27 | Matheus Nunes - 2025/26

[blueparrot]

So are you happy to go with nunes for right back ? This is not a dig as that is your opinion mate but I would rather us go with a proper right back .

I'd like Livramento and keep Nunes too.But it's not a very long list that'i'd go down before I'd say stick with what we have.

 

[Silva2021]

94% pass completion last night. And technically much better than Walker.

I'd be amazed if Walker or, say, Kerkez ever had 94% pass accuracy.

It just feels his passes are slightly off, whilst still reaching their man, a bit behind or to feet when it needs to be in front it kills a bit of momentum for me.

But he’s trying and so far better then we had a right to expect.

Nothing against him, but if we want to be best in the world it is an obvious area for improvement.

 

[Ric]

Big praise from Pep:

 

[domalino]

It just feels his passes are slightly off, whilst still reaching their man, a bit behind or to feet when it needs to be in front it kills a bit of momentum for me.

But he’s trying and so far better then we had a right to expect.

Nothing against him, but if we want to be best in the world it is an obvious area for improvement.

I really disagree, I thought some of his passes into the front 3 were brilliant yesterday, got through some very small gaps to get the ball into Haaland's path a few times.

 

[il_Cecchino]

He is super fast and he has the plysique. So he can become a very good rb. Not sure Livramento is better.

 

[richards30]

Credit where its due for Nunes, he played extremely well yesterday. I still want a proper RB but if he`s happy to stay as back up then fair enough.

 

[Halloween Jack]

You have to remember Nunes is playing out of his usual position, and is just now getting used to it. It's not easy. Remember when Keith Curle was called up for England, only to be played out of position at full back?

 

[Saddleworth2]

Nunes is making the position his own. He is incredible offensively and improving defensively. He makes less errors than our Cb's these days. He and Ait-Nouri will become the best full backs in the premier league.

 

[cyan]

Going forward he is a great asset - I do still worry about him defensively especially against tricky wingers - some of his positioning leaves him diving in and he can get turned too easily and then seems to panic and pull. However, he is improving all the time and right now he is our best option at right back and if he goes as part of needing to reduce the squad size then we are putting in another makeshift - either Lewis who also struggles defensively or one of the centre backs who are less effective going forwards.

And until we reduce the squad size - we really cant be adding more players to it - so Nunes has to stay and keep improving at the defensive side of the role.

 

[Saddleworth2]

For those that keep saying they want a 'proper' full back. Define what 'proper' is for a City RB. Ability to run all day (check). Ability to get back quickly (check) ability to invert (check) comfortable on the ball (check) Physical in challenge (check) can play key passes (check) ability to make overlap runs (check). What is it that Nunes doesn't do against your criteria?

 

[BlueMoonAcrossThePond]

For those that keep saying they want a 'proper' full back. Define what 'proper' is for a City RB. Ability to run all day (check). Ability to get back quickly (check) ability to invert (check) comfortable on the ball (check) Physical in challenge (check) can play key passes (check) ability to make overlap runs (check). What is it that Nunes doesn't do against your criteria?

I like Nunes.

Nunes is an OK RB and makes for a good backup at that position.

>> Define what 'proper' is for a City RB.
Since you asked:
Nunes has a mistake in him; and too frequently that leads to an opportunity on goal for the opposition;
Nunes' crosses aren't great. They're OK mostly - and sometimes he does pick out an awesome cross, but sometimes it's just a blind hit into the box without looking up first to pick out one of our players... or he mis-hits his cross over the head of everyone or out-of-bounds;
Nunes is prone to the odd unnecessary foul.

A "proper" right back wouldn't come with so many weaknesses.

There are numerous right backs far more skilled than Nunes - and we should sign one of them as our first choice.

Meanwhile, Nunes is a competent backup.

 

[Norman kneejerk]

We've also got Stones,Akanji and Kusanov who can play well there especially John so quite a few options. If those 3 also cover RB makes us less top heavy with central defenders.

 

[BlueMoonAcrossThePond]

We've also got Stones,Akanji and Kusanov who can play well there especially John so quite a few options. If those 3 also cover RB makes us less top heavy with central defenders.

I wouldn't say that any of them play well there - I think all of them make do if we have no better option.

Our team rebuild is nearly complete - but we really need to sign a RB to close the deal.

 

[BlueMoonRisin’]

Nunes is improving every game. His tackling positional awareness ability to spot danger have improved and he's making less mistakes in defence. His passing and link up play is good and he overlaps our winger well and can cross and assist.

I think he's our most improved player and it's good to see him full of confidence and enjoying his game. My only concern is him man marking and nullifying a fast tricky winger such as Vinicius Junior, and he'll probably get to mark him soon.

I still think we need a specialist RB but I'm not obsessed on signing Livranento for stupid money even though I rate him.

 

[domalino]

For those that keep saying they want a 'proper' full back. Define what 'proper' is for a City RB. Ability to run all day (check). Ability to get back quickly (check) ability to invert (check) comfortable on the ball (check) Physical in challenge (check) can play key passes (check) ability to make overlap runs (check). What is it that Nunes doesn't do against your criteria?

I think the concerns are mostly around the fact that in the biggest games, the ones that really define our seasons, we will need somoene who can neutralise world class wingers like Vinicius, Mbappe, Kvaratskhelia, Eze.

Nunes is a long way from doing that, the 1v1 and positional defending is the glaring weakness in his game - but he's also only played 18 games as a RB in his career. I think he has the raw materials, he's just going to take another 80 odd games to really feel like a genuine RB.

I remember when Zinchenko was making the switch, he talked about how Arteta would take him off for training sessions with Sterling and Sané and they'd just practice 1v1 defending in wide areas over and over, and that took Zinchenko from a complete liability to someone we could win titles with as a stand in LB (though his lack of pace means he's always struggling in those situations). Hopefully Nunes will get the same help, and he has the pace and physicality to not reach a glass ceiling at the position like Zinchenko.

 

[Tricky_Trev]

Big praise from Pep:

Also makes it sound like the club are contemplating a sale? He must have interest but Pep doesn’t want him going anywhere.

 

[Saddleworth2]

I like Nunes.

Nunes is an OK RB and makes for a good backup at that position.

>> Define what 'proper' is for a City RB.
Since you asked:
Nunes has a mistake in him; and too frequently that leads to an opportunity on goal for the opposition;
Nunes' crosses aren't great. They're OK mostly - and sometimes he does pick out an awesome cross, but sometimes it's just a blind hit into the box without looking up first to pick out one of our players... or he mis-hits his cross over the head of everyone or out-of-bounds;
Nunes is prone to the odd unnecessary foul.

A "proper" right back wouldn't come with so many weaknesses.

There are numerous right backs far more skilled than Nunes - and we should sign one of them as our first choice.

Meanwhile, Nunes is a competent backup.

Every player has a mistake in him and Nunes
Makes less than he did. Certainly less than Akanji, Guardiol and arguably Dias. He had two assists yesterday and his crosses are more consistently good than either of our specialist wingers. He is more than competent. There are few better than him in the PL and he is still improving. He isn’t perfect for sure but we played the best game we have had in ages yesterday and look who was motm.

 

[Dax777]

I like Nunes a lot because he plays wide as a RB but Lewis plays more narrow (like Zinchenko used to). I'd prefer to have anot1 er RB option that is similar to O'Reilly on the left, i.e someone tall, built, fast, can defend and can attack.

So ideally for me we'd replace Lewis with someone else at RB. Lewis is a good young player though so a loan or a buyback sale would be best.

That actually is Nunes. What we don't have is a techie like RAN. But Rico has his qualities.

I am hoping Nunes can become a little better qith his close range passing and decision making in tight areas.

I actually rate Nunes higher defensively than I do offensively.

 

[Paul1970]

We won 100 pts with Delph who wasn't a proper LB and 98 pts with Zinchenko who wasn't one either.

We won everything with Akanji at RB (at Walker's expense) who wasn't a proper RB as well. We beat Real 5:1aggr. that season with Akanji playing at LB (replacing Ake who was injured then).

Having a *proper* something (insert position) is often overrated by fans.

We will have to disagree on this one mate

 

[colbee59]

I wouldn't say that any of them play well there - I think all of them make do if we have no better option.

Our team rebuild is nearly complete - but we really need to sign a RB to close the deal.

Just buy a new team why don't we. Stay with what we've got, can't keep buying players, looks like Nico Gonzales isn't wanted already. Still got to get rid of Grealish and Phillips