75 | Nico O'Reilly - 2024/25

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The midfield is packed

I think there are 3 positions in Pep's midfield

DM ( Rodri , Nico Gonzalez)
CM /organsire ( Gundogan , Kovacic )
playmaker ( KDB, Foden, Bernardo,Mcatee,Echeverri )
If Bernardo is here next season, he's probably gonna be more in the "CM/ Organizer" group.

Foden, Bobb, Marmoush and Mcatee will fall into the playmaker group. Albeit, i see Marmoush and Mcatee as goal scoring wide forwards.
Well, I suppose you can't seriously give MOTM to anyone other than Kev. But frankly, my second candidate is this lad. Terrific skills with his feet, but big and quick too, and doesn't get bullied. A lot of good decisions in defence.
In my view, over on the left, for the first half-hour, he was absolutely being hung out to dry. Having to mark two Palace players. No tracking back whatsoever by people in midfield who should be tracking back to help out. No names, because I don't want to slag anyone off.
But it wasn't on Nico O'Reilly.
No one really. Probably Gundogan or other Nico. As we played without wingers. Our Wings were really our forwards is s 442 diamond. Gundo left and Kova right. Other Nico was probably supposed to play ball side on defense. Rico had the same condition on the right. Its just how we played
 
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If Bernardo is here next season, he's probably gonna be more in the "CM/ Organizer" group.

Foden, Bobb, Marmoush and Mcatee will fall into the playmaker group. Albeit, i see Marmoush and Mcatee as goal scoring wide forwards.

No one really. Probably Gundogan or other Nico. As qe played without wingers. Our Wingsrs were really our forwards is s 442 diamond. Gundo ledt and Koca right. Other Nico was probably supposed to plat ball side on defense. Rico had the same condition on the right. Its just how we played
Check your spelling.
 
„Foden, Bobb, Marmoush and Mcatee will fall into the playmaker group. Albeit, i see Marmoush and Mcatee as goal scoring wide forwards.“

None of them are playmakers though. And that’s where our problems is. McAtee barely touches the ball, Foden is a shoot first midfielder, Marmoush self explained, Bobb possibly a creating winger.
 
Pep is right, O Reilly is not a left back... yet!

Many have rightly pointed out that he was really wide and high for the first 20 or so mins against Palace and they attacked down that side.

This I do blame O Reilly for in terms of he should learn the balance of when he needs to be in the defensive line and when hr can go up.

But it is wrong to blame him entirely.

1) He is obviously learning, so mistakes in judgement on when to go high or drop wont be super natural to him.

2) This was CLEARLY the tactic Pep wantee, LB high and RB more reserved and picking moments.

The rest of the senior players didnt adapt or instruct O Reilly correctly, in fact, it was only when Gundogan properly started going over to drop into a pseudo-LCB role did we gain control back, Gundogan should have been instructing O Reilly imo to help more.

So I think yeah, a midfielder clearly learning LB.

But he can do a role next season as a LB/LCM squad player nicely.

We still need a primary LB and RB.
 
I saw something yesterday about Bernardo considering a move back to Benfica. If that happens, and KDB and Jack leave, then there is space.
 
Pep is right, O Reilly is not a left back... yet!

Many have rightly pointed out that he was really wide and high for the first 20 or so mins against Palace and they attacked down that side.

This I do blame O Reilly for in terms of he should learn the balance of when he needs to be in the defensive line and when hr can go up.

But it is wrong to blame him entirely.

1) He is obviously learning, so mistakes in judgement on when to go high or drop wont be super natural to him.

2) This was CLEARLY the tactic Pep wantee, LB high and RB more reserved and picking moments.

The rest of the senior players didnt adapt or instruct O Reilly correctly, in fact, it was only when Gundogan properly started going over to drop into a pseudo-LCB role did we gain control back, Gundogan should have been instructing O Reilly imo to help more.

So I think yeah, a midfielder clearly learning LB.

But he can do a role next season as a LB/LCM squad player nicely.

We still need a primary LB and RB.
Quite right - players at 19 and 20 are learning and have years of development ahead of them. I would prefer that to bringing in yet another 26 year-old 'finished article'. Part of the joy of being a fan is watching the development of players, IMO.
 
I saw something yesterday about Bernardo considering a move back to Benfica. If that happens, and KDB and Jack leave, then there is space.
That makes sense.

In my head, I see our current list of midfielders for next season as:

Rodri (CDM)
Nico G (CDM/CM)
Gundogan (CM)
Kova (CM)

With O Reilly and I believe Lewis coming in as added depth to the fullback and CM spots.

Id still in the summer like to see us go for a top class CM like Reijnders as Gundogan will not be with the squad beyond next season I believe.

We are probably good in the CDM spot.
 
That makes sense.

In my head, I see our current list of midfielders for next season as:

Rodri (CDM)
Nico G (CDM/CM)
Gundogan (CM)
Kova (CM)

With O Reilly and I believe Lewis coming in as added depth to the fullback and CM spots.

Id still in the summer like to see us go for a top class CM like Reijnders as Gundogan will not be with the squad beyond next season I believe.

We are probably good in the CDM spot.
I wonder if Gundo is going to be moved into a coaching position. A one-year extension at the same time as letting KDB go seems strange unless there are specific plans for him. His comments about tactical focus Vs human endeavour seemed constructive and well timed, for example.

With Marmoush, Doku, Savinho, and Bobb occupying the attacking positions, I wonder if we might see Phil playing with Rodri and Gonzalez in the centre.
 
Pep is right, O Reilly is not a left back... yet!

Many have rightly pointed out that he was really wide and high for the first 20 or so mins against Palace and they attacked down that side.
I think a lot of that was just framing. NO'R's positioning was good most of the game. I think his main problem is that he wasn't as vocal as Rico was on the Right.

Palace played a 343, thus our full backs were really matched up against their wode mids. Rico had Michell on the Right and NO'R had Munoz on the left. Almost every time some broke on the left aide it was either Sarr ( who should have been c covered by Josko or Gonzo) depending on how the play developed.

Every time Munoz made a run forward or attacked the line NOR shut him down. It was when someone from the middle cut behind NOR that Palace got serious chances. It was hard to tell in the moment. But a review of the tape will quickly show NOR was mostly doing his job. He just needs to be more vocal about demanding Josko or Gonzo pick up the inside runner when he has 2. Rico did this multiple times on the other side. Letting Dias, Maca and Kova know who to pick up at different times as the attack came down his side.

This I do blame O Reilly for in terms of he should learn the balance of when he needs to be in the defensive line and when hr can go up.
Yeah, on the first goal, he probably should have stayed compact and force Munoz to make a hard decision. But Josko too could have gotten closer to Sarr.

But it is wrong to blame him entirely.

1) He is obviously learning, so mistakes in judgement on when to go high or drop wont be super natural to him.

2) This was CLEARLY the tactic Pep wantee, LB high and RB more reserved and picking moments.
I actually think they both had freedom to go up. We basically dominated possession from the start and both full backs were often in the oppositions final 3rd at the same time. I think they just play the position differently. NOR is more athletic going down the line, while Rico is more of an intricate pass and move proponent.


The rest of the senior players didnt adapt or instruct O Reilly correctly, in fact, it was only when Gundogan properly started going over to drop into a pseudo-LCB role did we gain control back, Gundogan should have been instructing O Reilly imo to help more.

So I think yeah, a midfielder clearly learning LB.

But he can do a role next season as a LB/LCM squad player nicely.

We still need a primary LB and RB.
I agree with your conclusions. I think he is a potential superb left back in the making.
 
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NICOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Enough said!
 
Ridiculous talent.

LB, LCM and even ST!

No reason he cant be Haalands backup as well if we sort our the LB next season.
 
It’s a shame he wasn’t given a serious chance earlier in the season. Not only has he slotted in with ease, it’s allowed Gvardiol to move inside and he looks like the top class CB we bought.
 
Definitely got something about him

Let's not be rags and think any young player that has a few decent games is already a great player.

Great potential though and more than making the most of his opportunity. Exactly what going players need to do when they get the nod.

Good signs
 
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