82 | Rico Lewis - 2024/25

[blueballs84]

Needs a break from playing in the first team right now.

 

[chesterbells]

Wow, such a lot of hate in here.

I actually thought he did ok yesterday against a very good player in Diaz, far better than the 33 times capped for England player did against Doku.

Looking at their first goal he should have released the ball earlier down the line although in reality we should have had a free kick just prior but Taylor thought we had an advantage with dippers pressing us just outside the box. Then Diaz is marginally offside when he receives the ball before it is put out for a corner. He is the only player to react to the ball back to Salah but isn't quite tall enough to make the interception. Fine margins etc

He is a very tidy player who will make a good living out of football.

Last sentence 100%, and he deserves to. But just not with us, at the level we want to stay at. Lower down, absolutely.

 

[chesterbells]

Just a body in the team right now which I guess is something. Realistically he should be like 3rd choice at RB and instead we now have him starting in the top games.

Doesn't have the physicality for the role.

That’s one of his weaknesses, certainly.

 

[Mr HJ]

Wow, such a lot of hate in here.

I actually thought he did ok yesterday against a very good player in Diaz, far better than the 33 times capped for England player did against Doku.

Looking at their first goal he should have released the ball earlier down the line although in reality we should have had a free kick just prior but Taylor thought we had an advantage with dippers pressing us just outside the box. Then Diaz is marginally offside when he receives the ball before it is put out for a corner. He is the only player to react to the ball back to Salah but isn't quite tall enough to make the interception. Fine margins etc

He is a very tidy player who will make a good living out of football.

I do get what you are saying however, when Rico first came into the side we were a well oiled machine capable of ripping any team apart. Easier to transition into. He showed a lot of promise and in a way we forget he was still young and learning. Now nearly 90 appearances later and in a transitioning side his weaknesses have been exposed. Yes I think we can all excuse odd mistakes - it happens to any player even the best. Yesterday was a prime example for 4 out of the 6 times Diaz attacked him he did well but every mistake (and his is often being out of position and therefore in distress to get back) is seemingly punished.

We are all knowledgable to see there is a good player in there but for me the biggest issue is how we now build up play with Rico often being the axis for that. When I was coached the thing that destroyed me was playing teams where the opposition just passed and moved quickly - hard to defend, hard to catch your breath. Rico naturally passes the ball and then runs towards where he has passed to - you watch closely this is what he does to try and get the ball back - this means that often he is the one player available at short distances ready to launch our attack. That is ok if you have the confidence and first touch ability of a David Silva or prime Bernardo/Gundo but when Rico gets that position he rarely makes an instant forward pass. This allows teams to step back and get into 2 ranks of four - this is why despite having tons of possession in the biggest games we don't look like pulling away.

For Rico is this a coaching thing, is it other coaches have worked us put and are more patient? I don't know and I really cannot question the best coach there has ever been. But watching Rico this year - just like Ake, Akanji and Walker - we seem to take an age to transition. Great keeping possession when you have those capable of splitting a defence with one ball but look at Erling and now Omar - they are making fab runs and never being given the ball.

Who knows if Rico will be a big part of our rebuild I guess it depends on who we bring in. One thing for sure in the 2 biggest competitions this year we have fallen behind. And this post is meant to be objective and in no way a pile on to one of our players.

 

[pbueno16]

Last sentence 100%, and he deserves to. But just not with us, at the level we want to stay at. Lower down, absolutely.

He could with still do it with us, but in a much smaller capacity like he played last season. He’s a cup player and can get the odd league game against relegation/lower table sides. Question is whether he has ambitions for more than that.

 

[Sir peace frog]

always shows for the ball, very rarely gives it away and gives 100% every game, he shouldn't be playing every game but that's not his fault , there are few that could do with his attitude .

 

[thegoatsthegoat]

always shows for the ball, very rarely gives it away and gives 100% every game, he shouldn't be playing every game but that's not his fault , there are few that could do with his attitude .

Rarely gives it away? Bloody hell. Can't fault his effort. Him being a regular is all people need to know when they try to assess our downfall.

 

[BlueMoonAcrossThePond]

always shows for the ball

Actually his movement off the ball is terrible. Go back and watch the Liverpool game. When we have the ball and we're building from the back Lewis is frequently inline with 2 other players. He often fails to form passing triangles.

He's also unaware of space. Often he's covered but there's wide open space behind him he could move into creating passing opportunities.

Because of these problems Lewis is often either covered or in a non-optimal line, isn't aware that he needs to move, and consequently stands stock still expecting the ball to be passed to him.

 

[Dax777]

I thought he had a really good game.

 

[Legal Alien]

He didn't play badly, but teams are targeting him and his lack of pace and positional awareness at right back just aren't good enough for this level

He is a natural offensive minded player and will be a decent squad player for us if he stays. But with the players we've already got and potential signings, i just don't think he's going to play much in the near future, so will that be enough for him?

 

[St.Pauli support]

Pep's verdict on Rico pre spurs:

"He is an exceptional defender."

 

[Colin Bells Boots]

Pep's verdict on Rico pre spurs:

"He is an exceptional defender."

Hopefully he can say the same after the game.

 

[Tevez City]

I thought he had a really good game.

Is he a good enough to be the team first choice RB ?

Or first Choice in any position of the field ?

 

[normskih]

Is he a good enough to be the team first choice RB ?

Or first Choice in any position of the field ?

As my Dad used to say “right back in the changing room”:) No, I’m only joking, a squad player, for me.

 

[cleavers]

Is he a good enough to be the team first choice RB ?

No, but is Nunes ? and if not who else, Akanji or Stones, oh....

 

[Tevez City]

No, but is Nunes ? and if not who else, Akanji or Stones, oh....

I think Nunes might be good enough, but you can never tell until you give him a proper chance ( Run of games in the same position )

Nunes rating as RB is 6.94, which slightly higher than Rico

 

[cleavers]

Nunes rating as RB is 6.94

Great, my rating of him watching him play there is "pretty ordinary", much the same as Rico.

 

[Roachy]

Great, my rating of him watching him play there is "pretty ordinary", much the same as Rico.

A top notch RB this summer would solve a lot of issues.

 

[GaudinoMotors]

Not anywhere near good enough to be in the "rebuild".

 

[RayCTID]

Still need squad depth and we aren't going to sign too many players at once to fill the gaps.