82 | Rico Lewis - 2023/24

[DATOIA]

I didn't want to be the one to say it. But Kyle is a specialist player to me. Not an every game player.

I think we are a better team in most games with Rico over Kyle. And Kyle in special games against certain Superstar players like:
Mbappe, Leao, Vinicius etc.

Most games is exaggerated, if we look at PL's Top 10 teams right now...

But against bottom 10 teams it's possible to rest Kyle and play Rico...

People can't see that defensively Rico is still liability. Can't count number of times he lost simple balls during build up or even look at North Macedonia goal against England, stupid mistake in a very simple situation, but what can you do, size does it all.

Pep is correct, he is more of a midfielder than a defender and I can easily see him progress as a box-to-box, rather than fullback.

 

[TrentGrisham]

or even look at North Macedonia goal against England, stupid mistake in a very simple situation, but what can you do, size does it all.

That wasn't a penalty in a MILLION years. A complete and total makeup call for not giving the Maguire one for whatever reason.

 

[bluealf]

The offensive part of Walker’s game is not his strongest point but he is far from useless in an attacking sense. His decoy runs alone can be very useful but he doesn’t make them often now because he is usually focused far more on the defensive side. He gives us something no one else can when defending against the counter attack.

He is also quite simply the best right back Manchester City have had since Tony Book and I’d say he is probably better than Skip, so quite probably our best ever RB.

Rico is a great prospect but it remains to be seen what his best position is. He is not ready to be first choice RB.

You not rate Zabs at all then?

 

[alexmcity]

Incredible talent. Can see him contributing in big games toward the end of the season.

 

[OB1]

You not rate Zabs at all then?

Of course I rate Zabba. Top 3 as far as City RB's go.

 

[OB1]

I've never denied this. He's a legend of the club and the best English RB of all time. I just thought it was the perfect time to transition away from him to a more 'modern' fullback, or at most give him one more year. To give him 3 was absolute madness, in my opinion. It's not like he's a left-back where there's a complete lack of quality in that position in the game currently.

But he hasn't been defending well is my point. At least not at a high enough standard that he's nailed on to start every game. He's absolutely not solely responsible but just off the top of my head this season thus far, he's been heavily involved in Sheffield United's goal, all of Man United's chances came from him switching off, Bournemouth's goal, Brighton's goal, his Chelsea performance, etc.

Kyle made a great start to the season, that I do recall.

Haven't menorised which defenders were at fault on every goal we have conceded and whther or not Kyle is the biggest culprit but I'm sure we are generally likely to be weaker defensively if we play Rico rather than him.

He certainly screwed up vs Sheff U but then bust a gut to get us ahead again and was absolutely instrumental in the winner City scored.

 

[Kippax Street 1880]

Of course I rate Zabba. Top 3 as far as City RB's go.

People forget how good Zabaleta was, he was absolute quality going forward, good enough on the ball to play central midfield a number of times for us, scored vital goals, was often the man to spark us into life when we were playing poorly with a lung busting run or shuddering tackle. I'd have him in my all time City XI every day of the week. While Kyle has also been great for us, the only thing he has over Zab is pace.

If a prime Pab Zab was about today I'd go and throw 150 million at him, he'd be perfect for this current system. Imagine all those overlapping runs he used to make but linking up with Foden and Bernardo, 10 assists a season easy.

 

[youngbob]

I've never denied this. He's a legend of the club and the best English RB of all time. I just thought it was the perfect time to transition away from him to a more 'modern' fullback, or at most give him one more year. To give him 3 was absolute madness, in my opinion. It's not like he's a left-back where there's a complete lack of quality in that position in the game currently.

The club clearly see Kyle as a dressing room leader, though, don't they, and will likely be angling towards keeping him as a coach once he retires (probably at the end of this current contract). Plus, Rico's not kicked on defensively as much as Pep and Txiki thought and they probably see him as a number 6, number 8 hybrid in the future, a Kovacic type, or like how Gundogan was before Pep moved him forward. Plus with Stones being injured every other week they probably assessed their options and thought it would be cheaper and less fuss to just offer Kyle a new deal. Think he'll take on a Fernandinho 21/22 role next season and then once we hit 2025, 2026, providing we're not in the National League, he'll play as much as Yaya did during the Centurions season. I was all for moving on from Kyle this summer and thought we were moving past him when he didn't play in the Champions League final, but you can see the thinking behind the deal imo.

 

[Cheadle_hulmeBlue]

Plus, Rico's not kicked on defensively as much as Pep and Txiki thought

How would you know that?

he’s only just turned 19. I seriously doubt pep is judging him defensively as much as you’re implying. He’s been pretty good defensively most games as well in my opinion

 

[youngbob]

How would you know that?

he’s only just turned 19. I seriously doubt pep is judging him defensively as much as you’re implying. He’s been pretty good defensively most games as well in my opinion

I don't know, to be fair. But Rico's played on the right of defence once this season and he fucked up (it happens, no biggie). Thought it was pretty telling that his mistake was the first thing he mentioned after the game in his interview. Think him and Pep have obviously been having conversations off the pitch about what's best for Rico going forward. Regardless, this isn't really about Rico's future, it's more about where Rico is right now and whether we could have afforded to let Kyle go this summer. Don't think Pep trusts Rico in defence just yet, which is why we've kept Kyle. He could trust Rico more in the future, just think DM/CM is Rico's best position right at this time and that's why we've kept Kyle for a bit longer.