he's started seven, got subbed on once and unused twice. Kova/Gundo have had a decent thing going for a few games. He'll get back in soon enough, im not worried or think its anything serious.

 

[WallyA]

He plays in Kova and Bernies spot.

They have been Peps best players in this winning run.

To bad, is what it is.

Maybe he can get minutes in the duel false 9.

 

[Shazza458]

The only thing I’d say here is that City’s 24/25 midfield isn’t comparable to the year that Rodri joined. We had an elite midfield with elite options and you could see why his game time was limited.

24/25 we don’t - we have players that are past it and on the decline physically but know the “patterns” as Pep would say. Even against Wolves the other night, Pep is bringing on the likes of Rico Lewis and James McAtee in front of Nico. Not exactly world beaters, which I found both frustrating and odd. It’s not like we have amazing guys on the bench - you’d think Nico would be coming on in the 80th.

Not me saying Nico won’t be successful because the sample size has been far too small but something to consider

 

[dadnlad]

might just be a fitness thing coming from slower league pace n stamina needs pre season
he'll be fine and goes with other signings

 

[handsofstone]

He's getting kept out the team by Bernardo and Kovacic, 2 players who have been amazing since the formation change and who are 30 year old internationals who have spent their entire career at the top level...Bernardo has been one of our best ever players

He's 23, his career is ahead of him, let's not rule him out

I've got a lot of issues with Pep, but it's hard to blame him when this XI is currently working, Nico has time but this season we can't afford and slip ups, the FA cup and champions league football is the goal and we are on track for both

 

[Abattoir Blue]

I remember 'Plodri'. 'Ferna the flop'. 'David Silva doesn't do enough'. 'There's a good player in there with Javi Garcia, just give him time'.

Oh wait, that last one was me!

Still, this reinforces the point that we know jaff all. Nice to hear different views and all that though :-)