#16 | Rodri - 2020/21 Performances

[samarasra]

Still think he's our weakest outfield position besides the lack of a number 9 to be honest.

He's much improved from where he was last year but he still has a tendency to be caught out of position, lose his man or get done one v one. He's a frustrating player. I think he gets exposed now and then out of possession and especially in the transitions, it's one of our biggest weaknesses when we lose possession IMO. He's solid enough when we're flat track bullying but will often get exposed when it heats up.

We do miss a lot of Fernandinho's front foot aggression in that holding role, his athleticism, eye for danger and quality on the ball. But then again we were spoilt with Fernandinho, probably the best in that position in PL history. Huge boots to fill.

Carabao Cup winners, 2 points from PL title, FA. Cup semi-finalists, CL semi-finalists. All with a Defensive/Central player who is "our weakest outfield position" and we "lack" a number 9. What the hell are our club doing that leaves us in such a weakened position, they must be beyond incompetent. "Spoilt" !! that barely covers it, imagine what we could achieve with a management team who were as wise in recruitment and team selection and weakness identification as you are, we might actually win a trophy,..... oh shit, I forgot these weaklings have, how is that possible ??.

 

[WNRH]

Carabao Cup winners, 2 points from PL title, FA. Cup semi-finalists, CL semi-finalists. All with a Defensive/Central player who is "our weakest outfield position" and we "lack" a number 9. What the hell are our club doing that leaves us in such a weakened position, they must be beyond incompetent. "Spoilt" !! that barely covers it, imagine what we could achieve with a management team who were as wise in recruitment and team selection and weakness identification as you are, we might actually win a trophy,..... oh shit, I forgot these weaklings have, how is that possible ??.

Everything he says is spot on. You can win trophies, have a really good team and have weaknesses still.

 

[mccity]

Everything he says is spot on. You can win trophies, have a really good team and have weaknesses still.

Yeah but why Rodri? Why fixate on all the negatives about him and touch upon as few positives as possible to get a reasoned point of view? Does anyone wonder why arguably one of the most successful and greatest managerial minds of all time has had him be a starter the second he joined, even ahead of Fernandinho who is rightly lauded? Yeah he has weaknesses, but he has strengths too. Is it not possible that actually we have a really good team and he's one of the primary reasons why?

I mean if I asked you why Rodri plays ahead of Fernandinho, what would you say? Because if you know, then you'd know why he's not a weakness.


Now yes, he isn't perfect. He does have weaknesses, as have been pointed out. But again, to focus on the one or two negative ahead of the vast array of positives is a bad faith argument. And again, why Rodri? Every City player has weaknesses. You name me any player that played against PSG, and I could point out some weakness, ignore all of their strengths, and then spin a reasonably sound argument as to why playing that player in the home leg could cost us the tie.

 

[Phil Mitchell Foden]

Carabao Cup winners, 2 points from PL title, FA. Cup semi-finalists, CL semi-finalists. All with a Defensive/Central player who is "our weakest outfield position" and we "lack" a number 9. What the hell are our club doing that leaves us in such a weakened position, they must be beyond incompetent. "Spoilt" !! that barely covers it, imagine what we could achieve with a management team who were as wise in recruitment and team selection and weakness identification as you are, we might actually win a trophy,..... oh shit, I forgot these weaklings have, how is that possible ??.

The fuck are you on about? How is what I've said spoilt?

It's a reflection of how strong we are that our weakest positions are still filled with players who would walk into other Premier League sides. Doesn't change the fact that for us they're our weaker positions in the side.

Wind your neck in you snarky tit.

 

[Phil Mitchell Foden]

Yeah but why Rodri? Why fixate on all the negatives about him and touch upon as few positives as possible to get a reasoned point of view? Does anyone wonder why arguably one of the most successful and greatest managerial minds of all time has had him be a starter the second he joined, even ahead of Fernandinho who is rightly lauded? Yeah he has weaknesses, but he has strengths too. Is it not possible that actually we have a really good team and he's one of the primary reasons why?

I mean if I asked you why Rodri plays ahead of Fernandinho, what would you say? Because if you know, then you'd know why he's not a weakness.


Now yes, he isn't perfect. He does have weaknesses, as have been pointed out. But again, to focus on the one or two negative ahead of the vast array of positives is a bad faith argument. And again, why Rodri? Every City player has weaknesses. You name me any player that played against PSG, and I could point out some weakness, ignore all of their strengths, and then spin a reasonably sound argument as to why playing that player in the home leg could cost us the tie.

Fernandinho is close to retirement. Rodri wouldn't get close to the side if they were the same age. Rodri should be starting ahead of Fernandinho at his age, and the fact that there isn't much between them even despite the age gulf doesn't reflect well on Rodri.

Nothing I've written about Rodri is in bad faith. I want him to be a success, I'm just not going to be dishonest about his flaws. That's a bad faith argument. The good thing is he still has time on his side and has room for improvement.

 

[BlackBond]

Fernandinho is close to retirement. Rodri wouldn't get close to the side if they were the same age. Rodri should be starting ahead of Fernandinho at his age, and the fact that there isn't much between them even despite the age gulf doesn't reflect well on Rodri.

Nothing I've written about Rodri is in bad faith. I want him to be a success, I'm just not going to be dishonest about his flaws. That's a bad faith argument. The good thing is he still has time on his side and has room for improvement.

I def think Pep would play Rodri instead or Fernandinho if they were the same age.

Rodri is perfect for Pep system because he has something Dinho doesn't have: ke knows how to regulate the tempo. They are two different kind of players. Pep already face this situation at Barça with Busquets and Yaya Toure. For my point of view Yaya was a better fooball player but Busquets was better for Pep system. Pep love patience and Rodri is a patient player, the team would play a dfferent football without him and i'm not sure Pep would like that.

 

[samarasra]

The fuck are you on about? How is what I've said spoilt?

It's a reflection of how strong we are that our weakest positions are still filled with players who would walk into other Premier League sides. Doesn't change the fact that for us they're our weaker positions in the side.

Wind your neck in you snarky tit.

You are entitled, like all posters, to state your opinion, but because it is your opinion does not make it a fact. Someone disagreeing with you seems to anger you. Relax, it's Sunday, City may be champions by tonight.

 

[Phil Mitchell Foden]

You are entitled, like all posters, to state your opinion, but because it is your opinion does not make it a fact. Someone disagreeing with you seems to anger you. Relax, it's Sunday, City may be champions by tonight.

You can disagree without replying like a bellwaft and going after the person you disagree with, which is what you did to me offering my opinion.

You should take your own advice mate.

 

[Phil Mitchell Foden]

I def think Pep would play Rodri instead or Fernandinho if they were the same age.

Rodri is perfect for Pep system because he has something Dinho doesn't have: ke knows how to regulate the tempo. They are two different kind of players. Pep already face this situation at Barça with Busquets and Yaya Toure. For my point of view Yaya was a better fooball player but Busquets was better for Pep system. Pep love patience and Rodri is a patient player, the team would play a dfferent football without him and i'm not sure Pep would like that.

Wholly disagree, but it's an opinions game.

Fernandinho in his pomp is better than Rodri in every single department IMO. But it's a pointless argument really, not like we have that choice to make.

 

[kaz7]

He is very underated , whydo with do that with players in that position, he is doing exactly what pep wants , he could not have a better person to know his worth

Comparing him to dinho is silly

 

[ws01]

I def think Pep would play Rodri instead or Fernandinho if they were the same age.

Doubt that tbh. Pep's admiration and appreciation for Dinho is well known.

The only reason I see him playing over Dinho now is for squad transition purposes and to protect Dinho. He wouldn't have wanted Dinho to leave without having a replacement well bedded into the team and his sytem.

I don't think Rodri should be compared to Dinho though, tbh. Dinho has an incredibly rare skillset that isn't duplicated anyhwere as far as I can see. We'll need a more athletic player to complement Rodri once Dinho goes, knowing that we'll probably have to take a hit with on-ball ability and technique.

 

[samarasra]

Everything he says is spot on. You can win trophies, have a really good team and have weaknesses still.

" You can win trophies, have a really good team and have weaknesses still." As a general comment I totally agree but he was not speaking in general. You may agree he is spot on in his specific comments but that is just an opinion and there are alternative opinions, equally valid.

 

[samarasra]

You can disagree without replying like a bellwaft and going after the person you disagree with, which is what you did to me offering my opinion.

You should take your own advice mate.

I see you don't like a little irony or dark humour, to be precise I was "going after" the comments, not the person.
Thank you for the advice but I am relaxed and eagerly awaiting a satisfactory result today. Maybe you should step back from the name calling, it distracts from the value of your comment. Enjoy the rest of the day, Blue.

 

[BlackBond]

Wholly disagree, but it's an opinions game.

Fernandinho in his pomp is better than Rodri in every single department IMO. But it's a pointless argument really, not like we have that choice to make.

So why does Pep prefer Rodri to him in all the big games?
Because he is stupid?

Maybe you are too sentimental and can accept the fact Dinho despite all his talent and leadership is the past

 

[Phil Mitchell Foden]

I see you don't like a little irony or dark humour, to be precise I was "going after" the comments, not the person.
Thank you for the advice but I am relaxed and eagerly awaiting a satisfactory result today. Maybe you should step back from the name calling, it distracts from the value of your comment. Enjoy the rest of the day, Blue.

Give it a rest mate. You called me spoilt for having a take you didn't agree with on a player. Anyway, you too. Have a good night.

 

[Phil Mitchell Foden]

So why does Pep prefer Rodri to him in all the big games?
Because he is stupid?

Maybe you are too sentimental and can accept the fact Dinho despite all his talent and leadership is the past

Because Fernandinho isn't quite the player he was, and is on old legs. Simple as that really.

 

[mccity]

Because Fernandinho isn't quite the player he was, and is on old legs. Simple as that really.

Is it? Could it not be that Rodri is better than you're giving him credit for?

 

[BlueMoonAcrossThePond]

Rodri is class - but he's got a different skillset than Fernandinho.

Fernandinho is a box-to-box destroyer. He's awesome on defense.

Rodri is nowhere near Fernandinho in terms of defense - but Rodri is better on the ball - retaining possession and finding the next pass better than Fernandinho. Rodri may evolve into our metronome - dictating pace and controlling the game. Something Fernandinho can not do.

Most Citizens hated Gundo for the past seasons - not realizing his potential.

Same thing with Rodri. As time goes by, City fans will realize just how great Rodri is.

 

[WNRH]

" You can win trophies, have a really good team and have weaknesses still." As a general comment I totally agree but he was not speaking in general. You may agree he is spot on in his specific comments but that is just an opinion and there are alternative opinions, equally valid.

There is, but your reply suggested that his opinion is invalid because in general the whole team is doing well.

I think Rodri is a player that looks good in a good team that is doing well and when the team under performs you would never say “but he played well/stood out/can hold his head high”

The same couldn’t be said of Fernandinho who even though plays in the same position is a totally different player and that is why I agree with him that Rodri is a weak point that I feel could be upgraded on, regardless of how many trophies we win with him in the side.

 

[samarasra]

There is, but your reply suggested that his opinion is invalid because in general the whole team is doing well.

I think Rodri is a player that looks good in a good team that is doing well and when the team under performs you would never say “but he played well/stood out/can hold his head high”

The same couldn’t be said of Fernandinho who even though plays in the same position is a totally different player and that is why I agree with him that Rodri is a weak point that I feel could be upgraded on, regardless of how many trophies we win with him in the side.

I did not suggest his opinion was invalid, I questioned how we achieved what we have this season with a player he claims "he's our weakest outfield position " and "besides the lack of a number 9 to be honest."
You think "Rodri is a player that looks good in a good team that is doing well and when the team under performs you would never say “but he played well/stood out/can hold his head high”, if so, why has Pep selected him for the vast majority of games this season. I disagree, Rodri has been one of our most consistent players, maybe that is why he plays so often.
Rodri and Fernandinho are clearly different, in style, age, specific skills, temperament etc, they both have weaknesses and strengths as every player has. There are posters here who cannot tolerate a negative thought about Ferna or a positive thought on Rodri, I think those narrow views are their loss. I feel all players could be upgraded on, if superior, proven players are available at the right time and at the right price, and you can dispose of the players being upgraded, again at the right time and price. This does not mean our club should constantly spend large sums on huge player turnovers, that is fantasy football thinking.
The old saying "a chain is only as strong as it's weakest link" is worth thinking about here, we are the best team in PL & top 4 at least in Europe, it seems our chain is very strong now, suggesting our weakest link is holding out well. As a coach I always believed that a well balanced top team is greater than the sum of its' parts, there are those who stand out and some who play their part unheralded, but change 1/11th of that team and it changes the dynamic. That principle has been true of every team I coached to a trophy.
Do you and those with your negative attitude to Rodri ,consider Pep to be an ignorant incompetent manager for continuing to select this "weakness" , Rodri, the tone of Phil and your posts suggests you don't approve of his choices. I believe what Pep has achieved this season is a phenomenon we rarely see