Rico Lewis | Set to sign a new 5-year contract (pg33)

mdj0520 said:
There are more ways of defending than crunching tackles and giving away free kicks. But yes his physicality is an issue at present.

We lost control of the right side when he got replaced last weekend. He doesn't just thrive in a functioning possession side, he facilitates it.

I'm certain he's going to bulk up slightly anyway. Males put in a fair bit of muscle 21-23. Phil isn't huge but looks at him now compared to 4-5 years ago. After 3 years of playing senior football whilst he's slight, if he does put on man weight he'll take a big jump.
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The lack of understanding of what the kid does blows my mind.
 
mexico1970 said:
We have a right back goes by the name of Rico Lewis, I have said it before and I will say it again Pep is in no rush to fill a spot where he can shoehorn Rico in.
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Yeah. Hopefully we dont have a problem where Rico wants to play CM.

Rico is a great option for us. If we replaced Nunes with a proper full back that would give us great balance on the right. Feel like thats a move next summer though, could even se us go back for Livramento if he plays well but Newcastle dont have great year.
 
mattyads said:
Yeah, fair point.

I can't believe we haven't still moved for a RB.
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Just don't think the options were there mate. We were obviously after Livramento but he would have been close to 80 million by the sound of things and even then it might not have been easy so it didn't seem worth it.

Ok we haven't got a right back in but life isn't perfect and I think our options there are still good - Nunez, Lewis, Khusanov, Akanji, Stones... I still want to see Khusanov tried there more regularly myself (because he can defend and stop the counters)
 
surprisedbygrass said:
No one looked good last year and the team fell apart so he gets a pass . Too young to sell and great potential . He is versatile and , with the best coach in the world , is going to find his best position , most likely midfield . Will be getting stronger as he matures too and is an intelligent player with the selfless heart of a lion. If he was playing down the road he'd be being hailed as The Second Coming .. probably a good thing he's under the radar with us .
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I agree. Also, when he doesn't do well it's never something disastrous that makes us lose a game. Glad he's staying.
 
He can't defend, and that's a priority for a defender. Against Wolves, only 5 minutes gone and he tried to rugby tackle an opponent. Luckily he missed otherwise he'd have been carded early in the game.
 
Selling our English academy lads if there is any sort of room for them is mad, you are going to be paying 50 million minimum for any English player good enough to play even sporadically for City. I understood McAtee because we just couldn't give him the minutes in his position and he needed to play to develop but we currently are very light at right back.
 
He never plays as a standard right back. The simplest way to describe his role is as an inverted right-back. Pep likes having this option for flexibility in and out of possession.

So, to everyone still screaming for a right-back, please tell me which players in the Premier League are better as an inverted fullback than he is. I can't think of any.
 
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Protects the value, can’t see wages being too high it would stop a sale if needed.

Think the best we can hope for is he becomes a reliable understudy for a first choice RB or for a tactical switch.

I read an article few years ago on City’s academy by someone there and whilst the Foden’s are exceptional stories.

One quote I remember is that City will always look to buy the best players in the world, however it should be expected as a minimum that the academy should ensure a high level of squad players.

Whilst it didn’t mention I always felt this meant positions such as (and I know it’s not as simple as this) but 2nd choice FB, 4th choice CB, squad player in midfield or possibly on the wing etc.

With that in mind this move makes sense
 
mattcity5 said:
Positionally, he does what Pep asks of him. If he is out of position or caught too far forward ever, it's because someone else has lost the ball.
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Yup. Never his fault. Everyone else‘s. I get the memo. His positioning against palace was everyone’s fault too. The positioning leaving Vinicius completely alone last season the whole time he was on the field was planned too. Leaving a ballon d‘or candidate alone all game was planned. What a great plan it was!
 
King Jay said:
Yup. Never his fault. Everyone else‘s. I get the memo. His positioning against palace was everyone’s fault too. The positioning leaving Vinicius completely alone last season the whole time he was on the field was planned too. Leaving a ballon d‘or candidate alone all game was planned. What a great plan it was!
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What was wrong against Palace?
 
bell_mcfc said:
Yeah. Hopefully we dont have a problem where Rico wants to play CM.

Rico is a great option for us. If we replaced Nunes with a proper full back that would give us great balance on the right. Feel like thats a move next summer though, could even se us go back for Livramento if he plays well but Newcastle dont have great year.
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Rico's position is unique. Against Wolves he was a RB, No 6, No 8, right winger & a No 10. He has some serious potential imo, & I have a feeling he'll never have a defined role under Pep, as he offers so much versatility in Guardiola's complex system.
 
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zandvoort blue said:
He can't defend, and that's a priority for a defender. Against Wolves, only 5 minutes gone and he tried to rugby tackle an opponent. Luckily he missed otherwise he'd have been carded early in the game.
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That's a prerequisite for any player in a defensive transition under Pep. The trick is not to get booked doing it like Reijnders did.

Our players need to watch videos of Fernandinho's dark arts football.
 
Last season I (amongst plenty of others) was critical of Lewis, not in a nasty way though like some of the comments in the match threads. This season I really hope I can praise Rico because I want him and all our players to play well.

He was much improved against Wolves and his passing was more forward and direct and he looks stronger and seems a bit faster. I think he realises he has to play well to keep getting games and he knows he has to keep improving. Right now he's not really a RB or midfielder but I have a sneaky feeling that we'll soon start seeing Khusanov playing RCB to cover Rico with his pace and ability to spot danger which will allow Rico to roam as a kind of inside right/WB role, but for Rico to become a WB he'll need more pace and stamina.

I also think we might seeing a 3-5-2(or 3-5-1-1) set up with Gvardiol on left, Stones Dias or Gonzalez in Middle and Khusanov on Right. Ait Nouri as LWB and Lewis or Nunes as RCB.

Although we could do with a proper quality established RB I think it's best we sign the right player than panic buy even if it means waiting till January or next summer. Until then we'll probably make do with what we have.
 
thegoatsthegoat said:
Not good enough and positionally he is all over.
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He is a right back, was in the U15, U18 and EDS, and a very good one he was, but he could cover left back when needed, this versitility is whhy Pep has used him in several positions and also why people don't see how good is is when played in a settlted role.

Make him our 1st choice RB and play him as one not an inverted midfielder, not as a DM foil, just as a RB like we did with walker and he will get better and stronger and be solid.

Personally I think. Pep trying to make him the next Lahm has slightly hindered him especially in the eyes of some fans.
 
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