Rico Lewis | Set to sign a new 5-year contract (pg33)

[CΛL]

Since when do full backs have to be tall - Dani Alves, Jordi Alba, Marcelo and our very own Zabaleta spring to mind.

He needs to beef up, which you can see he’s doing. He just needs time, whether he plays at fullback or midfield.

He’s just unfortunate we don’t have a specialist right back at the club to rotate with.

I thought first 30 mins or so he won his duels and looked strong.

 

[malkie]

He was fully targeted as a weakness yesterday by Tottenham. Djed Spece has even put him on his insta post, he was bullied , out fought. His position when defending was all over the place, he's not a defender and Tottenham knew that. He was targeted. In the big games he will be targeted again and again.

He's not physically strong enough and refs are not going to give him the fouls he looks for. He got fully bullied by Spence, Johnson and ever Richarlison had a go.

He will continue to be targeted every match he plays. Not physically strong enough. Lacks awareness as a defender.

 

[Quinny851]

He was fully targeted as a weakness yesterday by Tottenham. Djed Spece has even put him on his insta post, he was bullied , out fought. His position when defending was all over the place, he's not a defender and Tottenham knew that. He was targeted. In the big games he will be targeted again and again.

He's not physically strong enough and refs are not going to give him the fouls he looks for. He got fully bullied by Spence, Johnson and ever Richarlison had a go.

Dias was bullied by Richarlison yesterday too

 

[Dribble]

He was fully targeted as a weakness yesterday by Tottenham. Djed Spece has even put him on his insta post, he was bullied , out fought. His position when defending was all over the place, he's not a defender and Tottenham knew that. He was targeted. In the big games he will be targeted again and again.

He's not physically strong enough and refs are not going to give him the fouls he looks for. He got fully bullied by Spence, Johnson and ever Richarlison had a go.

Rico wasn't targeted. It's the space he vacated when playing our failed inverted RB system that's being targeted. The void that Stones, Dias, Akanji & Khusanov have tried to fill but have all fared the same whether the RB was Walker, Lewis, Nunes or Akanji.

At what point do we stop blaming our players & take a closer look at our inverted RB system which is being ruthlessly exploited by the opposition?

Hakimi is considered the best RB in the world at the moment. Is he being asked to invert at PSG? If he were playing yesterday & asked to perform the same role Lewis was tasked with doing against Spurs, dya really think he or City would've fared any better? I don't.

It's been glaringly obvious to me since last November that it's our tactical system that's at fault, more than the players being asked to execute it.

Just look how lost the whole team looked at times yesterday? Compare the starting elevens & the benches. On paper & with home advantage, we should've battered Spuds, but yet again another top team have out-played & out-performed us, using the same 5-4-1, low-block, rapid counters into the channels tactic. Yet Pep STILL persist with it!

 

[Gumzy97]

Dias was bullied by Richarlison yesterday too

Definitely, but you watch the highlights as soon as lewis gets the ball Spence and Johnson initiate the press. Its every time lewis received the ball they press.

 

[Gumzy97]

Rico wasn't targeted. It's the space he vacated when playing our failed inverted RB system that's being targeted. The void that Stones, Dias, Akanji & Khusanov have tried to fill but have all fared the same whether the RB was Walker, Lewis, Nunes or Akanji.

At what point do we stop blaming our players & take a closer look at our inverted RB system which is being ruthlessly exploited by the opposition?

Hakimi is considered the best RB in the world at the moment. Is he being asked to invert at PSG? If he were asked to play the same role Lewis was tasked with doing against Spurs, dya really think he or City would've fared any better? I don't.

It's been glaringly obvious to me since last November that it's our tactical system that's at fault, more than the players being asked to execute it.

Just look how lost the whole team looked at times yesterday? Compare the starting elevens & the benches. On paper & with home advantage, we should've battered Spuds, but yet again another top team have out-played & out-performed us, using the same 5-4-1, low-block, rapid counters into the channels tactic. Yet Pep STILL persist with it!

He was targeted like I put above, the highlights as soon as Rico received the ball Spence and Johnson press him, they initiated the press whenever he received the ball. Spence even nods to his winger to press Rico. Richarlison had a go before their second. First 30 minutes Spence presses Rico to see if he's got him physically. Rico falls over doesn't get a foul, so they continue pressing and targeting him. They started attacking the right side more and more.

 

[Quinny851]

Definitely, but you watch the highlights as soon as lewis gets the ball Spence and Johnson initiate the press. Its everything lewis received the ball they press.

Yeah I agree but they seemed to press in pairs on whoever received the ball, not just Lewis. The thing I noticed and thus isn't unique to Spurs is that they targeted the space on either side behind the full backs. Like I mentioned somewhere else, our ridiculously high line with significant lack of pace at the back was the issue

 

[Bluemoon has risen]

He's 20 years old for fucks sake. How many other 20 year olds have had 60 first team appearances?

The club should be signing a new right back as soon as possible so that this KID can go back to learning his trade and having his minutes managed to help his progression.

At least this lad has had the bollocks to stand up and be counted unlike that shithouse of a former captain who fucked off at the first opportunity when things got a bit tough

Calm down mate, its just an opinion :)

I just don't see where he fits at City as he still doesn't really have a position and has basically become a jack of all trades player. He's not a bad player at all, I just don't think he's City's level (which is a very high standard). He's certainly not at the level of Foden and Palmer and he never will be.

Don't disagree on anything you said on Walker. The guy massively tarnished his legacy with the way he behaved and performed last season and he continues to put his foot in his mouth in the press.

 

[Tevez City]

Loan him this year, sell him the next since Forest already moved on and I don't think any club will match their offer.

 

[oldius]

I rate Rico, as everyone knows, but I do recognise that he works best with a physically commanding player as the right centre back. I think it is definitely worth trying Khusanov in that position, alongside Lewis, and moving Stones to the LCB position. In other words, Khusanov partners Rico, and Dias or Stones partner Nunes.

 

[mancboy]

All we keep hearing is that he is valuable because he can play a number of positions, the problem is that he isnt very good in any of them, he tries hard but he isnt defensively aware, isnt quick isnt strong, isnt tall, i have asked multiple times to all that defend him, what exactly does he excel in?

 

[mancboy]

I rate Rico, as everyone knows, but I do recognise that he works best with a physically commanding player as the right centre back. I think it is definitely worth trying Khusanov in that position, alongside Lewis, and moving Stones to the LCB position. In other words, Khusanov partners Rico, and Dias or Stones partner Nunes.

Im sorry mate but rico is not even close to being good enough where you'd amend the team to accomodate him

 

[chesterbells]

Calm down mate, its just an opinion :)

I just don't see where he fits at City as he still doesn't really have a position and has basically become a jack of all trades player. He's not a bad player at all, I just don't think he's City's level (which is a very high standard). He's certainly not at the level of Foden and Palmer and he never will be.

Don't disagree on anything you said on Walker. The guy massively tarnished his legacy with the way he behaved and performed last season and he continues to put his foot in his mouth in the press.

Agree with you. All these comments about his age, some of his weaknesses like his lack of pace or his height/size (repeatedly referenced by Pep himself) aren’t gonna be any different when he’s 22, 24 or 26.

 

[Blue2202]

Agree with you. All these comments about his age, some of his weaknesses like his like of pace or his height/size (repeatedly referenced by Pep himself) aren’t gonna be any different when he’s 22, 24 or 26.

It's not as if he offers much on the ball either... what does he offer? What are his strengths? Because I genuinely don't know what they are after watching him coming up 2 years.

 

[chesterbells]

It's not as if he offers much on the ball either... what does he offer? What are his strengths? Because I genuinely don't know what they are after watching him coming up 2 years.

He’s enthusiastic, “industrious” I think is the word, he obviously shows he cares a lot, and he’s decent in midfield at making safe, short passes to keep possession when we’re leading. Tbf against weaker opponents he does also make darts forward, and that performance against Forest in the semi last season was impressive as was last week.
He’s also homegrown/a City fan, but to be honest, I don’t think they should be factors for selection.

Ultimately, I have the same view as you, not that I take any pleasure in saying it.

 

[Doc_Testosterone]

It's not as if he offers much on the ball either... what does he offer? What are his strengths? Because I genuinely don't know what they are after watching him coming up 2 years.

He pops up with an assist every once in a while because the opposition like Wolves forget he exists. Not much else as strengths.

 

[Dribble]

He was targeted like I put above, the highlights as soon as Rico received the ball Spence and Johnson press him, they initiated the press whenever he received the ball. Spence even nods to his winger to press Rico. Richarlison had a go before their second. First 30 minutes Spence presses Rico to see if he's got him physically. Rico falls over doesn't get a foul, so they continue pressing and targeting him. They started attacking the right side more and more.

And again I repeat, they targeted our weakspot, not Rico. From last November until yesterday, did they also target Walker, Nunes & Akanji too? Or did they target the RB position they vacated?

Do you think if Hakimi was playing for us yesterday, that goal wouldn't have been conceded?

Looking through the post-match thread, it was Rico's fault, it's was Trafford's fault, it was the fault of Dias, Stones, Gonzalez, Reijnders, Cherki, Bobb & Moose. Doku's shit & should be sold. Bernardo should never play for us again.

In fact, the only players to escape this level of hyperbolic criticism were Haaland, Ait Nouri, Aké & Rodri. In this respect, we've got 7½ days to sell the rest of the squad & bring in a new set of players... OR we can take a closer look at the failing inverted defender system the players are being asked to play.

Have you considered even in the slightest that it might just be the system the players are being tasked with playing that may be the source of our issues? Genuinely, I'd be interested in your view...

 

[King Jay]

Loan him this year, sell him the next since Forest already moved on and I don't think any club will match their offer.

We really refuse to sell the players we should be selling and keep the ones who should leave. Imagine that. I laughed about chelsea but I really envy their board

 

[simon23]

All we keep hearing is that he is valuable because he can play a number of positions, the problem is that he isnt very good in any of them, he tries hard but he isnt defensively aware, isnt quick isnt strong, isnt tall, i have asked multiple times to all that defend him, what exactly does he excel in?

spot on

 

[simon23]

And again I repeat, they targeted our weakspot, not Rico. From last November until yesterday, did they also target Walker, Nunes & Akanji too? Or did they target the RB position they vacated?

Do you think if Hakimi was playing for us yesterday, that goal wouldn't have been conceded?

Looking through the post-match thread, it was Rico's fault, it's was Trafford's fault, it was the fault of Dias, Stones, Gonzalez, Reijnders, Cherki, Bobb & Moose. Doku's shit & should be sold. Bernardo should never play for us again.

In fact, the only players to escape this level of hyperbolic criticism were Haaland, Ait Nouri, Aké & Rodri. In this respect, we've got 7½ days to sell the rest of the squad & bring in a new set of players... OR we can take a closer look at the failing inverted defender system the players are being asked to play.

Have you considered even in the slightest that it might just be the system the players are being tasked with playing that may be the source of our issues? Genuinely, I'd be interested in your view...

I actually think you are correct. It is the system that Rico and others cannt play in..but whats easier...buy a player in the 3 months transfer window that can or change the whole system and therefore have to change lots of players....?

Rico was at fault..this cannt be missed...Dias was also horrendous yesterday and playing Reinjders with Cherki in the midfield exposed Nico (predicted before the game even started) as neither had the defensive work in them. The wide players in Bobb and Marmoush didnt support the fullbacks (look at how hard Kudos worked in helping defend against Doku when he came on).

The issue many have here is that the right back position has been a major issue even prior to walker leaving. Our back 4 was getting exposed with walker on the pitch as he no longer could make the recovery runs amongst other issues. ...

When his form/fitness fell off a cliff lots said Rico wasnt the player to cover for him in the team at that point....that has been proved correct. He has been an issue since day one repeatedly and glaringly so. Its the repeated defence of a player who blatantly isnt good enough if you want to challenge for top 4 - he isnt the only one - Dias is another along with a few others being moved on.

This componded by no Rodri cover (still), no physical driving force in midfield are other issues. Reijnders is great but not a physical force, Cherki will be full of flicks and tricks but will be in and out of games for a while. IF he and Reijnders can develop a nasty side then they could become elite but without that they are going to be in for a shock.

Overall our days of domination are gone. I can accept that, no problem, but we have to now accept the limitations of this team and be aware of them One of them is Rico Lewis and that needs to change if we are to be in the mix for any cups or titles going forward...he aint he only one however.