21 | Rayan Ait-Nouri - 2025/26

He was sound, solid. Nothing spectacular. Decent start.
One thing — but it concerns the whole back line, not just him. Four times that I counted, a ball fizzed in from the wings straight along the ground and it evaded the entire back line, either ahead of it or behind it and not able to react. It was worrying. A better attack would have put a couple of those away. They have to be blocked by someone, starting with the full back, and if not him, the central defenders, or that's goals in the back of our net. They were too far for Trafford to come for, so he's not at fault in my view.
Was that 4 attacks down our left quite close together? I was waiting for the goal tbh. I think last season they would have scored from that period of pressure. Not sure he was getting much help from docu though.
 
Was that 4 attacks down our left quite close together? I was waiting for the goal tbh. I think last season they would have scored from that period of pressure. Not sure he was getting much help from docu though.

Yep, but I think to be fair one came from the other side, i.e. Rico's. I repeat that I'm not laying the blame fully on the full backs. They're the first port of call to block, certainly. Kyle used to be very good at it, it was one of his obvious strengths. But the two central defenders should also be capable of clearing a cross along the ground, even when it's fast. Everybody missed. I think in a couple of cases it went right through to the other side! (Because, thank God, the Wolves forwards weren't up to much either). Hologram defence, matched by a hologram opposition attack…
Having watched the match back — pausing it, replaying certain sequences — I'm not overall quite as giddy about the match as I was at full-time. Yes, it was a very good performance, especially in midfield (Reindeers was huge, by God what a player he looks!) and up front. But there are definitely things to be adjusted. I was struck on one of those ground crosses how slow Rúben was on the turn. Now I've always been a huge fan of his, not least for his leadership and authority, but I wonder if he isn't slowing down quite considerably in his reactions.
It wouldn't have been at all outrageous if the match had ended 4-1. Thank God we have this mad perfectionist at the helm, who is not pleased by everything he sees, even when we get carried away.
 
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Great example of how meaningless stats can be when used in isolation by those they're not designed for. Ait-Nouri had a perfectly okay debut but did not look like the inpenetrable fullback those would suggest he was.

The stats are the stats. You're the only one claiming they show him to be inpenetrable, what they show is that he made a ton of tackles and no one got past him.

You can't make up your own conclusion from the stats and then be annoyed by it.
 
Count how many crosses were made unopposed from his side.

How many did you count ?

Wolves completed 2 aeiral crosses from that side all game and 1 on the ground.

Given only 1 lead to a shot (off target) and we kept a clean sheet, I think people are just desperatley looking for reasons to be miserable about a solid, if not spectacular, debut.
 
Wolves completed 2 aeiral crosses from that side all game and 1 on the ground.

Given only 1 lead to a shot (off target) and we kept a clean sheet, I think people are just desperatley looking for reasons to be miserable about a solid, if not spectacular, debut.
not at all mate. Just an opinion based on what I saw. Happy to be wrong and hope he succeeds.
 
Yep, but I think to be fair one came from the other side, i.e. Rico's. I repeat that I'm not laying the blame fully on the full backs. They're the first port of call to block, certainly. Kyle used to be very good at it, it was one of his obvious strengths. But the two central defenders should also be capable of clearing a cross along the ground, even when it's fast. Everybody missed. I think in a couple of cases it went right through to the other side! (Because, thank God, the Wolves forwards weren't up to much either). Hologram defence, matched by a hologram opposition attack…
Having watched the match back — pausing it, replaying certain sequences — I'm not overall quite as giddy about the match as I was at full-time. Yes, it was a very good performance, especially in midfield (Reindeers was huge, by God what a player he looks!) and up front. But there are definitely things to be adjusted. I was struck on one of those ground crosses how slow Rúben was on the turn. Now I've always been a huge fan of his, not least for his leadership and authority, but I wonder if he isn't slowing down quite considerably in his reactions.
It wouldn't have been at all outrageous if the match had ended 4-1. Thank God we have this mad perfectionist at the helm, who is not pleased by everything he sees, even when we get carried away.
I’ve watched it back as well. What I usually find though is when I’ve got less emotional connect and I can concentrate on the actual moments in the game I come away with more questions. I think last season they would have scored from that small period of pressure but I also think wolves were poor. Our finishing was very good and we played at a much higher pace. Having boulders on the ball instead of Ruben improves us immensely. He’s such a good footballer. We didn’t seem to piss about on the edge of their box as much it was a lot more direct. Great game from us. Spurs will be a better measure and I feel we owe them a hiding. I’m guilty of getting on pep’s back last season and I hope I’m eating my words as this season progresses.
 
Reading the reaction to his debut, it isn't often you see such a mixed opinion on one's defensive performance. The stats seems to suggest he played well, while others are claiming he didn't.

Here's what really happened:

When City was pressing, Ait-Nouri often timed his jumps very poorly. That's why there were multiple moments it seemed like there were gaps behind him. Secondly, when he does time his pressing poorly, he doesn't have the physicality or pace to catch up with fast opposition attackers.

Now I don't think he's slow. His pace is good, but you have to realize that the opposition's RW/LW are often the fastest players on the pitch. I definitely think Nico O'Reily is faster than him, and that's why when he played LB at the end of last season he was able to compensate for his poor reading with him being 6'4 and quite pacey.

Ait-Nouri isn't a poor defender per se. When he's actually in position and focused on dueling he's quite good. I've seen him lock down Salah a few times. There's a reason his defensive stats looked so impressive against Wolves.

So you're kind of left with a LB who when he locks in will be able hold his own, but there's going to be these rash moments you have to be aware of. I assume he and Gvardiol are going to be the starting LB and LCB and Gvardiol has similar issues with being quite aggressive.

When it works its great because it helps you pin back opposition defenses. When it doesn't you end with games like the one against Al-Hilal.
 
I thought RAN had a quiet game on Saturday, and seemed reluctant to get forward as much as he did when he played for Wolves, you have to remember the strongest part of his game is his attacking and seeing as he attacked less then you saw less of the RAN that we know, however he did what he needed to do defensively and that is all that you can ask, technically Rayan is better than probably any other defender in the PL and when he settles in and develops partnerships with other players you will begin to see his outlandish skill with the ball, enjoy him I know you guys are used to seeing world class players but Rayan won't let you down, by the Reijnders seems a ready made replacement for Kev and Cherki is a pretty decent sub, don't let those teams in Red win it this season.
 
I thought RAN had a quiet game on Saturday, and seemed reluctant to get forward as much as he did when he played for Wolves, you have to remember the strongest part of his game is his attacking and seeing as he attacked less then you saw less of the RAN that we know, however he did what he needed to do defensively and that is all that you can ask, technically Rayan is better than probably any other defender in the PL and when he settles in and develops partnerships with other players you will begin to see his outlandish skill with the ball, enjoy him I know you guys are used to seeing world class players but Rayan won't let you down, by the Reijnders seems a ready made replacement for Kev and Cherki is a pretty decent sub, don't let those teams in Red win it this season.

Pep told him to not go forward
 
That's your opinion ,I saw him give doku a hospital ball lose the ball and just jog back ,from memory he put one cross in ..early doors as I stated but I don't think he had a great game yesterday m
Interesting how we all see the game through a different lens.
On this game, I share Pep’s view, a very solid game.
Made us look much more defensively strong and gave numerous options for an out ball going forward.
Quick to identify problems and likely he didn’t bust a gut when we had sufficient cover. Early signs of a defender with high IQ.
 
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Interesting how we all see the game through a different lens.
On this game, I share Pep’s view, a very solid game.
Made us look much more defensively strong and gave numerous options for an out ball going forward.
Quick to identify problems and likely he didn’t bust a gut when we had sufficient cover. Early signs of a defender with high IQ.
Having watched the match back i realised he had a much better second half than first ,TBF I forgot to take my glasses with me and it could of been Willie donachie at left back on the far side second half :+)
 
Ait-Nouri will have more protection when he has Gvardiol beside him. Wolves managed to pull Dias further away from him, so with Doku well up the park, Ait-Nouri had much more ground to cover than was the case on our right.
 
You are allowed say someone didnt play well and needs to improve. Poor oul Tolmie . Maybe Twitter is too woke these days.
 

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