The Rodri dilemma

[JewelZee]

You’d have sold Stones?

Setting aside what I would have done for a moment. City were looking to move Stones last Summer. He made it clear he had no intention of leaving at that time. Stones was here this season to do what exactly? Sit out over 80% of our games injured while eating up a chunk of our payroll. He's been a great part of our success and is beloved by our supporters. That doesn't mean the club owes him or anyone else in that situation any additional seasons for past performance. Trust me, that's far from a radical position in the world of professional sports. Would I have sold Bernardo last Summer? No. Would I have sold Stones? Like City, I would have tried...

 

[Abattoir Blue]

Milner gave us five good years and then enjoyed another eight at Liverpool, which he would probably never have received with us. I bear no grudges, Rodri will be turning 31 next summer and by then will have given us his best eight years.

We have set a pattern for allowing players to see out their contracts, so I can see others following suit.

Yep. Did his time, full effort, some great performances and memories. Did an interview with new club saying stuff he had to say - imagine "I wish I was still at City, they are much bigger and better club"?!

Some odd views on Milner & Distin IMO.

 

[gkmcfc]

Be interesting to watch him in the World Cup but we need to plan for life after his contract. He’s done enough for our club to leave on a free if he wants. He’ll be 31 at the end of his contract and we’ve had his best years without a doubt.

 

[Abattoir Blue]

There is no dilemma. He stays, non negotiable. he either signs a new contract or he leaves us in a free next summer. Too much change to even contemplate allowing him to leave this summer too. If Rodri isn't here next season, we could easily have a rocky season and miss out on CL football alltogether, with Rodri, he gets us that even in a bad season, that alone covers any fee we'd get for him.

This is the key point. Need some stability in the dressing room during this period of turbulence. Need remaining big players from Pep era to keep standards high (can't just be Erling and Ruben).

 

[Gorton_Tubster]

Setting aside what I would have done for a moment. City were looking to move Stones last Summer. He made it clear he had no intention of leaving at that time. Stones was here this season to do what exactly? Sit out over 80% of our games injured while eating up a chunk of our payroll. He's been a great part of our success and is beloved by our supporters. That doesn't mean the club owes him or anyone else in that situation any additional seasons for past performance. Trust me, that's far from a radical position in the world of professional sports. Would I have sold Bernardo last Summer? No. Would I have sold Stones? Like City, I would have tried...

To help the younger players learn from someone who : Has vast experience, applies the standards that the club demand, is part of the fabric of mcfc.

He is owed nothing agreed, but just shipping players out when we've finished with them is heartless, soulless, and quite opposite to what or how City operate. All the statues, the accolades, the support we give the players makes them work harder for the club. It's simple team and man management.

I think players, some, are worth more than just what they bring in the pitch. Stones is one of them.

 

[JewelZee]

It's simple if he wants to stay and Enzo (?) wants him then he signs a new contract
If he doesnt sign then look to sell or accept another season followed by a free is fine
If he doesnt sign but stays there is a whole year to convince him or, decide that he's dispensable due to age

Trust the club to get it right

What if he doesn't sign, stays, and his performance remains below his previous standards or he spends large chunks of time in the trainer's room? Can a new manager like Maresca deal with not choosing a sub par Rodri? Should he be put in that position?

Maybe we can use the World Cup away from having to evaluate him in our own games to help us access where he actually is at this point. If we trust he'll make it all the way back then of course signing him to a new deal is the best option. If not, there are critical decisions to be made.

 

[Edghill OG]

Might never be the same player he was after that injury, but a partial Rodri that is available for most of the season is still the best central midfielder in the country. Wouldn't swap him for anybody.

Only reason I'd let him go is if the medical team believe he is now compromised. I thought they should have given KDB an extra season and him breaking down again at Napoli sort of justified their decision. Rodders seemed to be very robust before that injury and readily available, but he now seems susceptible to picking up niggling shit quite regularly.

Hope he proves his fitness and stays, signs an extension and leads the team going forward.

 

[The Lightbowne Cowboy]

Keep him for one final year and let him go on a free.

No one is getting a better Rodri than we got.

Or better still, get him to sign a year or two extension and give him a verbal agreement that he can go at the end of next season, thus protecting our asset.

 

[Tricky_Trev]

In normal circumstances I would see the value in getting money in now (assuming he doesn’t extend), but on the back of Pep, Bernardo & Stones leaving I think the right call is to let him see his contract out. We need his experience, we need his mindset way more than we need the cash.

 

[M Gaudino]

To help the younger players learn from someone who : Has vast experience, applies the standards that the club demand, is part of the fabric of mcfc.

He is owed nothing agreed, but just shipping players out when we've finished with them is heartless, soulless, and quite opposite to what or how City operate. All the statues, the accolades, the support we give the players makes them work harder for the club. It's simple team and man management.

I think players, some, are worth more than just what they bring in the pitch. Stones is one of them.

all things come to an end. it was kinda clear from their reactions that Silva has decided to leave and Stones has been told he is leaving.

We have 5 other centre backs who get paid less and he is always injured .

 

[JewelZee]

To help the younger players learn from someone who : Has vast experience, applies the standards that the club demand, is part of the fabric of mcfc.

He is owed nothing agreed, but just shipping players out when we've finished with them is heartless, soulless, and quite opposite to what or how City operate. All the statues, the accolades, the support we give the players makes them work harder for the club. It's simple team and man management.

I think players, some, are worth more than just what they bring in the pitch. Stones is one of them.

No disrespect but former players like a Fernandinho should be on the staff mentoring the younger players. Apparently something Kolo is doing.

Waiting until one has outplayed their utility isn't what allows us doing the statues, the accolades, and support you're referring to. That is the fabric.

Players are no dummies. They know when they are cooked. Moving on from such situations benefits both the club and the player. Otherwise one becomes like Walker taking loads of heat after being one of the best in the business. To some degree pro sports are heartless but it's also a profession that only a very, very few can ever partake in while being compensated at levels that the average person never will. Just my thoughts...

 

[JewelZee]

In normal circumstances I would see the value in getting money in now (assuming he doesn’t extend), but on the back of Pep, Bernardo & Stones leaving I think the right call is to let him see his contract out. We need his experience, we need his mindset way more than we need the cash.

If he's healthy, yes. If he's not up to it and won't sign?

 

[Manc in London]

The people claiming he isn't the same player simply do not appreciate the recovery period of an ACL injury. It's a 2 year injury, returning to the pitch after a year is the first stage of the recovery, the second part is the re-conditioning, which involves allowing for the inevitable smaller muscle injuries, the gradual re-strengthening of the knee and learning to trust your own body again (something Rodri is miles behind on) being back on the pitch doesn't mean he is back. The people who know, correctly predicted this whole thing last summer and tried to warn those who were claiming we'd have rodri back this season that it wouldn't be the case. Next season is when we can expect him back fit only then can you begin to question whether he is the same player post injury, doing so before is judging him whilst he is still injured.

I am not sure it is a fact it can take up to 2 years. It can take take a couple of years or so but many have come back fine after a year in a variety of sports, including sports where the knee and leg muscles are put under greater stress (e.g. offensive linemen in the NFL).

Anyway.....it would be madness to sell him as I think he is the only starting quality midfielder. We need two midfielders even if Rodri stays.

 

[Pedestrian]

Sell a ballon d'or winner from 2 years ago for between 20 & 50m lol. He will be much improved in August with a rest....
.is he in the Spain squad? Keep him & buy 1 or 2 midfielders..there must be another academy star due to step up...don't forget O'Reilly can play in the middle with Rodri now Gvardiol is back playing.

He’ll play every min of every Spain game. He’s their best player.

 

[Matt Diablo]

Sign a new 3 year please Rodders

 

[Tricky_Trev]

If he's healthy, yes. If he's not up to it and won't sign?

Signing two midfielders this summer would help. Rodri could then be a rotation option in the world where his body prevents him from being anything more. I’d still keep him.

 

[JewelZee]

Signing two midfielders this summer would help. Rodri could then be a rotation option in the world where his body prevents him from being anything more. I’d still keep him.

Decent plan...

 

[Lord Blue]

put an offer to him and let him decide between stay the last year, extend, or leave for a fee.

he deserves that imo.

he may be attracted by a return to Spain for his last few years.

he may feel at home here and want some of that stones, bernado, pep adulation when he finally goes.

personally i'd like him to extend

 

[Gorton_Tubster]

all things come to an end. it was kinda clear from their reactions that Silva has decided to leave and Stones has been told he is leaving.

We have 5 other centre backs who get paid less and he is always injured .

Yeah like I said. He brings me than just on the pitch.

It's like Kompany and how we supported him during that last season where he was injured - he loves the club even more for it. We could just fuck them off, save the money, I understand that.

 

[Gorton_Tubster]

No disrespect but former players like a Fernandinho should be on the staff mentoring the younger players. Apparently something Kolo is doing.

Waiting until one has outplayed their utility isn't what allows us doing the statues, the accolades, and support you're referring to. That is the fabric.

Players are no dummies. They know when they are cooked. Moving on from such situations benefits both the club and the player. Otherwise one becomes like Walker taking loads of heat after being one of the best in the business. To some degree pro sports are heartless but it's also a profession that only a very, very few can ever partake in while being compensated at levels that the average person never will. Just my thoughts...

Stones is nothing like walker, nothing but love for the club from Stones. He will (Stones) be back in future helping out in some context, because of how we supported him. You literally can't buy that.

But we all look at things differently.