17 Aug 2026 11:28:03.
This will no doubt upset a few, but Rio is one for the future, not for now. He he has no awareness of what's going on around him. Whether he's attacking or going backwards, he constantly misses the easy pass to try and dribble his way though.
Have a look back at the last few warm up games and see how many times he lost the ball in the defensive area by trying to beat 3/4 men. He needs to get his head up.
People that have a go at Jones for slowing the ball down should watch him come to a stop before trying his tricks when a simple pass keeps us flowing. He's a young lad and will no doubt improve massively over the next few years, but currently we should be looking at sub roles and League Cup. Koumas did more yesterday in being involved and pressing etc., though his end product lacked.
17 Aug 2026 11:52:47
MattB,
At last someone who isn't blinded by the stepovers. Rio still has a hell of a lot to learn if he is to make it at Anfield. Defensive duties, end product, moving the ball on quickly, running in behind as a variation to wanting it to feet all the time.
Also, yesterday showed that it is on the left or nothing. He was invisible on the right wing and is definitely not an option there.
17 Aug 2026 11:54:21
It's a bit like when Ronaldo (I'm not comparing the two overall - before everyone bites my head off!) when he first went to Utd... too many stepovers without end product. That'll come with experience. Not sure if anyone in the team has had a word (assume someone will eventually), but he needs to keep things simple, and as you said, get his head up.
If he can learn to do that and bring out the tricks selectively, he'll be some player.
But I agree that he's one for the future. I wouldn't be averse to bringing him on late in the game, especially when we're leading.
17 Aug 2026 12:04:18
Why should it upset anyone? It's all out there for everyone to see. He's clearly not a starter. And I will add controversy by saying that the season under Slot has probably pushed him back simply because he's become the one-trick pony that Gakpo became last season. Run fast up the by-line, ignore the left back who has run past him, cut into the right, go past a player or two, and then shoot.
If your game becomes so predictable, opposing rightbacks will know exactly how to play you. And I won't mention his game as a right wing. This shouldn't matter because he's a LW, but Iraola-ball upfront requires more diversity and interchanging. Great potential, no doubt, but lots of work still to be done.
17 Aug 2026 12:05:21
It's a bit like when any half decent youngster makes a few appearances.
He's exciting but far from a regular 1st team player.
Ronaldo to Jordon Ibe. Who knows what path his career will take.
17 Aug 2026 12:06:08
Rio is clearly a great talent, and we were right to give him the chance in pre-season. But he has shown that he isn't quite ready yet. He's also definitely not a RW. He looks so much more comfortable on the LW.
I'd try to loan him out to a team in the Prem with some semblance of stability.
A team fighting for Europe or relegation is unlikely to trust him in key moments. A team like Brighton, Brentford, Leeds, Bournemouth, Newcastle or Sunderland would be perfect. I can't see any of them being sucked into relegation battles, and also they're unlikely to be realistically pushed into the top 7.
17 Aug 2026 12:08:25
He's an option for this season and will get game time. He's young and isn't the finished article, I think we all know that, but the only way he'll improve is if he plays.
He does hold onto the ball too long, but then so does Wirtz at times, Munoz did it too.
Rio is absolutely an option for the right side. I literally saw no difference in him playing on the right to when he plays on the left. He's young and plays in spurts. He goes missing just like he does on the left, but that will get better with age and experience.
17 Aug 2026 12:08:28
Rio will be 4th behind Barcola, Munoz, Mbiaye; 5th if Gakpo stays. That is where he is, and is best for him to get used sparingly.
17 Aug 2026 12:08:42
I don't think too many would argue that he still needs to improve. I think he will potentially start some PL games this season (I expect him to start at Newcastle), but once our summer business is concluded and everybody is up to speed, I think he will primarily be used from the bench. I think that Rio and Munoz coming on after an hour will be a massive handful for a lot of defences with their pace and directness as they start to tire.
He's got immense potential and is already a fan favourite, but he is still a kid and he needs to continue his development. I'm just glad that we now have somebody like Iraola there to help him.
17 Aug 2026 12:27:22
If somebody doesn't soon coach Rio to get his head up and move the ball rather than his continuous attempts to go by opponents, he could become a has-been at 18.
It was a novelty to have a young boy bring some excitement to the Slot team.
Now we are serious again and there will be no room for messing about just to please a young lad and the media.
17 Aug 2026 12:31:32
Well, yeah he's still a child. If anyone thinks he should be first choice in a Champions League team I'd be worried.
He's good enough for some substantial minutes and a few starts this season, but we really need reinforcements on the wings.
17 Aug 2026 12:31:35
He is right about where he should be for a kid whose talent is dribbling.
The awareness will come with age and experience through playing more.
Don't think people should be upset by this at all.
17 Aug 2026 12:45:26
Thanks, MattB, great points!
17 Aug 2026 12:56:49
I don't think there's any doubt about Rio's role this season. He certainly isn't going to be first choice on either wing. He's 17 and has played the equivalent of just 6 full PL games.
Koumas, although he's done well (for a young lad), looks equally inexperienced to me, and quite unaware of his surroundings at times.
17 Aug 2026 13:03:02
I have been saying this all summer. I think Rik is massively overhyped at present, though his potential is clear to see.
17 Aug 2026 13:05:22
He's clearly a huge talent but it's going to be a couple of years until he's ready for a regular starting spot. Hopefully he'll get more minutes than last season, as an impact player off the bench and playing cup games, but that should be all that's expected for now until he gradually rounds out the rest of his game.
As for the right/left argument, he's clearly more comfortable on the left and likes to come inside and get shots away to the far post, kind of like the 'Henry' finish. Looks less dangerous on the right.
17 Aug 2026 13:16:32
Everyone keeps saying how intense AI's football is and how hard it is physically on the wingers. After Gakpo departs, as I expect he will, I can see Barcola starting most games on the left with Rio to understudy, and Munoz and Mbaye to fight it out for the right wing spot. Rio will get plenty of games.
Let's not forget, Barcola is hardly used to playing full 90 mins and that's in the French league. He's going to be limping around after games, like Wirtz and Hugo were last year, for the first few months. I reckon the two wingers will be subbed in just about every game this season.
17 Aug 2026 13:21:13
I've said over and over that he isn't that good. Looks fancy but has very little end product.
I really don't see him making it at our level. This is my opinion.
And I know he's a kid.
17 Aug 2026 13:35:09
I'd loan him to a Championship side. That's about his level at the moment.
17 Aug 2026 13:48:56
Ah look I'd be the 1st to say he shouldn't be starting for a Champions League team where the fans demand trophies. But also, Rio is ahead of the curve of basically every winger in or on the periphery of the England squad at the moment. Even Saka. He's only a kid at the moment, but he is a very very good one.
17 Aug 2026 14:21:19
He's nowhere near as good as Saka, Gordon, Madueke or even Harvey Barnes at the minute.
17 Aug 2026 15:09:56
I'm the first to criticise English players (they're not as good as the media make out), but Rio is not better than Saka or any other English winger at the moment. But... he has immense potential and we need to cultivate it. If we do, then there's no reason he can't be better than Saka et al.
Mind you, the bar ain't that high if Claire Balding and Madookie are the competition.
The best players in the world play with their head up, constantly scanning the field. You can't do that counting every blade of grass and doing unnecessary stepovers - even if you manage to get a shot off.
17 Aug 2026 16:34:50
I don't know what you have been smoking over there, FM, if that's your take on RN. Better than Saka? Seriously?
17 Aug 2026 16:43:28
I didn't say that. That would be ridiculous. But he's miles ahead of where all of them were at his age. He just needs time. No one should be expecting miracles of him, but to say we don't have a big talent on our hands is silly imo. I wouldn't be surprised at all to see him in the best couple of England squads.
17 Aug 2026 22:13:16
I'm not trying to split hairs FM and regardless of that, my opinion of RN and your opinion is totally different. I see nothing in him to suggest that he's destined for the top level. Nothing at all. He has potential obviously but other than that he's just another prospect.
I'd compare him to Jordan Ibe. Some people on here think he's the next Mane. I bet he may end up somewhere in-between if he has the correct attitude. That's my opinion on him anyway. ED01 suggested a loan might suit him best and I totally agree with that. Sorts the wheat from the chaff.