21 | Rayan Ait-Nouri - 2025/26

oldius said:
At this moment, Nico has to keep his place. You do not drop someone in this form.
RAN comes in for cup games and as a substitute.
If I was succession planning, I would give Nico O some occasional game time alongside Nico G in central midfield: Bernardo and Rodri cannot go on forever.
Longer term, Nico O shifts central, Stephen Mfuni comes in and competes with RAN for the left defender slot.
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I see Mfuni more as a CB who can excel in a back 3 or more defensive LB.

Kinda like Gvardiol who could play LB but he never looked natural, always like a CB we forced at LB.

Im not sure he can do the hyper aggressive attacking that O Reilly is doing at LB. O Reilly being a natural attacking midfielder has those qualities all carry over perfectly.

In terms of midfield, I dont expect to ever see it again.

Rodri has Nico G for rotation, so he won't be overworked.

Bernie should have had Kova but that's gone, but I think Reijnders and Lewis have to be the backup there (they still need minutes) and for Fodens spot.
 
WallyA said:
I see Mfuni more as a CB who can excel in a back 3 or more defensive LB.

Kinda like Gvardiol who could play LB but he never looked natural, always like a CB we forced at LB.

Im not sure he can do the hyper aggressive attacking that O Reilly is doing at LB. O Reilly being a natural attacking midfielder has those qualities all carry over perfectly.

In terms of midfield, I dont expect to ever see it again.

Rodri has Nico G for rotation, so he won't be overworked.

Bernie should have had Kova but that's gone, but I think Reijnders and Lewis have to be the backup there (they still need minutes) and for Fodens spot.
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All fair points. I agree about Rico, for sure, but he will never be able to offer the physical size in midfield that the others can. As a Bernardo replacement, sure.
I do think Mfuni has the attacking stuff in his game and I have seen it in the academy games. His delivery, like O'Reilly, is superb, but I agree that he is more of an LCD. Mind you, not so long ago we would have said that Nico isn't a LB!
I hope that we see Rodri alongside Nico G, but we will have to plan for him to not be the main man in the sense of the game in and game out colossus that he has been. I hope he can return to those levels, of course, but there has to be a doubt, and he is rapidly approaching 30 too, so he probably has 3-4 years with us as a maximum, if he returns to his physical best. By then, Mfuni will be 21.
 
richards30 said:
He`s going to be fine, give him a chance guys!
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He is a great talent, yes.
Having such a compliment of top players gives us a real opportunity to think about succession planning rather than firefighting. My only point is that you keep players in the team who are in form, and that definitely applies to Nico O. However, we need to keep the back-up players sharp with some minutes, especially in cup matches, and to ensure that we protect the 'first-eleven'. We will need everyone.
 
I don’t see the reason to be concerned about Ait-Nouri. He’s brilliant and will prove it in time. We are set for years at left back with O’Reilly and Ait-Nouri. I look at them as an absolutely ideal pair of options - what more could we actually want? Just give him time and enjoy O’Reilly’s performances in the meantime. LB is the last position we need to worry about.
 
oldius said:
All fair points. I agree about Rico, for sure, but he will never be able to offer the physical size in midfield that the others can. As a Bernardo replacement, sure.
I do think Mfuni has the attacking stuff in his game and I have seen it in the academy games. His delivery, like O'Reilly, is superb, but I agree that he is more of an LCD. Mind you, not so long ago we would have said that Nico isn't a LB!
I hope that we see Rodri alongside Nico G, but we will have to plan for him to not be the main man in the sense of the game in and game out colossus that he has been. I hope he can return to those levels, of course, but there has to be a doubt, and he is rapidly approaching 30 too, so he probably has 3-4 years with us as a maximum, if he returns to his physical best. By then, Mfuni will be 21.
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Lewis learning Bernies role is his best chance.

I agree id like to see Rodri and Nico G together as well, but think mostly they have to rotate for now regardless to manage Rodri.

I think rather than a O Reilly playing midfield, it's better to find another "strong DM" akin to Rodri and Nico G, Elliott Anderson seems to be the best choice.
 
Genuinely cannot understand how he can possibly be going to AFCON. I’m sure he wants to go and Algeria would like him to go, but he’s far from being match fit and might not play again before the tournament starts. Puzzling.
 
Gabriel said:
Genuinely cannot understand how he can possibly be going to AFCON. I’m sure he wants to go and Algeria would like him to go, but he’s far from being match fit and might not play again before the tournament starts. Puzzling.
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I hope AFCON lasts for 6 months TBH. Never rated him at Wolves and seen nothing of him in a City shirt to change my mind. And that pointless, constant rolling of his foot over the ball is grinding my fucking gears.
 
MCFC1993 said:
Not the best money we've ever spent when an attacking midfielder from the youth team (granted he's brilliant) plays it better.
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Well one has played less than 4 games worth and the other has been around the City academy and squad for years.

It's called time, he's 24 and is in a new team & environment. Players like Ait-Nouri, Reijnders, Cherki deserve a season at least before being classed as a waste of money.
 
citytill1die84 said:
Well one has played less than 4 games worth and the other has been around the City academy and squad for years.

It's called time, he's 24 and is in a new team & environment. Players like Ait-Nouri, Reijnders, Cherki deserve a season at least before being classed as a waste of money.
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Fair points, he certainly needs to sharpen up though.
 
citytill1die84 said:
Well one has played less than 4 games worth and the other has been around the City academy and squad for years.

It's called time, he's 24 and is in a new team & environment. Players like Ait-Nouri, Reijnders, Cherki deserve a season at least before being classed as a waste of money.
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That’s true, but you’d expect someone even not match fit to look like they can do the basics of defending. His body position looks all wrong anytime he’s asked to defend. He seriously lacks pace too and that’s not going to change anytime
 
mattcity5 said:
Fair points, he certainly needs to sharpen up though.
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100% mate. They all do. We get the same comments every season regarding new players, Doku last year, we've had it with Gundogan, Rodri and I understand people want them to click immediately (I Do lol) but sometimes it takes patience I've learnt to slowly deal with it haha.
 
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