16 | Rodri 2025/26

Txiki Txiki Bang Bang said:
it's become too obvious and that makes it very easy for a dirty team to target him, No Rodri = No trophies. We have to change that narrative. I am hoping Reindeer can fix this
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Nobody can fix that because Rodri is one of the greatest DM of all time (the only City player in such a conversation, i.e., for being the best in his position ever).

If he wins other big trophies with City and the WC with Spain, he becomes the greatest DM ever.

He's irreplaceable in the sense that we can't replicate the heights between 21 and 24 without him. But let's hope we can compensate his importance with exceptional players in other positions, say, Cherki who talent wise is Zidane-esque.
 
alexmcity said:
Nobody can fix that because Rodri is one of the greatest DM of all time (the only City player in such a conversation, i.e., for being the best in his position ever).

If he wins other big trophies with City and the WC with Spain, he becomes the greatest DM ever.

He's irreplaceable in the sense that we can't replicate the heights between 21 and 24 without him. But maybe we can compensate his importance with exceptional players in other positions, say, Cherki who talent wise is Zidane-esque.
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Well we can't just fold our hands and make it obvious to the other teams that he is the spine of our team and all you have to do to cripple us is take him out, that's inviting disaster.

We have to come up with some kind of contingency plan, even if it's a more Conservative double pivot approach (Reindeer + Kova or Reindeer + Bernie playing deep), constrict the midfield fluidity of the opposition and look to grind out 1-0 or 2-1 wins, that's better than just downing tools if or when Rodri gets injured.

The midfield collapse particularly in games like the finals against Crystal Palace shows why we need an alternative approach, it shouldn't be the default option but it should definitely be something we have at our disposal
 
Txiki Txiki Bang Bang said:
Well we can't just fold our hands and make it obvious to the other teams that he is the spine of our team and all you have to do to cripple us is take him out, that's inviting disaster.

We have to come up with some kind of contingency plan, even if it's a more Conservative double pivot approach (Reindeer + Kova or Reindeer + Bernie playing deep), constrict the midfield fluidity of the opposition and look to grind out 1-0 or 2-1 wins, that's better than just downing tools if or when Rodri gets injured.

The midfield collapse particularly in games like the finals against Crystal Palace shows why we need an alternative approach, it shouldn't be the default option but it should definitely be something we have at our disposal
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That's obvious. I think we can have great performances without Rodri. But not the consistency. There's the problem.

We can't replace Rodri simply by changing the system, but by adding quality to other positions. We need some exceptional talents in both defensive and offensive positions. I like our attacking options but I hope we sign the next big thing in defensive terms (maybe we already have it in the young CBs we signed recently).
 
Txiki Txiki Bang Bang said:
Well we can't just fold our hands and make it obvious to the other teams that he is the spine of our team and all you have to do to cripple us is take him out, that's inviting disaster.

We have to come up with some kind of contingency plan, even if it's a more Conservative double pivot approach (Reindeer + Kova or Reindeer + Bernie playing deep), constrict the midfield fluidity of the opposition and look to grind out 1-0 or 2-1 wins, that's better than just downing tools if or when Rodri gets injured.

The midfield collapse particularly in games like the finals against Crystal Palace shows why we need an alternative approach, it shouldn't be the default option but it should definitely be something we have at our disposal
Click to expand...
Exactly, loads of top teams don’t have Rodri, and don’t fall apart. You have to find a way. We will see exactly how good Rodri is now, this is a much changed City side from when he was playing his best football so hopefully he is the difference between silverware and coming close.
 
I think Pep needs to step up and everything depends on him

We are talking about consistency and that’s something Rodri brings, but we were consistent before Rodri as well, at least in PL and we watched how our team played at 100% every week, every game

In UCL we had problems because we lacked quality in that defensive midfield area, because Fernandinho wasn’t as great as Rodri and we had problem to control game like against Liverpool or Tottenham or even Lyon (When Rodri was still improving)

But once Rodri became what he became we were playing our football everywhere. Anfield wasn’t scary anymore, Liverpool’s pressing wasn’t difficult to handle and at Bernabeu we played like we were playing at home, dominating the pitch and etc

Unfortunately after the Treble that was lost and we became “A Rodri Team” in 2023/2024, TBH if Rodri wasn’t injured and Pep was gone at the start of last season, I think with prime Rodri we would have still won the PL and advanced further in UCL

So in 2023/2024 Rodri became more important than Pep and when that happens manager is always at fault and that’s something what never happened to Pep before.

KDB was injured, Aguero, Sane, but we were always performing and he could still prepare the team

So Pep needs to step up, otherwise what’s the point in having him.

With Prime Rodri even Steve Bruce can provide results I guess
 
First year after hard injury is crucial. I would play Rodri as central defender in 3-5-2
 
DD93 said:
I think Pep needs to step up and everything depends on him

We are talking about consistency and that’s something Rodri brings, but we were consistent before Rodri as well, at least in PL and we watched how our team played at 100% every week, every game

In UCL we had problems because we lacked quality in that defensive midfield area, because Fernandinho wasn’t as great as Rodri and we had problem to control game like against Liverpool or Tottenham or even Lyon (When Rodri was still improving)

But once Rodri became what he became we were playing our football everywhere. Anfield wasn’t scary anymore, Liverpool’s pressing wasn’t difficult to handle and at Bernabeu we played like we were playing at home, dominating the pitch and etc

Unfortunately after the Treble that was lost and we became “A Rodri Team” in 2023/2024, TBH if Rodri wasn’t injured and Pep was gone at the start of last season, I think with prime Rodri we would have still won the PL and advanced further in UCL

So in 2023/2024 Rodri became more important than Pep and when that happens manager is always at fault and that’s something what never happened to Pep before.

KDB was injured, Aguero, Sane, but we were always performing and he could still prepare the team

So Pep needs to step up, otherwise what’s the point in having him.

With Prime Rodri even Steve Bruce can provide results I guess
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I mostly agree, but we had many other injuries, which made it impossible to find a solution for months. Then we improved and won 40 pts in the 2nd half of the season, which was more than decent, given further injuries to Stones, Ake, Akanji and Haaland.

When KDB missed many months we had high quality replacements. We didn't have such back ups for Rodri, mostly because several transfers weren't success...
 
alexmcity said:
I mostly agree, but we had many other injuries, which made it impossible to find a solution for months. Then we improved and won 40 pts in the 2nd half of the season, which was more than decent, given further injuries to Stones, Ake, Akanji and Haaland.

When KDB missed many months we had high quality replacements. We didn't have such back ups for Rodri, mostly because several transfers weren't success...
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Yes but in 2023/2024 when Rodri got red card, we lost all the games and points.
 
alexmcity said:
Nobody can fix that because Rodri is one of the greatest DM of all time (the only City player in such a conversation, i.e., for being the best in his position ever).

If he wins other big trophies with City and the WC with Spain, he becomes the greatest DM ever.

He's irreplaceable in the sense that we can't replicate the heights between 21 and 24 without him. But let's hope we can compensate his importance with exceptional players in other positions, say, Cherki who talent wise is Zidane-esque.
Click to expand...
We felt the same about Fernandinho - then Rodri stepped up.
 
Patience has to be taken with Rodri going into the season, and don't be surprised to see him in and out of the team for a good few weeks before he is a regular again.

Even then I am not expecting a fit and and on form Rodri until January at the earliest.
 
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