82 | Rico Lewis - 2025/26

[JewelZee]

First goal is John stones and John stones only

I take it you've never played on the back line?

 

[ws01]

First goal is John stones and John stones only

Absolute and utter rubbish that I keep seeing repeated here a number of times. Likely from people who've barely played the game.

The player slipped near the half way line. It happens. Players were slipping all game. You have a backline operating as a unit for a reason, to help cover mistakes higher up the pitch when they occur. Mistake should not equate to immediate goal conceded from there.

When Tottenham took the ball in that position, they were always going to make that play with a ball into the far post. Lewis couldn't track his man well enough, as he often fails to do. Part is on him, part is on Pep for putting him in that position where he clearly does not have enough speed or positional discipline.

Either way, he's slow, small, and not suited to being a fullback.

 

[Beanhead]

It is Rico getting bullied time after time off the ball however

it is Rico losing the ball on the edge of the opponents box leaving a huge chasm of space behind him for the opposition to attack into while he cannt make a recovery run

It is Rico that gives the ball away in the middle third with a poor pass

It is Rico who is poor at receiving the ball facing his own goal in his own half and again getting bullied off the ball

it is Rico getting beat repeatedly at the back post in the air (despite his best efforts)

It is Rico letting wide players run past him on the outside of him

and as the poster you are replying to said...it is his man that keeps scoring from crosses to the back post on the break away...yes that alludes to another problem (our midfield cant recover and our wide players are not helping out our fullbacks defensively) but its also Rico that is letting his man get infront of him tie and time again.

Yes he is a problem - not "the" problem but he is a significant part of it.

Ask yourself this...did we have those problems as regularly as we do now when Walker was playing in his prime? (Im not talking about the last 6-8 months of him playing with us)..Im not saying we didnt have them occasionally as walker's concentration was poor so he sometimes got beaten at the back post for instance....BUT it certainly wasnt as often and he solved more problems that he caused

Also ask yourself - would you play Rico against Vinicious Jnr in a CL semi final - fuck me Id rather play Nico OReilly than Rico Lewis against him or a player at that level - these are the levels we are talking about...its night and day between what we have had and what we now have....

I see Dax has landed in this thread going all out with his full-on footballing hipster views on Rico. Yawn, I wouldn’t even entertain it mate, beginning to think him Lewis (and possibly Pep) are related.

 

[thegoatsthegoat]

Absolute and utter rubbish that I keep seeing repeated here a number of times. Likely from people who've barely played the game.

The player slipped near the half way line. It happens. Players were slipping all game. You have a backline operating as a unit for a reason, to help cover mistakes higher up the pitch when they occur. Mistake should not equate to immediate goal conceded from there.

When Tottenham took the ball in that position, they were always going to make that play with a ball into the far post. Lewis couldn't track his man well enough, as he often fails to do. Part is on him, part is on Pep for putting him in that position where he clearly does not have enough speed or positional discipline.

Either way, he's slow, small, and not suited to being a fullback.

Haha soz Pele. Shows how little you know of football if you think he just slipped. He played the man onside, he then slipped in trying to play an onside man offside. That then caused a free man in the middle as he couldn’t recover. If he doesn’t try to play him off he doesn’t slip, he is then in position. I hope that helps your poorly educated football brain

 

[thegoatsthegoat]

I take it you've never played on the back line?

Yeah mate, right back in fact. And if my centre half played a man onside whilst trying to adjust their body to play him off (when he was on) and in doing so causes himself to slip and be out of position, I’d hold that man responsible. It’s funny how everyone is battering Lewis for not recovering in time to cover stones mistake. It shows the double standards of this forum and I am someone who wants Lewis nowhere near the first team

 

[simon23]

I see Dax has landed in this thread going all out with his full-on footballing hipster views on Rico. Yawn, I wouldn’t even entertain it mate, beginning to think him Lewis (and possibly Pep) are related.

He is defending Rico which is fair enough.

I know whre he is coming from -Rico is young, is a local lad and is a blue who will try his best. But elite sport is a kill or be killed place and if you cant be a "jack of all trades, master of none" which sums up Rico perfectly imho

 

[simon23]

Yeah mate, right back in fact. And if my centre half played a man onside whilst trying to adjust their body to play him off (when he was on) and in doing so causes himself to slip and be out of position, I’d hold that man responsible. It’s funny how everyone is battering Lewis for not recovering in time to cover stones mistake. It shows the double standards of this forum and I am someone who wants Lewis nowhere near the first team

1. People have pointed out the fact that Stones made the mistake - the high line overall has been pointed out as suicidal but that is on the manager and coaching team as well.

2. The problem doesnt simply sit with that one goal - its the fact that Lewis actually makes this error consistently...we have seen this goal before. He actually started ahead of the attacker but still didnt get to the ball, went at the ball with his wrong foot (put a amateur footballer in that position at that exact moment and they use their left foot to hook it into the stands in the direction of where it comes from)...he made the ame mistake last season.

His lack of physicality in all aspects of his game is a huge problem...lack of pace, strength are a huge hinderance to him

His other errors are consistent as well and they constantly cause or lead to the other team getting chances on the break:
Giving the ball away on the edge of the opponents penalty area
Being poor in physical battle in the mid third of the pitch, losing the ball which then leads to an attack for the opponents
being poor receiving the ball facing his own goal - just gets bullied

It aint one game - it was half a season of it (until he was dropped for Nunes) and its already there this season

I get it, he is a young local lad, but he isnt and never will be that top level of player.....we need better.

Is he the only one with serious questions against him - no certainly not. You could add to that list Dias, Nico G, Doku, Sav at present as well so the scapegoat argument goes out the window

 

[Le Havre Oswald]

You have to question the managers judgement here. It's glaringly obvious he's not a premier League standard player.

Fuck me! Yes he is lol

 

[thegoatsthegoat]

1. People have pointed out the fact that Stones made the mistake - the high line overall has been pointed out as suicidal but that is on the manager and coaching team as well.

2. The problem doesnt simply sit with that one goal - its the fact that Lewis actually makes this error consistently...we have seen this goal before. He actually started ahead of the attacker but still didnt get to the ball, went at the ball with his wrong foot (put a amateur footballer in that position at that exact moment and they use their left foot to hook it into the stands in the direction of where it comes from)...he made the ame mistake last season.

His lack of physicality in all aspects of his game is a huge problem...lack of pace, strength are a huge hinderance to him

His other errors are consistent as well and they constantly cause or lead to the other team getting chances on the break:
Giving the ball away on the edge of the opponents penalty area
Being poor in physical battle in the mid third of the pitch, losing the ball which then leads to an attack for the opponents
being poor receiving the ball facing his own goal - just gets bullied

It aint one game - it was half a season of it (until he was dropped for Nunes) and its already there this season

I get it, he is a young local lad, but he isnt and never will be that top level of player.....we need better.

Is he the only one with serious questions against him - no certainly not. You could add to that list Dias, Nico G, Doku, Sav at present as well so the scapegoat argument goes out the window

You are preaching to the converted. I don’t rate Lewis, I don’t want him to play another single minute. He isn’t good enough. But stones caused that first goal very simple. Nobody else. Whilst you can question Lewis afterwards it’s harsh to lay blame solely at Lewis for not being in position to clean up stones mistake. Many in here are ignoring stones part which was the reason we conceded that goal. His misjudgement was the catalyst.

 

[Txiki Txiki Bang Bang]

First goal is John stones and John stones only

That was all on Stones, I don't get why he is beyond criticism here. Everyone foams at the mouth when you point out the numerous errors he makes which is unacceptable for a senior player, if either Dias or Akanji or even the 20 year old Rico makes those mistakes, Ohhhhhh boy!

 

[thegoatsthegoat]

That was all on Stones, I don't get why he is beyond criticism here. Everyone foams at the mouth when you point out the numerous errors he makes which is unacceptable for a senior player, if either Dias or Akanji or even the 20 year old Rico makes those mistakes, Ohhhhhh boy!

Untouchable Stones, fit for less than half the available games since arriving, numerous errors but his cult hero status means you cannot say it. On his day he’s class, then days are few and far between

 

[simon23]

You are preaching to the converted. I don’t rate Lewis, I don’t want him to play another single minute. He isn’t good enough. But stones caused that first goal very simple. Nobody else. Whilst you can question Lewis afterwards it’s harsh to lay blame solely at Lewis for not being in position to clean up stones mistake. Many in here are ignoring stones part which was the reason we conceded that goal. His misjudgement was the catalyst.

I dont disagre that Stones is partly responsible in it...But that cross should have also been cut out by Lewis -as I said the blame isnt being soley blamed on Lewis....BUT its happening time and time again and he isnt sorting out his part in it.....And its not always the centre halves fault. A decent fullback cuts that cross out

 

[thegoatsthegoat]

I dont disagre that Stones is partly responsible in it...But that cross should have also been cut out by Lewis -as I said the blame isnt being soley blamed on Lewis....BUT its happening time and time again and he isnt sorting out his part in it.....And its not always the centre halves fault. A decent fullback cuts that cross out

For you, the poster who quoted me simply thinks Stones slipped. Ignoring him trying to play someone off who was on which took him out the game. Stones doesn’t do that and he’s in position. Problem solved. If you then want to look what happened and say Lewis could do better then I fully agree, but this is on the untouchable stones for me. If his experienced teammates do their job properly, we don’t have to rely on a kid who isn’t good enough to recover the situation

 

[simon23]

For you, the poster who quoted me simply thinks Stones slipped. Ignoring him trying to play someone off who was on which took him out the game. Stones doesn’t do that and he’s in position. Problem solved. If you then want to look what happened and say Lewis could do better then I fully agree, but this is on the untouchable stones for me. If his experienced teammates do their job properly, we don’t have to rely on a kid who isn’t good enough to recover the situation

No one is untouchable....

The caveat for stones is that he is more reliable than not (when on the pitch).

the issue with Rico Lewis is that he isnt and never will be. and we have just handed him a 5 year deal!!!

 

[thegoatsthegoat]

No one is untouchable....

The caveat for stones is that he is more reliable than not (when on the pitch).

the issue with Rico Lewis is that he isnt and never will be. and we have just handed him a 5 year deal!!!

That can be argued about stones because I think he gets away with murder and key words being when on the pitch.

As I said with Lewis, I am with you mate. The club needs to look at itself and how it’s allowed our standards and levels to drop so much and crap players like him and Dias rewarded with contracts. We are sleepwalking into mediocrity

 

[simon23]

That can be argued about stones because I think he gets away with murder and key words being when on the pitch.

As I said with Lewis, I am with you mate. The club needs to look at itself and how it’s allowed our standards and levels to drop so much and crap players like him and Dias rewarded with contracts. We are sleepwalking into mediocrity

I absolutely think our period of dominance is over. 10 years was a good ride but we are now back in the pack. we will be there or thereabouts but I think ultimately we have been caught up by some teams and overtaken by others...i think its a battle for top 6 (and I mean anywhere between 1st and 6th) for the forseeable

 

[KDBPLGOAT]

since last year I’ve been asking people to name a single fullback who’s worse than Rico Lewis in the PL,
1. that starts regularly.
2. Not from any of the 3 promoted teams.

THATS how bad this lad is. How is the starting fullback for a team that are one of the favourites to win the league, worse than every team in the leagues fullback?? I’ll take it one step further cos this lad is a direct correlation to us being worse than before and the decline in standards at the club. I think he’s the worst player to regularly start (over 50 games) that has played in a big 5 team in the last 15 years or so (City, Liverpool Arsenal United Chelsea) that’s how bad he is.
Maybe Cleverly was worse? But I think 2012-13 (when he used to start) was slightly more physical and might still be better than Rico Lewis.
Flanagan? (Did he even start 30 games?)
Dalot? Probably better than Rico.

 

[Beanhead]

since last year I’ve been asking people to name a single fullback who’s worse than Rico Lewis in the PL,
1. that starts regularly.
2. Not from any of the 3 promoted teams.

THATS how bad this lad is. How is the starting fullback, if a team that are one of the favourites to win the league, worse than every team in the leagues fullback?? I’ll take it one step further cos this lad is a direct correlation to us being worse than before and the decline in standards at the club. I think he’s the worst player to regularly start (over 50 games) that has played in a big 5 team in the last 15 years or so (City, Liverpool Arsenal United Chelsea) that’s how bad he is.
Maybe Cleverly was worse? But I think 2012-13 (when he used to start) was slightly more physical and might still be better than Rico Lewis.
Flanagan? (Did he even start 30 games?)
Dalot? Probably better than Rico.

I referred to him as “our Cleverly” on here a lot last season and often got pelters for it but the reality is there is a lot of similarities in Rico and Cleverly both in style but also an indication on a clubs direction as you simply can’t field players so low on quality or who lack the physical requirements to play for competitive top tier side. There is a reason why the entire league laughed at Cleverly, he was always miles below the required standard for such a large club, Rico is this Mark 2, both tidy players, but that is it. I just hope accepting this level of player doesn’t send us in the same direction as that bunch of c**ts.

 

[BlueMoonAcrossThePond]

since last year I’ve been asking people to name a single fullback who’s worse than Rico Lewis in the PL,
1. that starts regularly.
2. Not from any of the 3 promoted teams.

THATS how bad this lad is. How is the starting fullback, if a team that are one of the favourites to win the league, worse than every team in the leagues fullback?? I’ll take it one step further cos this lad is a direct correlation to us being worse than before and the decline in standards at the club. I think he’s the worst player to regularly start (over 50 games) that has played in a big 5 team in the last 15 years or so (City, Liverpool Arsenal United Chelsea) that’s how bad he is.
Maybe Cleverly was worse? But I think 2012-13 (when he used to start) was slightly more physical and might still be better than Rico Lewis.
Flanagan? (Did he even start 30 games?)
Dalot? Probably better than Rico.

Rico starts because Pep loves one of his fullbacks to invert into midfield. And in midfield, on offense, Rico is at least OK. And against weak sides when we're dominant and the opposition rarely holds the ball, Rico may be a better pick than Nunes. Rico is better than Nunes at moving the ball quickly on.

That said... I agree with your post. Lewis is a liability on defense and isn't spectacular on offense. We can get away with starting Lewis against week sides with little pace on their left wing - but against top opposition or against weak sides with pace at left wing, Lewis is going to be a huge liability.

 

[JewelZee]

Yeah mate, right back in fact. And if my centre half played a man onside whilst trying to adjust their body to play him off (when he was on) and in doing so causes himself to slip and be out of position, I’d hold that man responsible. It’s funny how everyone is battering Lewis for not recovering in time to cover stones mistake. It shows the double standards of this forum and I am someone who wants Lewis nowhere near the first team

Likewise, but more time as a CB. Stones' slip obviously kept Richarlison on. I'm not absolving him. That's a separate point. Lewis' handling of his end was still dogshit by any standard.