It's you rewriting history. Philips was the Fernandinho replacement to rotate with Rodri. It didn't work. He isn't the first flop & he won't be the last. Shit happens & I'm long since over it.
Wasn't that what i said. Someone to give Rodri a breather?
You may be over it. But he is still a financial and decision burden on the club. And we didn't pay significantly over the odds for him.
The issue is not whether any player can flop. We all get that ans understand it. What's at issue is overpaying for a player and hoping for the best..
Nunes was a panic buy which perplexed most fans at the time, & he's a player Pep said didn't have the intelligence to play in his preferred position. Personally, I never rated him from his Sporting days & couldn't believe that we were interested him, let alone what we paid for him.
No, Nunes wasn't a panic buy. He was 3rd choice, sure. But not a panic buy.
He wavered between being distinctly average to dire in central midfield for City, so in his rare outings Pep moved him wide left or right. He still wasn't much better. We tried him at RB & he was poor, but to his credit, he made the most of our desperate situation & improved enough where even I said he'd done enough to earn a reprieve. However, that doesn't mean I want to go through a whole season with just Nunes as our main RB option.
He got very few opportunities at Central midfield and he was fantastic in the few opportunities as a winger. Produced more assists and attacking play than players playing more minutes and with greater fan support.
Then he started vout slow at fullback, then grew into it as his confidence rose
We are not going through the whole season with juat Nunes as Right back. Rico Lewis is not chopped liver :)
I rate Rico Lewis VERY highly. Yes, he came through the ranks as a specialist right back, but I think most now acknowledge that he's far better as a central midfielder. He & Nunes have essentially swapped positions.
No he isn't. His best games as a City player have come at RB. He is a Right back. Last season was just a poor season. For Everyone. Lewis is a fantastic inverted Right back. But a pretty capable traditional one too.
He is not a midfielder. He is a Rightbsck with the technical skills and intelligence of a midfielder. But he is a Right back.
Personally, I'd prefer a proper specialist RB. As stated how many times. After all things considered & as things stand, Tino seems the best option to me, but I'm not resolutely wedded to Tino & only Tino. I, like many others would feel far more comfortable if a player like Tino were brought in to compete, rotate & rest with Nunes.
I posted a video how we could possibly widen our search abroad for a foreign specialist RB, but that would be dependent on moving out several older foreign players.
Now we know where I stand, what's your idea regarding our RB situation & why?
1. I am confident in Rico and Nunes. I think they both fit well with the squad. Not the very best but as top team rotational players.
Tino to me is on the same level as the above 2. He is no Hakimi. He wont be a difference maker this season. Just another solid option. And Rico has AA good of a chance as Tino of developing into world class.
I cannot for the life of me understand why anyone wants to pay 80 million for another solid option at Right back when we already have 2.solid options .That's wild to me.
Now if you wanna pay 80 mil to get Hakimi, finr.
Or 10 - 30 mill for another solid option with top class potential. Im all in. But 80 mil ? No. Just no.
Archie Gray is a far better fit for us in my view. You . Wanna spunk some money?. Fine! Go pay 45-55 million for Archie Gray. It would be excessive but at least his potential as a footballer is World Class.
We got 45 million for Palmer. Who was a far better prospect than Livra is. Let that sink in
That said, if pressed for an answer, I'd sell Ortega, Akanji and Gundogan (all options currently on the table) and open up an option for any young Right back anywhere. Including the likes of Fresneda, Arnau, Martim, Alberto Costa, Givairo,, Juanlu etc. All of whom have good potential.
There is a trailer load ot up and coming Right backs. None of whom will cost above 35 million. Talk less more than double that?
80 mil for Lives is just poor management. If he ever becomes the absolute best Right back in the league. He still wont cost a penny over 80 million.
Tp suggest we should pay 80 million for a player who isnt the clear #1 right back in the world is a joke to me.