82 | Rico Lewis - 2024/25

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chris85mcfc said:
Without wanting to repeat myself, he's fucking shite and isn't even a premier league level footballer

Tragic how some City fans are desperate for him to be decent
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I still don’t understand how he broke through. He is so bang average (at best) at literally everything. We all want kids to come through but they have to be far better than him.
 
OrigamiNinja said:
I still don’t understand how he broke through. He is so bang average (at best) at literally everything. We all want kids to come through but they have to be far better than him.
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Said it about 2 years ago mate, didn't see a single attribute that he had, but as always Pep knows best.

More than anything, he's just so weak, gets pushed about like a little boy.

Let's not forget he's soon coming up to his 100th appearance for the club.
 
He was much better in midfield against a much better opponent in Forest, so of course Pep puts him at RB in his next appearance.
 
He isnt a wingback.

He himself even said he wants to play in the middle.

What does Pep do?

Out wide he goes.

Makes no sense to keep throwing players in suboptimal positions.
 
WallyA said:
He isnt a wingback.

He himself even said he wants to play in the middle.

What does Pep do?

Out wide he goes.

Makes no sense to keep throwing players in suboptimal positions.
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I get it but he isn’t good enough to play in the middle for us. We are stuggling in midfield, have done all season and he’s still not good enough to play there. The only chance Rico has of making it at City is as an inverted RB. Not because he’s any good at that either but because Pep has a blind spot where Rico is concerned and will give him games there.

Rico has delusions of grandeur if he thinks he is ever consistently playing in midfield for us and once Pep leaves, it will get even worse for him because under a new manager, Rico will never get a game in either position.
 
OrigamiNinja said:
I get it but he isn’t good enough to play in the middle for us. We are stuggling in midfield, have done all season and he’s still not good enough to play there. The only chance Rico has of making it at City is as an inverted RB. Not because he’s any good at that either but because Pep has a blind spot where Rico is concerned and will give him games there.

Rico has delusions of grandeur if he thinks he is ever consistently playing in midfield for us and once Pep leaves, it will get even worse for him because under a new manager, Rico will never get a game in either position.
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He looked better in the middle against Forest, yes he's not good enough in midfield at the moment but Pep doesn't make it any easy with his constant tinkering.
 
OrigamiNinja said:
I get it but he isn’t good enough to play in the middle for us. We are stuggling in midfield, have done all season and he’s still not good enough to play there. The only chance Rico has of making it at City is as an inverted RB. Not because he’s any good at that either but because Pep has a blind spot where Rico is concerned and will give him games there.

Rico has delusions of grandeur if he thinks he is ever consistently playing in midfield for us and once Pep leaves, it will get even worse for him because under a new manager, Rico will never get a game in either position.
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Rico has a much higher chanced as a centre mid than an inverted RB imo.

He doesnt have the legs for the latter.
 
OrigamiNinja said:
I get it but he isn’t good enough to play in the middle for us. We are stuggling in midfield, have done all season and he’s still not good enough to play there. The only chance Rico has of making it at City is as an inverted RB. Not because he’s any good at that either but because Pep has a blind spot where Rico is concerned and will give him games there.

Rico has delusions of grandeur if he thinks he is ever consistently playing in midfield for us and once Pep leaves, it will get even worse for him because under a new manager, Rico will never get a game in either position.
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Exactly - we struggled in midfield earlier in the season and he was part of the issue...he didnt play for a while and our performances imporved slightly even with the old brigade in their...but of course there is no way they can keep that up
 
BlueMoonAcrossThePond said:
With respect, I disagree with this.

The ideal semi-RB role is someone who both defends well, and passes well. The role isn't solely about the ability to "link the defense" - it's much, much more. And it's such a complex role that few players can fill it to perfection. Why? Because not only does this role require excellent passing skills and - since you're the RB - excellent defensive skills - it also requires the ability to read the game - knowing when to move forward into a midfield role - and when to retreat into a defensive RB role. And it requires pace - because you'll often be far forward - out of defensive position - with the immediate need to rush back towards your own goal to fill defensive gaps.

Rico is manifestly unfit for the semi-RB role on numerous counts: he's not good on defense; he's not good on offense; he's slow; he doesn't read the game well; and when pressed on offense - he gives the ball away too frequently.
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I think we agree that Rico is unfit for the semi-RB role.

Let's move on to a midfield role
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Rico is not suited for a midfield role either.

The midfield role in Pep's system is this: keep the ball, move the ball quickly, see the game - pick out the excellent pass to defeat the defense if available; always, always, always, move into a triangle with other teammates - the triangle formation ensures that the maximum number of players are available for a pass. And, when the ball turns over, immediately press - either the ball - if close to you - or cut off passing lanes.

Rico doesn't do most of this.

Rico doesn't make penetrative passes.

Rico doesn't move from three-in-a-line to form passing triangles often enough.

When the ball turns over, Rico doesn't participate adequately in the ensuing press. He's slow and can be dribbled against. He can't read the game: meaning that Rico's ability to, at the very least, cut off passing lanes, is poor. In short, when the ball turns over, Rico does little to make sure we rapidly regain the ball.

Finally, Rico isn't good at all when pressed. When we have the ball, against a team that's going to press us, Rico is a weak link. Rico either can't find an open man (usually because he doesn't have a mental picture of the field when he receives the ball) or draw a foul (he's not strong on the ball and can be bullied) or pass back (mental picture of the field is poor) or hoof it out-of-bounds as a last resort - with any consistency. He'll give the ball away much more often than any of our other players in a midfield role.
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Which leads me once more to summarize Rico:

Rico is an OK-ish backup midfielder against teams that mostly won't press (in this regard, Forrest is the perfect opponent against which to play Rico). But is this an adequate baseline performance bar- even for a backup - for a side that expects to challenge for the Premier League and Champions League titles?

No, it absolutely is not.
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Been saying this all year
 
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