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27 | Matheus Nunes - 2025/26
- Thread starter samuelyeboah
- Start date
He'd need to get back on to the match day panel so.I think Khusanov is the current back up
I think the main problem with Nunes in the past has been inexperience and concentration. He started playing organised football very late and therfore has not been schooled as well as some other players like the academy boys or for example bernie. Concentration is also something that improves with age. Perhaps he is just a late bloomer.
I have been so impressed with him the tail end of last season and this season so far.
I have been so impressed with him the tail end of last season and this season so far.
Are you genuinely arguing that Nunes is a player of sufficient quality for a team aspiring to be the world's best?
Need I remind you of the quality of our previous right backs in Zaba, Walker and Cancelo?
I seriously think some people really overrated Zabaleta. He always gave his all and was a proper competitor, but was he ever one of the best few in the world? No. I'm not sure he'd get in most of Pep's teams tbh.
Cancelo was fairly weak defensively. Walker was brilliant over the years, but not perfect nobody is. Nunes is currently playing brilliantly and deserves his place based on performances. It's only reputation that he loses out on, and if you look past that you see good performances time and time again.
I was saying here in August that our need was actually for a versatile back who could play on either side and provide depth and insurance against injury. With the ascension of NOR we're in good hands on the left with Ait Nouri also an option. I like Khusonov but I'd prefer another RB with AK47 stepping back into the CB mix with the expectation that both Stones and Ake will be leaving this Summer.I thought he could be ok as the back-up RB but the way he is going, we might need to buy an RB to back him up / provide competition for that role. Too early to be sure but I really hope he keeps improving in the role and makes it is own. I love it when City players prove doubters wrong but, more importantly, I just want to see every City player be the best they can be. Helps that he seems to be yet another good guy.
Blue_Lightsaber
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I think the main problem with Nunes in the past has been inexperience and concentration. He started playing organised football very late and therfore has not been schooled as well as some other players like the academy boys or for example bernie. Concentration is also something that improves with age. Perhaps he is just a late bloomer.
I have been so impressed with him the tail end of last season and this season so far.
The good thing is its easier to teach a player how to do things correctly the first time than it is to reprogram him.
And we're seeing it play out in real time!
I’ve always thought Nunes was quite a skillful player but I had written him off completely as being good enough for us. I can’t remember which game but there was a couple of times where I thought he looked weak and almost scared of getting physically involved with the opponents. I seem to remember him bottling a few things in his first season.
But to see his redemption has been so impressive. It reminds me a little of Zinchenko who we tried to sell almost every transfer window at the start but he refused to leave and backed himself and ended up starting a champions league final for us. I loved Zinny for that never give up attitude. Now Nunes has backed himself and he is getting the rewards by being our starting full back. Fair play to him.
But to see his redemption has been so impressive. It reminds me a little of Zinchenko who we tried to sell almost every transfer window at the start but he refused to leave and backed himself and ended up starting a champions league final for us. I loved Zinny for that never give up attitude. Now Nunes has backed himself and he is getting the rewards by being our starting full back. Fair play to him.
Did he replace Cancelo at LB?This feking guy has played himself into a Portuguese international at RB. Enough said...
WowThis feking guy has played himself into a Portuguese international at RB. Enough said...
Drip, drip, drip...
He came on at RB and Semedo was moved to the left...Did he replace Cancelo at LB?
blueparrot
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So we've turned 2 midfielders into 2 international full backs.
For sure. What makes this a bit different than with players past is how athletic both NOR and Nunes are. Both have size, speed, agility, and strength. Both have plus ball skills and both can carry and put in a cross. People keep saying wait 'til we face Arsenal, wait 'til we play Liverpool, wait 'til the CL games...Ok, now what? Real Madrid? Bring it on...So we've turned 2 midfielders into 2 international full backs.
Kyle never learnt how to cross a ball
But n very other way was better.
Better ball carrier? No. Better passer in general? No. Kyle's whole game was predicated on blanketing top wide players. He was elite at that. His pace allowed him to recover over and over. Once he lost a step his flaws came to the front.But n very other way was better.
WesthoughtonJohn
Well-Known Member
Nunes could well turn out to be a very good hybrid of Cancelo/Walker - now hear me out on this.I seriously think some people really overrated Zabaleta. He always gave his all and was a proper competitor, but was he ever one of the best few in the world? No. I'm not sure he'd get in most of Pep's teams tbh.
Cancelo was fairly weak defensively. Walker was brilliant over the years, but not perfect nobody is. Nunes is currently playing brilliantly and deserves his place based on performances. It's only reputation that he loses out on, and if you look past that you see good performances time and time again.
Nunes has the crossing ability of Cancelo and the speed of Walker. If he continues learning the positional aspects required, and cuts out some of the fouls he'd get away with further forward, he'll be a great FB
Always felt there was a good player in him - never thought it'd be FB though, nice one Pep (same with O'Reilly, but that lad will be different mustard once he moves into MF where he belongs)
Gingers Dad
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Walker was the RB when we were the best team in the world. Just didn't get picked for the CL final when he played a major role in getting us there.I'm not arguing anything. I'm just sticking to the facts. Need I remind you that we never became the world's best with Zaba or Cancelo. And thankfully Walker was not in the first 11 when we finally did...
Walker was the RB when we were the best team in the world. Just didn't get picked for the CL final when he played a major role in getting us there.
Akanji played at RB in the big games before Ake got injured in the 2nd leg vs Bayern and Akanji played at LB when he was out. Then Walker started at RB. Ake was fit for the CL final and Pep played Akanji at RB again.
Basically, Walker started big games in the run in when Ake wasn't available. Pep preferred Akanji at RB when anyone was fit.