14 | Nico Gonzalez - 2025/26

Can we stop with the bullshit "pep doesnt rate him" for everybody who doesnt start a game comments. If Pep didn't rate somebody, they'd be gone.

it's quite simple with Nico, he hasnt learned how to operate in the 6 for us yet. Everytime he gets on the pitch, you can see why he isn't getting on the pitch often.
 
Fordyboy46 said:
I wouldn't be surprised if Nico is sold this window. His nose has been well and truly put out of joint with us now signing Reijnders in his position. I'm getting a bit annoyed with the money we seem to be wasting lately Phillip's, Nunes?, Savio, Reis?, Khusanov, Gonzalez, it's not looking good. Feel for Nico as I'm sure there's a good player in there, whether he'll ever get the chance to show it at City is another matter altogether
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I'm not necessarily disagreeing but have we actually wasted money on Khusanov and Gonzalez or were they always bought with the next coach/manager in mind?

There's definitely something weird going on with those two players in particular.
 
Scaring Europe to Death said:
I'm not necessarily disagreeing but have we actually wasted money on Khusanov and Gonzalez or were they always bought with the next coach/manager in mind?

There's definitely something weird going on with those two players in particular.
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Absolutely baffling what Pep is playing at, two fresh players there who for me should've been nailed on starters, but both ended up barely breaking a sweat as they did last season
 
ninjamonkey said:
Can we stop with the bullshit "pep doesnt rate him" for everybody who doesnt start a game comments. If Pep didn't rate somebody, they'd be gone.

it's quite simple with Nico, he hasnt learned how to operate in the 6 for us yet. Everytime he gets on the pitch, you can see why he isn't getting on the pitch often.
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You cant be gone a few months into being signed for 60m on a 5 yr contract
 
Scaring Europe to Death said:
I'm not necessarily disagreeing but have we actually wasted money on Khusanov and Gonzalez or were they always bought with the next coach/manager in mind?

There's definitely something weird going on with those two players in particular.
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If khusanov signed for Spurs or Newcastle who also wanted him we would be saying how did we miss out on him .
 
Fordyboy46 said:
Absolutely baffling what Pep is playing at, two fresh players there who for me should've been nailed on starters, but both ended up barely breaking a sweat as they did last season
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Only thing baffling is other than Omar.. all the older core is still trusted.

And Omar only wiggled his way in because of Erling's and KDB's injuries.
 
Gorbachev said:
I don't think Nico is a 6.

If I recall, even Nico G said in an interview a few months back he sees himself more as an 8 than a 6, bu can play there if need be.

If his game time doesn't improve as the seasons starts, I can see him being loaned to Girona in January.
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He will never play as an 8, 6 is his best chance.

He doesn't have that silky movement, too large a body.
 
Kippax Kidd said:
If khusanov signed for Spurs or Newcastle who also wanted him we would be saying how did we miss out on him .
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I'm not sure that Spurs are the best example, but I agree with your wider point.

My own theory is that Pep values intelligence over pace and whilst we've all been impressed by the energy that Gonzalez and Khusanov both bring, he'd rather trust Gundogan or Nunez as he sees them as more dependable

Consequently we often blame our lack of pace when conceding goals on the counter whereas Pep is blaming the person who didn't provide the angle to receive the original pass, and thus left all his team mates out of position when we lost the ball.
 
Scaring Europe to Death said:
I'm not sure that Spurs are the best example, but I agree with your wider point.

My own theory is that Pep values intelligence over pace and whilst we've all been impressed by the energy that Gonzalez and Khusanov both bring, he'd rather trust Gundogan or Nunez as he sees them as more dependable

Consequently we often blame our lack of pace when conceding goals on the counter whereas Pep is blaming the person who didn't provide the angle to receive the original pass, and thus left all his team mates out of position when we lost the ball.
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Get your general point but Gonzalez looks like he’s running in treacle
 
Would be interesting to understand why Pep doesn't play him more. Maybe Gonzalez is reluctant to play at 6 and wants to play with Rodri rather than instead of Rodri? He doesn't see himself as a squad player which Pep doesn't like? Or he doesn't train as well as Pep expects?

If I have some doubts about Pep's choice of the first XI vs AH, it's him playing Gundo over Gonzales. No doubt Gundo understands the system better and was in good form recently, but that was a good opportunity to play Gonzales and see how he fits in.
 
Craig said:
Get your general point but Gonzalez looks like he’s running in treacle
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We can debate and argue all day, but it doesn't really matter.

Far more concerning is that somebody at City (who's far more qualified than us two combined) rated Gonzales highly enough for the club to buy him, whereas somebody else obviously doesn't.

That type of friction doesn't augur well especially when it's already happened with Kalvin Phillips.
 
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Scaring Europe to Death said:
We can debate and argue all day, but it doesn't really matter.

Far more concerning is that somebody at City (who's far more qualified than us two combined) rated Gonzales highly enough for the club to buy him, whereas somebody else obviously doesn't.

That type of friction doesn't augur well especially when it's already happened with Kalvin Phillips.
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From the little I've seen of Nico, I can see he can recycle the ball pretty well, but I dont think he scans often enough and as a result is often surprised by pressure resulting in a heavy or missed touch. I say 'often', it's probably been a handful of times, but it stands out in our team.

As for Khusanov (as he's being mentioned a lot here)... I don't know if he'll ever become top class, but he reminds me of Richard Dunne. Committed, body on the line, some pace when he gets moving - I'm not meaning it as a criticism of either, Dunney was 4 times our POTY. But that was in a poor side and what we need is someone who can play in a top side - Dunney got moved on because he wasn't good enough in possession I guess. Maybe Khusanov will be also, but if anyone can coach him about what's required it's Pep.
 
Scaring Europe to Death said:
We can debate and argue all day, but it doesn't really matter.

Far more concerning is that somebody at City (who's far more qualified than us two combined) rated Gonzales highly enough for the club to buy him, whereas somebody else obviously doesn't.

That type of friction doesn't augur well especially when it's already happened with Kalvin Phillips.
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It’s not really a debate that he lacks any pace. As you say though it’s pretty alarming we keep signing players the manager doesn’t seem to rate
 
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