33 | Nico O'Reilly - 2025/26

Reached the point where left back IS his position. He’s too good there and since he is still able to get into the box from there multiple times per match, it’s like a tactical trump card, an extra body. Playing him in midfield wouldn’t give us that. He’d be there instead of someone else and not in addition to them. He’s a modern left back and he’s absolutely mega. What a player.
 
feedmpenzaandhewillscore said:
With Bernardo going maybe O’Reilly’s place on the pitch is next to Rodri. Gvardiol coild then cover left back with Ait Nouri.

Everytime he gets on the pitch O’Reilly he seems to suprise each week with where his level of play and intelligence is. Taking out two players with that skill and control right on the touchline when most other players would have booted the ball at them for a throw was something else.
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With Guehi and Khusanov building the partnership they have now, Gvardiol at left back seems the easiest way to plug him in if O’Reilly plays in midfield. Gvardiol and Doku linked up well down the left last season.
 
pbueno16 said:
With Guehi and Khusanov building the partnership they have now, Gvardiol at left back seems the easiest way to plug him in if O’Reilly plays in midfield. Gvardiol and Doku linked up well down the left last season.
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You can move them into a back three in a game and then push Nunez further forward to either overload in midfield or get further past whoever is playing right of the attack for width.

Gvardiol with his qualities of what he can with the ball at his feet and goal scoring ability can add more to the attack.
 
Proper Paul Lake vibes about the lad now. Put him in at left back, LCB, anywhere in the midfield and he will do a job. Has properly grown into his physique this season as well.

I used to think with his height he would slide eventually into replace the massive gap that Rodri will leave with Phil in the KDB role but this modern left back role fits him so well. He can see the whole pitch from it, knows where and when to pass and carry the ball plus most impressively this season when and where to run, his positional play and anticipation of a pass has gone through the roof this season.

Yaya mark 2, start as a defender then transition into a box to box midfielder?
 
I am officially convinced now! When he first started I couldnt stand the fact he couldn't pass forwards. at all. proper David Batty vibes for England passing sideways or backwards, happy to be proven wrong!
 
ninjamonkey said:
The weekly improvement is staggering. Couple of weeks ago a fair constructive criticism of him was that for a big lad. He hasn't yet learned to use that frame to his advantage like you see someone like Rodri do, fast forward a few weeks and youre seeing it already. Sky is the limit if he keeps showing this improvement. Nothing hampering him.
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I literally said that on here 5-6 weeks ago, and then yesterday was a masterclass of physicality. When the Haaland incident booted things off a bit he was in the thick and ragdolled Saliba to show how whos boss. Keeping going Nico lad, the world is your oyster if you are hungry enough.
 
Lad has it all, I mean I’ve never seen someone so young take the piss out of 3 seasoned internationals like he did in the touch line and skipped past them all
 
simundo said:
I literally said that on here 5-6 weeks ago, and then yesterday was a masterclass of physicality. When the Haaland incident booted things off a bit he was in the thick and ragdolled Saliba to show how whos boss. Keeping going Nico lad, the world is your oyster if you are hungry enough.
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A bit of collyhurst coming out of him :)
 
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