It's Quiet the £250m return

I don't think we'll see centre backs go to right back. Looking at the CWC tactics, Nunes and RAN were very, very high up and giving assists/getting into the box by overlapping their wingers (or Cherki/Foden as inside forwards).

So I can't see Khusanov/Akanji/Jonny Boulders going into that role. Unless Pep wants to essentially make it 3 centrally and allow the right winger the freedom while RAN overlaps on the other side.

Although, I think Leijnders influence will come in (Klopp's dippers team relied on wing backs getting up and down with genuine attacking ability, rather than just a body) and we'll see Nunes/RAN being asked to get up and down.

Luckily, both have brilliant engines and genuine ability going forward. Nunes is a bit suspect defensively but is nowhere near as shit as some on here make him out to be.
 
BillyShears said:
Partially my optimism comes from the fact that Rico played A LOT of right back during the treble winning season and actually in some ways was a catalyst in turning that season on it's head (remember the happy flowers comments I think after Spurs). I also think we haven't seen Nunes in a stable team. It's almost impossible to judge any players off the back of last season when so much of it was spent with half the squad injured, and a general malaise of complacency.

The new players, new coaches, new voices, new energy should ensure this season is much more energised, committed, hungry etc. I'm really really optimistic. I think Marmoush, Haaland, Cherki, Foden, Doku, Savinho, Bobb, could ALL end up having huge seasons. They all have the potential to go nuts. I also think Reijnders is as good as ANY player our rivals have in their midfield options.
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Agree with many things, but Rico barely played after the Spurs game. He was benched in the final months of next season, too. Lacks the physical attributes to be a FB against good teams. Against average he can do a job. Nunes is far better at RB, and it is a bit strange Pep needed months to realise it. But he had personal problems then...
 
Kippax Kidd said:
Spending 40m on someone to loan them out is a shambles . Be surprised he ever plays for City .
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He’s 19 and from a different continent. In a position where older players have a year left on their deals
A loan where he’ll get plenty of game time and experience in a top 5 European league makes perfect sense, it’s good succession planning
 
alexmcity said:
Agree with many things, but Rico barely played after the Spurs game. He was benched in the final months of next season, too. Lacks the physical attributes to be a FB against good teams. Against average he can do a job. Nunes is far better at RB, and it is a bit strange Pep needed months to realise it. But he had personal problems then...
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I don't think we disagree tbh. I don't think he's physical enough to be a full back long term. Nunes is different and is obviously more athletic. But there are games and certain set ups where I'd want Rico ahead of Nunes. They perfectly contrast each other in terms of their relative qualities.

Personally I want a first choice right back, I just understand why they may be prepared to wait a year for various reasons. Also, there's a month left in this window, and there's a world in which someone comes in for Lewis, and he asks to go. My guess is if that happened they'd go and buy a right back.
 
oldius said:
Indeed he did, and I remember the amount of praise he received, and clamour for him to take over from Kyle during the 2023/2024 season. Some soon forget.
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I think a lot of it is short term thinking and people easily forget how good some of our players are. Rico Lewis is an excellent young player with lots of potential - he will have spells where he is out of form, like all young players
 
blueparrot said:
I have no great preference, but Bobb being 22 may mean he's the one that needs a full season of games to reach his potential, the other 3 not quite so much.
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Plus, he already counts as club trained, and loaning him doesn't change that. Whereas loaning out Echeverri stops him maybe being CT in the future.
 
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