It is nonsense just like XG
However I think Rio has shown he can get past his defender or at least make space for the shot.
He´s not anywhere near ready to be relied on as our main wide player on the left but as a backup? sure.
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Well, for me, having someone who can dribble past opponents is always a huge bonus for unlocking defenders. Look at Pep — he always has at least 2-3 elite dribblers in his team. No matter how good your team setup is, elite dribblers can change games.
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I think Doak is closer to Ryan Kent than Rio. I don’t see his technique being up there.
using ben as an example to show where Rio currently is. not saying Ben is better than rio.
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I rate Gomez as a player, don’t get me wrong, but I have zero trust in his fitness. That coupled with (probably) Iraola’s training regime that is supposed to be very demanding just leads me to believe he’ll experience another injury-ridden season.
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I respectfully disagree. Ngumoha is miles ahead of Doak at this age. Doak was always exciting with his raw pace (and Iraola has tried to use him this season as an outlet late in games showing he considers him at least useful at Premier League level) but I always found Doak to be very “straight”. Everything he did was very vertical and he didn’t show much ability to vary his play. He was excellent at Middlesbrough no doubt but he was also two years older than Rio is now and playing at lower level.
Is Rio the perfect footballer? No, obviously not, but he’s shown more than enough to say he should have a big role here next season. No I don’t want him to be left as the only LW but he should part of the rotation. We simply haven’t had a player this good come through the academy since Sterling. A loan is completely unneccessary, just put him in a system that isn’t relying on individual players winning games through moments of brilliance. Can’t have been easy for him playing in that shambles of a team yet he always stood up and went again.
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I’ve been watching football for over 50 years and must have spent thousands and thousands of hours discussing the match in the pub afterwards and I’ve never heard anyone use the terms ‘dribble success’ or ‘take on’s’ a single time.
I’ll drop them into the conversation after the first home match next season so I can be laughed out of town.
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Well no because in regular conversation you would just say “he beat his man a lot”. Which he does.
And you’ve never heard someone say “take him on”?
Take him on
Take on
It’s not rocket science.
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Yeah, of course we can’t count on Gomez as first or second choice, but he’s good enough quality when available. Given our squad right now is missing a ton of homegrown players, for me Gomez is a nice addition to the team. It’s a win-win situation. There’s no need to push him out the door.
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Still think we need a lot of players this summer.
RB/LB seem short on cover
CD - need another experienced CB.
DM - probably the most important
Wingers x 2.
Cant see us getting all of that this transfer window.
Anyway if we think Rio is too young just wait until next season when Joshua Abe will made his debut. Doesn’t even turn 16 until July.
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Will he stay?
Based on this season i think Rio is ready but that doesn’t mean we don’t need another LW.
Curious what you guys think but to me it feels like most young players struggle in their second year with the first team or more likely their body lets them down (injuries) because they are still growing.
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Now Josh Abe is an amazing talent if we can keep him out of City’s hands. What a physical and technical talent. The kid has everything, including finishing.
That’s why I’m pretty sure we will get him first team minutes next season, to convince him to stay. If he leaves before that it would be a shame but every top club in the world wants him.
He was at a City game earlier this season and he was at the Champions League final yesterday. If he doesn’t leave he’s certainly making sure he gets the most out of the interest in him!
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A lot has been talked about us signing Adam Wharton but if Iraola comes as manager then is that signing less likely? If we adopt a frantic pressing style that would leave us potentially open in midfield if the opposition can dribble or pass through the press. With Wharton being a less mobile and speedy No.6 then Iraola may want more of a Sangare type monster tackler. Wharton’s tackling isn;t the best but at 21 it’s difficult to see him as the finished article right now.
Abe had trained with the first team before he got his injury so he could see some time next season.
Gakpo I can see but Macca seems to have lost something physically. I’d keep and play Elliott, try to get Bajcetic and Danns healthy. Bring back Tsimikas. Promote Nyoni and Morrison.
Buy another senior CB (50m) and a good Right winger (70m). Sell Macca (40M) and Chiesa (12m), keep Endo (not much resale value and versatile).
We’ve got a major rebuild. Not really because of Slot because of where we were as a squad. With Salah, Robertson, Konate and in a season VVD, Alisson and Gomez… we’ve got to rebuild on a young core.
I don’t think buying another like Isak would be a good move. Especially with Ekitike injured until 2027… and many of our CBs coming back from injury. The next season should be about getting top 4 while developing a young squad.
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How can you remember that? I can’t even remember what Bajcetic looks like! Or spell his name.
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