82 | Rico Lewis - 2024/25

[Brightwell Bros.]

Wouldn’t feel sorry for him, Peps set the team up so he can play a 2/6/10 hybrid. I expect he’s having a great time. One of the reasons we are doing okay without Rodri is Lewis.

I was gonna say, we currently have a "Rico Lewis" position which is a hybrid role I don't think I've ever seen in football and which the whole team has been built around to play. For a player as smart as he is I bet it the most exciting thing you could be asked to do. Feeling sorry for him would be very low down my list.

 

[Vienna_70]

I think this run of three consecutive starts will have done his confidence the world of good.

He must know that he is an integral part of Pep's system, and not just a stand-in, when Kyle needs a rest.

As much as I’m a fan of Boulders in the hybrid defender/midfielder rôle, Rico is much better at it.

 

[mrbelfry]

I was watching the United v Liverpool game with my son and pointing at the huge gap in midfield that their right back refused to enter when they had possession at the back. Eventually my son got frustrated with me saying it every 30 seconds and said "not every team has Rico Lewis".

Rico is close to David Silva levels of finding space - he's a joy to watch off the ball just like Silva was. I hope we manage to find a consistent place for him in the team. He could be the player the press are hyping Mainoo to be

 

[Vienna_70]

I was watching the United v Liverpool game with my son and pointing at the huge gap in midfield that their right back refused to enter when they had possession at the back. Eventually my son got frustrated with me saying it every 30 seconds and said "not every team has Rico Lewis".

Rico is close to David Silva levels of finding space - he's a joy to watch off the ball just like Silva was. I hope we manage to find a consistent place for him in the team. He could be the player the press are hyping Mainoo to be

From what I’ve seen of Rico so far this season, I think right-back is the perfect position for him.

As we have seen, especially at West Ham, he is a more than capable defender, and he doesn’t take the place of one of our attacking midfielders.

He isn’t afraid to push as far forward as the opponents' box, as proven on Saturday, when he provided the assist for Erling's second.

I think he could evolve into a Gündoğan-type of player, but our midfield is too well stacked with top quality players to have room for him.

And if he pushes right up to the opposition’s box, we have plenty of experienced defenders to cover quick breaks, who are no slouches over the ground. And, as he proved on Saturday, even Erling is prepared to sprint back to help snuff out breaks.

So, leave Rico where he is; at right-back, though, I think that Kyle will come back into the side immediately after the international break, as he is not involved and Rico is.

 

[one chop]

The biggest compliment and simultaneously biggest concern about Rico is that Pep seems to be breaking his own rule.

It seems as though Pep is using Rico much more liberally than he used, as an example, Foden back in his younger days.

This shows that Rico is performing at such an unprecedented high level that Pep feels forced to play him regularly .

However, is it concerning that such a young player might play so many hours this season? Are we looking at a potential "Michael Owen" situation? The kind that gets discussed around young talents being overused in their early years?

I don't mean it as a complaint. And I'm sure Pep knows what he's doing ... and I'm even more sure that Rico doesn't mind one bit!!

But it's an interesting question, is all.

 

[Txiki Txiki Bang Bang]

I was watching the United v Liverpool game with my son and pointing at the huge gap in midfield that their right back refused to enter when they had possession at the back. Eventually my son got frustrated with me saying it every 30 seconds and said "not every team has Rico Lewis".

Rico is close to David Silva levels of finding space - he's a joy to watch off the ball just like Silva was. I hope we manage to find a consistent place for him in the team. He could be the player the press are hyping Mainoo to be

He covers more ground and has a lot of grit in him, I feel like he's more Bernardo than David.

 

[Vienna_70]

The biggest compliment and simultaneously biggest concern about Rico is that Pep seems to be breaking his own rule.

It seems as though Pep is using Rico much more liberally than he used, as an example, Foden back in his younger days.

This shows that Rico is performing at such an unprecedented high level that Pep feels forced to play him regularly .

However, is it concerning that such a young player might play so many hours this season? Are we looking at a potential "Michael Owen" situation? The kind that gets discussed around young talents being overused in their early years?

I don't mean it as a complaint. And I'm sure Pep knows what he's doing ... and I'm even more sure that Rico doesn't mind one bit!!

But it's an interesting question, is all.

Rico didn’t play very much at all towards the end of last season.

And this term, he has played in the opening three League fixtures plus the Community Shield, deputising for a player, who had a very busy summer at the Euros.

As I said in my previous post, I think Kyle will start the first game, after the international break, which will give Rico a rest, and then Pep will take it from there.

 

[Tugay One Cup]

He covers more ground and has a lot of grit in him, I feel like he's more Bernardo than David.

I think it was specifically about his appreciation of space and team structure and I'd agree with it. It's like he's got a birds eye view of the pitch and always knows where the team needs him to be.

 

[Dribble]

"The versatile teenager is Pep Guardiola's new golden boy and looks set for a glorious future for club and country.

When Walker walked out at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin for the Euro 2024 final against Spain, Lewis was sat at home alone, watching the game on television.

He had turned down the chance to watch the game with his friends in Manchester, partly out of fear of getting soaked in beer and partly because he wanted to watch the game from a tactical point of view and take it all in. Besides, he had to rest up ahead of City's pre-season tour of the US.

Lewis played no part in the Champions League final, but Guardiola still praised him for his role in winning the treble. The coach said: "Many good things happened this season, and the team realised how they have to play; it’s thanks to Rico Lewis. Rico, with that movement, he makes the team fluid.

"After that, Kyle Walker and John Stones realised how to play that position, by watching him. But the other players have a lot of things Rico doesn’t have; experience, and composure during the game. But this is how the team grows."

The little boy with the big hair is back in the ring and he is coming for Walker's crown, for City and England. And this time he is ready to keep it."

A brilliant & spot on piece about Rico from Goal. This kid could be a Superstar in the making.

https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/ri...er-crown-man-city-england/blt6f8e2dfd22fde34a

 

[M16 citeh]

The biggest compliment and simultaneously biggest concern about Rico is that Pep seems to be breaking his own rule.

It seems as though Pep is using Rico much more liberally than he used, as an example, Foden back in his younger days.

This shows that Rico is performing at such an unprecedented high level that Pep feels forced to play him regularly .

However, is it concerning that such a young player might play so many hours this season? Are we looking at a potential "Michael Owen" situation? The kind that gets discussed around young talents being overused in their early years?

I don't mean it as a complaint. And I'm sure Pep knows what he's doing ... and I'm even more sure that Rico doesn't mind one bit!!

But it's an interesting question, is all.

He needs consistent game time to improve. And it's only 3 days in, no doubt walker will have a run in the team when the season gets going proper

 

[super_city_si]

I think this run of three consecutive starts will have done his confidence the world of good.

He must know that he is an integral part of Pep's system, and not just a stand-in, when Kyle needs a rest.

As much as I’m a fan of Boulders in the hybrid defender/midfielder rôle, Rico is much better at it.

Steady on. Rico has done brilliantly and is big part of the reason we havent missed Rodri yet. The system has clicked with him in there, BUT Stones destroyed Real Madrid, Dippers, Arsenal in that role. Rico can get there but he's not up to Stones level of 2023 yet.

 

[mexico1970]

Steady on. Rico has done brilliantly and is big part of the reason we havent missed Rodri yet. The system has clicked with him in there, BUT Stones destroyed Real Madrid, Dippers, Arsenal in that role. Rico can get there but he's not up to Stones level of 2023 yet.

Rico (Zico) has done really well there's no getting away with that but I am going to be a bit controversial here and I expect to get my balls kicked in for it.

It's beginning to sound a bit RAWKish on here with the view that Rico is in the same ballpark as Merlin.

 

[bluenova]

Rico (Zico) has done really well there's no getting away with that but I am going to be a bit controversial here and I expect to get my balls kicked in for it.

It's beginning to sound a bit RAWKish on here with the view that Rico is in the same ballpark as Merlin.

I agree that it's too early to judge. At the same age, Silva wasn't in the same ballpark as City's Merlin. He'd just completed a loan at Celta Vigo, and this would be his first full season at Valencia. He hadn't made his international debut, and was four years away from his move to City.

We really have no idea what level Rico will hit, but he is looking hugely impressive at the moment.

 

[mexico1970]

I agree that it's too early to judge. At the same age, Silva wasn't in the same ballpark as City's Merlin. He'd just completed a loan at Celta Vigo, and this would be his first full season at Valencia. He hadn't made his international debut, and was four years away from his move to City.

We really have no idea what level Rico will hit, but he is looking hugely impressive at the moment.

I absolutely agree he looks impressive, IMHO Merlin is the best player we have had since the premier league era only second to King Colin it's got to be a pretty huge claim to compare the two in any way.

 

[crazyadi]

Rico (Zico) has done really well there's no getting away with that but I am going to be a bit controversial here and I expect to get my balls kicked in for it.

It's beginning to sound a bit RAWKish on here with the view that Rico is in the same ballpark as Merlin.

Think the difference is, on RedAndWhiteKillers, As soon as a baby is born to a dipper mum the kid is going to be the next real ronaldo. We have seen Rico, consistently play very very well. We have every right to laud him. its not like he had a handful of good games. Or is in 'nunes' case 0 good games yet Haaland, allegedly, isn't fit to clean his boots!! hahahaha

 

[mexico1970]

Think the difference is, on RedAndWhiteKillers, As soon as a baby is born to a dipper mum the kid is going to be the next real ronaldo. We have seen Rico, consistently play very very well. We have every right to laud him. its not like he had a handful of good games. Or is in 'nunes' case 0 good games yet Haaland, allegedly, isn't fit to clean his boots!! hahahaha

Ohh I rate him but putting him in the Merlin category? He deserves his place in the squad and more but some of the praise IMHO is a bit RAWKish.

 

[Dribble]

Ohh I rate him but putting him in the Merlin category? He deserves his place in the squad and more but some of the praise IMHO is a bit RAWKish.

David Silva is the best player I've ever seen in a City shirt. As for Zico (I'm nicking this one), he's a long way to go to get to Merlin's exhalted status.

However, there's similarities in their play, which I've long since noticed, & it's a trait Silva had naturally, & that was to always be looking around without the ball, so he had a picture of the game. This enabled him to make split second movements, that made him seem almost telepathic.

Look at Gundog & KDB. They do exactly the same, as does Rodri now. Scanning the field allows them to find space, & play rapid one/two touch passes, which bewilder & bewitch the opposition.

I recall Stones saying he was really uncomfortable when first asked to play the inverted right back role, & then centre back stepping into midfield.

He said he questioned Pep's plan as he wasn't sure if he was capable. Pep said he believed he was, & to watch Rico & ask him how to perform the role, which Stones did. This was after we'd completed the treble & shows how willing to learn & execute plans & tactics Rico is at such a young age, enabling him to coach it to seasoned international players.

Previously he had the demeanour of a star struck EDS lad, & opposition players knew if they clattered him a few times, it'd upset his mental balance & throw him off his stride.

So what's changed? Rico's grown up. He's a first team squad member who now believes he's good enough to be a first team regular. To watch him scanning the pitch all David Silva-esque is a sight to behold.

Fuck knows which position he'll end up specialising in, but whether right back, left back, CDM, No 8 or as a right winger, he seems to excel. He's all the attributes that Pep looks for in terms of intelligence, understanding & being flexible in game mode.

The only thing Pep wishes, is that he had a few more inches to his height, BUT being stumpy didn't stop Messi or Maradona.

Not saying Rico is at their level, or ever will be, but he's visually toughened up & isn't allowing himself to be bullied as easily as he was over the previous two seasons.

He's a shining example of our Elite Development Squad.

 

[Vienna_70]

View attachment 130855

David Silva is the best player I've ever seen in a City shirt. As for Zico (I'm nicking this one), he's a long way to go to get to Merlin's exhalted status.

However, there's similarities in their play, which I've long since noticed, & it's a trait Silva had naturally, & that was to always be looking around without the ball, so he had a picture of the game. This enabled him to make split second movements, that made him seem almost telepathic.

Look at Gundog & KDB. They do exactly the same, as does Rodri now. Scanning the field allows them to find space, & play rapid one/two touch passes, which bewilder & bewitch the opposition.

I recall Stones saying he was really uncomfortable when first asked to play the inverted right back role, & then centre back stepping into midfield.

He said he questioned Pep's plan as he wasn't sure if he was capable. Pep said he believed he was, & to watch Rico & ask him how to perform the role, which Stones did. This was after we'd completed the treble & shows how willing to learn & execute plans & tactics Rico is at such a young age, enabling him to coach it to seasoned international players.

Previously he had the demeanour of a star struck EDS lad, & opposition players knew if they clattered him a few times, it'd upset his mental balance & throw him off his stride.

So what's changed? Rico's grown up. He's a first team squad member who now believes he's good enough to be a first team regular. To watch him scanning the pitch all David Silva-esque is a sight to behold.

Fuck knows which position he'll end up specialising in, but whether right back, left back, CDM, No 8 or as a right winger, he seems to excel. He's all the attributes that Pep looks for in terms of intelligence, understanding & being flexible in game mode.

The only thing Pep wishes, is that he had a few more inches to his height, BUT being stumpy didn't stop Messi or Maradona.

Not saying Rico is at their level, or ever will be, but he's visually toughened up & isn't allowing himself to be bullied as easily as he was over the previous two seasons.

He's a shining example of our Elite Development Squad.

He’s a natural at the "defender moving into midfield" rôle.

That’s what I meant, when I said he is better than John at it.

Boulders has certainly learnt to play it brilliantly, but he had to become familiar with it, whereas, according to Pep, Rico is the originator of it.

 

[BlueKolarovWorker]

I think he'll end up at Iniesta levels.

Bookmark this and give me a shout in 8 years, 3 months, 4 days!!

 

[TheBlueCat]

Rico playing LB for England.. He’s not a LB, but was brilliant tonight. Every time he has played this season he had been outstanding. What a talent.. Kid is going to be a star. I keep saying it…