Bah may never play for us but is a talent that could come good or at least be sold for huge profit.I was wondering why we went for Reis, Kusanov and Bah without bringing in an above average right back! 3 defenders in one transfer window and no attempt to bring in a replacement for Walker, so now we have to throw the dice on Rico, Akanji or Nunes.
Would love to see that happen.I suspect Pep will have his ideas about one of them becoming our right back. Same way Gvadiol was a cb but is now our LB and is a very good one. Maybe Khusanov is the one. He's got pace and loves a tackle.
Your final comment is exactly what people are saying, this reaction is merely off of one game. He just simply is not up to it under any sort of pressure.The hyperbole here is staggering
He was sold short at the worst moment with an horrendous pass by Kovacic, and then couldn't keep up.
This his whole 45 minutws was shit bollocks is jist nasty boo boy bollocks.
He isn't able to play wing back, and shouldn't be employed as one or an inverted fullback again, but we lost that game with the second, didn't mattter where it came from the 3rd was inevitable
Probably not, but that cuts to my whole point.Would you start him at right back on Saturday?
Maybe but the issue with him is in most games he concedes chances because of lack of positional awareness. Last night he was given a dreadful pass from Kovacic (who flatters to deceive and will never be a solution for us) so that was unfortunate - but it was the couple of times he left Bellingham because he didn't even know he was behind him - Real could and should have scored 2 more from direct chances down his side. He has some nice touches but against top sides you see the difference in quality. Perhaps he will get it as he gains more experience but this is someone who has already played 80+ games for us and I don't really see any improvement from when he first burst onto the scene - and that is the main issue.
I think most knew that when he came on Real would exploit his weaknesses - mind you I think as a team we have become allergic to making a tackle - that is why for me Kusanov should have been on as a pure defender first.
Rico should never ever be involved in any game with high level pressure. He is a front runner for now and may always be that. He needs to be a plug for a dominant side where ball retention and rotation is happening. We needed a defender out there this season, last night and for the rest of the season and not him so yes it's all on pep.Probably not, but that cuts to my whole point.
We shouldn't have to. Look at Foden's trajectory into the first team, he was introduced slowly over a number of seasons and never once 'thrown to the wolves', which is exactly what has happened to Rico Lewis repeatedly this season.
Everyone was singing his praises last season, and that was because he was being introduced gradually with the support of senior players to show him the ropes and offer him protection. At this point in his career he's full of potential but not experience.
Now those senior players have fallen off a cliff, are constantly injured and/or checked out, so there nobody there to help ease him in.
Lewis has only just turned 20 and we're chucking him on and expecting him to do the job of a 30 year old elite player.
This isn't a failure of one of our most exciting youth prospects - it's a failure of senior recruitment and management.
I don't know what you do for a living but imagine at 20 your bosses at work all fuck off and leave you in charge. How do you think that would've gone?
I agree, it's entirely Peps fault his substitutions were awful last night. And have been consistently all season. He cost us that game and many others. But that doesn't change the fact that Lewis should be nowhere near a first team place unless it's a lower league team, he's just not good enough.Probably not, but that cuts to my whole point.
We shouldn't have to. Look at Foden's trajectory into the first team, he was introduced slowly over a number of seasons and never once 'thrown to the wolves', which is exactly what has happened to Rico Lewis repeatedly this season.
Everyone was singing his praises last season, and that was because he was being introduced gradually with the support of senior players to show him the ropes and offer him protection. At this point in his career he's full of potential but not experience.
Now those senior players have fallen off a cliff, are constantly injured and/or checked out, so there nobody there to help ease him in.
Lewis has only just turned 20 and we're chucking him on and expecting him to do the job of a 30 year old elite player.
This isn't a failure of one of our most exciting youth prospects - it's a failure of senior recruitment and management.
I don't know what you do for a living but imagine at 20 your bosses at work all fuck off and leave you in charge. How do you think that would've gone?
I don't get it, Pep for some reason has decided to take the Sink or Swim approach to an entirely new level with Rico and the kid is drowning right in front of everyone. This Spartan approach might work for some but Rico is clearly not cut out for that, he has to be nurtured properly and if Pep insists on seeing him play about 80% of the games then send him out on loan to a lower level were he can get some more experience. Right now he lacks the confidence, the experience, the physicality and the positional awareness to play for a title chasing team. There's just too many factors missing.Probably not, but that cuts to my whole point.
We shouldn't have to. Look at Foden's trajectory into the first team, he was introduced slowly over a number of seasons and never once 'thrown to the wolves', which is exactly what has happened to Rico Lewis repeatedly this season.
Everyone was singing his praises last season, and that was because he was being introduced gradually with the support of senior players to show him the ropes and offer him protection. At this point in his career he's full of potential but not experience.
Now those senior players have fallen off a cliff, are constantly injured and/or checked out, so there nobody there to help ease him in.
Lewis has only just turned 20 and we're chucking him on and expecting him to do the job of a 30 year old elite player.
This isn't a failure of one of our most exciting youth prospects - it's a failure of senior recruitment and management.
I don't know what you do for a living but imagine at 20 your bosses at work all fuck off and leave you in charge. How do you think that would've gone?
I'm sorry but Khusanov has literally no charisma whatsoever. His facial expression is always the same. You mean charisma in football terms, like bullying defenders off the ball?Bah may never play for us but is a talent that could come good or at least be sold for huge profit.
Reis and Khusanov are huge talents, they both had numerous clubs after them, we jumped in and snapped them both up, Khusanov for me looks a superb signing, old fashioned, tough defender who is fast can pass a ball well, and is also a huge character/personality, the guy has serious charisma.
Ancelotti always seems to make impactful subs. He has certainly got Pep's number.I agree, it's entirely Peps fault his substitutions were awful last night. And have been consistently all season. He cost us that game and many others. But that doesn't change the fact that Lewis should be nowhere near a first team place unless it's a lower league team, he's just not good enough.
I genuinely hope I don't see him on the pitch again this season, but I know Pep will still pick him sadly. Same goes for Gundogan and Kovatic..
Probably not, but that cuts to my whole point.
We shouldn't have to. Look at Foden's trajectory into the first team, he was introduced slowly over a number of seasons and never once 'thrown to the wolves', which is exactly what has happened to Rico Lewis repeatedly this season.
Everyone was singing his praises last season, and that was because he was being introduced gradually with the support of senior players to show him the ropes and offer him protection. At this point in his career he's full of potential but not experience.
Now those senior players have fallen off a cliff, are constantly injured and/or checked out, so there nobody there to help ease him in.
Lewis has only just turned 20 and we're chucking him on and expecting him to do the job of a 30 year old elite player.
This isn't a failure of one of our most exciting youth prospects - it's a failure of senior recruitment and management.
I don't know what you do for a living but imagine at 20 your bosses at work all fuck off and leave you in charge. How do you think that would've gone?
He's got 4 goals in over 80 games, 3 of them against Palace who for some reason he loves scoring against, so he doesn't really chip in with the goals, and how is he good on the ball ?He does chip in with the goals. He is good on the ball and other the than the key lapse with their winner did a good defensive job with Vini Jnr
Has he ever played right back?I thought Khusanov was the logical replacement for Akanji.
this all day long. take him out. there was only a couple minutes left for god sakeShould have smashed Vini Jr into the stands on the last goal. Pulled him down. Pull his shirt, take whatever necessary to stop him going through 1v1. He wasn't on a yellow, so take one for the team. We are too naive and too soft.
Stones has. Khusanov in the centreHas he ever played right back?
The guy will he a hero here , mark my words, another poster said a few days ago, the new Zabaleta.I'm sorry but Khusanov has literally no charisma whatsoever. His facial expression is always the same. You mean charisma in football terms, like bullying defenders off the ball?