82 | Rico Lewis - 2025/26

[thegoatsthegoat]

Rico Lewis being in the starting line up for a prolonged time is always a direct correlation to our team being in bad form. As soon as HE SPECIFICALLY is dropped from the XI we start to put wins together. In early 2022/23 he started a lot of games, we then dropped him from the squad for Walker and Akanji as RB guess what we start winning, it happened again in 23/24, it also happened again in 24/25, as soon as EVEN Nunez started playing as RB we went on a winning run. Defensively this lad isn’t just bad positionally, when it comes to one on one defending, he’s so bad, like there’s RB in league 1 who are better at defending. If he’s in the starting line up, every top 10 manager in the league will be over the moon. Please note, this is scapegoating at the highest level but it’s right, this lad has no business being in our starting line up. I’ve never said that about any player btw, but for years HE has always been the problem. Every humiliating defeat the guy is top 2 worst players in that game.

You are right, so this hate and anger needs directing at Pep

 

[domalino]

Really annoyed he’s getting a new deal, I don’t think Rico is shit, but him being a starting player for Manchester City is just not serious.

You lot do realise he's 20? Most of the players in our squad weren't good enough to start for City when they were 20.

Ederson, Dias, Reijnders, Stones, Ake, Bernardo, Marmoush, Kovacic, Gonzalez, Rodri, Ait Nouri, Akanji....Go back a few years and KDB, Silva, Mahrez, Walker also fall into that camp.


So why are you expecting more from him than all of them?

Why is it half the forum think the only options are "shit" or "good enough"?

He's starting more than he should be right now because of injuries and squad turnover, but he wouldn't have played 100 games for City at such a young age if he was shit. Giving him a new contract doesn't mean he's contractually got to start every game, I don't see why any City fan wouldn't want to keep him and see where he progresses to in the next 4/5 years *especially* given he's a local lad and lifelong fan. I'm not convinced full back is his position, but I also am not so closed-minded I think a player can't learn "defensive nous" or improve after age 19.

 

[TonyBookEnd]

If he was able to get back in time, he wasn't out of position.

Haha. Fair enough

Maybe rephrased as 'he didn't need to be as precise with his positioning'

 

[KDBPLGOAT]

You lot do realise he's 20? Most of the players in our squad weren't good enough to start for City when they were 20.

Ederson, Dias, Reijnders, Stones, Ake, Bernardo, Marmoush, Kovacic, Gonzalez, Rodri, Ait Nouri, Akanji....Go back a few years and KDB, Silva, Mahrez, Walker also fall into that camp.


So why are you expecting more from him than all of them?

Why is it half the forum think the only options are "shit" or "good enough"?

He's starting more than he should be right now because of injuries and squad turnover, but he wouldn't have played 100 games for City at such a young age if he was shit. Giving him a new contract doesn't mean he's contractually got to start every game, I don't see why any City fan wouldn't want to keep him and see where he progresses to in the next 4/5 years *especially* given he's a local lad and lifelong fan. I'm not convinced full back is his position, but I also am not so closed-minded I think a player can't learn "defensive nous" or improve after age 19.

this guy isn’t a “young” footballer anymore, as you said he’s played 100 games for one of the biggest teams in Europe. None of those lads started their career at a team like ours. They played for shite teams tbh. None of those players had 100 games under their belt for a big club at this age. Hes been in the first team for 4 years now. Even when we had the treble winning team, this lad fucked up BIG TIME every other game. Now, our teams at best the 3rd best team in the league and maybe 7th best team in Europe. In Those days we’d be favourites for the UCL every season. We can’t have passengers especially not someone that’s THAT bad defensively. We need a solid defence we can’t self sabotage by playing this lad.

 

[mexico1970]

this guy isn’t a “young” footballer anymore, as you said he’s played 100 games for one of the biggest teams in Europe. None of those players had 100 games under their belt for a big club at this age. Hes been in the first team for 4 years now. Even when we had the treble winning team, this lad fucked up BIG TIME every other game. Now, our teams at best the 3rd best team in the league and maybe 7th best team in Europe. Those days we’d be favourites for the UCL every season. We can’t have passengers especially not someone that’s THAT bad defensively. We need a solid defence we can’t self sabotage by playing this lad.

HEY!!!!

He's our Bellingham, forever young.

 

[mattcity5]

Even when we had the treble winning team, this lad fucked up BIG TIME every other game.

I can get that people don't rate him and everyone has different view. What I don't get is why people feel the need to exaggerate to the point where they are clearly speaking absolute bollocks.

 

[RodneyRodney]

If he was able to get back in time, he wasn't out of position.

...he'd be Dr. Who

 

[mexico1970]

I can get that people don't rate him and everyone has different view. What I don't get is why people feel the need to exaggerate to the point where they are clearly speaking absolute bollocks.

The lad tries he's a City fan and he is wearing a blue shirt, OK he isn't exactly Kyle Walker or David Silva but who is?

 

[KDBPLGOAT]

The lad tries he's a City fan and he is wearing a blue shirt, OK he isn't exactly Kyle Walker or David Silva but who is?

Is he better than Tal BenHaim defensively?

 

[mexico1970]

Is he better than Tal BenHaim defensively?

I don't rate him as a first team first choice player, I do rate his chances to be a squad player for the future though.

 

[domalino]

this guy isn’t a “young” footballer anymore, as you said he’s played 100 games for one of the biggest teams in Europe. None of those lads started their career at a team like ours. They played for shite teams tbh. None of those players had 100 games under their belt for a big club at this age. Hes been in the first team for 4 years now. Even when we had the treble winning team, this lad fucked up BIG TIME every other game. Now, our teams at best the 3rd best team in the league and maybe 7th best team in Europe. In Those days we’d be favourites for the UCL every season. We can’t have passengers especially not someone that’s THAT bad defensively. We need a solid defence we can’t self sabotage by playing this lad.

I was going to be annoyed at how stupid (and at times just wrong) this comment is and write a long rebuttal but then I remembered I'm talking to the poster who thinks Aaron Wan-Bissaka is City quality.

 

[mattcity5]

Is he better than Tal BenHaim defensively?

Very different, but that's not surprising when you're comparing him to someone from 15 years ago. Pep has changed the game in this country since then.

Ben-Haim (at his best) was a stopper. He could head, tackle and clear the ball. That's about it though.

Lewis (at his best) helps us keep the ball and helps us progress the ball up the pitch away from our goal, so that we have to do less defending.

 

[BlueMonkey79]

The lad tries he's a City fan and he is wearing a blue shirt, OK he isn't exactly Kyle Walker or David Silva but who is?

OK then. Let's chuck 11 academy players that were born in a Manchester postcode, whos first words were Bluemoon, into our starting 11. And let's see where we get.

Yes he tries and I get the sentiment. We'd all love to play for our club and would run ourselves into the ground that I've got no doubt.

But sentiment won't get us silverware.

 

[mattcity5]

I've just thought of something, and there's a fair chance it's bollocks, but here goes...

I can see similarities between Lewis and Ederson.

Both help us keep the ball and progress the ball up the pitch.

Both get criticised by many for what they see as their failure to do their primary role - Ederson "isn't a good enough traditional keeper" and Lewis "isn't a good enough traditional defender".

It's odd though - and I don't have any stats to back this up (and I can't be bothered checking!) - but you'd almost expect the same people to slag both off and the same people to stick up for both. But I don't feel like that's the case. It feels like a lot of Ederson fans are critics of Lewis, when I'd expect that they could see some worth in what he does at least.

(And I accept that Ederson has been a level above Lewis in terms of importance to the team, but no comparison is perfect!)

 

[K-Bo]

You lot do realise he's 20? Most of the players in our squad weren't good enough to start for City when they were 20.

Ederson, Dias, Reijnders, Stones, Ake, Bernardo, Marmoush, Kovacic, Gonzalez, Rodri, Ait Nouri, Akanji....Go back a few years and KDB, Silva, Mahrez, Walker also fall into that camp.


So why are you expecting more from him than all of them?

Why is it half the forum think the only options are "shit" or "good enough"?

He's starting more than he should be right now because of injuries and squad turnover, but he wouldn't have played 100 games for City at such a young age if he was shit. Giving him a new contract doesn't mean he's contractually got to start every game, I don't see why any City fan wouldn't want to keep him and see where he progresses to in the next 4/5 years *especially* given he's a local lad and lifelong fan. I'm not convinced full back is his position, but I also am not so closed-minded I think a player can't learn "defensive nous" or improve after age 19.

I don't think he will progress in any significant way, because all his main issues are physical and can't be changed by just practising. he'll always be short, he'll always be weak, and he'll always be slow. And as people have pointed out, since he came into the team we've lost when he's played, and won when he's been dropped. i feel bad for him because unlike some other players, none of his weaknesses are his fault, and he had a great attitude. But a proper, top, ruthless big club wouldn't be messing about with Rico. It's forest that are interested in him, not bayern or real madrid.

 

[KDBPLGOAT]

I was going to be annoyed at how stupid (and at times just wrong) this comment is and write a long rebuttal but then I remembered I'm talking to the poster who thinks Aaron Wan-Bissaka is City quality.

you think Rico Lewis should start for us in big games, you must be into BDSM, and yes, Wan Bissaka is definitely better than Rico at RB, it’s not even close tbh. Do I think he’s better than Dumfries, Cambiasso, Frimpong, Trent, Hakimi ofc not, but Wan Bissaka like a shit Kyle Walker, I’ll take a shit Kyle Walker over Rico Lewis.

 

[mexico1970]

OK then. Let's chuck 11 academy players that were born in a Manchester postcode, whos first words were Bluemoon, into our starting 11. And let's see where we get.

Yes he tries and I get the sentiment. We'd all love to play for our club and would run ourselves into the ground that I've got no doubt.

But sentiment won't get us silverware.

You misunderstand me, I don't think he's good enough to take a first choice position let me make myself perfectly clear, however he could be a squad player and a utility player for when we desperately need cover.

Ohhh, and football is all about sentiment mate without it it become stale business-like and empty.

 

[sarcastico]

Let’s be real if he’s our starting RB we’ll struggle to beat any top 8 team. Home Away. Another top 4 challenge at most it is with him and that Trafford I guess. Hope we make last 16 in the UCL. Livramento Wan Bissaka where you at?

Wan Bissaka looks shot.

Tino has been electric.

 

[RodneyRodney]

OK then. Let's chuck 11 academy players that were born in a Manchester postcode, whos first words were Bluemoon, into our starting 11. And let's see where we get.

Yes he tries and I get the sentiment. We'd all love to play for our club and would run ourselves into the ground that I've got no doubt.

But sentiment won't get us silverware.

...and bust a gut sprinting flat-out to get goal side of Johnson

Instead of casually jogging

 

[HorlockofFiretopMountain]

...and bust a gut sprinting flat-out to get goal side of Johnson

Instead of casually jogging

Agree Rico looked a bit half arsed, but....as I see it, he's looking across the line and trying to judge his angles. If he pulls himself towards Johnson, it creates a big gap for Kudus, who is also steaming through unnoticed by Dias, to run into, and Richarlison would be left with an even easier ball to play him in. If he accelerates to get goal side, then all Johnson and Kudus need to to is check their runs and wait for the pull back. Allowing Kudus to get a flick in from the outball was a problem, Stones slip was unfortunate and the lack of midfield tracking back made the pull back a realistic possibility. This isn't the first time we've conceded in this type of play and it won't be the last, whoever is in the defensive line....incidentally Brennan Johnson scored a very similar goal against us last year but on our left side.