Rodri's Absence Overstated? Man City's Draw at Everton Sparks Debate Over Midfielder's True Value
Manchester City dropped points at Everton without Rodri. Is his importance overstated? Tactical analysis and stats reveal surprising insights.
Manchester City's recent 1-1 draw at Everton has reignited the debate over Rodri's influence on Pep Guardiola's side. The Spanish midfielder missed the clash due to injury, and many were quick to attribute the dropped points to his absence. But a closer look at the numbers tells a more nuanced story.
City's Performance Without Rodri
Despite dominating possession (72%) and creating more chances (15 shots to Everton's 8), City failed to convert dominance into victory. John Stones' early goal was canceled out by a well-worked Everton equalizer. However, the underlying metrics suggest City's issues ran deeper than Rodri's absence. Defensive transitions have been a problem all season, and even with Rodri, City had conceded from counter-attacks prior to this game.
Statistically, City's pass completion percentage (89%) was slightly above their season average, and their expected goals (xG) of 1.8 compared to Everton's 1.2 indicates they were still the better side. The lack of a cutting edge and a rare defensive lapse cost them two points rather than a systemic failure due to one missing player.
Is Rodri Overrated?
Rodri is undoubtedly crucial to City's build-up play, acting as the deep-lying playmaker who dictates tempo. However, the narrative that City are helpless without him might be exaggerated. In the 2023/24 season, City won 76% of games with Rodri in the starting XI compared to 67% without, but the sample size without him is small. Moreover, in the current season, City's win percentage without Rodri in the league stands at 60%, which is still respectable for a team of their caliber.
Interestingly, City average 2.1 goals per game with Rodri versus 1.8 without. Defensively, they concede 0.4 more per game without him. These differences are notable but not catastrophic. The real issue might be the overall midfield balance and the fitness of key players like Kevin De Bruyne, who has also been in and out of the lineup.
What This Means for the Title Race
City currently sit third in the Premier League, four points behind leaders Arsenal with a game in hand. Every dropped point is magnified in such a tight race. However, blaming Rodri's absence entirely overlooks tactical adjustments Guardiola could make. With the January transfer window approaching, City might consider reinforcing midfield depth to avoid over-reliance on any single player.
Ultimately, while Rodri's importance is clear, the suggestion that City are a one-man team is overplayed. The draw at Everton was more about collective underperformance and less about one missing link.