14 | Nico Gonzalez - 2025/26

[merz]

I like him. Not sure why he was left out a lot last year but he’s definitely finding his footing now. He’s great at breaking up play and can pass. Sometimes he takes a bit too long on the ball but you can see he’s starting to scan more before even receiving it. Looks way better when protecting the ball too and adds physicality to our more or less "soft" midfield.

 

[nico04]

As a back up DM he's fine, I dont see him being a regular starter for a top-team. His qualities are more suited for #8. Doesn't have the presence or passing range, he needs to play in a double pivot. Stones is a better DM than him.

 

[Blue2112]

Yep that was a huge mistake. Play rodri/fern drop sterling(drop is generous he wasnt in the team) and we win that, same system that got us there. Simple as but it is what is now at this stage

Pep thought that the way Chelsea were set up we didn't need a defensive midfielder as much and by using Sterling as an extra attacking midfielder we could get round the back of them and cause more problems. He set this up the week of the game and asked his captains about it. They all didn't agree and certainly weren't going to say yes drop our captain for a CL game. Pep being Pep still went ahead with it and if it had worked it would have been another genius moment. Unfortunately it didn't.

 

[mrtwiceaseason]

He's currently playing at the same level as Oct 25 level rodri ,would it make sense to build rodri s fitness back up off the bench ? ,feel quite confident in the lad now .

 

[Kippax Street 1880]

Had a tough afternoon but he battled through it, just needs to sharpen up his decision making and stop taking one touch too many in his own half. He's getting there, by the end of the season he'll be top imo.

 

[blueparrot]

As a back up DM he's fine, I dont see him being a regular starter for a top-team. His qualities are more suited for #8. Doesn't have the presence or passing range, he needs to play in a double pivot. Stones is a better DM than him.

He'll be a very good 6 and a regular starter as a 6 while Rodri recovers,and after Rodri. His trajectory and skills are very similar to Rodri with us.Not saying he'll quite reach peak Rodri, but in the time we've had Rodri we've only had peak Ballon D'or Rodri for 2 seasons,so far, and that's okay.

 

[AirbagsOptionalTheReturn]

He was not helped yesterday in the second half as the movement around him dropped off. First half there was a lot of good off ball movement by Rudolf and Phil, second half they were not as mobile (either they dropped off or Brentford tweaked it).

 

[nico04]

He'll be a very good 6 and a regular starter as a 6 while Rodri recovers,and after Rodri. His trajectory and skills are very similar to Rodri with us.Not saying he'll quite reach peak Rodri, but in the time we've had Rodri we've only had peak Ballon D'or Rodri for 2 seasons,so far, and that's okay.

For me Rodri became world-class the second half of the 20-21 season. 21/22, 22/23 and 23/24 were generational seasons for him. I agree on Nico's skill set, I just don't see presence and personality nor do I see a top passer like Ferna, Rodri or Gundo.

 

[Gareth Barry Conlon]

For me Rodri became world-class the second half of the 20-21 season. 21/22, 22/23 and 23/24 were generational seasons for him. I agree on Nico's skill set, I just don't see presence and personality nor do I see a top passer like Ferna, Rodri or Gundo.

I like him. Part of our problems from the last 18 months is injuries and players in and out of the team.

I think there is a lot to be said for consistency and giving players a good run. I'd like to see him start 4 or 5 games on the bounce with reijnders and foden making up a 3. There's been too much chopping and changing. We need consistency and for that we need fit players.

 

[TFC]

Its funny, since yesterday I've read he was shit and cant lace Rodri's boots, I've also read he played really well and has 'got it'. I think the answer currently lies somewhere in the middle, he's definitely got bags of potential - if Pep can put some trust in him and give him a run of games, I think he'll deliver.

 

[supercity88]

Doing the job that's required and slowly improving. Too many touches at times, but I think that's partly because people are failing to find the space they should to receive the ball. Rodri is the best in the world in his position, and judging Nico against him is always setting him up to fail. But he's doing okay.

 

[alexmcity]

For me Rodri became world-class the second half of the 20-21 season. 21/22, 22/23 and 23/24 were generational seasons for him. I agree on Nico's skill set, I just don't see presence and personality nor do I see a top passer like Ferna, Rodri or Gundo.

Agree about Rodri but disagree about Nico. He has the personality to become a top player. He lacks the confidence now to attempt more ambitious passes but that will come with time.

Can see Rodri and Nico starting together big CL or PL games, which would allow O'Reilly and Nunes to support the attack.

 

[nico04]

I like him. Part of our problems from the last 18 months is injuries and players in and out of the team.

I think there is a lot to be said for consistency and giving players a good run. I'd like to see him start 4 or 5 games on the bounce with reijnders and foden making up a 3. There's been too much chopping and changing. We need consistency and for that we need fit players.

Way too much chopping and changing, I agree, not sure why Doku was rested yesterday, if you're in form (Doku + O'Reilly) you stay in the team imo, I'd like to see Nico G start 5 games in a row too, just not alongside Reinjders. A double pivot with Rodri hasn't been tested yet.

 

[hilts]

First time yesterday when watching him did i think he could be a good player for us.

 

[itisrising]

As a back up DM he's fine, I dont see him being a regular starter for a top-team. His qualities are more suited for #8. Doesn't have the presence or passing range, he needs to play in a double pivot. Stones is a better DM than him.

Stones is not a better DM than Nico. People criticise Nico's passing range but Stones' even worse as a DM.

 

[JewelZee]

As a back up DM he's fine, I dont see him being a regular starter for a top-team. His qualities are more suited for #8. Doesn't have the presence or passing range, he needs to play in a double pivot. Stones is a better DM than him.

No actually he's not.

 

[eastmanc]

For me, he's the absolute definition of a steady Eddie. Nothing he's shown since he's arrived screams at you that he's a high level player. Don't expect many wow moments from him. A solid, unspectacular, limited player. Sometimes, you need more to compete for titles than he offers.

We improved 100 percentage last season when he joined in performances and results.

 

[nico04]

No actually he's not.

Remember Stones performance vs Inter?or more recently Stones vs R'Madrid at home last season, Nico is not on that level yet, not saying he can't get there.

 

[Dax777]

As a back up DM he's fine, I dont see him being a regular starter for a top-team. His qualities are more suited for #8. Doesn't have the presence or passing range, he needs to play in a double pivot. Stones is a better DM than him.

Just, No! Not even close

 

[kingn6]

20/20 hindsight 4 years on. He was bang out of form at that time and very few if any fans thought he should play. The pre match thread is prob still there.

Any of those two playing would have made a big difference. It was classical pep overthinking. I probably would have preferred Dinho instead. I agree with your point regarding most fans though. Then again most fans spent past season saying Doku was crap, lambasting Kova’s performances not understanding the shift Akanjii and Ake put in last season.

There is a lot of top posters with good knowledge and understanding of the game. Then there are lot of in the matchday posters who are clueless, reactive, drunk or all of them. I remember some posters questioning balance of the XI. I am in the middle spout a lot of shit and get the occasional thing right :-). Not sure what it is this time.