Facts are facts mate. You need to be more lucid & precise before you go making throwaway comments trying to be clever.
So after unpicking your reply, let's cut to the chase. Most of what you've claimed is your personal opinion, which I appreciate you have a right to hold. -and likewise, most of what you type is your personal opinion
Let's start from what we agree with...
1. Neither of us likes Pep's inverted RB system - at present no
2. We agree we don't have anyone better than Rico at the club to play that role - Im not sure if Nunes is better or worse - neither are good however. John Stones if he wasnt needed at centre half could certainly play it better. There will be others that a world class DOF with one of the largest scouting networks at his beck and call will know
3. Inspite of your criticisms of Lewis, you can't name one player in world football who can perform that role, or is playing the inverted RB position better than Rico, so we can contrast & compare - doesnt mean there arent any. Id rather have had frimpong, Munoz, Livramento all of whom could play the role equally well in the offensive third and certainly play the defensive part of the game better. Kounde can play right back as well as centre half. Hakimi would obvioulsy be better as well -if Rico Lewis ca be taught how to play the inverted right back role then other better right backs can be taught this as well.
OK, we can settle on those points.
So then who's responsible for the role Rico plays? Rico or his manager? If it's his manager, why are you getting on Rico's back for playing him in that role & not his manager? - Both - ultimatly it comes down to Pep but Rico hasnt been playing well either. Not even Pep can legislate for instance for sloppy passing, giving the ball away and a lack of defensive awareness. Going for the ball with the wrong foot is schoolboy level.
In terms of player comparisons, you're comparing world class seasoned professionals at the zenith of their careers against a former EDS player barely out of his teens. Kind of like comparing Foden at 20 to Maradona & saying he's not good enough & never will be! - These are the standards the club sets - not me. - Also its interesting that you mention Foden - when he first came on the scene there were very few if any doubted that he would make it at the top in terms of skill level and technical ability - there are plenty questioning Rico Lewis. Age maybe one thing but Rico Lewis has a lot of game sunder his belt so his actual experience is greater than his age.
You've compared Rico's No 10 position, final ⅓ passing play to the magician David Silva (too small & flimsy for English football), his No 6 & No 8 play to Fernandinho, Yaya, Plodri (current world's best player) & Bernardo? - Only knownowts doubted Silva. His ability to manipulate the ball was far superior to Rico Lewis as Ive previously mentioned as was his first touch - Ive compared him to them as these are the standards he has to reach - thats who he either has to compete with now or he has to reach the level of - if you want to go further, if you were to compare him to ANY midfielder in the currect squad or over the last decade who is he better than - very few if any at the midfield role. Kalvin Phillips obvioulsy, Nunes (maybe) who else?
Thst high praise indeed for Rico if you have to go to those exhalted levels of playing legends to validate your ultra negative opinion of the kid.
In this respect, let's say I agree. Rico's no Messi on the right, no Ronaldo on the left, or no Pelé through the centre either, & I too would be pleasantly surprised if he ever attained those levels. They seem like rational comparisons too huh?
Rico's been around our first team squad since 2022-23. Again we can agree that opposition players targeted him for brutal treatment knowing that it would knock him off his stride & shake him up. - yes
However, I've noticed something different about him recently. He's seriously bulked up & since the CWC, & I can't recall a player bullying him since, without it being penalised as a clear foul -dont know if he has or hasnt....if he has i hadnt noticed.
Following in his Dad's footsteps, Rico's always practiced Jujitsu, & he's now apparently taken up boxing & more importantly, boxing training. Take a close look at his thighs, calves & his chest area. He's definitely added significant muscle mass, which probably explains why the kid isn't so easy to throw around any longer. - h
Against Wolves a player clattered him from behind around the halfway line, which was awarded as a foul, & again two players clattered into him as he was shielding the ball as it was dribbling out of play in our area. That should've been given as a foul, not a corner imo, but still... Aside from that, can you cite any instances since the CWC where Rico was physically weak or bullied? SO a number of instances where he has been bullied already.
At no point over the first two games of this season, can I recall Lewis being bullied, but have you already made up your mind about a 20 year old, that he'll forever be "Little Lewis" & that he'll never fill out into possibly becoming "Rico the Rock"?
Despite his physical shortcomings, Lewis has the heart of a lion & a football intelligence that belies his years. Says who? Says the best football manager I've ever come across, the former England manager & Nottingham Forest who were reportedly told to fuck off when they recently made a derisory opening £30m bid for a player who you deem to be totally deficient in all aspects of football, & has zero redeeming attributes as a footballer.
So the question is, what have Pep Guardiola, Nunes Espirito Santo, Gareth Southgate & a host of other top flight football managers across England & the European continent missed that you've seen? Is there anything at all that you rate about him? - Ive already listed his qualities prior to this. Using Gareth Soutgate as a barometer for knowing excellence hardly does your argument justice btw. Do you think even Pep can make mistakes on players - cause I can assure he does and will do in the future.
As for Lewis not being a competant traditional RB, you've not cited an instance of him playing there to comment on. Not one, because it's quite clearly evident that Pep Guardiola has bigger plans for the player, whether you wish to acknowledge it or not - You already said it doesnt work this bigger plan of playing him as an inverted rigth back/hybrid midfielder.
I get it, you don't rate the guy, but how can you confidently say that Rico Lewis can't now or ever play as a traditional over/underlapping RB, when you can't tell me a time when he has, & what other criticisms you have of the lad playing there? - No i dont rate him and Im certainly not the only one. Why doesnt pep play him as a traditional right back then - he didnt ask walker to invert (cause he couldnt)?
Tbh mate, it seems like Rico is your modern day replacement for Richard Edgehill. The difference being that Rico's career has barely started, & you can't see ONE redeeming facet to attribute to him. -as i said i have pointed out his positive qualities - go back and check -whether you think this is personal or not I dont care (btw it isnt personal)
I seriously can't believe you've cited prime David Silva, Fernandinho, Yaya, Rodri & Bernardo as comparisons to prove your reasonings as to why 20 year old Rico Lewis is shit. - again these are the standards he has to reach, these are the players he has to be as good as and these are the standards the club has set. Lets look at others: Gundogan, Gareth Barry, James Milner, Samir Nasri, Nigel Dejong - again these are the standards - I dont set the standards, the club does. Many players wont make it if we keep hitting these standards......look at someone like Fernando, Stefan Jovetic or Javi Garcia or Jack Rodwell for instance - all fell by the wayside. Rico Lewis has to meet these standards -does he? Will Nico OReilly meet these standards, will Nico meet them? Will any of the present EDS meet them - some wont so its definitely possible that Rico wont and on the eye at present he doesnt do
Not ONE of them was ever tasked with playing Pep's inverted RB role. Ask yourself why mate... I dont know why. I know tactically why he does it (plays an inverted right back) - and John Stones has played that role briefly or as part of a back 3 and inverted himself into midfield as well. Nico OReilly did it a little last year but then started to play slightly wider at times as he was more effective. I get you rate him - I dont. Do i think he is bad player - no, do i think he is good enough to play the role that he is being asked to or to play a different role in our team - no. I hope he proves me wrong
