82 | Rico Lewis - 2022/23 Performances

[Trevor Morley's Tache]

Didn't look out of place. Can't give him an higher praise than that.

 

[Nicholas van Whatsisface]

I think it’s a very good sign that Pep plays him so much. Clearly he rates him very highly.

The 5 sub rule is fantastic for our young players. They are gaining so much experience because we are getting on top of other teams so quickly.

Spot on mate.

Rico has been the most obvious beneficiary of the 5 sub rule at our Club so far.

He simply wouldn’t have got these minutes last season, and it sets a great example to the Academy that Pep will play you now, given the new flexibility he has available to him.

Arguably he should have been playing these lads anyway - even with 3 subs - but I’d expect Rico to have chalked up a pretty impressive number of appearances by the end of the season. He’s on three already, and we’re only nine games in!

 

[bobom]

The five sub rule helps, but the single biggest change is that we are three or four goals up after 70 minutes, so Pep can safely blood players without risking points.

 

[mccity]

The five sub rule helps, but the single biggest change is that we are three or four goals up after 70 minutes, so Pep can safely blood players without risking points.

I may disagree here. We used to be 3 or 4 up plenty back in 17/18, but it didn't have the impact then in the way the 5 subs rule has.

 

[oldius]

I suspect both of you are right: 5 sub rule and the goalscoring are both factors. The other factor is the scale of talent coming through the academy now. The initial investment made is now reaching a natural fruition, with those players who were very, very young, now in their late teens, having had ten years of outstanding coaching in a particular play style. Players like Palmer and Lewis are too talented to ignore and, hopefully, there are more to come.

 

[domalino]

I may disagree here. We used to be 3 or 4 up plenty back in 17/18, but it didn't have the impact then in the way the 5 subs rule has.

Counter point, we have had 5 subs in Europe for 3 years and in domestic cups and peps never used kids this much.

I think he just has much more trust in the team with Haaland on.

 

[domalino]

Is interesting he’s getting a fair share of minutes already, almost being fast tracked like foden rather than with Palmer

The CB situation is untenable long term IMO, soon enough one of the 5 is going to want to leave.

So it would be really good for us if Rico could be considered solid RB cover by next summer and we can rely on 4 CBs 2 RBs and 2LBs.

 

[ManCitizens.]

The CB situation is untenable long term IMO, soon enough one of the 5 is going to want to leave.

So it would be really good for us if Rico could be considered solid RB cover by next summer and we can rely on 4 CBs 2 RBs and 2LBs.

Agreed, it wouldn’t surprise me if Ake wanted out to be first choice elsewhere

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

The CB situation is untenable long term IMO, soon enough one of the 5 is going to want to leave.

So it would be really good for us if Rico could be considered solid RB cover by next summer and we can rely on 4 CBs 2 RBs and 2LBs.

We can sell 1 or 2 next summer for £60-100m and reinvest wherever we feel we need to.

 

[domalino]

Agreed, it wouldn’t surprise me if Ake wanted out to be first choice elsewhere

I think it will be Laporte.

He’ll be 29 next summer, he’s had several major injuries, he threatened he’d want to leave when Stones and Dias benched him for half a season.