Should we swap Fernandinho and Rodri?

[jimharri]

He’s there to make saves. Even if you buy into all this xg theory you’re going off such a small sample size of games that any stats are meaningless

Fine. You ignore it if you want. I'm not going to argue all day with you. You won't change my mind, and I won't change yours.

 

[wolfie1988]

It's funny because Rodri has come in and been an absolute colossus. But I think his arrival has played a big part in our vulnerability at the back so far this year.

He's so different to Fernandinho in the way he plays that we're taking some adjusting to it and it's leaving gaps.

When we get used to the way he plays, I'm pretty sure we'll tighten up again but that coupled with the defensive personnel issues has made contributed to our openness in my opinion.

 

[cjn]

I don’t really understand the problem you’re looking to solve. Fernandinho is excellent in the air for his height, and while Rodri is taller you want to move (in my opinion) our most consistent performer to a new position midway through the season so you can get a few inches of extra heigh at the back?

 

[ws01]

Pep has hinted at playing Rodri at the back already. Not sure about it tbh - although we'd be stronger defensively in the middle with Fern there and covering more ground, I wouldn't want to see pacy attackers get in behind Rodri with his lack of speed and slow turn.

I and a few others said this throught the off-season when we signed Rodri: we need to be careful with our expectations with the slow phase out of Fernandinho and his replacements. Ferna is an absolute freak of a player. A gem. I'm convinced there's no other player quite like him in the world. Trying to replicate his skill set in one midfielder will be nigh on impossible.

 

[Tim of the Oak]

The lack of height in our defence (and team) particularly at set pieces is a cause for concern, however it's very early days in the Fernandinho and Otamendi partnership. Even top class defenders take time to build an understanding so I'm hoping it will become more assured in the coming weeks, at least till Stones is back.

Fernandinho has a very good leap so I’m not sure that Stones is any better in the air. The set pieces have been a defensive weakness of ours for a while and it’s not just linked to the injuries IMHO. Pep
Priorities other skills over competing in the air. For example, it’s difficult to imagine pep picking a Calceido or Dzeko type attacker who secondary function is to head away corners at the near post.

 

[Pingu the Penguin]

The stranger thing for me is the left back situation ATM. Not knocking Zinch who is doing his best but Mendy needs minutes and Angelino is a specialist in the position. Having one makeshift in a back 4 is tough but seems strange to have 2

 

[stan bowles]

Leave them both where they are. Both need a run of games playing where they are. Rodri because he's in a new country and a new league and opponents he's never faced before and Fern because he's being asked to play out of position out of necessity.

 

[OB1]

No.

 

[I'm With Stupid]

I think our issue against Everton was the large parts of the game where we failed to control possession like we normally do. That invited pressure and they got a ridiculous number of set pieces in and around our area. Zinchenko in particular always looked like he could be got at. I don't even think there was a single corner on Walker's side.

 

[Stoned Rose]

Nothing wrong with the defence. One bad game at Norwich which the biased media gleefully seize upon as proof that we’re on the slide and all the flappers start panicking and wanting to replace title winning first class central defenders with kids. 1 goal conceded in 4 subsequent games shows everything’s fine

And how many games does Zin need to have played and won at left back in probably the best English side ever in the best quality title race ever to qualify as a left back ffs

Aside from Ederson needing to produce 3 blinding saves yesterday, everything is sweet.

We could very easily have come away with dick all yesterday a 3 year old could see that.

Rodri is too slow and not aggressive enough to be a CB.

He’s purely ‘a Busquets’ and very very good in that role.

Fern will be fine at CB at home but I wouldn’t play him there in tricky away games.

In those trickier games I would use Walker as the 2nd CB and use Cancelo at RB.

Or I’d bite the bullet and go with Garcia as the 2nd CB.

You don’t put a square peg in a round hole in a tricky game.