If him and Fred switched places, it would have been 4-0 United.
Declan Rice
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Thought Behrahma was far better today. Besides the goal, every time the ball was won or intercepted in the midfield, it was him.
The other thing was I felt he played as a single pivot even though on paper Soucek was there next to him - he was most of the time up the pitch.
Dominated by two out of sorts midfielders. I'm sure a couple of lung busting runs will convince some he was brilliant though. He's just quite average every time I watch him.
Wtf. He was excellent.
Did you really not see his interceptions today on Bruno Fernandes, Mctominay and Pogba?
This guy is the definition of English players hype...
I'm comparing the roles which are the same and require a certain level of discipline on the ball. Busquets has been playing in a team for many years that dominates possession in multiple defensive and attacking zones, and if you watch full games of his, in alot of those games he keeps it simple and recycles possession without taking too much risk, especially against top quality teams.
Not targeting you, man. I've seen this mentioned often.
Other than being a midfielder who's good defensively, I don't see any comparison. At least, not for now.
I didn't say he did nothing, just that he was outshone and we were in control today despite barely being out of 2nd gear and McT being so rusty.
I think if we swapped our two midfielders with their two, we'd have won comfortably.
Not at all. He was bang average today, Soucek the much better player on the day.
Greenwood was running through him for fun in the 1st half.
@Highfather_24
Atleast tell me that Rice's performance vs us was better than Neves's performance vs us.
Or Neves's performance vs Brentford. Please.
Atleast tell me that Rice's performance vs us was better than Neves's performance vs us.
Or Neves's performance vs Brentford. Please.
All our attack was coming out from wide the whole game because nothing was happening centrally due to West Ham's midfield.
Crosses, and shots from out wide.
If he's smart - he'll start to swim to Manchester next season
He's a better player than Neves for sure. I dont think Rice's profile is the right for us, Neve's is, but he is not good enough. Jorginho would be a perfect midfielder for us sadly. Locatelli was another.
He is a CDM - he doesn't just play against Fred and Mctominay; he is also to play against Bruno Fernandes our CAM.
Soucek is afforded the freedom because of Rice being in the right place. Imagine how much more freedom McTominay and Pogba would have to push higher with him alongside.
Well that's because they cram the middle of the pitch
We had 7 shots in the first half and most of the attacks down Rice side.
He's a solid player when the ball is near him but that's about it. I'll never be conned into believing he's some sort of midfield general like some in here.
He just doesn't impress me.
The issue here is that when some people decide to take a stance on a player, they would rather die on their chosen hill before changing their mind.
It's absolutely clear now that he's a very good player for the role in question and I believe that when he starts playing for a bigger club, with better players, we'll see much more from Rice IMO.
It's absolutely clear now that he's a very good player for the role in question and I believe that when he starts playing for a bigger club, with better players, we'll see much more from Rice IMO.
Some people have their own opinions and stick to them for a reason.
We keep hearing this "does better for better clubs" but he does nothing for England either.
He's a player that excels without the ball - West Ham don't want possession.
What's he going to be like for us in a similar situation? just crabbing sideways passes isn't going to cut it.
I wouldn’t consider that smart. You can’t exactly swim directly from London to Manchester unless you are either going to swim up north right round Scotland or down south right through the English Channel and up past Wales? Even Micheal Phelps would struggle with that.
He oozes football intelligence
We need to completely revamp our midfield , because our current regulars are bang average ideally we bring in two starters next season if one of them is Rice then a playmaking no 8 should be targetted and if it's somebody like Jorginho then more of a defensive no 8 alongside him would be better suited.
West Ham's valuation is beyond a joke for someone who's just a solid player without being anything special. A midfielder at United should not be one dimensional and just good at defending.
Hahaha the overhype is extraordinary. To think Rice and Soucek is soo much better than Fred and Mctominay that we win this game easily is laughable.
what’s with the hyping of other teams players that we constantly downplay ours?We literally dominated their middle but yet their middle is miles better then ours? Make it make sense.
His ability to control the ball, use his body and make intelligent passes are also top..
We'll just have to agree to disagree, mate. I honestly rate McTominay above Rice.
I think he’s overrated, but he’d be our best DM by a billion miles.
Bissouma and Leicester's Ndidi are a few notches above Rice.
Similar to some degree, but I think McTominay would be better as the player who breaks up play higher up the pitch, while Rice is better as the interceptor who sits screening.
I'm not saying Rice is a brilliant passer, he plays simple passes into the right player in the right area to keep things ticking.
You stick to your opinions whilst people who have played at the highest level in midfield have called him a fantastic player.
For England he was fantastic according to Paul Ince. Southgate adopted a particular way to play and Rice did his job in a two man midfield sitting as the deepest midfielder. I wasn't happy with the way we setup, but that's how the manager wanted us to play in a structured setup playing with wingbacks who Rice helped in defensive transition. Italy also setup with a structured block but had 3 midfielders who are very good on the ball with one in particular being a cut above in Verratti. You can pair Tchouameni (who you've wanted us to sign) with Rice or Phillips in a similar approach and Italy's midfield would still dominate the game in possession IMO.
He's a player that is good with the ball and without it. And how good he will become, only time will tell.
A definite improvement on Fred. I don't think we've ever played with a pure DM.
Nah don’t see it at all. 100 Million asking price is utterly laughable.
He’s a good player, but also massively overrated and doesn’t deserve the price tag West Spam put on him. And for all his qualities, signing him won’t help us control games any better, we lack a metronome passer who can dictate the game and recycle possession effectively, and that ain’t Rice. If we do sign him then we must still find that passer to play alongside him, or our inability to build play will remain, just with a bit added defensive solidity.
I saw at least 3 times when we bypassed their midfield and went 1v1 against a CB or their keeper.
McFred waltzed up to the opposition box at will today
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I've heard loads of ex players say somebody is good, doesn't make it true.
Look Rice is good at what he's good at - mopping up in tight spaces. He won't get that luxury at United, this is my point.
He won't come in and do a better job than what we already have for the huge amount of money he will require.
Kalvin Phillips is another who's on a similar level as Rice.
12-0, at least.
I imagine there will be yet more converts after today.
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