If it were up to me I would put all the Right winger money on him this summer and wait another year for Sancho who needs a year more at Dortmund to develop further, and play a diamond 4312 to utilize Sanchez up front as well. Levy talks big but 100 m will be hard to reject for a player who is free agent in next summer with criminally low wages. I doubt erikson will sign new contract and extend his stay at Tottenham being so underpaid.Reckon someone like Eriksen would be a great addition to the team as that playmaker
How did you come to such conclusion? No doubt Declan Rice is far ahead of MCTominay in his development because he's played so many games than the latter but let's not forget the fact that MCTominay looked fantastic against a world-class midfielder such as Verratti. He didn't also look out of place against Liverpool.Hes quite a bit better than McT.
Agree, don't know if he's on our radar but should be as he's already looked a talent against big teams in the prem. In reality, he's the type of English player that pretty much all the top teams need including City. An aside but when you compare Rice with Scott, it's like night and day.Looks like he's going to be top class- exactly the player SAF would have signed! Very reminiscent of a young Carrick
He is comfortable with the ball, but keeps it simple when it comes to passing. He is no Pirlo for sure.Is he a decent passer of the ball?
He’s pulling the strings I tells ya!This would be such a Fergie signing.
Matic can't move anymore mate. Also dwells in the ball a lot. Rice is fresh and will only get better.I will be honest and say I have not really watched very much of him but is he not a very similar player to Matic?
I will be honest and say I have not really watched very much of him but is he not a very similar player to Matic?
From the little I’ve seen of Rice he does the opposite of dwelling on the ball and recycles possession very quickly.Matic can't move anymore mate. Also dwells in the ball a lot. Rice is fresh and will only get better.
Wether its Rice or someone else Matic is a player we got to demote sooner rather than later.
He has his good games but he just can't do it consistently.
He's more similar to Dier.I will be honest and say I have not really watched very much of him but is he not a very similar player to Matic?
He's been converted from centre-back by West Ham, he could definitely fill in there.Anybody think he could move into a central defensive role in the future? He may not have the most expansive passing range for a midfielder (although I’m not sure that’s what’s asked of him at present). He breaks up play well as a CDM, so that may be where he remains, but has anyone seen him play in defence?
And Rice is nowhere near their level and probably never will be. See what I’m saying.A lot of our players from Carrick to Fletch got that though?
He signed litteraly just days before he could negotiate with other clubs. Might be a clause or gentlemans agreement there? I would think City and Liverpool will be keen too. Certainly City.He signed a contract til 2024 in December, that certainly gives West Ham a lot of power in potential negotiations.
Very possible, especially since Pellegrini said that he's "available for the right price".He signed litteraly just days before he could negotiate with other clubs. Might be a clause or gentlemans agreement there? I would think City and Liverpool will be keen too. Certainly City.
Agree that Dier was good that year. Just looks a bit heavy (not fat) and less mobile now. Feels like several english midfielders suffers from this. Henderson is also less mobile than he was, and has regressed a bit in my opinion.Him being like Dier wouldn't be a bad thing if he's an upgraded version, which given his age and what he's showing already, is very likely.
Dier in 16/17 was a key player for us, sitting in front of the back 4 and covering for Walker/Rose when they pushed up. He was a big part of why we had the best defence in the league that season and honestly I think we've missed that Dier since. He's regressed recently.
Rice is a fantastic ball winner and his biggest advantage over Dier is whilst he's no creative passer, he is capable of quickly moving the ball on to players with more technical ability. If you had him just behind two more creative types he could be a really important lynchpin.
I'd love him at Spurs, personally. He's very mature for his age and he's the kind of player Pochettino likes, a midfielder with a bit of bite.
I understand people's reservations though. He's not the flashy exciting midfield signing that muppets go mad for, but he is the kind of player that other players love to play alongside. And he's not 'meh' or 'average' either, he's got some standout abilities, they're just not ones people get excited for.
Rodwell was the complete opposite. Looked "class" to some people as a youngster on the ball, but didnt do the dirty work.He's going to be the next Jack Rodwell. Stay clear
Well putHim being like Dier wouldn't be a bad thing if he's an upgraded version, which given his age and what he's showing already, is very likely.
Dier in 16/17 was a key player for us, sitting in front of the back 4 and covering for Walker/Rose when they pushed up. He was a big part of why we had the best defence in the league that season and honestly I think we've missed that Dier since. He's regressed recently.
Rice is a fantastic ball winner and his biggest advantage over Dier is whilst he's no creative passer, he is capable of quickly moving the ball on to players with more technical ability. If you had him just behind two more creative types he could be a really important lynchpin.
I'd love him at Spurs, personally. He's very mature for his age and he's the kind of player Pochettino likes, a midfielder with a bit of bite.
I understand people's reservations though. He's not the flashy exciting midfield signing that muppets go mad for, but he is the kind of player that other players love to play alongside. And he's not 'meh' or 'average' either, he's got some standout abilities, they're just not ones people get excited for.
We dont know how those contract agreements went. West Ham faced losing him for free in the summer, now they'll get a fee for him. £40-45 million is a lot better than £0. Perhaps he's had assurances that they wont stop him joining a big club in order to get him to sign.Whether he's good enough or not is one thing but will he be worth? that's the more important question. He's just signed a five year deal and his hype is through the roof right now. In this crazy market, West Ham would be foolish to accept anything less that £60m from us. Would spending £60m on Declan Rice be the best use of our transfer budget for this summer? I don't think so.
He's a good player but as many posters have said, our midfield is already very limited creativity wise and Rice if anything makes us even less creative. We can go for him another time when he's a bit more proven.
This is fair enough but necessitates us buying 2 midfielders as we don't have the 2nd creative #8.Him being like Dier wouldn't be a bad thing if he's an upgraded version, which given his age and what he's showing already, is very likely.
Dier in 16/17 was a key player for us, sitting in front of the back 4 and covering for Walker/Rose when they pushed up. He was a big part of why we had the best defence in the league that season and honestly I think we've missed that Dier since. He's regressed recently.
Rice is a fantastic ball winner and his biggest advantage over Dier is whilst he's no creative passer, he is capable of quickly moving the ball on to players with more technical ability. If you had him just behind two more creative types he could be a really important lynchpin.
I'd love him at Spurs, personally. He's very mature for his age and he's the kind of player Pochettino likes, a midfielder with a bit of bite.
I understand people's reservations though. He's not the flashy exciting midfield signing that muppets go mad for, but he is the kind of player that other players love to play alongside. And he's not 'meh' or 'average' either, he's got some standout abilities, they're just not ones people get excited for.
Who are these ball winners? We have DM that doesn't defend and a defensive CM that can't dictate or move with the ball. Why not just get proper DM to replace them both and then fit the pieces around.I like him, but come to think of it, we don't really need a player like Rice. We have ball winners. What we haven't got is a player who can get their foot on the ball and make us tick. Rice, whilst a good young player, doesn't suit that profile.
I personally don't see Rabiot as a playmaker or that creative but you are suggesting him and Pogba as the #8's ahead of Rice?Why rice makes sense is because of Rabiot being a free transfer.
Creativity added on a free whilst fixing the ability for creative players to play freely.