Declan Rice

[Isotope]

We hate Bono too, doesn't make him any less Irish!

I still haven't found what I'm looking for.

 

[TheReligion]

Other than ourselves, which other PL teams would both be able to afford him and have an immediate need for him in their side?

I think he's the kind of player you make space for. Chelsea? Perhaps if they want to move on Kante. City to replace Fernandinho?

 

[Isotope]

I think he is ok but I dont think he is anything special. I've seen him tons now and he never has really impressed me. I honestly have no idea what all the fuss is about.

Stick to bitcoin trading, and never be a scout.

j/k mate.. hehehe..

 

[balaks]

Stick to bitcoin trading, and never be a scout.

j/k mate.. hehehe..

Roger that

 

[Svartzonker]

I don’t think Chelsea will go for him after Frank’s sacking. I suspect City is going for a cheaper player since they already have Rodri. Liverpool do not need him and Arsenal/Spurs can’t afford him.

He should be priority number two after Sancho.

 

[Isotope]

Roger that

white text.

 

[kundalini]

Other than ourselves, which other PL teams would both be able to afford him and have an immediate need for him in their side?

No team can afford him; that includes United. Declan Rice's contract is until summer 2024 + 1 year option on West Ham's side. West Ham do not want to sell. Look at the prices paid for the top 10 most expensive signings across the big 5 European leagues this season.

Since LVG arrived until the end of the Jan window during Solskjaer's first full season in charge, our average annual net spend on transfers was £104m. If your starting point is the beginning of the Mourinho era, with the same end point of Bruno Fernandes' signing, prior to the arrival of the Coronavirus, the figure rises to £110m.

United will miss out on over £100m due to the lack of fans at Old Trafford this season, in addition to the £40m Covid-19 cost United last season. Salaries are the same as usual (up due to CL involvement), the Glazers' dividends the same as usual, the interest on the debt the same. The fall in revenue has to hit the amount available for transfers. If we end this summer with a positive net spend on transfers, it will be money that will have come from future transfer windows. Our new shirt sponsorship deal is for less than the Chevrolet deal and recent broadcasting deals across europe have been about 15% down on previous deals, with the PL's deals being negotiated this year I believe.

No idea why I spend time stating the obvious in the transfer forum.

 

[andersj]

The best I've seen him play tonight.

I think he could have done more on the ball. But defensively it was a good performance from him. Dominating and aggressive, but disciplined. He really has great awareness for danger.

I do think we need a player like him, and I do not think either Fred or McTominay has that in them. They might be «DMs», but they are much more reactive. And McTominay, who is close, really is not that safe in his passing (something I would consider crucial for a DM).

 

[Bebestation]

I think he could have done more on the ball. But defensively it was a good performance from him. Dominating and aggressive, but disciplined. He really has great awareness for danger.

I do think we need a player like him, and I do not think either Fred or McTominay has that in them. They might be «DMs», but they are much more reactive. And McTominay, who is close, really is not that safe in his passing (something I would consider crucial for a DM).

Maybe it's slightly delusional - but one of the main reasons I have been interested in Rice is because Carrick is one of our main coaches.

Rice to me has certain aspects Carrick didnt have (why I believe we went after Hargreaves as his partner to win the UCL in my opinion) and yet what Rice's areas that he doesn't have/can improve on is Carrick's specific strengths (such has his ability on the ball).

I know/doubt that Rice's ball playing ability will ever be good as Carrick's but Rice is someone who has been learning his role when transitioning from CB to CDM and he is looking to be a top class ball winning midfielder.

If we do go after this young 22 year old and Carrick can improve his passing abilities and ranges by 10-25% then we will have some player in our squad. It's the area I see him having to work on before reaching his prime.

 

[Dancfc]

No team can afford him; that includes United. Declan Rice's contract is until summer 2024 + 1 year option on West Ham's side. West Ham do not want to sell. Look at the prices paid for the top 10 most expensive signings across the big 5 European leagues this season.

Yep, the inflated transfer market has made it harder for 'big fish in small pond' type players to get out, main case in point to that Zaha at Palace.

If Rice wants to eventually move on his first realistic opportunity will be 2023.

 

[DWelbz19]

No team can afford him; that includes United. Declan Rice's contract is until summer 2024 + 1 year option on West Ham's side. West Ham do not want to sell. Look at the prices paid for the top 10 most expensive signings across the big 5 European leagues this season.

Since LVG arrived until the end of the Jan window during Solskjaer's first full season in charge, our average annual net spend on transfers was £104m. If your starting point is the beginning of the Mourinho era, with the same end point of Bruno Fernandes' signing, prior to the arrival of the Coronavirus, the figure rises to £110m.

United will miss out on over £100m due to the lack of fans at Old Trafford this season, in addition to the £40m Covid-19 cost United last season. Salaries are the same as usual (up due to CL involvement), the Glazers' dividends the same as usual, the interest on the debt the same. The fall in revenue has to hit the amount available for transfers. If we end this summer with a positive net spend on transfers, it will be money that will have come from future transfer windows. Our new shirt sponsorship deal is for less than the Chevrolet deal and recent broadcasting deals across europe have been about 15% down on previous deals, with the PL's deals being negotiated this year I believe.

No idea why I spend time stating the obvious in the transfer forum.

Add to this we normally spend far more in our unsuccessful seasons where we miss out on top 4. Finishing comfortably 2nd, and possibly winning the Europa League will probably just compound the point that we won't be going big at all in the transfer window. It'll be our usual, as you say, net spend of around £80-100m~ish.

 

[Beachryan]

No team can afford him; that includes United. Declan Rice's contract is until summer 2024 + 1 year option on West Ham's side. West Ham do not want to sell. Look at the prices paid for the top 10 most expensive signings across the big 5 European leagues this season.

Since LVG arrived until the end of the Jan window during Solskjaer's first full season in charge, our average annual net spend on transfers was £104m. If your starting point is the beginning of the Mourinho era, with the same end point of Bruno Fernandes' signing, prior to the arrival of the Coronavirus, the figure rises to £110m.

United will miss out on over £100m due to the lack of fans at Old Trafford this season, in addition to the £40m Covid-19 cost United last season. Salaries are the same as usual (up due to CL involvement), the Glazers' dividends the same as usual, the interest on the debt the same. The fall in revenue has to hit the amount available for transfers. If we end this summer with a positive net spend on transfers, it will be money that will have come from future transfer windows. Our new shirt sponsorship deal is for less than the Chevrolet deal and recent broadcasting deals across europe have been about 15% down on previous deals, with the PL's deals being negotiated this year I believe.

No idea why I spend time stating the obvious in the transfer forum.

This is my take too, tbh. The only thing that changes it would be a decent sale of Pogba, but even that seems unlikely given Covid.

With Rice you do wonder if they could work something out with the player wanting to move and us having Jessie doing so well there.

But hopes of Haaland seem fanciful to me.

 

[Devil may care]

Yeah, quite the long read but the names are:

Gold Standard: Ndidi & Rice

Young Bucks: Camavinga & Gravenberch

Tacklers: Tapis from Celta Vigo & Mohd Camara from Salzburg.

Passers: Locatelli & Zakaria

Interesting Shouts: Docoure from Lens, Anguissa from Fulham & Berge from Sheffield United.

For me I am interested in Locatelli, described as one who disrupts oppo attacks and he is an excellent passer

Why are Rice and Ndidi considered the gold standard options? I'm guessing it's because they already play in the PL as neither are that good on the ball. I like the look of Locatelli and I think Camavinga and Gravenberch are more like Pogba replacements than holding midfielders.

 

[Lash]

Why are Rice and Ndidi considered the gold standard options? I'm guessing it's because they already play in the PL as neither are that good on the ball. I like the look of Locatelli and I think Camavinga and Gravenberch are more like Pogba replacements than holding midfielders.

Odd isn't it, because to me gold Standard in the prem would be Fernandinho, Kante, Fabinho. Not Ndidi and Rice.

 

[MadDogg]

Odd isn't it, because to me gold Standard in the prem would be Fernandinho, Kante, Fabinho. Not Ndidi and Rice.

Ndidi is understandable since he's so ridiculously good defensively. You know what you are getting with him. Rice still has a lot of question marks.

 

[Champagne Football]

Why are Rice and Ndidi considered the gold standard options? I'm guessing it's because they already play in the PL as neither are that good on the ball. I like the look of Locatelli and I think Camavinga and Gravenberch are more like Pogba replacements than holding midfielders.

The best Italians rarely leave Serie A, and some struggle to settle in the PL.

Rice is no Pirlo or Keane but he's good enough to be a vital cog in a league winning team. Has the right attributes and mental toughness. Not the most gifted footballer, but would fit into that bracket of Terry, Jordan Henderson, Milner. Players who can become top top PL players through hard work and who will never give less than 100%.

You could bring in a Camavinga, and after 1 season he's flirting with Madrid.

 

[Crustanoid]

The best Italians rarely leave Serie A, and some struggle to settle in the PL.

Rice is no Pirlo or Keane but he's good enough to be a vital cog in a league winning team. Has the right attributes and mental toughness. Not the most gifted footballer, but would fit into that bracket of Terry, Jordan Henderson, Milner. Players who can become top top PL players through hard work and who will never give less than 100%.

You could bring in a Camavinga, and after 1 season he's flirting with Madrid.

When Keane came in he was actually that. A new cog in a title winning team. Then he grew beyond that. We need Rice this window

 

[beingshe7don]

I don't think a DM is on the list of priorities this summer window. We're looking for an RW, CB & ST.

 

[simonhch]

I think the defence would improve considerably with Rice protecting it. He’s be a priority for me over another expensive CB. If we are absolutely bare bones this summer and can spend maybe 150m including funds raised from sales, I’d take Rice and Sancho as our top priorities to improve the balance and functionality of the team. Those signings would have the biggest systemic impact.

Henderson/DDG

Lindelof - - - - Maguire
W.Bissaka - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Shaw

Rice - - - - Pogba

Sancho - - - - - - Fernandes - - - - - - Rashford

Greenwood/Martial

A much, much better team. If you can afford to bring a third player in, you make it Grealish to play on the left and move Rashford up front. Potentially selling Martial. The final piece of the puzzle is to sign a partner for Maguire and an understudy for AWB. But I think CB is the least critical. A proper DM improves the defence and the midfield.​

 

[Lash]

Ndidi is understandable since he's so ridiculously good defensively. You know what you are getting with him. Rice still has a lot of question marks.

Yeah, but you could level that at Ndidi as well. He's not been in a side pushing for titles, but been at a high level for a few seasons now.

 

[POF]

My issue with Rice is who he could play with in midfield. Pogba's contract is running down and there's a reasonable chance he could leave in the summer.

Apart from Pogba, he could maybe play in a midfield 2 with Van de Beek. But other than that, a midfield 2 of Rice and Fred/Matic/McTominay would be an absolute disaster from a creative perspective.

If Pogba left and United signed Rice, they would potentially need another 2 midfield players.

 

[Litch]

As said, Rice would be ridiculously expensive. A Utd signing back in the day to compliment and strengthen a good team but 60 - 70m, I think the money will be spent on a CB or RW or maybe a high profile player like Kane if he decides to leave Spurs. I think a lot of it is dependent what happens with Pogs too.....

 

[OmarUnited4ever]

Why are Rice and Ndidi considered the gold standard options? I'm guessing it's because they already play in the PL as neither are that good on the ball. I like the look of Locatelli and I think Camavinga and Gravenberch are more like Pogba replacements than holding midfielders.

Well, one reason is they are an experienced PL players.

Another is they would fit into Ole's 4231 formation (Nidid+Pogba or Rice+Pogba).

 

[Devil may care]

The best Italians rarely leave Serie A, and some struggle to settle in the PL.

Rice is no Pirlo or Keane but he's good enough to be a vital cog in a league winning team. Has the right attributes and mental toughness. Not the most gifted footballer, but would fit into that bracket of Terry, Jordan Henderson, Milner. Players who can become top top PL players through hard work and who will never give less than 100%.

You could bring in a Camavinga, and after 1 season he's flirting with Madrid.

I'm not sure about Rice, I think it's just England don't produce a lot of players in the role and he's better than the likes of Dier, but his limitations on the ball are an obstacle, it's the same with Ndidi, both basic players who are being quoted for Ronaldo money.

If Camavinga came here I don't think he'd be desperate to move to Real immediately as its a graveyard for young players most of the time and Zidane might not even be there in a seasons time.

Well, one reason is they are an experienced PL players.

Another is they would fit into Ole's 4231 formation (Nidid+Pogba or Rice+Pogba).

Lots of players can fit into a basic 4-2-3-1 system though, I'm just saying there are better footballing options, if you have a Rice or Ndidi you need a playmaker next to them and it's 50/50 at best regarding Pogba still being here.

 

[RooneyLegend]

When Keane came in he was actually that. A new cog in a title winning team. Then he grew beyond that. We need Rice this window

We don't need him enough to spend big money on him, we're not a bottomless pit.

 

[passing-wind]

Don't understand why many have used England games to decide to rate the player after he's performed at a decent level for club two years running. Rice excels where Fred / Scott lack, his influence also allows the manager to ditch the conservative approach of double pivot midfielders. Rice offers much in terms of ability and tactically. I would put him somewhere around the same priority of a centre half with a winger / striker being the most important depending on Pogba staying.

 

[Dave Smith]

The problem with Rice is his contract. 2024 + 1 year option gives WHU an amazing amount of leverage. I cannot see Utd doing it unless they can package some players in as apart of the deal and we all know how rare that is.

 

[Merlin 1975-78]

How much would you pay for him?

About £35 Mill at a push possibly increase it by an extra £5 Mill but certainly no more than £40 Mill!

 

[theklr]

I think he could have done more on the ball. But defensively it was a good performance from him. Dominating and aggressive, but disciplined. He really has great awareness for danger.

I do think we need a player like him, and I do not think either Fred or McTominay has that in them. They might be «DMs», but they are much more reactive. And McTominay, who is close, really is not that safe in his passing (something I would consider crucial for a DM).

Fred «might» be DM but its still a way off, its not really his game.

McT is a box to box , he’s just staying closer to our box.

 

[432JuanMata]

Think he gets rated so high here due to us not having a decent DM, don’t think he’d be that good in the long run especially at the price that is being mentioned

 

[Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber]

I

Henderson/DDG

Lindelof - - - - Maguire
W.Bissaka - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Shaw

Rice - - - - Pogba

Sancho - - - - - - Fernandes - - - - - - Rashford

Greenwood/Martial

A much, much better team......​

Not a chance Rice would get regularly slaughtered on here that his "failing to protect' the disaster that is maguire paired with lindeloff. The defensive issues would be exactly the same. The only "better' thing in that team would be the right wing problem solved. There is literally no good team you'd be able to lpay that midfield pair against. So Rashofrd will probably beforced to play cf, Pogba left wing and Fred or scott would be next to Rice in tougher games

a.k.a no work done

 

[AgentSmith]

Not a chance Rice would get regularly slaughtered on here that his "failing to protect' the disaster that is maguire paired with lindeloff. The efnsive issues would be exactly the same.the onky "better' thing in that team would be the right wing problem solved. There is literally not good team you'd be able to lay that midfield pair against. So Rashofrd will probably forced to play cf, Pogba left wing and Fred or scott would be next to Rice in tougher games

a.k.a no work done

What would be your strategy instead?

 

[andersj]

What would be your strategy instead?

Hopefully, a new RB and RW, two positions we should strenghten regardless, will make up for the loss of Pogba. If we could spend Lingard + Pogba + Matic money on a new DM I do think we would be much better off.

If we sell Bailly that could be a nice opportunity to bring in someone more suitable to play next to Maguire/Lindelof. Four new players in, four players out. Would be possible for a lot of teams normally, maybe not MU this summer?

 

[Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber]

What would be your strategy instead?

The obvious: Sort out center defence. As a top team if you have a defence that can't operate behind a single defensive oriented player, no matter the opponent, its the center defence that is the issue. Not the one's shielding it.

United will not progress until Maguire and Lindeloff are permanently divorced and replaced with a more compatible partnership. Period.

All our problems as a team rise and fall from the existence of that pair as a starting partnership. 2 excellent defenders who bring the worst out of each other. They are both slow Rio types.' We need to get then a quick Vidic. Not yet another defensive minded midfielder to suffer and end up abused for trying to shield their short comings as a duo.


Right now United have strictly 2 major structural flaws:
A wrong center half partnership
No right winger

 

[AgentSmith]

Hopefully, a new RB and RW, two positions we should strenghten regardless, will make up for the loss of Pogba. If we could spend Lingard + Pogba + Matic money on a new DM I do think we would be much better off.

If we sell Bailly that could be a nice opportunity to bring in someone more suitable to play next to Maguire/Lindelof. Four new players in, four players out. Would be possible for a lot of teams normally, maybe not MU this summer?

I agree on a new RW but I’d only agree on a RB if it was an experienced but cheap back-up to AWB.

The summer largely revolves around the the decision we make with Pogba for me. we sell Pogba we have to buy a different profile of midfielder compared to if he stays.

If we give Pogba a new contract we have to find a way to get him into the team alongside Bruno. Rice as the CDM behind them seems like a reasonable solution to that problem. That’s why I was interested in what someone who was rejecting Rice would do instead.

The obvious: Sort out center defence. As a top team if you have a defence that can't operate behind a single defensive oriented player, no matter the opponent, its the center defence that is the issue. Not the one's shielding it.

United will not progress until Maguire and Lindeloff are permanently divorced and replaced with a more compatible partnership. Period.

All our problems as a team rise and fall from the existence of that pair as a starting partnership. 2 excellent defenders who bring the worst out of each other. They are both slow Rio types.' We need to get then a quick Vidic. Not yet another defensive minded midfielder to suffer and end up abused for trying to shield their short comings as a duo.


Right now United have strictly 2 major structural flaws:
A wrong center half partnership
No right winger

I think the problem at CDM is a far greater one than at CB. It’s also a lot trickier to solve so it definitely takes priority for me.

 

[Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber]

......I think the problem at CDM is a far greater one than at CB. It’s also a lot trickier to solve so it definitely takes priority for me.

Fair enough. Its your honest opinion.

Yet I must ask: Because the center defence is questionable we can't:
1. Operate a higher line: The pairing creates a 'no mans land' between them and the midfield every time we try to play front foot football because they are afraid to leave space in behind them. (Resulting in goals like the one west brom scored us away)
2. Press as a team upfield ( the midfield has to stay deeper to shield them, the attackers also drop deeper forcing us to be a counter attacking team

3. Play a defensive player and an attacking player in the double pivot (you play a DM with a Pogba/DVB/Bruno there wont be a second player to cover both lindleoff and maguire pushing into midfield)

4. Have to sacrifice an attacker to add a second playmaker to the team. (Because we are forced two lay two defensive players, we either sacrifice a deeper play maker, or sacrifice a striker to add a playmaker, reducing our creativity)

5. Need 2 defensive oriented midfield to cover 2 slow center backs who naturally like to push up into midfield when we play tougher teams

I'm curious to know how you think having one top defensive midfielder will eliminate all these problems that have nothing to do with his position

 

[simonhch]

6. Why left footed penalty takers are more predictable.

 

[andersj]

but I’d only agree on a RB if it was an experienced but cheap back-up to AWB.

I think Vasquez or Trippier, both probably available due to their contract situation, would take AWBs place. Specially if we had a good DM like Rice.

 

[andersj]

I'm curious to know how you think having one top defensive midfielder will eliminate all these problems that have nothing to do with his position

Easy, he probably do not agree with any of the arguments above.

 

[Floyd]

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; he really does remind me of an older Roy Keane, when he was a pure DM and no longer box-to-box.

High praise yes, but justified imo.