#16 | Rodri - 2020/21 Performances

[oldius]

I rate Rodri highly but the game is a team game and the whole team is not quite cutting it. We are not as pressing as aggressively from the front and this is resulting in more pressure on our midfield and also fewer clear cut chances and reduced goals; neither Rodri or KDB should be chasing back, like loonies, because the ball is through behind our fullback positions with onrushing midfielders breaking into the spaces.

 

[Dax777]

You rate Rodri for passing the ball backwards and sideways whilst casually sauntering about the pitch at snail pace?... Are you his agent? : /

I don't rate him, the stats does. He led all players with 4 key passes on Saturday. Clearly it's not all sideways and backwards.

Not to mention. Sideways and backwards is how 70% of our passes go regardless of player. It's part of the DNA of how our team tries to pry and prod then open up the opposition.

We are less successful at it now because our passing is less crisp, our movements are less organized. This is the case, whether it's Rodri, Gundogan, Dihno or Debryune playing DM. And has been for the better part of 18 months.

When I watch Dortmund, I don't see better players I see a better team. Passes are quicker, movement more crisp and decisions are instinctive almost.

I used to think teams park the bus against us. But in reality we have a system that induces parking the bus :(

And the issue is NOT Rodri. It's the team.

 

[decmancity]

I like Rodri but its plain to see that he is not the only issue here. The team has been going backwards for a while now and its not down to this lad. We have lost world class players who were key to our game and everyones game has dropped just a little, it happens after a back to back title run that involved a quad trophy season and one where we had to hunt down the dippers. Neither was easy and it completely fucked us.

Some players in that team are likely to never reach those levels again.

Rodri came in and Pep clearly has wanted to change things around to freshen it up but Rodri is not going to do that, he wasn't some all action midfielder at Atletico that we have converted, he has always been this way. That's not his fault.

I don't think Pep is asking anything different from him either, just the rest of the team is everywhere. We struggle to get the same back 4 on the pitch, we still have no LB or LW, both strikers are injury prone and the likes of KDB and Sterling look out on their feet.

 

[mancity1]

I don't rate him, the stats does. He led all players with 4 key passes on Saturday. Clearly it's not all sideways and backwards.

Not to mention. Sideways and backwards is how 70% of our passes go regardless of player. It's part of the DNA of how our team tries to pry and prod then open up the opposition.

We are less successful at it now because our passing is less crisp, our movements are less organized. This is the case, whether it's Rodri, Gundogan, Dihno or Debryune playing DM. And has been for the better part of 18 months.

When I watch Dortmund, I don't see better players I see a better team. Passes are quicker, movement more crisp and decisions are instinctive almost.

I used to think teams park the bus against us. But in reality we have a system that induces parking the bus :(

And the issue is NOT Rodri. It's the team.

Good summary when the instinctiveness and creation is missing and as a consequence the passing forward slows and lacks quality and the easy pass increases it allows for banks of defenders to hold their position without concern where the next pass is going to.

This is due to a lack of confidence and in part the game plan.

Pep is in a slump at present and that also translates to the team performance as well.

In saying that the team does need improvement in some areas if we are to begin returning to how we approached games in Peps 2nd and 3rd year in charge and how we managed home games especially in RM's title winning season and played for large parts in MP's first season in charge.

Any side can drop of the perch especially if new players don't revitalise some of the older brigade and the manager.

How far is the question and what the club does in response in the transfer windows are more critical than ever it seems.

 

[BlueMoonRisin’]

I don't rate him, the stats does. He led all players with 4 key passes on Saturday. Clearly it's not all sideways and backwards.

Not to mention. Sideways and backwards is how 70% of our passes go regardless of player. It's part of the DNA of how our team tries to pry and prod then open up the opposition.

We are less successful at it now because our passing is less crisp, our movements are less organized. This is the case, whether it's Rodri, Gundogan, Dihno or Debryune playing DM. And has been for the better part of 18 months.

When I watch Dortmund, I don't see better players I see a better team. Passes are quicker, movement more crisp and decisions are instinctive almost.

I used to think teams park the bus against us. But in reality we have a system that induces parking the bus :(

And the issue is NOT Rodri. It's the team.

You don't rate him but the stats do?

So you're happy Rodri has great passing completion stats even though many are sideways and backwards? You can't take too much from stats. Our possession stats are still very high 66 to 34% against spuds. Rodri has been poor Dax and his stats flatters to deceive.

 

[mccity]

You don't rate him but the stats do?

So you're happy Rodri has great passing completion stats even though many are sideways and backwards? You can't take too much from stats. Our possession stats are still very high 66 to 34% against spuds. Rodri has been poor Dax and his stats flatters to deceive.

You know a lot of Fernandinho's passes were also sideways and backwards?

 

[BlueMoonRisin’]

You know a lot of Fernandinho's passes were also sideways and backwards?

Give over.

 

[mccity]

Give over.

Well, we have evidence that Fernandinho was more than good enough for our DM role and he played it around the back just like the others who play there do. Criticising a DM in a Guardiola side for passing it backwards and sideways is just naive.

 

[The Fat el Hombre]

I thought he started well and faded a bit but i found his performance encouraging enough on the whole. Good to see him using his size and putting himself about a bit cos he's a big guy and if he's up for it he looks like he could be a force. He moved it quickly and positively enough tonight for me

 

[samarasra]

You rate Rodri for passing the ball backwards and sideways whilst casually sauntering about the pitch at snail pace?... Are you his agent? : /

Hard to imagine you watch any of the games.