27 | Matheus Nunes - 2024/25

[decmancity]

What's the relevance?

Several years have passed since, Pep isn't mystic meg.Even once we bought him from Wolves, Pep probably thought he can go up a few levels, like Phillips. It hasn't happened, is what it is. We have a lot better luck with transfers than any other club out there, always bound to be a few duds.

 

[Chak19]

What's the relevance?

Several years have passed since, Pep isn't mystic meg.Even once we bought him from Wolves, Pep probably thought he can go up a few levels, like Phillips. It hasn't happened, is what it is. We have a lot better luck with transfers than any other club out there, always bound to be a few duds.

Haven't had much luck the last two years.

 

[Tevez City]

What's the relevance?

Several years have passed since, Pep isn't mystic meg.Even once we bought him from Wolves, Pep probably thought he can go up a few levels, like Phillips. It hasn't happened, is what it is. We have a lot better luck with transfers than any other club out there, always bound to be a few duds.

So when he approved the deal and let the club spend 50million on him did he know that Nunes isnt clever enough to play in the middle ? Or it was a surprise !

 

[Crooked_rain]

I don't think the Phillips situation is the same as the Nunes one. If unprofessionalism is the reason Phillips was overweight, then I don't see much wrong with the manager being honest about it if asked. It definitely would be better to keep it private though but Phillips can take his share of the blame

A manager basically letting the world know his own player hasn't got the ability or brain to play in his regular position can only be hurtful to the player, even if there was some compliments in there too. All he had to say was he has the making of a good right back and move on from it. The rest is a conversation for behind closed doors because it's essentially a case of telling Nunes he has no future at city as a midfielder.

I'm sure it's not news to Nunes, no doubt they've had the conversation but it didn't need to be said in a press conference.

 

[AlexGrimaldo]

What a drama...for something that Pep already said and we all saw: in this moment Matheus lack calm, control, composure to play in the midfield. Pep also mentioned the good qualities Matheus has. We have already many problems lets not fuel this

 

[mattcity5]

This is interesting looking back. Even at Wolves they thought he had talent but weren't sure how to use him - and clearly had doubts over playing him in the centre.

Matheus Nunes to Man City: Wolves ball-carrier has a specific skill that Pep Guardiola wants from his midfield

With Manchester City interested in Wolves midfielder Matheus Nunes, what is it that Pep Guardiola has spotted in the Portugal international? Adam Bate looks at the numbers…

www.skysports.com

Supports, as I've said before, that suggestions he was bought to play centre midfield are just assumptions, nothing concrete.

 

[RayCTID]

Not much difference between him and Delph. Although I wasn't too impressed with Delph ath the time of him signing he did prove to be a valuable asset albeit in another position No reason Nunes could do the same along with a new first team signing. The point is we still need squad depth and we aren't signing any of them this summer.

 

[uwerosler28]

Did we not know he was too thick too play the position we bought him for before we spunked 40m on him? Brilliant scouting.

 

[Pedestrian]

Not much difference between him and Delph. Although I wasn't too impressed with Delph ath the time of him signing he did prove to be a valuable asset albeit in another position No reason Nunes could do the same along with a new first team signing. The point is we still need squad depth and we aren't signing any of them this summer.

Delph wasn’t soft as shite.

 

[RayCTID]

Delph wasn’t soft as shite.

Nunes isn't either and both couldn't play as a central midfielder in Pep's side

 

[Pedestrian]

Nunes isn't either and both couldn't play as a central midfielder in Pep's side

i disagree. Nunes is definitely weak in the tackle and imo has a mentality issue. Both could definitely do a job in the current midfield.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

i disagree. Nunes is definitely weak in the tackle and imo has a mentality issue. Both could definitely do a job in the current midfield.

The only way you’ll see Nunes in a City midfield is if there is either a huge injury crisis or that Pep is no longer our manger.

No Pausa = no place in a Pep midfield.

 

[Pedestrian]

The only way you’ll see Nunes in a City midfield is if there is either a huge injury crisis or that Pep is no longer our manger.

No Pausa = no place in a Pep midfield.

Kova never seems to have the ball under complete control yet is the Rodri replacement. Difficult to take a moment with the ball if it’s not under control.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Kova never seems to have the ball under complete control yet is the Rodri replacement. Difficult to take a moment with the ball if it’s not under control.

That’s not pausa though. It’s the ability to slow the tempo down. Nunes is a Forest Gump style direct runner with the ball.

Kovacic works okay as an 8 with a good 6 behind him. He’s not a 6 as he also has the tendency to dribble too much with the ball and not release it at the right time.

Neither should be in our new upgraded midfield.

 

[Pedestrian]

That’s not pausa though. It’s the ability to slow the tempo down. Nunes is a Forest Gump style direct runner with the ball.

Kovacic works okay as an 8 with a good 6 behind him. He’s not a 6 as he also has the tendency to dribble too much with the ball and not release it at the right time.

Neither should be in our new upgraded midfield.

In football, "la pausa" (Spanish for "the pause") refers to a player's ability to momentarily slow down the game, control the ball, and assess the situation, allowing for better decision-making and creating space for teammates.

I’d sum up la pause as ‘taking a moment’. What’s your opinion of the meaning?

I do agree that nunes shouldn’t be anywhere near our midfield. In fact he wouldn’t be anywhere near the starting 11 for me. Terrible panic buy.

 

[hilts]

La pausa pass sideways la pausa pass sideways la pausa pass sideways

Other team seem to have set and left no space, what should we do?

La pausa pass sideways la pausa pass........

Now it makes sense:-)

 

[ChicagoBlue]

Nunes currently provides three options:
RB, RM, RW.

All are sub-optimal, given the stranglehold Pep puts on his players to not lose the ball.

Nunes is a “break the lines” midfielder. He is the second fastest player tagged in the PL this season, he’s big and strong (although he doesn’t like a 50-50!) and he can cross the ball. If I gave you all those attributes for an unknown player, would you play him as a stunted RB told to pass it to Dias or the DM of the day?

I honestly think he was bought to relieve KDB, but it clearly did not pan out that way!

There’s a player in there. The question is, does he feel confident enough to come out under Pep or has Pep shackled him to the point of wasted money and talent?

His decision-making on the field smacks of someone scared shitless of losing his place if he misses a pass, screws up a move, or doesn’t put the ball exactly where Erling’s head is going to be in 2 seconds!

Pep clearly allows some players to express themselves. These are the players he shows confidence in and releases a little. However, Nunes isn’t on that list and his position has been in jeopardy since he arrived, during which time he hadn’t been given a chance OR has been told “You’ll play RB or nothing!” and he’s both accepted it and learned not to lose the ball or else!

He needs to leave…for his own development and career, because in the right team he could be a considerably better player than Pep allows him to be.

 

[mattcity5]

Nunes provides three options: RB, RM, RW.
All are sub-optimal, given the stranglehold Pep puts on his players to not lose the ball.

Nunes is a “break the lines” midfielder. He is the second fastest player tagged in the PL this season, he’s big and strong (although he doesn’t like a 50-50!) and he can cross the ball. If I gave you all those attributes for an unknown player, would you play him as a stunted RB told to pass it to Dias or the DM of the day?

I honestly think he was bought to relieve KDB, but it clearly did not pan out that way!

There’s a player in there. The question is, does he feel confident enough to come out under Pep or has Pep shackled him to the point of wasted money and talent?

His decision-making on the field smacks of someone scared shitless of losing his place if he misses a pass, screws up a move, or doesn’t put the ball exactly where Erling’s head is going to be in 2 seconds!

Pep clearly allows some players to express themselves. These are the players he shows confidence in and releases a little. However, Nunes isn’t on that list and his position has been in jeopardy since he arrived, during which time he hadn’t been given a chance OR has been told “You’ll play RB or nothing!” and he’s both accepted it and learned not to lose the ball or else!

He needs to leave…for his own development and career, because in the right team he could be a considerably better player than Pep allows him to be.

Just been reading a few articles from his time at Wolves. Including one mentioning his run in the team on the left of midfield, and a few others expecting him to join Liverpool.

Suffice to say, there are some good judges who think he has the tools to be a good player, but nobody's quite worked out how to achieve that yet.

I'm sure I remember him playing left wing for us one game and doing okay, but we've a lot of options there. I wonder where Liverpool would have ended up playing him if he'd gone there? Perhaps up on the left wing cutting in? He may well have suited their direct style better than he suits our demands on technique and intelligence.

Edit - agree about the Kev replacement. The way Kev used to break from midfield fits right in with how fast Nunes is with the ball.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

In football, "la pausa" (Spanish for "the pause") refers to a player's ability to momentarily slow down the game, control the ball, and assess the situation, allowing for better decision-making and creating space for teammates.

I’d sum up la pause as ‘taking a moment’. What’s your opinion of the meaning?

I do agree that nunes shouldn’t be anywhere near our midfield. In fact he wouldn’t be anywhere near the starting 11 for me. Terrible panic buy.

Kovacic can certainly do that, whereas Nunes can’t.

Once KDB goes, there’s a fair argument that Nunes will be our best crosser of a ball.

That in itself is a damning indictment of where we are.

 

[bluegaz13]

Not much difference between him and Delph. Although I wasn't too impressed with Delph ath the time of him signing he did prove to be a valuable asset albeit in another position No reason Nunes could do the same along with a new first team signing. The point is we still need squad depth and we aren't signing any of them this summer.

I think Delph was a much better footballer with a greater level of Football Intelligence.

We played some great football with Delph at left back…..although his teammates were far superior to the ones Nunes has now.