No doubt him playing for England is a big achievement for him and his family but the list of players that have or are currently in the England squad that are not good enough for us is too long to list.That’s a fair point, plus Phillips used to play for England…but factor in his age and it’s still some achievement.
Or have a hissy fit and throw him under the bus when he has a poor game. Not saying you do, but there's plenty on here who do.
Look; if we want common sense and logic, we'll ask for it. It's a bit out of place on here.I don't quite get the "we need a better right back" crew. Rico never plays as a standard right back. He fills the RB position out of possession, but is a central midfielder in possession with us shifting across to 3 at the back.
He helps us outnumber the opposition in midfield and helps us dominate play.
Which mythical right-back is it that you want instead of him?
If it's Livramento, he's a good right-back but he isn't doing the rest of what Rico does, so thats instantly making it harder to keep possession. In fact, a standard right-back would probably make Pep use Ait-Nouri as an inverted left-back I stead, because it's how he wants us to play. I'm not sure Aut-Nouri is as good at it as Rico is.
So you are okay with an RB that’s not going to win duels ? Basically the CB are supposed to carry him out on several occasions which is going to weaken us in several games? Especially against top opposition? Sorry but that makes no sense. There are maybe fullbacks like Marcelo, Dani Alves, Hakimi, Maicon prime, Cafu or whatever where a defensive player gets freedom as much that other defensive players have to carry them on the defensive side and even those were far stronger defensively than Lewis.If his job were only to win duals, then naturally the more physical players will do that.
He offers something different, a skillset that allows us to utterly dominate the ball, which, by definition, indirectly reduces the number of duals the whole side faces. You may or may not want that in a right back.
Respectfully, the idea that he has played well in a handful of games is a decision made by someone who has not watched games with an objective eye. It is simply untrue. I recall many posters calling for him to permanently replace Kyle in the 2023/2024 season because he was in such good form, for example.What because he had one decent game?
He's played over 100 games now for the club, and I can recall a handful he's played well in
Let's not go over the top when he plays well, and then have a pop at those that have seen 100 games and made their mind up that he just isn't good enough
If he stays ill be fine with that, but I'm not expecting any more from him than I've seen already, he's a squad player at best
100%So you are okay with an RB that’s not going to win duels ? Basically the CB are supposed to carry him out on several occasions which is going to weaken us in several games? Especially against top opposition? Sorry but that makes no sense. There are maybe fullbacks like Marcelo, Dani Alves, Hakimi, Maicon prime, Cafu or whatever where a defensive player gets freedom as much that other defensive players have to carry them on the defensive side and even those were far stronger defensively than Lewis.
I honestly don’t get it. This will last until the next defeat and the uproar will be big how our right side is always exposed. One game won’t change the facts that he is a weak point
When we are well on top against a team with no real wide threat Rico is fine. He tucks into midfield and is decent on the ball.I don't quite get the "we need a better right back" crew. Rico never plays as a standard right back. He fills the RB position out of possession, but is a central midfielder in possession with us shifting across to 3 at the back.
He helps us outnumber the opposition in midfield and helps us dominate play.
Which mythical right-back is it that you want instead of him?
If it's Livramento, he's a good right-back but he isn't doing the rest of what Rico does, so thats instantly making it harder to keep possession. In fact, a standard right-back would probably make Pep use Ait-Nouri as an inverted left-back instead, because it's how he wants us to play. I'm not sure Aut-Nouri is as good at it as Rico is.
We’ll see in a couple of weeks whether that is true.Not sure why you are bringing England in to it. Kyle Walker is still playing for England.
When we are well on top against a team with no real wide threat Rico is fine. He tucks into midfield and is decent on the ball.
The issue is when he comes up against a good left winger. Against Palace at home he lost Eze for the first and for the 3rd which was thankfully disallowed. Against Brighton Mitomas goal which was luckily disallowed he completely lost him there too. I think towards the end of the game both sitters Brighton missed came down our right side. Against Madrid at home his complete miss kick lost us the game.
If Pep wants him as a squad player and start him against the likes of Wolves, Leeds, Burnley etc where there is no real wide threat that's fine. But let's not pretend he doesn't struggle against good left sided players
He was too far forward because he is not a natural defender. That's just who Rico is. Wolves fans won't be bothered and will write it off as just playing us. We can't afford to do that.That Palace goal wasn't him losing anyone. It was similar to what Haaland did for our first yesterday - he went miles offside. If Lewis had tracked the runner he would have played everyone a mile on - eventually the ball went across and he wasn't quite back. Its a very difficult situation to defend - especially if half of your role is develop play in midfield. The solution to that issue would have been Gvardiol preventing the cross or possibly Ederson intercepting it (from what I remember).
I expect the Wolves fans arent blaming their right-back for not not tracking Haaland yesterday though. This is just how our fans are with Lewis.
His 'miskick' against Madrid? You mean where Kovacic gave him a shite pass that he couldn't rescue and then Ederson went walkabout?
I'm not saying he's perfect, far from it. But the thing is, it's a team game and just because he ends up near where the goal is scored from doesn't mean it was down to him.
I do have doubts though about him against the very best wingers - but what's that, maybe 5 or 6 games per year? And again, it's a team game. If he can help us dominate on the ball and keep possession, then the opposition have got less chance to attack us. For the real dangers, maybe Khusanov comes in like at the Bernabeau.
On here? Doubt that :)He did well yesterday. Keep that up lad and everyone'll be happy.