82 | Rico Lewis - 2024/25

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yankblue said:
I think Rico is a fantastic player, but he will always be physically limited as a full back. He's listed as 5'7 but looks an inch or two shorter than Spanish Dave did at that size. And I have a good frame of reference for what 2 inches looks like.

He may have another growth spurt in him, and I'm sure he'll pack on muscle as he matures, but he has a small frame, and he doesn't have any other standout physical attributes (pace) to help him.

I think what this means is that his decision making/reading of the game will have to be elite for him to hit his ceiling. He is good in those areas, especially for his age, but considering the physical limitations he will have to win on the mental side - if that makes sense. Regardless of how he progresses, I still think he'll have a long, successful career - but right now he's a very good footballer without a natural position.
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Just quoting in this previous post I made regarding the height/size concerns, which I don’t think are actually an issue.

SebastianBlue said:
To those worried about his height, I would just like to ask: how many of the best fullbacks in the history of football (or even recent history) have been much taller than 1.70m?

Here are some of the best, most versatile, most decorated fullbacks in recent history who had a similar build and skill profile to our Rico:

Lahm 1.70m
Kimmich 1.77m
Alba 1.70m
Carvajal 1.73m
Marcelo 1.74m
Carlos 1.68m
Alves 1.72m

And I would go so far as to say he is a better defender than a few on that list.

I really wouldn’t worry about his height, for the same reason no one ever worries about Bernie’s (or worried about El Mago’s or Roberto Carlos’). When you have the natural talent and intelligence they have, you don’t need to be a giant.
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pride in battle said:
Do you honestly think Pep is going to watch back the video with the team and say that
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Pep is going to watch that and then tell Rico that he is solely responsible for the goal?
Pretty sure he will ask Gvardiol why he ran away from the winger and he will probably ask John Stones what he was doing as well as telling Rico that he could have done better.
 
ChicagoBlue said:
In this instance, it didn’t work, and a brilliant pass in behind the retreating defenders paid dividends.
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ChicagoBlue said:
ow, if WE had scored that goal with KDB and Haaland, it’d be on the highlight reel as a “KDB Masterpass” and a brilliant first time finish. I think we need to acknowledge it was a near perfect fast break that was (almost) undefendable.
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I listened to about 5 non-City focused pod casts this AM (I know roll your eyes!), many with ex players. And nearly everyone said this was a perfect execution. Not much you could do. Many are often quick to blame City players, but not in this instance.

Not related to the quoted post, I do think many people are quick to “excuse” Rico for many reasons that also exist for Joško (also young, often high up, still learning system, finding right position), but who doesn’t often get the luxury of those excuses. We’re lucky to have both of them. Even if they still have room to grow.
 
Barcon said:
Pep is going to watch that and then tell Rico that he is solely responsible for the goal?
Pretty sure he will ask Gvardiol why he ran away from the winger and he will probably ask John Stones what he was doing as well as telling Rico that he could have done better.
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They’ll already know. They’ll be on a rest day today, whilst Pep watches 400 hours of Sparta Prague games in 8 hours and comes up with a madness for Wednesday, which he’ll tell the players tomorrow.
 
Lardy_Blue said:
There were a lot of other issues apart from Lewis in that goal. The fact the press was broken so easily allowing the ball to get to the winger. Gvardiol ball watching/getting caught under the ball, then not closing down the winger to allow him to put a cross in under no pressure, both Centre halves could have done a better job covering and Rico should have also covered better. All these will be looked at surely. I think the fact a lot of people a blaming Lewis only for the goal is stupid. I assume it's the difference between if people like him as a player or not.
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Spot on. imo problem being that this is a carbon copy of a number of recent goals against us. Its the long standing no left back issue .Guardiol is a top player but not a traditional left back and sometimes that is what is needed . We play a narrow 3 at the back lacking pace and mobility and it keeps getting exposed.
 
ChicagoBlue said:
Errrr….!

Don’t you mean “Godri”!!! Been calling him that since he got his feet under him and understood the role.

One or two comments on the “at fault” question:

John Stones. He was ahead of the player when the break happened and there was ONLY ONE PLAYER who could have scored, but he never closed him down. Rather, he just ran back towards his own goal, without moving towards the danger.

Rico was behind the play when it developed and was never getting goal side. Additionally, the goal scorer was one of the two strikers, not a marauding left winger or midfielder.

Ederson is in No Man’s Land the entire time…neither here nor there! His position couldn’t close down the ball, because it was too good and curling away from him, but he’s marooned himself halfway and hung himself out to dry.

As one commentator said, “the ball went into an empty net!” Had Ederson stayed home, on his 3 yard line, he would not only have had more time to react, but also covered his goal more easily.

Lastly, we were three at the back (standard), but narrow. When the ball went wide on the break,

1) Gvardiol had to leave his man and come across to push the player down the line. Before he got there, the ball was released.

2) Dias was covering both a man and 95% of the cross options that Ederson couldn’t sweep up.

3) Stones, as the break occurs, is the last man by a yard or two, but us initially sucked towards Dias, as that’s where he SEES the danger, not realizing it was behind him the whole time.

Even when the ball comes over, he still hasn’t sussed the danger is right behind him, but when he does, HE definitely feels like it was Rico’s fault the lad was free…even though it was Stones’ own player in the back three set up we were playing.

4) Once again, this shows how vulnerable we are when pressing 7 or 8 players forward, when one of them gives the ball away. Pep knows this and tasks the defenders to be good enough ball players to deal with it.

The only problem with that equation is that every defender playing that game knows that to commit is death and to jockey is time and, hopefully, a lifeline.

In this instance, it didn’t work, and a brilliant pass in behind the retreating defenders paid dividends.

Now, if WE had scored that goal with KDB and Haaland, it’d be on the highlight reel as a “KDB Masterpass” and a brilliant first time finish. I think we need to acknowledge it was a near perfect fast break that was (almost) undefendable.

It is possible for teams to exploit our 1 on 1 back line roulette, and Wolves did it.
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Eddie is a sweeper keeper, the idea is to not let them to get near the goal , he wont be on his line waiting

Carry on
 
kaz7 said:
Eddie is a sweeper keeper, the idea is to not let them to get near the goal , he wont be on his line waiting

Carry on
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When he’s a sweeper, sweep.
When he’s a keeper, keep.

What do we call it when he’s doing neither one nor the other, and leaves himself marooned out of his goal with one side wide open? I have words, but I’ll be polite.
 
Rico is currently OK. Mostly tidy on the ball. Doesn't present a big scoring threat; passing isn't spectacular. On defense, gets bullied; mostly gets into position, but then fails, somehow, to stop crosses a lot of the time.

He's young, and may develop.

Right now, he's squad-player level.
 
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