31 May 2026 10:09:56
Hypothetically we go into the season with our current squad Ed001 who do you see excelling under Iraola. For me Rio, Kerkez and Harvey Elliott will benefit from his style of play
{Ed001's Note - I really don't see what everyone sees in Rio, he is just a lazy version of Gakpo with a fancy leg wave at the moment. He is awful at pressing, lacks any aggression in his play and doesn't track back. He is going to need to work on all those aspects if he is to be any more than a show pony. He is miles off a first team player. I am also not happy that he was promised first team football when brought in - he should have to earn it like the rest of the youth team.}
31 May 2026 10:42:14
Rio is miles off being ready for anything more than the odd cameo. He gives the ball away and looks weak in the tackle. Gakpo's physicality suits Iraola's game more than Rio's does.
31 May 2026 10:47:39
Scrabble, Kerkez, Wirtz and Gakpo should do well I think.
31 May 2026 10:58:37
Ed was Rio really promised first-team football being brought in at only 16? that's a very strange move from us no? He must have had a stellar scouting report. Do you know who was the main operator in orchestrating his move?
I agree his game is very lacking in multiple areas, he makes me nervous when he has the ball inside our own half too. I do commend his confidence for taking on his man, especially at his age but there's no doubt he needs a lot of work.
{Ed001's Note - yes he was promised first team football or he would not have joined us. I don't know who was the main mover as everyone tries to take the credit when things seem to be going well.}
31 May 2026 11:02:47
Rio definitely needs to work on all that. My biggest gripe with him is letting men run off him around our penalty area. Good thing is, once he buys into fixing them, they are easy to improve on.
Imagine we get him tracking back, pressing added to his natural talent. No doubt about it, if he's willing to work and learn the things a real pro needs to, we have one hell of a player on our hands.
31 May 2026 11:05:30
With Scrabble doing well, let's hope our next coach has more of a Cluedo than the last one.
31 May 2026 11:14:55
It's a bit of a monopoly at the minute, Zeddicus.
31 May 2026 11:17:41
He has a lot to work on and plenty of time to do it, what he has done is get people off their seats and shown some threat going forward which is more than most of our front line have been able to do this last quarter or third of a season.
Hopefully he can stay grounded, work hard and iron out those flaws.
Back to the first question, they should all level up with a decent level of fitness.
31 May 2026 11:20:20
I think for his age Ed001, Rio has very good end product. His shots are always fairly decent and decent crosses. Usually when these youngsters come in, they are not as polished in that area. Ways to go of course but for a prospect it's a really good level.
His defensive side was horrendous but I saw some effort to improve after he was called out on it. Not massive improvement but some. That's what excites me about Iraola developing him. I think he specializes in his weakness areas while continuing to develop his attacking prowess too.
Rio is just a prospect that could end up a show pony or a serious top player. With his talent he could go both ways. I just think with Iraola, he has a decent chance of becoming the latter.
I also think Rio might have the right attitude from what I've seen. Super confident but not in a way that he thinks he doesn't have to work hard at his craft.
I do think their is a special player there if Iraola gets his teeth into him.
I guess the opinion is depending how you view him as.
Great player right now - for me no. I wouldn't have him first team regular by a long shot just yet. First team squad and development minutes.
Great prospect - yes for me but needs to work on glaring weakness though.
31 May 2026 11:18:05
Cheers Ed
31 May 2026 11:40:24
Given the ex-coach didn't press high or care for closing space, it's tough to criticise the kid.
31 May 2026 11:55:55
Agreed, Pelican, but it is worrying the club told him he would be in the first team. That cannot be good for his attitude. It is important to learn that hard work leads to success and that it is not just handed to you.
That's not the kid's fault, but mismanagement. Someone at the club, hopefully Iraola, will instill the hard work into him, and then we will see if he is good enough.
31 May 2026 12:18:02
Rio has had some great flashes of good attacking play, but he is very lightweight and looks like a boy amongst men (which he is). Talk this season of Rio starting more, given his lack of physicality and defensive ability, was wild and shows how desperate we were for shoots of recovery and some excitement in our play.
Confident the lad can become a great player, but right now he needs game time and to learn his trade on loan for next season, or perhaps stay and get some cup minutes, but no way a starter next season.
31 May 2026 12:21:36
I'd sell Rio. Genuinely haven't seen what the fuss is. A lot of people are easily pleased. Played football with a thousand lads that did stopovers. One-trick ponies are soon found out.
31 May 2026 12:27:30
Been saying this all season, he's a show pony at the minute and I really don't see him being a world beater, he just looked more exciting than Gakpo which isn't hard to,
It's hill I'll die on.
31 May 2026 14:40:59
Rio is a kid. All the things Ed is saying should be expected. The fans overhyping him and saying he is better than Gakpo are not helping him. In fact, they are making things worse.