33 | Nico O'Reilly - 2025/26

[oldius]

One of the best things to emerge this season, Nico is a top prospect.
23 games and 1768 minutes played so far is a lot for an emerging player. He won't want to lose his place, but a couple of weeks rest will serve him well, IMO.

 

[skillman]

Looked knackered. You know it’s best when he got done by the simplest of 1-2s midway through the first half.

 

[HalfwayUpTheKippax]

!This has been evident from the off, FA cup final he had what was essentially a tap in on his right foot and he took an extra touch to take it to his left foot and the chance had gone.

Not like he is the only one though, majority of our team have a very strong reluctance to use their weak foot.

I'm not talking about pinging a 60 yard ball with their weak foot but when there's an opportunity to score or when a defensive player needs to get rid a lot of our team will still try to get it on to their strong foot first. Gvardiol, Rodri, kovacic, doku and Cherki are probably the only players that don't hesitate to use their weak foot.

I'm not sure Cherki has a weak foot!

 

[Scaring Europe to Death]

This has been evident from the off, FA cup final he had what was essentially a tap in on his right foot and he took an extra touch to take it to his left foot and the chance had gone.

Not like he is the only one though, majority of our team have a very strong reluctance to use their weak foot.

I'm not talking about pinging a 60 yard ball with their weak foot but when there's an opportunity to score or when a defensive player needs to get rid a lot of our team will still try to get it on to their strong foot first. Gvardiol, Rodri, kovacic, doku and Cherki are probably the only players that don't hesitate to use their weak foot.

Yep.

Some of the greatest players in the history of football were one footed but they always had sublime control or a change of pace to compensate (Maradona's Goal of the Century being the best example)

However I don't recall too many full/wing backs as one footed as O'Reilly, and to use some rugby parlance, opponents are clearly using the touchline as an extra defender knowing perfectly well that he's going to try and come inside without using his right foot.

It's also why he appears to succeed with so many nutmegs because that's often his only option and we forget the number of times that it doesn't work

Obviously this is less evident at the Etihad where City enjoy more possession and he can play more central, but there were a couple of comical moments last night when he was forced into situations where it was technically easier to use his right foot, but he opted for his left and missed the ball completely

 

[rowarta]

he needs a break, whether we can afford to give him that time is unknown.

 

[Eric Hitchmough]

Was he injured when he went off?

 

[Akira]

Really needs a rest.

 

[Stelea]

This has been evident from the off, FA cup final he had what was essentially a tap in on his right foot and he took an extra touch to take it to his left foot and the chance had gone.

Not like he is the only one though, majority of our team have a very strong reluctance to use their weak foot.

I'm not talking about pinging a 60 yard ball with their weak foot but when there's an opportunity to score or when a defensive player needs to get rid a lot of our team will still try to get it on to their strong foot first. Gvardiol, Rodri, kovacic, doku and Cherki are probably the only players that don't hesitate to use their weak foot.

Fodens cross with his right foot circa 80 mins last night. Just knew it was going to be a mess from a very promising situation.

 

[youngbob]

Been fantastic this season. Deserves a rest. I'm happy to go with Nunes, Khusanov, Dias, Ake, and Gvardiol as our main options in defence for until the Exeter game, at which point O'Reilly can come back in.

 

[Charlesfarsbar]

Was poor by his very high standards

Looked like he was asked to give it 60 mins in this game as he didn’t look fit or full of running like he usually does

We could do with giving him a game off this weekend

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Was poor by his very high standards

Looked like he was asked to give it 60 mins in this game as he didn’t look fit or full of running like he usually does

We could do with giving him a game off this weekend

Agree.

Nunes Dias Ake Gvardiol for Chelsea.

 

[Dax777]

Agree.

Nunes Dias Ake Gvardiol for Chelsea.

Id rather Nunes Khusanov Dias Gvardiol. Just not the best to have our 2 slowest Centerbacks against that youthful Frontline.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Id rather Nunes Khusanov Dias Gvardiol. Just not the best to have our 2 slowest Centerbacks against that youthful Frontline.

Last time we tried that combination, we were utterly dogshit at Bournemouth in the cup last season.

Hard pass.

 

[Dax777]

Last time we tried that combination, we were utterly dogshit at Bournemouth in the cup last season.

Hard pass.

Not for nothing but Bournemouth barely had a snif in that game. Their goal came from a Nunes poor pass into the middle. They created nothing.

In fairness, neither did we. But that was because we were starting our old man crew of Kev, Gundo, Bernie and Kova. The over 30 Quartet.

Defensively we were solid. We were just creatively poor coz out midfield was old and disjointed. We had to inject yourh in O'Reilly, Mcatee and Marmoush to get over the hump.

We are in a totally different place now. Against a different type of threat. Ir we are trying to get O'Reilly some rest, i want his speed replaced by Khusanov. And Gvardiol is the best option as offensive threat from fullback.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Not for nothing but Bournemouth barely had a snif in that game. Their goal came from a Nunes poor pass into the middle. They created nothing.

In fairness, neither did we. But that was because we were starting our old man crew of Kev, Gundo, Bernie and Kova. The over 30 Quartet.

Defensively we were solid. We were just creatively poor coz out midfield was old and disjointed. We had to inject yourh in O'Reilly, Mcatee and Marmoush to get over the hump.

We are in a totally different place now. Against a different type of threat. Ir we are trying to get O'Reilly some rest, i want his speed replaced by Khusanov. And Gvardiol is the best option as offensive threat from fullback.

No thanks to Dias on the left side when we have fit left footed centre backs.

Khusanov will get his minutes against Exeter, Bodo, Galatasaray and maybe a Newcastle game. He’s the last pick for me at centre back.

 

[WallyA]

Id rather Nunes Khusanov Dias Gvardiol. Just not the best to have our 2 slowest Centerbacks against that youthful Frontline.

I'd do that too, get Nunes inverting more rather than bring wide so give the centre more solidity.

The wide CBs in the back 3 need more athleticism which Gvardiol and Khusanov bring.

This is a simple way to rest O Reilly.

I think Semenyo being a wide RW would work really well in this system as well, Cherki forced wide feels wrong to me.

 

[01cravend]

Defending for goal was horrendous else he did well. Quite clearly needs a rest but Pep will keep playing him until he falls apart.

 

[Blue Hefner]

Defending for goal was horrendous else he did well. Quite clearly needs a rest but Pep will keep playing him until he fall apart.

He was done for their goal but in addition to be shattered he looked as though he got injured a couple of minutes beforehand

 

[pbueno16]

Defending for goal was horrendous else he did well. Quite clearly needs a rest but Pep will keep playing him until he fall apart.

Absolutely no need to push Gusto there. Could've just stayed where he was and denied the angle of the ball in.

 

[handsofstone]

Thought he was good today, but the last 15 mins he was fucked... like he was been the last few weeks

Bad for the goal but hes been overused and hes a victim of circumstances

Not our problem today, needs a good rest but cant afford to drop him now with Gvardiol/Dias now out (got to assume) as thay means Ake needs to play CB