Declan Rice

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ayushreddevil9

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If Ole doesn't come up with a solution to the midfield then we are done for the season, Ronaldo or no Ronaldo. Southampton and Wolves have basically proved that our midfield crumbles under any form of pressure - imagine what a Chelsea, a Liverpool or even City can do. Then there is the likes of Everton and Spurs with the playing resources to punish the sloppiness we have displayed so far.
His only solution is that dreaded 4-2-3-1 preferably with McFred.
 

DannyDee

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West ham would probably feel more comfortable selling him to us than Chelsea.
Probably, but I can't really blame a young guy for not wanting to leave his hometown if there is an equally competitive offer especially if you have a good friend and previous connections. Not saying he'd turn us down if we put out a competitive offer. The London clubs have seemed to be willing to do business with each other outside of Tottenham/Arsenal. It's not the same no-go zone as United to City or United to Liverpool. And, hell, we just sold James to a former big-time local rival.
 

Fortitude

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Ronaldo coming was great for sentimentality, I doubt he will increase our goal output by much because I think he will just take goal scoring chances and time away from other forwards but I am still happy with him because along with Ramos there is no better clutch player in world football.

But you have to have a great team behind in order to get to those clutch moments and we won't be getting there with that midfield behind him. Rice would fit the culture that Ole wants to instill but I don't think he is a player that's so good that we designate his as either him or no one. A couple young players in the French league like Tochouameni will have a similar impact on our team, maybe not as good but certainly enough to provide our forwards the platform to perform.

Waiting a year for him when it's so clear that this midfield we have will hurt us is beyond idotic for me because we are sacrificing one season of competitiveness for one player. Its not a given that if we do get him next year we will be as good as City or Chelsea because it appears that Pogba will feck off if we endure another season of toil so we will need to major signings, which the board won't allow, to reach the potential we could have had if had been decisive with this position this summer.

The management has basically written off a whole season because they lack the strategic flexibility to move on from an unattainable target to a more realistic one.
If Ole doesn't come up with a solution to the midfield then we are done for the season, Ronaldo or no Ronaldo. Southampton and Wolves have basically proved that our midfield crumbles under any form of pressure - imagine what a Chelsea, a Liverpool or even City can do. Then there is the likes of Everton and Spurs with the playing resources to punish the sloppiness we have displayed so far.

Good post(s).
 

TheNewEra

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We need someone like Rice to sit in front of the back four.

A character like Ndidi would be wonderful, right now someone like Rice is what is direly needed and I hope Ole and the backroom staff aren't going into the season not addressing the issue.
 

jackal&hyde

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If Ole doesn't come up with a solution to the midfield then we are done for the season, Ronaldo or no Ronaldo. Southampton and Wolves have basically proved that our midfield crumbles under any form of pressure - imagine what a Chelsea, a Liverpool or even City can do. Then there is the likes of Everton and Spurs with the playing resources to punish the sloppiness we have displayed so far.
A bit of an exaggeration that. Fred is in bad form and McTom will come back. It should be no worse then last season while improving in other areas.
 

Dante

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If Ole doesn't come up with a solution to the midfield then we are done for the season, Ronaldo or no Ronaldo. Southampton and Wolves have basically proved that our midfield crumbles under any form of pressure - imagine what a Chelsea, a Liverpool or even City can do. Then there is the likes of Everton and Spurs with the playing resources to punish the sloppiness we have displayed so far.
The solution is Trippier.
 

amolbhatia50k

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If Ole doesn't come up with a solution to the midfield then we are done for the season, Ronaldo or no Ronaldo. Southampton and Wolves have basically proved that our midfield crumbles under any form of pressure - imagine what a Chelsea, a Liverpool or even City can do. Then there is the likes of Everton and Spurs with the playing resources to punish the sloppiness we have displayed so far.
I wonder if we can build up play from the wide areas like Atletico used to a few years back. They would just use fullbacks, CMs and attackers to move the ball along the flanks a lot through neat passing interchanges, if I'm not mistaken. It could work, if we don't have the playmakers in the centre. Would suit Ronaldo too.
 

croadyman

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Starting to sound like Chelsea are all in for him next summer so think Ole will need to start looking elsewhere
 

Polar

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Very quiet around Rice and also Lingard. Makes me suspicious:D Maybe we’ll be surprised.

I think Rice is within reach for £50m + Lingard (£40/45m if we’re lucky). After we’ve now have sold James for £25m, we are almost there. Only peanut for us:) At least if that’s the difference between first and second place in PL.
 

Bebestation

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Very quiet around Rice and also Lingard. Makes me suspicious:D Maybe we’ll be surprised.

I think Rice is within reach for £50m + Lingard (£40/45m if we’re lucky). After we’ve now have sold James for £25m, we are almost there. Only peanut for us:) At least if that’s the difference between first and second place in PL.
Hope so.

Think West Ham just bought a CDM Alex Kral aswell.
 

Stacks

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If Ole doesn't come up with a solution to the midfield then we are done for the season, Ronaldo or no Ronaldo. Southampton and Wolves have basically proved that our midfield crumbles under any form of pressure - imagine what a Chelsea, a Liverpool or even City can do. Then there is the likes of Everton and Spurs with the playing resources to punish the sloppiness we have displayed so far.
Good post(s).
amazing that we managed to win a single game last season or even beat these sides last year. We rarely lose to the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool or City. Let alone Everton. We went on an unbeaten run last season after the early season blip and have since added Verane at the back. think we'll be fine. The early parts of the season are usually rusty
 

SAF is the GOAT

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I'm seeing now with the England team and the guy doesn't take the ball from the defense and push the ball forward. How is that different from Fred ? what is so better in Rice that we want him ?
 

ivaldo

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Just exposes how woefully limited he is.
 

cyberman

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Matic is still far more talented on the ball.
I totally agree but Matic was getting crucified after the Southampton game for sitting back between the CBS and passing it sideways. That’s Rice to a T and people want us to spent 60m plus on him
 

bond19821982

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If Ole doesn't come up with a solution to the midfield then we are done for the season, Ronaldo or no Ronaldo. Southampton and Wolves have basically proved that our midfield crumbles under any form of pressure - imagine what a Chelsea, a Liverpool or even City can do. Then there is the likes of Everton and Spurs with the playing resources to punish the sloppiness we have displayed so far.
We don't play that open against Top teams.
 

saivet

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I'm seeing now with the England team and the guy doesn't take the ball from the defense and push the ball forward. How is that different from Fred ? what is so better in Rice that we want him ?
I think Rice is safer and thus less erratic on the ball. He's also a lot better defensively than Fred in near enough every aspect.

Rice is relatively basic on the ball but I think defensively he is very good and is disciplined enough to play as a proper DM unlike Fred.
 

Kag

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Matic is still far more talented on the ball.
He is. It’s my biggest issue with Rice.

I think he’s genuinely brilliant off the ball, though. I didn’t appreciate how good until I watched him regularly for England this summer.

I think his positives outweigh the negatives, all in all. For most games, anyway.
 

Bebestation

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He has to be signed at any price
I'm not sure if you are kidding- but still; I got to say that when you see how Rice plays in midfield in a defensive manner its absolutely beautiful to watch.

It just gives the rest of the team this shape and freedom to play.

I absolutely love it.

I can't disagree with his passing but I love so many other aspects of his game. The guy gives an element of control to the team.

I feel like he is a False CB, kind of like the defensive version of a false 9.

He is a very hard player to describe.
 

Zoo

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Excellent play from Rice. Break the play up then get England moving forward.
 

Highfather_24

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Dunno why people think he is this player who will single handedly unlock other attacking midfielders, when he has always played with another defensive player alongside him(Philips, Soucek) helping him out, and never as the sole DM.
 

Bwuk

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We need to sign him next summer whatever the fee. He’s been brilliant tonight. Exactly what we need.
 

Bwuk

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I'm seeing now with the England team and the guy doesn't take the ball from the defense and push the ball forward. How is that different from Fred ? what is so better in Rice that we want him ?
He can control a ball and pass it for starters. Fred is rotten.
 

Devil may care

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He's very much a 3rd CB, you'd need a really top class #8 playmaker to offset his limitations on the ball.
 

InfiniteBoredom

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I’m not feeling this at all, if we are to spunk top dough then I’d rather get someone in the Carrick mould who can actually pass a ball even if he can get rinsed occasionally. We would still be left with our chronic inability to build play from deep with him as the DM alongside Fred/McTominay/Pogba. If we have to buy another midfielder on top of him for it to work then what’s the point?
 

amolbhatia50k

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I’m not feeling this at all, if we are to spunk top dough then I’d rather get someone in the Carrick mould who can actually pass a ball even if he can get rinsed occasionally. We would still be left with our chronic inability to build play from deep with him as the DM alongside Fred/McTominay/Pogba. If we have to buy another midfielder on top of him for it to work then what’s the point?
Don't worry. It's not as if you're posting in the transfer forum anyway. Everything here is about Rice's recent peformances
 

InfiniteBoredom

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Don't worry. It's not as if you're posting in the transfer forum anyway. Everything here is about Rice's recent peformances
Sometimes I feel like I watch a different game from what other people see. Was watching a talkSport clip earlier when they talked about him being worth 100m or not and praise his Euro performances, the same Euro where England served up underdog, bland, unattractive football and get dominated by far lesser teams through the middle with him and Phillips, if that’s all we are looking for in a Utd player then feck me.
 

UNITED ACADEMY

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West Ham will still ask 100m next year because they have him until 2025. Unless if west ham get relegated, I can’t see how west ham have reason to reduce the price, which I doubt they even get relegated since they are challenging for European football spot. Even if they finish 15th, they will still ask at least 80m since Brighton asked White for 50m. 2023 is when he will be affordable imo.
 

Dante

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I totally agree but Matic was getting crucified after the Southampton game for sitting back between the CBS and passing it sideways. That’s Rice to a T and people want us to spent 60m plus on him
By people who don't understand football.
 

GueRed

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Watched him very closely since the end of last season.

I like what i see.

Rice would walk into our current set-up and improve us 100%. A leader as well.

I'm firmly on the bandwagon now.
He's still 22yrs Old I think. I'm looking forward to see how he develops this season.
 
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