Declan Rice

[Bebestation]

How can people not want this guy.

Every team just cuts through our midfield constantly. Our defence still looks a bit off.

On the other side, We lack an extra attacker because we play two defensive players in midfield than just one.

 

[izec]

We would need another midfielder, someone that brings structure and decision making in midfield, a proper playmaker type. Seeing as our coaching staff cant coach, we would need a brilliant maestro in there.

 

[Inigo Montoya]

We would need another midfielder, someone that brings structure and decision making in midfield, a proper playmaker type. Seeing as our coaching staff cant coach, we would need a brilliant maestro in there.

This!

Considering how many good players we have, what fecking difference does it make having Rice, BIssouma or whomever? We can't coach them and we have precious little tactics and that's obvious

 

[DixieDean]

Why did he sign a 7 year contract? Another player with a clown agent.

 

[Inigo Montoya]

Playing well again at Leeds.

Leeds aren't the gung ho merchants today and giving as good as they get. Rice is the better performer out of him and Phillips atm.

 

[hmchan]

Rice is putting in great performances day in day out. Shame that people here only watch big games.

 

[Inigo Montoya]

Why did he sign a 7 year contract? Another player with a clown agent.

I'd say he was persuaded by the manager more than his agent. Sign on for an improved salary, we'll let you go for a good offer which will suit all parties.

You can't blame West Ham or the player. He's able to improve without being under the spotlight and he knows he'll end up at another club eventually

 

[Inigo Montoya]

Rice is putting in great performances day in day out. Shame that people here only watch big games.

I'm watching this one. Better in many respects than our one earlier. Both teams have discernible styles of play and are playing to their strengths

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

Doing bits in the Leeds game apparently.

Only reason he's not rated by most on here is because he's English and his price tag (something he has no control of).

 

[Martial'sEmergingSmile]

Rice has been brilliant, as usual.

Caps it off with a match-winning assist.

 

[Bebestation]

Umm let's sign Phillips because he can pass and Ndidi because he cannot.

Rice is a 22 year old player thats only going to get better.

He is one of the most tactical players I've enjoyed watching in a long time.

I feel that people overvalue skill and technique sometimes over things like intelligence and tactical understanding.

 

[hmchan]

Rice has been brilliant, as usual.

Caps it off with a match-winning assist.

"But Rice can't pass," people say.

 

[Inigo Montoya]

Umm let's sign Phillips because he can pass and Ndidi because he cannot.

Rice is a 22 year old player thats only going to get better.

He is one of the most tactical players I've enjoyed watching in a long time.

I feel that people overvalue skill and technique sometimes over things like intelligence and tactical understanding.

His combative game is superior to anything we have right now.

 

[Bobski]

Stepped up a level this season.

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

Oh he’ll make all the difference, just like Maguire, Fernandes, Ronaldo, Sancho, Varane.
Suddenly though, we’ll look a top unit, cause… Rice.

Made just 35 passes v Leeds, 83% accurate.

Our problems go way further than a good bloody defensive mid, but keep convincing yourselves that next purchase will be the answer.

 

[Bebestation]

His combative game is superior to anything we have right now.

I just can't stand the counter attacks we go through, it's literally nail biting. We were an Aston Villa player slipping away from a goal even earlier.

Maguire and Varane need a CDM that sits in front of them and then Our attack will get even better for that kind of balance.

No more McFred and an capability to play an extra attacking player in midfield and upfront than we currently do.

 

[golden_blunder]

Stepped up a level this season.

p
Like he said he would

 

[The Boy]

Well our resident Brighton fan agrees with me @The Boy

Absolutely agree, when we first bought him, people were comparing him to Pogba!

He’s never been seen as a pure defensive midfielder, because he’s not!

 

[spiriticon]

I really want Marco Verratti but we have no chance there, so let's sign this guy up next year and we can lose Fred or Van De Beek

 

[Schmeichel's Cartwheel]

if we sign him it’ll be

Expectation

Bruno Pogba
Rice​

reality

Bruno
McTominay Rice​

someone needs to tell our coaches 4231 is not the only formation in football.

 

[golden_blunder]

Absolutely agree, when we first bought him, people were comparing him to Pogba!

He’s never been seen as a pure defensive midfielder, because he’s not!

Which is why I’m always curious that people consider him as an alternative to rice. They are completely different

 

[UnitedSofa]

Oh he’ll make all the difference, just like Maguire, Fernandes, Ronaldo, Sancho, Varane.
Suddenly though, we’ll look a top unit, cause… Rice.

Made just 35 passes v Leeds, 83% accurate.

Our problems go way further than a good bloody defensive mid, but keep convincing yourselves that next purchase will be the answer.

He will be part of the answer and close to where we want to be. People hate the double pivot.

 

[Cassidy]

He will be part of the answer and close to where we want to be. People hate the double pivot.

We dont need to play a double pivot. Ole clearly loves the double pivot

 

[Hanky panky]

Doing bits in the Leeds game apparently.

Only reason he's not rated by most on here is because he's English and his price tag (something he has no control of).

There is at least 30% air in his price tag. 50% if he would play outside England. He would not cost much over 40M in Spain, Italy or Germany.

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

We dont need to play a double pivot. Ole clearly loves the double pivot

Aye, we’re shite at the double pivot but play it regardless.

 

[Castia]

Must be the number one target give West Ham whatever they want.

 

[davidmichael]

I just don’t get anyone comparing McTominay and Rice as they’re nothing alike at all, Rice is a proper defensive midfielder and unlike anything we have in the squad outside of Matic if he were to relive his best days.

We get overrun and bullied in midfield on a regular basis and that’s including the so called lesser teams, we’ve no one with tactical and positional awareness and nous defensively that also has stamina to do it week in and week out in midfield and no matter what McTominay and even less so Fred will be that player.

I’m not going to say Rice is the answer to everything in order for us to win everything but he is the answer to our piss poor midfield being overrun and bullied every week, I defy anyone to tell me they’d be a better defensive triangle in the league than Varane and Maguire with Rice in front of them.

 

[Martial'sEmergingSmile]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

Most passes and carries into the final third, while also being a huge defensive presence.

 

[Bebestation]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

Most passes and carries into the final third, while also being a huge defensive presence.

I can't wait until summer. I hope that Ole feels some sort of pressure and goes for it in January. Unlikely but still, hope.

 

[Irwin99]

He's been excellent. I'd be very surprised if all the top 4 weren't in for him next season.

United's problems are obvious
Chelsea could have a midfielder to eventually succeed Jorginho and/or Kante
City could have a Fernandino replacement and contrary to what people argue I think Rice could use the ball in the way a Pep team operates
Liverpool are pretty strong but Henderson isn't getting any younger

Don't suppose he grew up a United fan by any chance?

 

[Bebestation]

He's been excellent. I'd be very surprised if all the top 4 weren't in for him next season.

United's problems are obvious
Chelsea could have a midfielder to eventually succeed Jorginho and/or Kante
City could have a Fernandino replacement and contrary to what people argue I think Rice could use the ball in the way a Pep team operates
Liverpool are pretty strong but Henderson isn't getting any younger

Don't suppose he grew up a United fan by any chance?

He is a Chelsea supporter.

 

[Irwin99]

He is a Chelsea supporter.

 

[golden_blunder]

But supposedly good mates with several of the United England lads and was asking about life at United during the WC

 

[golden_blunder]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

Most passes and carries into the final third, while also being a huge defensive presence.

I’ll keep repeating this because I feel it’s important for those that believe he’s a CB playing midfield, he said that he didn’t like the criticism in the summer and he has set out this season to prove people wrong and show that he can take more chances and be more progressive

 

[Irwin99]

But supposedly good mates with several of the United England lads and was asking about life at United during the WC

Yeah, also Shaw was/is a Chelsea fan so I guess it doesn't really make much difference. I expect a fair few clubs to be looking at him though.

 

[Donut]

He's been excellent. I'd be very surprised if all the top 4 weren't in for him next season.

United's problems are obvious
Chelsea could have a midfielder to eventually succeed Jorginho and/or Kante
City could have a Fernandino replacement and contrary to what people argue I think Rice could use the ball in the way a Pep team operates
Liverpool are pretty strong but Henderson isn't getting any younger

Don't suppose he grew up a United fan by any chance?

Agreed. Everyone will be interested, he’s an excellent player and wouldn’t look out of place in a Pep team, hopefully we haven’t missed the boat here. Liverpool will be priced out though.

 

[Martial'sEmergingSmile]

was asking about life at United during the WC

He did this with Rio


Instead of being interviewed by Rio - as was the expectation - he spent 90% of the video asking questions about Ronaldo, Fergie, our training methods...everything.

He seems like an absolute sponge, desperate to soak up any football knowledge. He's a future captain, whoever signs him. Throwback player.

 

[A-man]

Great player and what we need.
But the idea that if we get him, we don’t need another DM/double pivot, is that really true? Doesn’t Rice play best in double pivot or at least with another midfielder who share the defensive job?

 

[GueRed]

Good player, with plenty of scope to improve.

He's a leader as well. Currently West Ham's captain.

As well as being a talented boy he has the right mentality. A winner.

Ticks a lot of boxes.

Rice to United next summer makes so much sense...

 

[Bebestation]

Great player and what we need.
But the idea that if we get him, we don’t need another DM/double pivot, is that really true? Doesn’t Rice play best in double pivot or at least with another midfielder who share the def waive job?

He plays in a double pivot more due to the managers he plays for. Southgate and Moyes; whilst the way he plays is actually much more like an anchor man that shield 2 CB's behind him and 2 CM's in front - ie the triangles of the 433.

This is why we hope that he can come and switch Ole (who has also been a double pivot guy at United/not all the time at Molde) to a 433.

The one thing I will say though is that even in a double pivot I notice that Soucek gets a crap load of freedom to get up and down to the pitch and really have a go at attacking. It's still a double pivot, but one of the pivot is at the other end of the pitch quite some times. Whilst I hope it doesn't happen- if the 4231 does stick and Rice gets stuck in a double pivot with Pogba (the younger quicker version of Matic Pogba partnership) - then I can see Pogba getting forward and really having a go at attacking even in a double pivot because Rice does his duties of shielding the defence first and foremost before anything else and will be there covering alot of players that have left for an attack.