I think they'd both benefit from one more year as more junior members of the squad. Rico definitely suffered from being overplayed earlier in the seasonYep, he's going to save us a lot of money.
His future isn't at left back or left wing back, so with him, and Rico, developing nicely, i wonder if we're going to hold off buying another box to box midfielder this summer?
We will have to watch the numbers a bit especially at Cebtre Back and Centre Midfield we are stacked and need to integrate Reiss.Kus. Oscar, Claudia plus hopefully give the brilliant youngsters cameo roles from time to time so not sure we will see more than a new left back and top notch KdB replacement. I think Akanji can do right back with Nunes helping.I think they'd both benefit from one more year as more junior members of the squad. Rico definitely suffered from being overplayed earlier in the season
Given that by next summer at the absolute latest we'll by saying farewell to Bernardo, Gündo, and probably Kova, there's room to add one more senior (and not in the OAP sense) midfielder this summer and let Rico and NOR grow into their roles next season without blocking their longer-term progression
Would give him a rest on Friday. Felt like he couldn't quite get going in the second half and really struggled to keep track of Elanga. Understandable, though. He's played more top level football in the last month than he's ever played before. Time to ease Akanji back in so O'Reilly's good for the final.
I think we wait and see how things pan out. He has made a great start to life in the first-team, and has kept his place. He has, as a minimum, earned the right to compete.I've been listening to a number of City podcasts speculating of what we will do with Nico next season. Almost everyone of them state he can't be relied upon to be the number one left back next season.
My issue is that I don't want Nico to be road blocked if we buy (for example) Cambiaso. Nico is such a gem that he deserves to be rewarded next season.
We know Pep would play Cambiaso as first choice in whatever position because of the big transfer. I would be happy if we made Cambiaso our first choice right back (he is two footed and can play either) and we use Nico and Gvardiol as our left back (I know people will say we can't move Gvardiol out of the centre, but we will still have a number of experienced centre backs who will need to play).
The other foreseeable problem is that we will be refreshing the midfield and it may be even more difficult for Nico to get a spot there.
I'm curious as to what others think. We know that Phil was fast tracked into the team. My opinion is that Nico is equally as talented and deserves a run in the team. It's just that I'm not sure how this will happen.
Yep, he's going to save us a lot of money.
His future isn't at left back or left wing back, so with him, and Rico, developing nicely, i wonder if we're going to hold off buying another box to box midfielder this summer?
may be his last appearance as our LBNot his night. The minutes may be catching up to him.
That's over the top. It's not like he was getting burned defensively; he kept losing the ball when he was on it.may be his last appearance as our LB
Pep says he's a midfielder.That's over the top. It's not like he was getting burned defensively; he kept losing the ball when he was on it.
What's your solution?Defensively vulnerable. He is impressive offensively, yes, but defensively he is not at the right level. Against Palace, we could have been 3 or 4 down and they were targeting him relentlessly. Most teams do.
I think you build a solid team from the back, and despite our good record recently, we have conceded about 8 shots in the post/bar in the last 4 games.
Time to play some actual defenders at the back. Nico can be given a chance in midfield, especially when we're winning.