Our Midfield

[PrezIke]

Foden won’t stick around I can guarantee.

And Bern isn’t given the chance to get a run of 3+ games so it’s no wonder when he plays he’s off.

I’d love to know what Rodri has on Pep that he can continually play shit but start every match.

Guarantee, mate?

Is that conditional or?

Btw, Rodri and Gundo did well the last two games against Liverpool, so that is surely part of the reason why he picked them.

Pep played it safe. They are a bogey team for us. It didn't really work, but he wants control and less risk for counterattacks and that's why Rodri and Gundo are selected.

I would have liked to see Bernardo instead of Gundo, but I get that he wanted to go with what worked before.

Bernardo also might make more runs and leave Rodri alone.

Don't get me wrong. We have problems, but I also see the rationale.

[Mase]

Foden won’t stick around I can guarantee.

And Bern isn’t given the chance to get a run of 3+ games so it’s no wonder when he plays he’s off.

I’d love to know what Rodri has on Pep that he can continually play shit but start every match.

Guarantee, mate?

Is that conditional or?

Being from the area you get to speak with people that have family members that have played for the youth team with Foden. I know for a fact his family will be pissed off, and I know what his dad has done in the past to force the club in to making decisions.

I’ve literally not mention Gundo and Rodri in my post?

[Dubciteh]

Rodri is fine when we dictate the games in there on his own.

He is awful when midfield have to chase harry and press and was shown up big time yesterday for his lack of pace and energy. Henderson and Wijnaldum make a mockery of him and it was gundo bursting his balls to get back and challenge, get goalside and recover. There were several examples of this just re watch the first half.

Gundo is great against most teams on his own in the sitting role. He would be first choice for me. In the bigger games id stick someone with legs in there with him prob bernardo.

Rodri is fine as a second choice or rotational player. An expensive one but thats where i see him.

The answer was probably Allan at everton before he went there. He would have been perfect in the short term.

[Mase]

Rodri is fine when we dictate the games in there on his own.

He is awful when midfield have to chase harry and press and was shown up big time yesterday for his lack of pace and energy. Henderson and Wijnaldum make a mockery of him and it was gundo bursting his balls to get back and challenge, get goalside and recover. There were several examples of this just re watch the first half.

Gundo is great against most teams on his own in the sitting role. He would be first choice for me. In the bigger games id stick someone with legs in there with him prob bernardo.

Rodri is fine as a second choice or rotational player. An expensive one but thats where i see him.

The answer was probably Allan at everton before he went there. He would have been perfect in the short term.

Douglas Luiz is an option if we can get him back. Not sure about the buy back option? He’s 10x more dynamic than Rodri.

EDIT - looks like there is one
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/douglas-luiz-city-villa-heskey-16586315

[sheblue]

Rodri is fine when we dictate the games in there on his own.

He is awful when midfield have to chase harry and press and was shown up big time yesterday for his lack of pace and energy. Henderson and Wijnaldum make a mockery of him and it was gundo bursting his balls to get back and challenge, get goalside and recover. There were several examples of this just re watch the first half.

Gundo is great against most teams on his own in the sitting role. He would be first choice for me. In the bigger games id stick someone with legs in there with him prob bernardo.

Rodri is fine as a second choice or rotational player. An expensive one but thats where i see him.

The answer was probably Allan at everton before he went there. He would have been perfect in the short term.

Douglas Luiz is an option if we can get him back. Not sure about the buy back option? He’s 10x more dynamic than Rodri.

EDIT - looks like there is one
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/douglas-luiz-city-villa-heskey-16586315

Cant be much worse, strictly speaking.

[Nick]

Foden won’t stick around I can guarantee.

And Bern isn’t given the chance to get a run of 3+ games so it’s no wonder when he plays he’s off.

I’d love to know what Rodri has on Pep that he can continually play shit but start every match.

Guarantee, mate?

Is that conditional or?

Btw, Rodri and Gundo did well the last two games against Liverpool, so that is surely part of the reason why he picked them.

Pep played it safe. They are a bogey team for us. It didn't really work, but he wants control and less risk for counterattacks and that's why Rodri and Gundo are selected.

I would have liked to see Bernardo instead of Gundo, but I get that he wanted to go with what worked before.

Bernardo also might make more runs and leave Rodri alone.

Don't get me wrong. We have problems, but I also see the rationale.

We always beat them at home....

[Hazy2]

Rodri is fine when we dictate the games in there on his own.

He is awful when midfield have to chase harry and press and was shown up big time yesterday for his lack of pace and energy. Henderson and Wijnaldum make a mockery of him and it was gundo bursting his balls to get back and challenge, get goalside and recover. There were several examples of this just re watch the first half.

Gundo is great against most teams on his own in the sitting role. He would be first choice for me. In the bigger games id stick someone with legs in there with him prob bernardo.

Rodri is fine as a second choice or rotational player. An expensive one but thats where i see him.

The answer was probably Allan at everton before he went there. He would have been perfect in the short term.

Douglas Luiz is an option if we can get him back. Not sure about the buy back option? He’s 10x more dynamic than Rodri.

EDIT - looks like there is one
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/douglas-luiz-city-villa-heskey-16586315

I said it at the time Mase, should have brought him back. He is ticks a lot of boxes. BTW Foden was what we missed Sunday, do not know how Pep gets to a decision to leave him out, Bernie needs to be better than he has been nowhere near his level.

Lack of creation and goals is now a big issue.

[Foreverinbluedreams]

Rodri is fine when we dictate the games in there on his own.

He is awful when midfield have to chase harry and press and was shown up big time yesterday for his lack of pace and energy. Henderson and Wijnaldum make a mockery of him and it was gundo bursting his balls to get back and challenge, get goalside and recover. There were several examples of this just re watch the first half.

Gundo is great against most teams on his own in the sitting role. He would be first choice for me. In the bigger games id stick someone with legs in there with him prob bernardo.

Rodri is fine as a second choice or rotational player. An expensive one but thats where i see him.

The answer was probably Allan at everton before he went there. He would have been perfect in the short term.

Douglas Luiz is an option if we can get him back. Not sure about the buy back option? He’s 10x more dynamic than Rodri.

EDIT - looks like there is one
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/douglas-luiz-city-villa-heskey-16586315

I said it at the time Mase, should have brought him back. He is ticks a lot of boxes. BTW Foden was what we missed Sunday, do not know how Pep gets to a decision to leave him out, Bernie needs to be better than he has been nowhere near his level.

Lack of creation and goals is now a big issue.

Possibly because he had an absolute shocker against Olympiakos, possibly because he wanted the extra body deep in midfield to counter their press. In hindsight I'm glad he played Rodri and Gundo (despite not being a fan in general) because it gave us that little bit more protection in the first 20, without which we'd probably have been hammered.

[Mase]

What were Rodri’s tackling stats for the match FIBD? Genuinely interested

[Foreverinbluedreams]

What were Rodri’s tackling stats for the match FIBD? Genuinely interested

Not a clue mate.

[carl_feedthegoat]

What were Rodri’s tackling stats for the match FIBD? Genuinely interested

Embarrassing enough for him to be dropped for the next few games...but being dropped for one bad game is only reserved for Foden.

[Mase]

What were Rodri’s tackling stats for the match FIBD? Genuinely interested

Not a clue mate.

I just thought because you said you were glad he played them to add protection that you’d have looked at the stats to see he was correct to do so.

Rodri got his lowest WhoScored rating of the season so far against Liverpool - 5.67
He made 0 tackles 0 blocked shots and 0 interceptions, with 2 fouls.

So essentially he added zero protection by being on the field. I’m wondering with those stats, who do City employ to look at these things and report back to Pep. Because they’re absolutely awful stats. He needs to be dropped.

[Outcast]

Rodri is fine when we dictate the games in there on his own.

He is awful when midfield have to chase harry and press and was shown up big time yesterday for his lack of pace and energy. Henderson and Wijnaldum make a mockery of him and it was gundo bursting his balls to get back and challenge, get goalside and recover. There were several examples of this just re watch the first half.

Gundo is great against most teams on his own in the sitting role. He would be first choice for me. In the bigger games id stick someone with legs in there with him prob bernardo.

Rodri is fine as a second choice or rotational player. An expensive one but thats where i see him.

The answer was probably Allan at everton before he went there. He would have been perfect in the short term.

Douglas Luiz is an option if we can get him back. Not sure about the buy back option? He’s 10x more dynamic than Rodri.

EDIT - looks like there is one
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/douglas-luiz-city-villa-heskey-16586315

I said it at the time Mase, should have brought him back. He is ticks a lot of boxes. BTW Foden was what we missed Sunday, do not know how Pep gets to a decision to leave him out, Bernie needs to be better than he has been nowhere near his level.

Lack of creation and goals is now a big issue.

Possibly because he had an absolute shocker against Olympiakos, possibly because he wanted the extra body deep in midfield to counter their press. In hindsight I'm glad he played Rodri and Gundo (despite not being a fan in general) because it gave us that little bit more protection in the first 20, without which we'd probably have been hammered.

What kind of mentality is that? By playing those two together you're kind of telling the opposition you're better than us, it's the wrong approach, guess he showed them too much respect, we are a better team on forefront, they were there for the taking, it should have been from the start to have a go then think about shoring up, isn't that how it supposed to work?

[Nick]

What were Rodri’s tackling stats for the match FIBD? Genuinely interested

Not a clue mate.

I just thought because you said you were glad he played them to add protection that you’d have looked at the stats to see he was correct to do so.

Rodri got his lowest WhoScored rating of the season so far against Liverpool - 5.67
He made 0 tackles 0 blocked shots and 0 interceptions, with 2 fouls.

So essentially he added zero protection by being on the field. I’m wondering with those stats, who do City employ to look at these things and report back to Pep. Because they’re absolutely awful stats. He needs to be dropped.

Wow..confirmed what we all saw.

[Foreverinbluedreams]

Rodri is fine when we dictate the games in there on his own.

He is awful when midfield have to chase harry and press and was shown up big time yesterday for his lack of pace and energy. Henderson and Wijnaldum make a mockery of him and it was gundo bursting his balls to get back and challenge, get goalside and recover. There were several examples of this just re watch the first half.

Gundo is great against most teams on his own in the sitting role. He would be first choice for me. In the bigger games id stick someone with legs in there with him prob bernardo.

Rodri is fine as a second choice or rotational player. An expensive one but thats where i see him.

The answer was probably Allan at everton before he went there. He would have been perfect in the short term.

Douglas Luiz is an option if we can get him back. Not sure about the buy back option? He’s 10x more dynamic than Rodri.

EDIT - looks like there is one
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/douglas-luiz-city-villa-heskey-16586315

I said it at the time Mase, should have brought him back. He is ticks a lot of boxes. BTW Foden was what we missed Sunday, do not know how Pep gets to a decision to leave him out, Bernie needs to be better than he has been nowhere near his level.

Lack of creation and goals is now a big issue.

Possibly because he had an absolute shocker against Olympiakos, possibly because he wanted the extra body deep in midfield to counter their press. In hindsight I'm glad he played Rodri and Gundo (despite not being a fan in general) because it gave us that little bit more protection in the first 20, without which we'd probably have been hammered.

What kind of mentality is that? By playing those two together you're kind of telling the opposition you're better than us, it's the wrong approach, guess he showed them too much respect, we are a better team on forefront, they were there for the taking, it should have been from the start to have a go then think about shoring up, isn't that how it supposed to work?

Thinking based on what we've seen so far this season, we haven't put one decent 90 minute display in so far, that's not the time to go gung ho against the best team in the league.

[Foreverinbluedreams]

What were Rodri’s tackling stats for the match FIBD? Genuinely interested

Not a clue mate.

I just thought because you said you were glad he played them to add protection that you’d have looked at the stats to see he was correct to do so.

Rodri got his lowest WhoScored rating of the season so far against Liverpool - 5.67
He made 0 tackles 0 blocked shots and 0 interceptions, with 2 fouls.

So essentially he added zero protection by being on the field. I’m wondering with those stats, who do City employ to look at these things and report back to Pep. Because they’re absolutely awful stats. He needs to be dropped.

No, just used my eyes mate, having two players there covering space was better than one given how Liverpool started that game.

Never suggested he played well(he didn't) but his presence was effective in restricting them in the opening period.

[Mase]

What were Rodri’s tackling stats for the match FIBD? Genuinely interested

Not a clue mate.

I just thought because you said you were glad he played them to add protection that you’d have looked at the stats to see he was correct to do so.

Rodri got his lowest WhoScored rating of the season so far against Liverpool - 5.67
He made 0 tackles 0 blocked shots and 0 interceptions, with 2 fouls.

So essentially he added zero protection by being on the field. I’m wondering with those stats, who do City employ to look at these things and report back to Pep. Because they’re absolutely awful stats. He needs to be dropped.

No, just used my eyes mate, having two players there covering space was better than one given how Liverpool started that game.

Never suggested he played well(he didn't) but his presence was effective in restricting them in the opening period.

His presence? We could literally have had any player playing there and unless they gave 3 fouls away, they wouldn’t have had a worse game than him. Putting Foden there and telling him to play from deep would have been a better option.

[Foreverinbluedreams]

Give over, he doesn't have that defensive discipline.

[Mase]

Give over, he doesn't have that defensive discipline.

How do you know? And you’re acting like Rodri added to our defending. I’ve just given you the facts!

Would Tommy Doyle have done any worse?

[Foreverinbluedreams]

Give over, he doesn't have that defensive discipline.

How do you know? And you’re acting like Rodri added to our defending. I’ve just given you the facts!

Because he hasn't played that position, he's an attacker.

You've given me some numbers Mase, we both know there's more to the game than that, keeping shape, providing an outlet for the build up, covering space, all these things aren't quantified by numbers but they're important factors, oh and you left out clearances btw.