If you are fortunate enough to have time to watch, on the City site, the matches Rodri played in last seasons 22 game winning run you will surely see why he is considered by many, a "very good player". Forget issues of speed, mobility and the fact he is not Fernandino, turn down the sound and watch with an open mind, the way the games evolve and the seamless positive contributions he makes. Make your own fair judgement of what you see.I'm struggling to understand when people are saying that Rodri is a ''very good player'' even though they admit he lacks speed and mobility, and he clearly doesn't possess the positional awareness to negate the first two deficiencies.... just what are his qualities that make him a ''very good player'' especially as a DM?
That's an understatement and a half..Thought he played well today. Underrated player on here.
Fast counter-attacking teams are very dangerous against a high line. If you give away the ball cheaply, as we did against Spurs, you are extremely vulnerable, and the CDM in such a situation is often beyond the halfway line. Whoever we had, in such a situation, there would be nothing they could do. The key is to maintain possession and, as you say, have a robust tactical plan.Don't think the doubts people have over him are in these games - he's clearly great at keeping us ticking and picking a pass from deep. These games where we are able to dominate show how good he is at this role.
Where he can get caught out is his lack of pace against the faster counter attacking teams. I don't blame him for that though, should be Pep's job to tactically work around his deficiencies.
Of course he will. We will have 70% possession in a 5-0 win and he won't get pinged by the NHS track and trace app as no one will come within 15 yards of him, but he will have a 98% pass success rate though.
It will be a prime Rodri game.