33 | Nico O'Reilly - 2025/26

BillyShears said:
That smell of goals he has can't be taught IMO. You either have it or you don't, and he's got it. He's going to be some player over the next few seasons. Needs to stay injury free and keep his feet on the ground and he'll go to the top.
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Based on his interview, keeping his feet on the ground isn't going to be a problem. He'd literally moved onto the next game despite being MOTM in a cup final.
 
Pep’s had Gvardiol play a similar LB/AM role at times before, but Nico’s skill set is absolutely perfect for the role

How does your marking and defensive shape account for a 6’4” pure athlete ghosting into the six-yard box from left back? Who’s supposed to pick him up?

Genius tactical innovation and hats off to NOR for having the quality, stamina and versatility to pull it off in a huge game
 
BillyShears said:
That smell of goals he has can't be taught IMO. You either have it or you don't, and he's got it. He's going to be some player over the next few seasons. Needs to stay injury free and keep his feet on the ground and he'll go to the top.
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He seems a very grounded hardworking and humble kid. Having read about him by people that know him, his personality has been like that from a small boy. I honestly don't think we need to worry about him getting his head turned. I think his ceiling is huge as he has versatility, stamina, speed, physicality, technical skill and an eye for goals. Pretty much everything you need for a stellar career.
 
He scored with his heeaad, with his heeaad, O’Reilly O’Reilly O’Reilly-e-e-e (to Cranberries Zombie)

What a player
 
Living the dream Nico! What a weekend, 21 and winning City a cup. Regardless of what else he does from here he is a club legend. A brilliant player, incredibly humble and versatile too.

Take us to the domestic treble then go and win England the World Cup of you fancy it!
 
supercity88 said:
Living the dream Nico! What a weekend, 21 and winning City a cup. Regardless of what else he does from here he is a club legend. A brilliant player, incredibly humble and versatile too.

Take us to the domestic treble then go and win England the World Cup of you fancy it!
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His humbleness is so refreshing. In the postgame on field interview he told the people from Paramount that although he's been able to move from lb to midfield and back this season with much success he mentioned how starting at lb at the Bernabeu after not having started there in some time proved to be difficult. He basically put his hand up for what happened there while being praised for his MOTM performance in the final. This kid just turned 21. I thought to myself this fella has been raised properly. His humility was very impressive.
At the same time his cool demeaner seems to provide cover for a tremendous level of competitiveness and desire to win.
He stood toe to toe with Joelinton at St. James's Park not backing down one inch and setting a tone for the match.
Yesterday he flashed some serious menace toward Zubamendi who had taken hold of his shorts and was attempting to get away with some shithousing. NOR was having none of it.
The kid is massive and is still growing into his adult body. His technical ability is outstanding.
The sky is the limit for this young player!
 
Those runs from LB have caught so many teams off guard when he just overloads and ghosts in. Whereas at CM, he just gets more marked by default.

This is partly why I see O Reilly's ceiling as a LB to potentially be "Best LB in the world".

And while I think he has done great at CM and has helped in some games shore us up defensively, and should definitely continue to play there for us there as well, his ceiling for me there is at best something like " Top 20", still very good but not quite worlds best potential.
 
Back in the 70s when you could just pay on the gate I'd join the rags from my local if the opposition looked good. There wasn't much to do back then! Enjoyed this game in particular.
 
WallyA said:
Those runs from LB have caught so many teams off guard when he just overloads and ghosts in. Whereas at CM, he just gets more marked by default.

This is partly why I see O Reilly's ceiling as a LB to potentially be "Best LB in the world".

And while I think he has done great at CM and has helped in some games shore us up defensively, and should definitely continue to play there for us there as well, his ceiling for me there is at best something like " Top 20", still very good but not quite worlds best potential.
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I’ll have to disagree with you there. You’ve got to remember he is only 21. I don’t think Rodri has fully broken through at Villarreal at that age, and KDB didn’t even play as a central midfielder til pep came to us really, usually played out wide. I think O’Reilly has the ceiling to be the best midfielder on the planet, he has everything. Pace power height technique.
 
OldhamBlue94 said:
I’ll have to disagree with you there. You’ve got to remember he is only 21. I don’t think Rodri has fully broken through at Villarreal at that age, and KDB didn’t even play as a central midfielder til pep came to us really, usually played out wide. I think O’Reilly has the ceiling to be the best midfielder on the planet, he has everything. Pace power height technique.
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I would agree with this 100%. Before he broke into the team I would bang on about getting him in the middle of the park to help out when we'd be getting overrun, but then he came in and blew everyone away with how good he is at LB.

I still see his future bossing the middle of the park. He's going to be a beast once he really gets into his stride. Skys the limit for this lad.
 
Its funny how things change in a year.
Last season we were playing a cup match and Khusanov, on a yellow, was taken off at half time as Pep was worried his rashness might lead to a red.
O Reilly came in at LB, moving Gvardiol to CB where he remained for the rest of the season.
O Reilly completely transformed the game.
A year later and O Reilly is a recognised starter and Nunes and Khusanov have improved beyond what most of us would have thought possible.
 
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