14 | Nico Gonzalez - 2025/26

Gorbachev said:
Pep just doesn't trust him in my opinion.

Even when he came on against United at 3-0 up he was the worst midfielder on the pitch. Got skinned a few times and was lucky to not get a red.

I think what happened in January is we went for Baleba, got quoted too much and moved to a panic target in Gonzalez. Hence why he was a deadline day signing. We needed anybody, somebody who could fill the Rodri void in whatever manner to ensure the season wasn't going to be a complete disaster and not qualify for Europe.

Strangely enough, I actually think 8-10 years ago he would be a good player at the top level, but the game has become so pace and power driven that he looks a boy amongst men at times on the football pitch.
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But decided to play him today……..
Steady.
Nothing special but did ok.
Gives Rodri a rest and for that alone is essential.
Some good long passes.
Potential is there for all to see.
 
AshtonBlueMooner said:
But decided to play him today……..
Steady.
Nothing special but did ok.
Gives Rodri a rest and for that alone is essential.
Some good long passes.
Potential is there for all to see.
Click to expand...
Playing him today doesn’t count for much to be fair
 
Nick’s performance last night was rather better than most of the comments about it.

It is true that he could use an extra yard of pace but he will have to do what Rodri has and make up for it by reading the game better than his opponents. A quick mind can often compensate.

The boy can play and he has the best possible coach to improve him.

I have no doubt that Pep trusts him but he faces the same problem any other player would have that he is primarily competing with Rodri for a starting berth.
 
I find him fairly hard to judge, as what matters most is how the team ends up playing around him.

I thought we were good yesterday. They obviously set up to defend in numbers and try and break, yet hardly did due to the control we had. Nico was part of that control - how much was down to him and how much down to the defensive organisation or Pep's tactics, I have no idea. He didn't cause any issues though, and generally did his job well.

For those talking about a lack of speed, I think his speed is okay, I have more concerns over the speed of his decision making and the speed of his touch in tight situations. But the more he plays like he did yesterday, the more he'll be trusted to play in PL matches and the more chance he'll get to show he can do it. It was a small step in the right direction.
 
Looked good and made several great forward passes, might be worth a start against Burnley and give Tijani a rest as he's done nothing for a few games now.
 
I don't know why people are worried about Pep talking to Nico like he did last night, he's coaching him, because he wants to improve him. I seem to remember him doing this with other new players in the past (incl Rodri).

It would be interesting to know what Nico thinks of it, after he was subbed he did have a WTF look on his face, but the bit afterwards he seemed more open to it.

I'll trust Pep to turn him into a world class footballer, he won't play every week, but he'll get plenty of game time.
 
OB1 said:
Nick’s performance last night was rather better than most of the comments about it.

It is true that he could use an extra yard of pace but he will have to do what Rodri has and make up for it by reading the game better than his opponents. A quick mind can often compensate.

The boy can play and he has the best possible coach to improve him.

I have no doubt that Pep trusts him but he faces the same problem any other player would have that he is primarily competing with Rodri for a starting berth.
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Yes I agree with that. That yard of pace wont matter when he takes on what Peps telling him. Clearly helping him with body positioning and first touch so he takes it away from the opposition. Looks like Pep is loving the role again.
 
pbueno16 said:
There's a player of the ability we need in there. I think he'll be best playing besides someone like Kovacic in a game Rodri doesn't start or subbed on for a 10 to play with Rodri and see a game out.
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No. Disagree..

Think he learns more from being a solo 6 than with someone covering for him and making it easier.

If you want to be a top top player, you can't learn by someone holding your hand.. and Nico while definitely a work in progress is getting better.

Put in quite a tidy performance.

It wasn't till he went off and Kalvin came on we conceded our only true chance.
 
My worry with Nico is his passing is not good enough to play that role. I hope he can develop that because his reading of the game is very good.
 
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