82 | Rico Lewis - 2024/25

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Johnny Mars Bar said:
Feel like I should just copy and paste my same comment after every game.

He needs cutting some slack. He’s a kid still learning. He should be under someone’s wing and being introduced to the first team slowly, like Foden was at his age.

Instead he’s playing every game in a team full of checked out lazy FOCs and players that just aren’t good enough.

Rico has bags of potential and this current situation isn’t his fault.

Call the older players as many names as you want but I’m not having people bullying a fucking kid.
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He is one of them who went from last year being a good squad/back up player, to all of a sudden playing every game and its too much.

I agree with some of the criticism of him nonetheless... up to a point.

I dont think he should ever be a starting position player for us, but he is great to fill the squad up as he can play multiple positions.

Personally, RB will just never work for him, he has no height and no pace to track back after inverting, Pep needs to see this.

Id mold him to be a backup 8 and see how he progresses in the team learning that role (for which he still needs to improve loads).
 
For me, Rico is the modern day equivalent of Phil Neville. A decent player who will make a living as a utility player, but nowhere near good enough to be a first team starter at a top 4 club long term.
 
Johnny Mars Bar said:
Feel like I should just copy and paste my same comment after every game.

He needs cutting some slack. He’s a kid still learning. He should be under someone’s wing and being introduced to the first team slowly, like Foden was at his age.

Instead he’s playing every game in a team full of checked out lazy FOCs and players that just aren’t good enough.

Rico has bags of potential and this current situation isn’t his fault.

Call the older players as many names as you want but I’m not having people bullying a fucking kid.
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He’s clearly not ready to play such a big role and as much as he is. He up for the fight but isn’t good enough at the moment. Thats on Pep. The lads 20 and being hung out to dry. It’s crazy he put so much faith in Rico but won’t try any of the other lads who have the physicality to compete better and are decent players.

Rico has potential and I hope he realizes it. Like you say, this spell isn’t doing him any favours.
 
dukyblue said:
100% agree, just saying I don't think he will ever be a regular for us and may need to drop down if he wants first team action further down the line.
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I don’t see him as someone who would kick up a fuss if he is not getting game time. A bit like Foden when he was coming through the system.
He knows opportunities will come during the season.
 
super_city_si said:
He’s clearly not ready to play such a big role and as much as he is. He up for the fight but isn’t good enough at the moment. Thats on Pep. The lads 20 and being hung out to dry. It’s crazy he put so much faith in Rico but won’t try any of the other lads who have the physicality to compete and are decent players.

Rico has potential and I hope he realizes it. Like you say, this spell isn’t doing him any favours.
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If there was a viable alternative to Lewis playing fullback at present, he’d be nowhere near the team, just as the other youth players aren’t playing as there are viable alternatives.
 
Alan Harper's Tash said:
If there was a viable alternative to Lewis playing fullback at present, he’d be nowhere near the team, just as the other youth players aren’t playing as there are viable alternatives.
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Yes I agree on the right back role, but hes sometimes being deployed directly in midfield and it’s a disaster. I dont mind him playing right back as walker is worse but please keep it as a back 4 and stop inverting.

I would love to see Wright given minutes as he passes between the lines and is progressive. He isnt ready either really but I think he’d do a better job than Rico. To not get any time at all recently, even when the game is gone, is poor in my opinion.
 
super_city_si said:
Yes I agree on the right back role, but hes sometimes being deployed directly in midfield and it’s a disaster. I dont mind him playing right back as walker is worse but please keep it as a back 4 and stop inverting.
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I think we saw against Everton that Pep is trying stuff. Balls over the top and keeping Lewis wide being two of them.

Hopefully that makes things easier for Rico.
 
Alan Harper's Tash said:
I think we saw against Everton that Pep is trying stuff. Balls over the top and keeping Lewis wide being two of them.

Hopefully that makes things easier for Rico.
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Funnily enough I thought the start of that game, when we had a flat back 4 (at least it looked like that to me) we looked so much better. Then he pushed Rico in midfield and we went downhill.

Some of Rico’s highlights have come when he’s been a wide full back and underlaps t(e winger. Hes a smart player clearly and why pep loves him.
 
Alan Harper's Tash said:
I think we saw against Everton that Pep is trying stuff. Balls over the top and keeping Lewis wide being two of them.

Hopefully that makes things easier for Rico.
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Pep trusts Rico because he’s a very quick learner.
Remember Pep stated that it was Rico who made the inverted FB role easier for Stones and others to learn during the treble season.
 
For those who are happy criticising Rico, the swap from right back to left back is one key reason he gets picked.
You read some comments about him on here and wonder whether we’re watching the same player.
I have reached the conclusion that no matter how good he performs, these set of fans will always criticise him.
It’s like they want him to fail badly.
But what they won’t say was his role in the first goal and his defensive performance today.
 
I am sure some of his fanboys will come out and defend him like they always do despite him approaching close to 100 appearances for us, but if it wasn't for poor finishing from Buonanotte on one occasion, and Vardy on two other, he would have cost us about 3 goals today. It's the same story with him every week. Good backwards and sideways passing, which is why some will call him "tidy", but otherwise, he is physically non-existent, loses every battle, doesn't even jump for headers as well, and he is really slow. 37 year old Vardy was faster than him. The fact he is starting every week is one of our biggest problems. I wish him all the best, but he can't be playing for us anywhere near as much as he is.
 
Never been his biggest fan but he did ok today. I still think he lacks the pace to be a real top defender but he is an adequate squad player. He would benefit from rest imo
 
He obviously can't defend but I'll give him credit for some nice passes from midfield in the first half including one that led to the first goal.
 
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