16 | Rodri - 2021/22 Performances

[FantasyIreland]

It was a shame that Pep didn’t trust Fern in the Champs League final.

Couldnt agree more.I'm still struggling with that fuck up.

 

[Pedestrian]

The thing with Barry is, it was never he wasn't great. It was just people definitely had a preference for De Jong, and as such Barry's talents went ignored. Since De Jong left, that feeling hasn't been there and it's been easy in retrospect to acknowledge the talent.

I understand we'll likely disagree, but I feel that's how it is with Rodri. Fernandinho has been a superstar and a half for City, especially at our height of glory between 2017-2019. I think a lot of people assume that the way Fernandinho plays is the one and only successfsul way to go and as such hold Rodri against those aspects, and ignore the things he actually does really well, such as being a league leader in progressive passes, pass completion, passes completed under pressure, and the ability to receive passes from defence with his back to play. They're just a few reasons why Pep loves him and why he's going to continue to get picked and is likely going to be remain a big part of our successes.

I really believe that when Rodri goes, unless his end spell here is disastrous, will be looked back at far more fondly than he is now. Just like Barry.

Even if you don't like him, you can't in good faith ignore the things the team has achieved with him in the team since he arrived. He's played just as large a role as many others in our latest triumphs.

He's not long turned 25 too, which is still a relatively young age for a position which requires as much intelligence as it does. As brilliant as Fernandinho has been, I don't think it's farfetched for me to say that the 25 year old version of him from 2010 wouldn't have been as good, nor the 2008 version if we're comparing them at 23 (age of Rodri when he showed up).

To be clear, I'm not saying Rodri is anywhere perfect. Nor am I saying he'll go on to be better than Fernandinho was. But I am saying I think he's far better than he gets credit for and comparing him harshly to Fernandinho at this stage of his career is equally a little bit unfair.

Great post.

 

[PannickAtTheDisco]

The thing with Barry is, it was never he wasn't great. It was just people definitely had a preference for De Jong, and as such Barry's talents went ignored. Since De Jong left, that feeling hasn't been there and it's been easy in retrospect to acknowledge the talent.

I understand we'll likely disagree, but I feel that's how it is with Rodri. Fernandinho has been a superstar and a half for City, especially at our height of glory between 2017-2019. I think a lot of people assume that the way Fernandinho plays is the one and only successfsul way to go and as such hold Rodri against those aspects, and ignore the things he actually does really well, such as being a league leader in progressive passes, pass completion, passes completed under pressure, and the ability to receive passes from defence with his back to play. They're just a few reasons why Pep loves him and why he's going to continue to get picked and is likely going to be remain a big part of our successes.

I really believe that when Rodri goes, unless his end spell here is disastrous, will be looked back at far more fondly than he is now. Just like Barry.

Even if you don't like him, you can't in good faith ignore the things the team has achieved with him in the team since he arrived. He's played just as large a role as many others in our latest triumphs.

He's not long turned 25 too, which is still a relatively young age for a position which requires as much intelligence as it does. As brilliant as Fernandinho has been, I don't think it's farfetched for me to say that the 25 year old version of him from 2010 wouldn't have been as good, nor the 2008 version if we're comparing them at 23 (age of Rodri when he showed up).

To be clear, I'm not saying Rodri is anywhere perfect. Nor am I saying he'll go on to be better than Fernandinho was. But I am saying I think he's far better than he gets credit for and comparing him harshly to Fernandinho at this stage of his career is equally a little bit unfair.

Barry is sullied for that goal away at Southampton. He'll never be held in the higher echelons, same with Joe.

 

[FromPollockToSilva]

A very good player who has already contributed superbly to our success.However he is not without his weaknesses and faults,namely speed,agility and recovery......and,unfortunately,i believe those are permanently restrictive in terms of his further development.
It speaks volumes that he wasnt picked/trusted in the biggest game of my 48 years and that Pep also still favours a 36yr old as the legs and cement in our side.

He is a cracking squad player,but he wasn't bought for that reason.We needed a first choice rock in the middle of the park,and unfortunately he doesn't quite live up to that billing.

Its still a problem position for us.

Rodri has played more minutes than any other outfield player over the last two seasons, and made roughly 3x the number of starts that Fernandinho did last season, so I don't agree that Pep favours Fernandinho over him at all.

Also, the narrative about Pep not "trusting" Rodri or Fernandinho in the Champions League Final needs to be put to bed. He made a tactical decision to play an extra forward player, as he stated. That's it. If he didn't trust Rodri, he wouldn't have played him more than anyone else over the last two years, or started him away in Paris. If he didn't trust Fernandinho, he wouldn't have started him in the home leg against PSG, or given him a new contract this summer.

I'm sure everyone at the club was well aware of his relative lack of pace when he was signed. Remember, this is the position that Pep himself played. He wasn't particularly quick or strong. Neither are Busquets or Xabi Alonso, both of whom Pep played in that role. If Pep is having second thoughts about Rodri (and I don't believe he is, personally), it won't be because he's suddenly realised he doesn't cover the ground like N'golo Kanté.

 

[eastmanc]

Couldnt agree more.I'm still struggling with that fuck up.

I won’t like your post because Pep‘s mess up is still raw.

 

[the old abbey]

Out of the positions that need strengthening, ie the obvious two of a left back and a centre forward, a defensive midfielder should be the top of the list, it's such an important position. This guy rhodri is nowhere near good enough. Swallow your pride pep, admit you dropped a bollock and replace him ASAP.

 

[samarasra]

Lol. That's an even dumber hypothetical. You didn't even get the facts right.

Rodri started in the FA Cup semi vs Chelsea and he was gash. His form towards the end of the season was shocking and it no doubt had a huge bearing on Pep not trusting in him in the CL final, precisely because he was playing shite.

If this is your counter argument to the criticisms raised with Rodri then you're just making my point for me. Clutching at straws doesn't do you justice.

Sadly you confuse your personal opinions (to which you are fully entitled) with facts.
"Rodri started in the FA Cup semi vs Chelsea " a fact, "and he was gash" an opinion.
"His form towards the end of the season was shocking and it no doubt had a huge bearing on Pep not trusting in him in the CL final, precisely because he was playing shite." 2 opinions. Just your opinions, don't peddle them as fact.
An opinion: you have no more factual insight into Pep's thinking than any other poster, happy to apologise if and when you provide a direct quote from Pep that says otherwise.
"You didn't even get the facts right." !!!! These are the opinions I posted :"Utter rubbish. Maybe if Rodri had played in the 2 major games we lost last season, "hypothetically", City might have added FA Cup and CL to the 2 trophies we won. What is really "dumb" is not having the capacity to see what positive attributes he has contributed to our success." Which facts did I "not even get right", ok, I accept I could have used stronger words than "utter rubbish".

 

[DATOIA]

Oh come on, guy just arrived from the holiday, he barely had enough time to train..

Mr Stable will be back, for sure..

 

[Shaffer92]

Many of you are forgetting how good he was for the first 3/4 of the season last year.. I genuinely think he hit a physical and mental wall as we saw his form fall off a cliff pretty drastically. I'm not giving up on him just yet.

 

[Phil Mitchell Foden]

Sadly you confuse your personal opinions (to which you are fully entitled) with facts.
"Rodri started in the FA Cup semi vs Chelsea " a fact, "and he was gash" an opinion.
"His form towards the end of the season was shocking and it no doubt had a huge bearing on Pep not trusting in him in the CL final, precisely because he was playing shite." 2 opinions. Just your opinions, don't peddle them as fact.
An opinion: you have no more factual insight into Pep's thinking than any other poster, happy to apologise if and when you provide a direct quote from Pep that says otherwise.
"You didn't even get the facts right." !!!! These are the opinions I posted :"Utter rubbish. Maybe if Rodri had played in the 2 major games we lost last season, "hypothetically", City might have added FA Cup and CL to the 2 trophies we won. What is really "dumb" is not having the capacity to see what positive attributes he has contributed to our success." Which facts did I "not even get right", ok, I accept I could have used stronger words than "utter rubbish".

You said if Rodri played in the two major games we lost last season we might have won the FA Cup and CL.

What major games are you referring to other than the semi final of the FA Cup and the CL final?

Are you confusing yourself here or something?

Rodri played the full 90 in the FA Cup semi final. Contributed fuck all.

He didn't play in the CL final because his form towards the close of the season was gash. In the last league fixture vs Chelsea he was absolutely shocking and was directly responsible for their equaliser, and failed to track his man for their winner.

I understand defending players from criticism mate but you're not making a jot of sense.

 

[oldius]

How can a player who tops nearly every stat for midfielders in a season be consistently derided by a number of City fans? We saw the chart for progressive passes, that he tops, yet some insist he only passes backwards and sideways, just as one example.

 

[Tugay One Cup]

Thought he was decent when he came on.

I think some of you have simply missed slagging him off these last couple of months.

 

[FromPollockToSilva]

How can a player who tops nearly every stat for midfielders in a season be consistently derided by a number of City fans? We saw the chart for progressive passes, that he tops, yet some insist he only passes backwards and sideways, just as one example.

I know. I wish we could all at least acknowledge the facts and then debate from there. If someone thinks we should get an upgrade on Rodri or would prefer a different kind of player in that role, that's fine, let's talk about that. But if you only get as far as "he only passes backwards, I don't care what the stats say, I believe my own eyes," there's not much point.

 

[samarasra]

You said if Rodri played in the two major games we lost last season we might have won the FA Cup and CL.

What major games are you referring to other than the semi final of the FA Cup and the CL final?

Are you confusing yourself here or something?

Rodri played the full 90 in the FA Cup semi final. Contributed fuck all.

He didn't play in the CL final because his form towards the close of the season was gash. In the last league fixture vs Chelsea he was absolutely shocking and was directly responsible for their equaliser, and failed to track his man for their winner.

I understand defending players from criticism mate but you're not making a jot of sense.

I have re-read the previous 6 pages noting your replies to various posts and avoidance of answering reasonable questions you were asked. If "he was gash" is the most enlightening "criticism" you can write, I'm not surprised you cannot make sense of what was posted. I am not at all confused about any posters comments, only why you/they expend so much negative energy on seeking out every opportunity to make degrading comments about a number of our players. I'm not playing your game, life is short, so while you focus on finding faults to give you an excuse to term our players as "gash" or "shite", I'll watch every second of City I can, praise what is imo praiseworthy, try to debate, with other broad minded posters, things that are imo worthy reasonable criticism. I hope you find some joy in the coming season and actually enjoy the football.

 

[Phil Mitchell Foden]

I have re-read the previous 6 pages noting your replies to various posts and avoidance of answering reasonable questions you were asked. If "he was gash" is the most enlightening "criticism" you can write, I'm not surprised you cannot make sense of what was posted. I am not at all confused about any posters comments, only why you/they expend so much negative energy on seeking out every opportunity to make degrading comments about a number of our players. I'm not playing your game, life is short, so while you focus on finding faults to give you an excuse to term our players as "gash" or "shite", I'll watch every second of City I can, praise what is imo praiseworthy, try to debate, with other broad minded posters, things that are imo worthy reasonable criticism. I hope you find some joy in the coming season and actually enjoy the football.

I'm speechless. You verbatim said:

"Maybe if Rodri had played in the 2 major games we lost last season, "hypothetically", City might have added FA Cup and CL to the 2 trophies we won."

Rodri played the full 90 minutes in the FA Cup semi-final vs Chelsea.

How can anyone make sense of a dumb hypothetical based on something that isn't even factually correct?

How do you expect anyone else to make sense of your argument if you don't even understand it yourself?

Absolutely bizarre.

 

[samarasra]

I'm speechless. You verbatim said:

"Maybe if Rodri had played in the 2 major games we lost last season, "hypothetically", City might have added FA Cup and CL to the 2 trophies we won."

Rodri played the full 90 minutes in the FA Cup semi-final vs Chelsea.

How can anyone make sense of a dumb hypothetical based on something that isn't even factually correct?

How do you expect anyone else to make sense of your argument if you don't even understand it yourself?

Absolutely bizarre.

Sunday 8.57
("Rodri started in the FA Cup semi vs Chelsea " a fact, "and he was gash" an opinion.) But you said he "Contributed fuck all" so it seems, if we are to believe your opinion, he didn't play. Bizarre indeed.

 

[super_city_si]

I know. I wish we could all at least acknowledge the facts and then debate from there. If someone thinks we should get an upgrade on Rodri or would prefer a different kind of player in that role, that's fine, let's talk about that. But if you only get as far as "he only passes backwards, I don't care what the stats say, I believe my own eyes," there's not much point.

Same as pretty much everything these days, there can only be extremes, no middle Ground.

i like rodri and see a lot of good in him but Im not blinded to his weaknesses either. He was poorer in the last third of the season but he had played a ton of games.

when hes on form he used the ball very well but its his press that is most impressive. He reads the game really well and is often the one to win the ball back or force a turn over when the front three harry the defence in to making a rushed pass And he is there to force a mistake

on the flip side, when hes not on form its usually fatigue and his lack of pace and agility really hamper him.

to the posters claiming we will be in the market for a new 6 when dinho retires.....of course we will. Thats not a detraction on rodri. We need two of them and we‘ll buy another unless Lavia proves hes ready.

 

[Phil Mitchell Foden]

Sunday 8.57
("Rodri started in the FA Cup semi vs Chelsea " a fact, "and he was gash" an opinion.) But you said he "Contributed fuck all" so it seems, if we are to believe your opinion, he didn't play. Bizarre indeed.

What a truly and utterly bizarre way to try and double down on being both incorrect and making a laughable point.

You do you though mate.

 

[samarasra]

Same as pretty much everything these days, there can only be extremes, no middle Ground.

i like rodri and see a lot of good in him but Im not blinded to his weaknesses either. He was poorer in the last third of the season but he had played a ton of games.

when hes on form he used the ball very well but its his press that is most impressive. He reads the game really well and is often the one to win the ball back or force a turn over when the front three harry the defence in to making a rushed pass And he is there to force a mistake

on the flip side, when hes not on form its usually fatigue and his lack of pace and agility really hamper him.

to the posters claiming we will be in the market for a new 6 when dinho retires.....of course we will. Thats not a detraction on rodri. We need two of them and we‘ll buy another unless Lavia proves hes ready.

That sums up my opinion on him very well. Even the greatest players weren't without some weakness in their game. None of our players are perfect but imo, balanced, constructive criticism is more worthwhile than constant over reaction to to their weakness and praise where due doesn't cost a poster anything either.

 

[ctwrd]

Thought he was decent when he came on.

I think some of you have simply missed slagging him off these last couple of months.

Not sure what you all see in him.
Pep doesn’t rate him that highly going of the Cl final