How would you assess Rodri's season?

[OrigamiNinja]

Good footballer. Passes forward. Height gives some advantage in the boxes. Done alright this season. Will be better next season.

Nonetheless, not agile enough. Physicality can be a bit lacking as well. Lack of pace. Possible that as he gets better, his reading of the game will help to alleviate or remove some of his weaknesses.

I must have gone for brew when he did that.

 

[EdersonsSmiley]

Chelsea won the CL final with Gary Cahill and David Luiz at CB, doesn’t mean that we should go out and buy bang average CBs.

Rodri’s lack of pace is a huge problem if he doesn’t have legs alongside him. Unless we sign a LB with the pace of Walker and find a mobile midfield to play in front of him, we will struggle.

His lack of pace is not a huge problem. Have a look at the last 10 winners of the Champions league and the majority will have what most on this forum would call a slow midfield.

Busquets - Xavi

Modric - Kroos

Martinez - Schweinsteiger

Khedira - Modric

There is a theme here and it seems to be that having players that are excellent on the ball is more important then athelticism at the highest level.

 

[domalino]

Someone who can play CM, LB, CB, on both wings, either tip of a diamond and be quality in every single one of them. Which in turn would allow us to switch to and try out multiple formations... Nah won't happen, it makes too much sense.

Also adds a physical element to our midfield that we lack, is a proven big game player, is known to be frustrated with Simeone's tactics and is still only 25.

 

[01cravend]

Record signings shouldn't need someone else's pace to "help" them.

Record signings should be the real fucking deal.

Having better, more suitable players around you make you a better player... Barca Messi is levels above Argentina Messi in part because he's surrounded by much better players at Barca.

 

[Millwallawayveteran1988]

6/10 nothing special. Hopefully better next season.

 

[Stoned Rose]

He'll become great. Put a great LB, Laporte, Koulibaly and Walker behind him and Bernardo and KDB in front of him, you'll see.

Roy Cropper would look decent with all that cotton wool round him.

 

[Stoned Rose]

Having better, more suitable players around you make you a better player... Barca Messi is levels above Argentina Messi in part because he's surrounded by much better players at Barca.

Comparing Rodri and Messi.

I've got nowhere I can go with that so I'll leave you to it.

 

[domalino]

I must have gone for brew when he did that.

Only one midfielder in the league passed the ball forwards into the final 3rd more than Rodri this season, and he's also 2nd for cumulative forward passing distance.

There's definitely criticisms of him, but passing the ball forwards is not one of them.

 

[Stoned Rose]

There is some shameful delusion on this thread.

Imagine the scum or the dippers had paid a club record fee for this kid.

We'd be pissing ourselves at them.

 

[Irlamblue]

Nice and Tidy. Doesnt do alot wrong.
Not sure whether he is a game changer. but
he was bought for a specific job and he carries it off pretty well
8.5/10

 

[Millwallawayveteran1988]

There is some shameful delusion on this thread.

Imagine the scum or the dippers had paid a club record fee for this kid.

We'd be pissing ourselves at them.

There are some who still have fond memories of Mangala!

 

[01cravend]

Comparing Rodri and Messi.

I've got nowhere I can go with that so I'll leave you to it.

There's nowhere to go anyway as it wasn't a comparison. I was using the best player in the world to explain a point.

 

[decmancity]

There is some shameful delusion on this thread.

Imagine the scum or the dippers had paid a club record fee for this kid.

We'd be pissing ourselves at them.

Are you not bored of constantly slagging Rodri, seen you across the whole forum now.

Neither of those teams would buy Rodri because he doesn't fit into their team. Surely with all your footballing wisdom you can see that?

 

[mexico1970]

I think he's done OK, next season I am sure he will kick on and bed in.

 

[OrigamiNinja]

Only one midfielder in the league passed the ball forwards into the final 3rd more than Rodri this season, and he's also 2nd for cumulative forward passing distance.

There's definitely criticisms of him, but passing the ball forwards is not one of them.

The opposition are usually camped 20 yards from their own goal. He is the unusual position of being a CDM that probably spends most of his game in the opposition half. His forward passes very rarely lead to anything because he is ultra conservative with them. It would be fair to argue that its not his role to play the killer ball but Fernandinho and even Gundogan to a certain extent were more progressive passers at 6. In Gundogans case, he is actually more progressive at 6 than 8.

 

[_OVO_]

A very good player not helped by the unforgiving style of football that Pep likes to play. If we add legs around him he will excel. But still very young and lots to improve.

 

[SiMCFC]

I think we hugely overpaid for a player, who lets face it is tidy enough but is bang average, you could pick a central midfielder from any top 10 club and they could, and would do what he does, not entirely his fault but having the turning circle of a bus and seemingly falling asleep when receiving simple side to side passing is infuriating.

 

[christened at st marks]

one of the reasons we finished were we did or no more Fern

 

[Easy]

Overall a good season considering he’s only 24 years old and came from an ultra defensive team and manager to the complete opposite end of the spectrum. On top of that he has had revolving door of defenders play behind him this season, even he himself played CB.

When he has had energy and work rate in front of him he has played well. Please Pep no more lineups with both Rodri and Gundogan.

With a more settled back 4 behind him and some energy in front, he’ll shine.

 

[Josh_D]

I must have gone for brew when he did that.

Haha. He does do that, at least when I’m watching. I’m always watching him in hope he does well. Only thing is he doesn’t get into space enough to receive a pass. Sometimes stationary and receives a pass in unfavourable positions only to be immediately pressed.