‘Robbie Savage hails Manchester City midfielder Matheus Nunes during win over Burnley
That power’… Pundit stunned by £130k-a-week Man City star v Burnley, suggests he’s showing Gundogan trait
Manchester City cruised to victory tonight against Burnley at the Etihad Stadium, and there was a very solid performance in midfield from Matheus Nunes.
City continued their 100% start to 2024, and proved no match for Vincent Kompany’s Burnley this evening, winning 3-1.
It did not take long for City to break the deadlock, with Julian Alvarez heading the hosts in front after a good run and cross from Matheus Nunes.
The Argentine would double his tally moments later, finishing a wonderful ball from a free-kick from the stupendous De Bruyne.
Within seconds of the restart, Rodri made it three, with City then easing to the end of the game, although Ameen Al-Dakhil did grab a late consolation for Burnley.
Robbie Savage hails Manchester City midfielder Matheus Nunes during win over Burnley
Manchester City v Huddersfield Town – Emirates FA Cup Third Round
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Tonight there was a start in midfield for Matheus Nunes, with the Portuguese replacing Mateo Kovacic.
Nunes has made a decent start to life with City, but hasn’t completely blown people away just yet. But this was perhaps his best display in sky blue colours to date.
£130,000-a-week man Nunes was terrific against the Clarets, and showcased his ball-carrying ability all through the game. He played as a box-to-box midfielder, and he really was everywhere.
He impressed TNT Sports commentator Robbie Savage, who said of the Portugal international: “I think what Nunes has added to this City side is a willingness to run from midfield. Gundogan did it ever so well in a City shirt. I think his dynamism from the middle of the park has added another string to Man City’s bow. That power running from midfield…”
Savage would later select Nunes as his player of the match.
Nunes needs to add goals to his game
This was a top display from Nunes who is really starting to find his feet now for City.
Competition for places is fierce, but he is definitely capable of becoming a regular eventually. His ability to wriggle away from players who are marking him tightly, and then carry the ball over large distances, is quite something.
His pace is always a very underrated part of his game, with City legend Shaun Wright-Phillips recently admitting he didn’t actually realise how quick he was.
Savage suggested he is making runs like Ilkay Gundogan used to make for City, although the German never had the pace of Nunes.
What Nunes does need to do going forward is increase his goal threat. He has yet to open his account for City, but once he does add goals to his game then he will be a serious, serious player.
Joe Cole says Man City have a player who could be one of the greatest of all time in five years
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Joe Cole has claimed Erling Haaland has the potential to go down as one of the greatest strikers of all time in five years.
In November, Michael Bridges claimed that the 23-year-old is the best number nine to have ever graced the Premier League.
But to some others, Erling Haaland still has a long way to go before he can be mentioned in the same breath as some of the greatest goalscorers in the history of the game.
In December, Arsenal skipper Martin Odegaard named his countryman as a part of his all-time five-a-side team alongside some of the greatest players of all time.
The Manchester City frontman has been so devastatingly brilliant in the last few years that many debate whether he is already an all-time great or whether he must prove himself as one as time progresses.
Joe Cole and Peter Crouch debated which category Erling Haaland should be added to as part of a tier list of legendary strikers during a video with FIVE’s official YouTube channel.
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Burnley FC v Manchester City – Premier League
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Crouch said, “Obviously, he’s not [in the] GOAT [greatest of all time tier]. Yeah, but it’s only because of his age. So, I’m looking at some of these names and the longevity of them. You know, I’m going deep with it.”
Joe Cole made a huge claim about Erling Haaland, saying, “Yeah, I’m with you. I think we put him on [the] world-class [tier], right but in five years’ time, he could definitely be in [the] elite [tier] and he could be on [the] GOAT [tier].”
Peter Crouch replied, “But I’m talking when he’s in his 30s, that’s when you…[put him in the greatest of all time tier of strikers].”
Joe Cole said, “Yeah.”
Crouch said, “But the greatest of all time is a sustained…
Cole interrupted, “You don’t know what’s going to happen around the corner.”
When the presenter, Joel Beya argued Ronaldo Nazario was injured quite a lot, the former Chelsea midfielder replied, “Yeah but he’d already won Golden Boots and World Cups and Ballon d’Or’s so…”
Peter Crouch said, “It’s just starting for this young lad, this.”
After Joe Cole and his fellow Englishman were finished debating, Erling Haaland was added to the elite tier of strikers.
Erling Haaland could be up there by then
It is hard to disagree with Joe Cole about Erling Haaland, especially considering how talented he is.
With how unique a striker Haaland is and how much he has achieved already, in five years, he could be up there with some of the greatest goalscorers in history, as Cole said.
So far, however, it is fair not to claim the Norwegian is already on the same level as number nines who could be considered the greatest, as Peter Crouch insisted.
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