33 | Nico O'Reilly - 2025/26

[Bluewonder]

Weirdly I actually thought that was his weakest game for a while. Clearly my eyes deceive me.

 

[SamBlue]

He is so solid, because he is so functional, harking back to what 'old' Pep was doing with his players.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Weirdly I actually thought that was his weakest game for a while. Clearly my eyes deceive me.

I think both can be true. He stopped loads, but probably could have been better in certain actions too.

All goes in the experience basket.

 

[cleavers]

I voted for him in the MoTM thread strangely, between the two Nico's for me, and not much between them. I didn't think Foden was that good, though he won us the points.

NOR did make a few errors defensively, but I thought he was strong in midfield and getting forward, I certainly don't think he deserves criticism.

 

[Millwallawayveteran1988]

I voted for him in the MoTM thread strangely, between the two Nico's for me, and not much between them. I didn't think Foden was that good, though he won us the points.

NOR did make a few errors defensively, but I thought he was strong in midfield and getting forward, I certainly don't think he deserves criticism.

Maybe that’s where we should play him. Playing next to Gvardial can’t help him. That guy is so sloppy,

 

[ninjamonkey]

Was by no means bad, much better than he was against Newcastle but i do think he could do with sitting out a game or two just to refresh his batteries. All youngsters generally need that from time to time.

We've got an entire back 4 on the bench most weeks, changing 1 perhaps 2 on rotation to freshen things up should be the way forward rather than changing an entire back 4. Both he and Gvardiol could do with a little break.

 

[cleavers]

Maybe that’s where we should play him.

He basically plays there anyway most of the time, Gvardiol hasn't been at his best recently, but they don't really play next to each other, he generally plays in front of Gvardiol, today he wasn't helped at any point by Doku being in front of him, I can't remember him once coming back to help in that second half.

 

[EL APACHE TEVEZ]

I voted for him in the MoTM thread strangely, between the two Nico's for me, and not much between them. I didn't think Foden was that good, though he won us the points.

NOR did make a few errors defensively, but I thought he was strong in midfield and getting forward, I certainly don't think he deserves criticism.

The lads doing well

 

[Nightmare Walking]

Weirdly I actually thought that was his weakest game for a while. Clearly my eyes deceive me.

Leeds were trying to target him by booting it over his head and in behind him. He coped well.

 

[thomas1307]

Was by no means bad, much better than he was against Newcastle but i do think he could do with sitting out a game or two just to refresh his batteries. All youngsters generally need that from time to time.

We've got an entire back 4 on the bench most weeks, changing 1 perhaps 2 on rotation to freshen things up should be the way forward rather than changing an entire back 4. Both he and Gvardiol could do with a little break.

making his debut for the england first team and playing 2 full 90 mins has probably taken something out of him but don't think he was to bad today

 

[oldius]

Such an excellent prospect.
He sat out the game in midweek so his energy levels should be fine, as his performance suggested. Ait-Nouri has a job on his hands assuming Nico stays in that position. It is right that players compete for their place though.

It feels, to me, that O'Reilly is become more self-assured and has a sense of what he needs to do in each situation. Certainly, I now expect that he will have a long and distinguished career in our first-team and that is no easy prediction for one so young.

 

[jollylescott]

Nico's stats for the game were actually very good.

He had an assist, created the most chances (3) of any City player, made more clearances (8), won more duels (10), and won more aerial duels (7). All of these were better than any other player in our team.

So well done Nico!

 

[JDV]

Could we move NOR into midfield along Nico G? Would give us more physicality in midfield plus speed. Seems like a quick learner too.

Love him at LB but could become even more influential in that midfield role and then we can give Foden Cherki Doku even more attacking freedom behind Haaland.

 

[pride in battle]

Such an excellent prospect.
He sat out the game in midweek so his energy levels should be fine, as his performance suggested. Ait-Nouri has a job on his hands assuming Nico stays in that position. It is right that players compete for their place though.

It feels, to me, that O'Reilly is become more self-assured and has a sense of what he needs to do in each situation. Certainly, I now expect that he will have a long and distinguished career in our first-team and that is no easy prediction for one so young.

He's aggressive, carries the ball with purpose & is great in the air ! Fucking love HIM !!!

 

[domalino]

Could we move NOR into midfield along Nico G? Would give us more physicality in midfield plus speed. Seems like a quick learner too.

Love him at LB but could become even more influential in that midfield role and then we can give Foden Cherki Doku even more attacking freedom behind Haaland.

We just need RAN to start performing for that to happen.

 

[oldius]

He's aggressive, carries the ball with purpose & is great in the air ! Fucking love HIM !!!

He really could become a top player.
He has the usual technical ability of our academy players along with top-tier physicality, which is unusual.
We have a few of those coming up though: Mfuni is my particular favourite, but Reigan Heskey and Divine Mukasa are also physical and technical.

 

[ChicagoBlue]

Maybe that’s where we should play him. Playing next to Gvardial can’t help him. That guy is so sloppy,

When we play him at LB against team with only 1 forward, that allows him to move forward. As we saw, when the opposition then change things up and go to st least two forwards, that can change our entire set up, which end up with us playing a Back FIVE!

Thankfully, Pep has developed a player with the skills to get forward when able and appropriate, but the discipline to understand when he has to stay back and defend.

As always with such players, it’s when the FB gets forward, and gets caught out of position defensively, that we struggle with the counterattack into the space they left. This is true on both sides of the field, which is why the ability to play a strong Back 3, with recovering DM who can slot in, is so vital to the way we play.

 

[tackeds]

Hes mustard

 

[Gingers Dad]

He basically plays there anyway most of the time, Gvardiol hasn't been at his best recently, but they don't really play next to each other, he generally plays in front of Gvardiol, today he wasn't helped at any point by Doku being in front of him, I can't remember him once coming back to help in that second half.

So you reckon that Doku playing on the wing in front of Pep's technical area, just tossed it off in the 2nd half?