27 | Matheus Nunes - 2024/25

[bondsman]

He has pace so we should play him/keep him. Christ we are in trouble if that alone is the barometer. Let’s get Traore in as well. Nunes is shite. He’s been shite in every position he’s been tried in. Pep gave him chances, too many imho, clearly doesn’t trust him in the recent ‘big’ games and I don’t bloody blame him. Oreilly needs to be the lad given minutes not Nunes.

 

[Bluekiwi]

So strange how his season has gone.
Never played in his right position, was put out on the wing and was one of our best contributors in terms of goals and assists for that period.
Then put to right back where he's never played before. He made some mistakes but also showed some promising signs.
Now he can't get a look in.

I'd give him a go in midfield alongside Nico to see how he gets on.
Whats the worst that can happen. We're already a man or two down with some of the players we've had on.

I was thinking along similar lines. Reading the Post Match Thread about certain midfielders not being worthy the starting 11, why not give Nunes a run in there.
He played in midfield for Wolves didn't he?
And with his pace he could be a useful asset as getting back to help defend counter attacks.

 

[King Jay]

i hope he stays if we can’t get a certain amount of money for him. Can play several positions and you need squad players like that. I know that most here expect 20 world beaters but that’s not possible.

 

[Dazzle84]

I hope he leaves, for both our sakes. He's not good enough for us by a long chalk, but it's also no good for him to sit on the bench all season when he could go somewhere else and play every week.

I'm still absolutely baffled about his signing, never a city player in a million years

 

[Brewster's millions]

I hope he leaves, for both our sakes. He's not good enough for us by a long chalk, but it's also no good for him to sit on the bench all season when he could go somewhere else and play every week.

I'm still absolutely baffled about his signing, never a city player in a million years

I could understand a good counter attacking team buying him, as in that sort of system his running power would be an asset and his first touch would be less of an issue. In the right team I think he could be a decent player.

But given that we bought him when our possession game was its peak, and a change in tactics wasn’t being considered, his purchase is genuinely difficult to fathom.

If he can’t handle receiving the ball facing his own goal, and he struggles to do that, then he was never going to play in our midfield. A round peg for a square hole.

What’s particularly concerning is that he was effectively bought to replace Phillips, who similarly was never going to be able to do a job for us.

That’s £100mn on two players who are obviously ill suited to our game, and below the level required.

 

[Dazzle84]

I could understand a good counter attacking team buying him, as in that sort of system his running power would be an asset and his first touch would be less of an issue. In the right team I think he could be a decent player.

But given that we bought him when our possession game was its peak, and a change in tactics wasn’t being considered, his purchase is genuinely difficult to fathom.

If he can’t handle receiving the ball facing his own goal, and he struggles to do that, then he was never going to play in our midfield. A round peg for a square hole.

What’s particularly concerning is that he was effectively bought to replace Phillips, who similarly was never going to be able to do a job for us.

That’s £100mn on two players who are obviously ill suited to our game, and below the level required.

Someone mentioned it the other day - it seemed to be either him or Eze after the paqueta deal was off after his betting allegations. They're 4 very different players, so if you add that to the Phillips transfer it goes to show just how muddled the thinking got

 

[Man_City_Loyal]

I hope he leaves, for both our sakes. He's not good enough for us by a long chalk, but it's also no good for him to sit on the bench all season when he could go somewhere else and play every week.

I'm still absolutely baffled about his signing, never a city player in a million years

He is good enough, if he plays in his right position and actually has players around him willing to put in some of the more physical work.

Times this season my 70 year old dad could of walked through our team we've lacked that much

 

[bluenova]

I could understand a good counter attacking team buying him, as in that sort of system his running power would be an asset and his first touch would be less of an issue. In the right team I think he could be a decent player.

But given that we bought him when our possession game was its peak, and a change in tactics wasn’t being considered, his purchase is genuinely difficult to fathom.

If he can’t handle receiving the ball facing his own goal, and he struggles to do that, then he was never going to play in our midfield. A round peg for a square hole.

What’s particularly concerning is that he was effectively bought to replace Phillips, who similarly was never going to be able to do a job for us.

That’s £100mn on two players who are obviously ill suited to our game, and below the level required.

I've got mixed feelings on Nunes, but I', pretty sure it was part of a tactical change. Pep had talked about how teams were sitting back more and more, and also going man to man, making passes which break the lines more difficult.

He said they'd brought in players who could carry the ball forward and break the lines without passing, which I believe is some of the thinking behind Kovacic and Nunes (and also the wingers who would try to beat a man, rather than pass around them with Doku/Savinho).

 

[Dazzle84]

He is good enough, if he plays in his right position and actually has players around him willing to put in some of the more physical work.

Times this season my 70 year old dad could of walked through our team we've lacked that much

How many times has he played central midfield and played well then? Because I struggle to remember many. I agree about the lack of physicality in the midfield, but he's not the answer. And he can't tackle for toffee himself

 

[Man_City_Loyal]

How many times has he played central midfield and played well then? Because I struggle to remember many. I agree about the lack of physicality in the midfield, but he's not the answer. And he can't tackle for toffee himself

be interesting to see how many times he has played in CM this season and before for us

 

[sir baconface]

Looking on the bright side, now he’s reverted to persona non grata status we might see something of our young players, including the new signings.

Possibly.

 

[bondsman]

be interesting to see how many times he has played in CM this season and before for us

Surely the fact when we are struggling hes STILL not being selected to play in his best position tells you everything

 

[schfc6]

Surely the fact when we are struggling hes STILL not being selected to play in his best position tells you everything

For me, it tells us just how stubborn Pep can be. We’ve been crying out for pace and energy centrally, and really could he or O’Rielly have done any worse than what we’ve seen?

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

For me, it tells us just how stubborn Pep can be. We’ve been crying out for pace and energy centrally, and really could he or O’Rielly have done any worse than what we’ve seen?

Who was our last fast central midfielder?

It’s not pace we need, it’s creativity.

 

[Man_City_Loyal]

Surely the fact when we are struggling hes STILL not being selected to play in his best position tells you everything

he's played everywhee other than his own normal position

 

[Johnny Mars Bar]

He was never good enough and in lots of ways I don’t blame him. Like Philips, he should never have been signed in the first place.

 

[bondsman]

For me, it tells us just how stubborn Pep can be. We’ve been crying out for pace and energy centrally, and really could he or O’Rielly have done any worse than what we’ve seen?

I agree O’Reilly deserves a shot as every time he’s played he’s shown something. I think Nunes has had chances and been poor or committed mega errors that led to goals conceded. Who was it last year when he came in CM game was won and he received ball off keeper lost it and they scored. Chelsea? Same when he came on in middle against Feyenord

 

[schfc6]

Who was our last fast central midfielder?

It’s not pace we need, it’s creativity.

Strongly disagree. I think energy and pace is our biggest weakness.

 

[schfc6]

I agree O’Reilly deserves a shot as every time he’s played he’s shown something. I think Nunes has had chances and been poor or committed mega errors that led to goals conceded. Who was it last year when he came in CM game was won and he received ball off keeper lost it and they scored. Chelsea? Same when he came on in middle against Feyenord

But Kovacic is getting caught on the ball 3/4 times a game.
Rico was costing us a goal a game at one point.
Just saying he can’t do any worse, and if he plays he may add something we haven’t currently got.
O’Reilly should be first in line I agree.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Strongly disagree. I think energy and pace is our biggest weakness.

We’ve won tons with no pace in central midfield.