Declan Rice

[Bebestation]

West Ham with another convincing 4-1 away win at watford… without Rice in midfield. Noble replaced him.

Perhaps his influence on this team isn’t as big as people are stating?

What was the other convincing win without him?
Against Rapid Vienna? I mean Watford are 2 points above the relegation zone above a team like Burnley who have 2 games more extra to play to catch up and drop Watford in the relegation zone.

With Rice on the field they have had wins over teams like Chelsea and Liverpool aswell as teams like Leicester City.

As you know I'm a big fan of Rice, so I sometimes see if West Ham fans love him or hate him since they watch him the most.

Spoiler: West Ham forum posts about player of the season so far

1. Rice.
Without question IMHO
Our best player since Bobby Moore, IMHO

2. Rice is so far ahead of any other West Ham player, imo.
Judging by some of the Rice comments the last 24 hours , there'll be a lot of surprised fans when they see the state of the team after he leaves.

3. Rice is on another level. After him it is Bowen, and we will struggle to hold on to him if he has a good second half to the season.

4.Everyone here knows Rice is the best player on the team it does not mean he's automatically the "player of half the season"

5.Rice. Not even close. Anyone who says otherwise clearly hasnt watched all of our games

6.Declan Rice has been better than Jarrod Bowen this season.

7. Bowen has been really good but Rice is at a different level.

8.Rice by a country mile. So consistent, and absolutely runs the midfield, and the team.

9. Its an interesting one. Most improved and eye catching? Then thats definitely Rice. MVP? Personally, I would say Bowen.

10. Rice, we are privileged to have him. He is almost the complete player at the age of 22. It's only a matter of time before he starts to regularly add goals to his game

11. Rice by an absolute mile

12. Rice for me, has had a couple of bad performances, but on the whole, has been our best player by some considerable distance.

13. Rice has been our best player by some way IMO. He'd get in most people's Premier League team of the season so far (Sky pundits both had him in theirs). You'd have to go back to the likes of Payet and Scotty Parker to see someone that widely recognised in a West ham shirt.

Anyway! I know it's not my duty to change your mind and its Declan Rice's job to do that, the same way a player like Tchouameni hasnt really wowed me either.

 

[lloyd2wayne]

Feels like you have a bit of an issue with the English/British? Also, if you can't see that he's better than Henderson at present then there's no hope for you.

Also...'Basmati Rice '? Grow up.

Why only mention Henderson? I quoted Jorginho, Thiago, Rodri too since the poster I quoted said he’s the best midfielder in the league.

Yeah Basmati Rice . Deal with it

 

[Pickle85]

Why only mention Henderson? I quoted Jorginho, Thiago, Rodri too since the poster I quoted said he’s the best midfielder in the league.

Yeah Basmati Rice . Deal with it

I mentioned Henderson as it the the example you gave that I disagreed with. Pretty simple.

Basmati rice...because, because...HIS SURNAME IS ALSO A FOOD STUFF!!!! Wow, good one. Like I said...feels like you have a bit of an issue with the British. Aw, sad for you.

 

[lloyd2wayne]

I mentioned Henderson as it the the example you gave that I disagreed with. Pretty simple.

Basmati rice...because, because...HIS SURNAME IS ALSO A FOOD STUFF!!!! Wow, good one. Like I said...feels like you have a bit of an issue with the British. Aw, sad for you.

No I don’t have any issue with British. Wouldn’t make sense since I support a British team.

I don’t know why you are hang on the name, Basmati Rice. It’s a joke, don’t take things seriously.

 

[Marquee Moon]

The driving force for West Ham. A massive upgrade on Matic and McTominay. He will cost a fortune but you can't tell me we wouldn't get most of it back if he doesn't fit in. He would only go to another big club. If we risked such huge sums on Maguire and Sancho then I can't see any reason why we don't spend big on Rice. He may get outmaneuvered occasionally but nowhere near as much as Matic or McTominay, and he will move the ball a bit quicker. He's proven in the league. We are in no position to be taking chances with French prospects.

 

[bringbackbebe]

Moyes making a ton of noise to jack up his price knowing he will be sold in the summer. Fantastic player but there will be better value for 100m outside. It's better we focus on a proper structure than a shiny new star for the next couple of years.

 

[ManchesterManchester]

What a shame that our club is too incompetent to sell players. Else we could raise funds for Rice, he is now proven quality.

There is no chance we can afford him, he will be Chelsea or Man City bound. As usual, we will shop in the bargain basement and get another past it legend like Matic or Schweinsteiger.

 

[Maniron]

For all of his detractors this afternoon is a good chance to scrutinize him. Palace away k/o 5.30 on Sky

 

[Bebestation]

How can you not rate this guy?

He is 22.

 

[Lash]

How can you not rate this guy?

He is 22.

Don't think there's anyone that doesn't rate him at all, if they don't they're being stupid.

No one should rate him as a 70-100m player though.

 

[TonyMUFC87]

Don't think there's anyone that doesn't rate him at all, if they don't they're being stupid.

No one should rate him as a 70-100m player though.

Just look back at this thread. He wasn’t better than McTominay according to 80% of the comments. They look stupid now thankfully.

 

[Organic Potatoes]

Just look back at this thread. He wasn’t better than McTominay according to 80% of the comments. They look stupid now thankfully.

That’s nonsense. The common refrain was he’s ‘only a better version of McTominay‘.

Though to be fair that’s also a bit of nonsense as they’re much different players.

 

[bosskeano]

funny b/c scott just had one of his best games of the season against Burnley

 

[UNITED ACADEMY]

funny b/c scott just had one of his best games of the season against Burnley

If we want Scott playing like the one against Burnley then it makes it even more obvious that we need a DM like Rice to let Scott plays less deeper than the Scott version when he plays next to Fred.

 

[davidmichael]

funny b/c scott just had one of his best games of the season against Burnley

It also be noted that McTominay had a great game alongside Matic who is our only out and out defensive midfielder which allowed McTominay to play as a box to box midfielder which is his natural role, bringing in Rice allows the likes of McTominay or potentially VDB to play their natural game.

 

[Bebestation]

It also be noted that McTominay had a great game alongside Matic who is our only out and out defensive midfielder which allowed McTominay to play as a box to box midfielder which is his natural role, bringing in Rice allows the likes of McTominay or potentially VDB to play their natural game.

This is one of the main reasons why I want Rice - because of what he allows Soucek to do at West Ham.

• If we play him with Mctominay, he can play as a box to box that is able to get forward and take shots.
• If we play him with VDB I feel that VDB can start making those very intelligent runs freely to the other side of the pitch (though personally I see him better in a 3 man midfield in a 433 etc, something our squad could still use Rice in).
• Even Pogba who is looking like a player leaving us - Pogba can be more free to do his thing playing next to Rice because Rice defends the CB line very well.
• Even Bruno could be more utelised deeper with Rice in emergencies.
• I don't know much about players like Hannibal, Garner or Galbraith or whoever is there under of first team - I just feel like they will be more free and better playing next to Rice who is a very protective player - rather than playing with just Fred or Mctominay.

I'm not someone who sits there in bed crying about how much money we spend on a player - I particularly don't see any benefit in looking too deeply in to that when we are both the richest team in the world and especially when opposition selling clubs increase the cost more due to the rich club we are rather than exactly the value of the player.

Many people say we should sign this player or that player in a different league for being cheaper - but when I watch them, they are playing the exact same way as Fred or Mctominay rather than giving something that a player like Matic does give us when he plays.

 

[davidmichael]

This is one of the main reasons why I want Rice - because of what he allows Soucek to do at West Ham.

• If we play him with Mctominay, he can play as a box to box that is able to get forward and take shots.
• If we play him with VDB I feel that VDB can start making those very intelligent runs freely to the other side of the pitch (though personally I see him better in a 3 man midfield in a 433 etc, something our squad could still use Rice in).
• Even Pogba who is looking like a player leaving us - Pogba can be more free to do his thing playing next to Rice because Rice defends the CB line very well.
• Even Bruno could be more utelised deeper with Rice in emergencies.
• I don't know much about players like Hannibal, Garner or Galbraith or whoever is there under of first team - I just feel like they will be more free and better playing next to Rice who is a very protective player - rather than playing with just Fred or Mctominay.

I'm not someone who sits there in bed crying about how much money we spend on a player - I particularly don't see any benefit in looking too deeply in to that when we are both the richest team in the world and especially when opposition selling clubs increase the cost more due to the rich club we are rather than exactly the value of the player.

Many people say we should sign this player or that player in a different league for being cheaper - but when I watch them, they are playing the exact same way as Fred or Mctominay rather than giving something that a player like Matic does give us when he plays.

The best way I could describe Hannibal Mejbri from what I’ve seen is as a similar player stylistically to Modric whilst Garner and Galbraith are much more in the Carrick mound, for me they are all players who need a pure out and out defensive midfielder alongside them to really thrive which is exactly what Rice is.

I always see people saying we need a deep lying playmaker to break the lines but I think we need a pure defensive midfielder more, in our team a deep lying playmaker would struggle to thrive as the opposition would simply target them with a heavy press and not allow them the time to play.

As you said Fernandes could drop deeper and I think in a midfield three with a licence to roam and break from deep similar to what Lampard used to do for Chelsea would be a great role for Fernandes, use Rice in the Makelele role whos role is to shield the defence and drop into a centre back role if Varane or A.N Other brought through ball out of defence and then have either a deep lying playmaker or box to box midfielder as the third man in midfield.

Yes I know Rice would cost a lot but we’re most likely losing Pogba, Matic, Mata, Lingard and Pereira this summer so that’s FIVE midfielders whilst Fred will have one good game in every ten, no one knows what’s happening with VDB and McTominay is constantly used as a pseudo ball winning midfielder because of his energy levels so our midfield needs serious investment this summer.

I’ve said it a few times and I’ll say it again that I think we should bring in two top midfielders and if it means we use our whole transfer budget plus what we recoup through sales/releases then so be it, if Barca are honestly happy to sell De Jong to bring in revenue then go all out this summer for De Jong and all out for Rice which allows us a lot of tactical flexibility between any of a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 or even a 4-2-2-2.

Our main problem for the past two years is how piss poor we’ve been in midfield and our go too or default setting is McTominay and Fred which is a mid table pairing at best with zero creativity and horrendous positioning defensively so we’re cut wide open time and time again even by the so called lesser teams, one of Rice’s main attributes is his ability to be in the right place positionally and whilst it isn’t a glamorous signing it’s a fundamental signing that fixes one of our biggest and most basic problems for most likely the next decade.

 

[VanDeBank]

My God, he's so average.

He made a nice drive with the ball yesterday, but this man is so incredibly average on the ball.
I don't see a big difference between him and McTominay and he'd cost a fortune to boot.

 

[giorno]

My God, he's so average.

He made a nice drive with the ball yesterday, but this man is so incredibly average on the ball.
I don't see a big difference between him and McTominay and he'd cost a fortune to boot.

He's a better passer(though obv not a great one), a far better ball carrier and an even far-er better defensive player than McT

Honestly i think he's great. His ball carrying ability makes up for his lack of passing skill - he's not a passenger in the build up and attacking phases - and he's fantastic defensively

 

[Morpheus 7]

My God, he's so average.

He made a nice drive with the ball yesterday, but this man is so incredibly average on the ball.
I don't see a big difference between him and McTominay and he'd cost a fortune to boot.

His passing from deep is excellent, he's definitely not average. He would change our transitions going forward and give such stability and discipline at the back, just can never see him at us. A Chelsea summer signing, we had our chance with lingard as bait for the deal. Ship has passed unfortunately.

 

[CM]

Rice has come on quite a bit this season. He looks better on the ball and the way he carried the ball for Lanzini's goal yesterday was impressive.

I'd take him at this point but the problem, as ever, will be the fee. West Ham are clearly angling for a monster fee when they do sell.

 

[Ogaranya]

We will be the joke of the league if we pay £100m for this average player who is just well adapted to west ham defensive football.

If he is that good, why is it that Real Madrid, Barcelona, Liverpool, Bayern, Psg are not interested in him, I am totally disappointed in most of our transfer dealings so far since saf retired, we should stop being exploited financially by other clubs.

Declan Rice is an average player, there are far better cheaper and better option out there.

 

[Bebestation]

The best way I could describe Hannibal Mejbri from what I’ve seen is as a similar player stylistically to Modric whilst Garner and Galbraith are much more in the Carrick mound, for me they are all players who need a pure out and out defensive midfielder alongside them to really thrive which is exactly what Rice is.

I always see people saying we need a deep lying playmaker to break the lines but I think we need a pure defensive midfielder more, in our team a deep lying playmaker would struggle to thrive as the opposition would simply target them with a heavy press and not allow them the time to play.

As you said Fernandes could drop deeper and I think in a midfield three with a licence to roam and break from deep similar to what Lampard used to do for Chelsea would be a great role for Fernandes, use Rice in the Makelele role whos role is to shield the defence and drop into a centre back role if Varane or A.N Other brought through ball out of defence and then have either a deep lying playmaker or box to box midfielder as the third man in midfield.

Yes I know Rice would cost a lot but we’re most likely losing Pogba, Matic, Mata, Lingard and Pereira this summer so that’s FIVE midfielders whilst Fred will have one good game in every ten, no one knows what’s happening with VDB and McTominay is constantly used as a pseudo ball winning midfielder because of his energy levels so our midfield needs serious investment this summer.

I’ve said it a few times and I’ll say it again that I think we should bring in two top midfielders and if it means we use our whole transfer budget plus what we recoup through sales/releases then so be it, if Barca are honestly happy to sell De Jong to bring in revenue then go all out this summer for De Jong and all out for Rice which allows us a lot of tactical flexibility between any of a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 or even a 4-2-2-2.

Our main problem for the past two years is how piss poor we’ve been in midfield and our go too or default setting is McTominay and Fred which is a mid table pairing at best with zero creativity and horrendous positioning defensively so we’re cut wide open time and time again even by the so called lesser teams, one of Rice’s main attributes is his ability to be in the right place positionally and whilst it isn’t a glamorous signing it’s a fundamental signing that fixes one of our biggest and most basic problems for most likely the next decade.

His ability to be at the right place at the right time is just beautiful to watch. It's why the zero goals vs England until the final I put alot down to how Rice was playing.

The people who don't rate Rice don't because they judge/worry about how he plays on the ball - which I admit could be a bit better (but is arguably getting a bit better aswell). They worry how he would do at a club like United where we have to deal with trying to break low block teams with all the time on the ball - but i still wonder - why does that have to be Declan Rice's job?

Rice can be at the right place at the right time and really stop the opposition having the attacking chances in dangerous areas because he is there first. Sometimes I feel like Rice is stopping the opposition even having a chance to take on the defenders because he is there instead protecting his defenders first. The way he plays and leads the line in front of his CB'S can really give an element of freedom to the rest of the team to go do their thing - so I wonder why a playmaker or even two couldn't play in front of Rice rather than trying to find one that plays in Rice's position.

 

[UNITED ACADEMY]

We will be the joke of the league if we pay £100m for this average player who is just well adapted to west ham defensive football.

If he is that good, why is it that Real Madrid, Barcelona, Liverpool, Bayern, Psg are not interested in him, I am totally disappointed in most of our transfer dealings so far since saf retired, we should stop being exploited financially by other clubs.

Declan Rice is an average player, there are far better cheaper and better option out there.

That's because none of those teams need DM or need to spend big on DM right now. I think we are the only top teams without a DM.

 

[Bebestation]

That's because none of those teams need DM or need to spend big on DM right now. I think we are the only top teams without a DM.

Exactly I was just about to post this by I didn't bother :

Why would Real Madrid want him when they have Casemiro?
Why would Barcelona want him when they have Busquets?
Liverpool when they have Fabinho?
Bayern when they have Kimmich?

 

[Adam-Utd]

That's because none of those teams need DM or need to spend big on DM right now. I think we are the only top teams without a DM.

and they’d never spend 100m on him either.

They’ll go to spain/brazil and find somebody who does the job just as well for 1:10th of the price.

Rice is good positionally but he’s not exactly reinvented the wheel. Schneiderlin was just as good at Southampton and look how that turned out.

 

[UNITED ACADEMY]

and they’d never spend 100m on him either.

They’ll go to spain/brazil and find somebody who does the job just as well for 1:10th of the price.

Rice is good positionally but he’s not exactly reinvented the wheel. Schneiderlin was just as good at Southampton and look how that turned out.

They will spend it if they are desperate for a DM. Every club will spend any money on position they are desperate.

 

[Adam-Utd]

They will spend it if they are desperate for a DM.

they’ve never spent anything more than £30m for an english player.

There’s an extremely good chance they don’t spend anywhere near that for a guy that isn’t highly rated outside of england.

 

[UNITED ACADEMY]

they’ve never spent anything more than £30m for an english player.

There’s an extremely good chance they don’t spend anywhere near that for a guy that isn’t highly rated outside of england.

Not like the players want to leave england anyway. Scholes, Gerrard, Lampard and why no one from those clubs ever spend big on such a top player like them? Most english players prefer to stay in PL anyway.

 

[phelans shorts]

and they’d never spend 100m on him either.

They’ll go to spain/brazil and find somebody who does the job just as well for 1:10th of the price.

Rice is good positionally but he’s not exactly reinvented the wheel. Schneiderlin was just as good at Southampton and look how that turned out.

I’m sorry but that is absolute nonsense. Rice is excellent where Scneiderlin at Southampton looked like he would be a squad option at a bigger club, obviously a standard he didn’t even hit.

 

[Bebestation]

they’ve never spent anything more than £30m for an english player.

There’s an extremely good chance they don’t spend anywhere near that for a guy that isn’t highly rated outside of england.

Same as we have never spent big money on a German player.

We are a British club likely to pay alot for British players than other clubs.

 

[Maniron]

This is one of the main reasons why I want Rice - because of what he allows Soucek to do at West Ham.

• If we play him with Mctominay, he can play as a box to box that is able to get forward and take shots.
• If we play him with VDB I feel that VDB can start making those very intelligent runs freely to the other side of the pitch (though personally I see him better in a 3 man midfield in a 433 etc, something our squad could still use Rice in).
• Even Pogba who is looking like a player leaving us - Pogba can be more free to do his thing playing next to Rice because Rice defends the CB line very well.
• Even Bruno could be more utelised deeper with Rice in emergencies.
• I don't know much about players like Hannibal, Garner or Galbraith or whoever is there under of first team - I just feel like they will be more free and better playing next to Rice who is a very protective player - rather than playing with just Fred or Mctominay.

I'm not someone who sits there in bed crying about how much money we spend on a player - I particularly don't see any benefit in looking too deeply in to that when we are both the richest team in the world and especially when opposition selling clubs increase the cost more due to the rich club we are rather than exactly the value of the player.

Many people say we should sign this player or that player in a different league for being cheaper - but when I watch them, they are playing the exact same way as Fred or Mctominay rather than giving something that a player like Matic does give us when he plays.

The bit that most on this thread seem to be missing is that Rice is evolving his game all of the time. He started as a Centre Back then moved into the DM role and this year he has been given more licence to go forward and he is developing into a box to box player and I feel sure that is where he will end up. It is an ongoing debate on the West Ham forum as to whether or not this is why Soucek has not chipped in with as many goals this season as a lot of the time he is covering for Rice. The only bit missing from Rice's game at the moment is goals and I am convinced they will come. The reason Rice hasn't shone as much for England is that Southgate puts the shackles on him.

I think he would add to our team in any of those roles, CB, DM, or B to B, but if he does move from West Ham there will need to be a agreement between club and player as to his role.

I really can't understand anyone who still feels he is average. As others have said, forget the fee, that is not our worry. He already captains West Ham, has played 27 times for England and he is only 22. He should have at least 10 years of his best playing years ahead of him.

 

[Bebestation]

For me, I feel like people are crying out for our version of Kroos and Modric.

Yet that really only really worked to the best of their ability when Casemiro unearthed himself as a Real Madrid player.

It just gave Kroos and Modric the ability to focus on doing their thing with an ease of a cigar in their hand.

For me that's what Rice is. Even if he isn't our Kroos or Modric, he is our Casemiro giving an element of protection to the players both behind him and to those in front of him too.

 

[TonyMUFC87]

they’ve never spent anything more than £30m for an english player.

There’s an extremely good chance they don’t spend anywhere near that for a guy that isn’t highly rated outside of england.

My God, he's so average.

He made a nice drive with the ball yesterday, but this man is so incredibly average on the ball.
I don't see a big difference between him and McTominay and he'd cost a fortune to boot.

You clearly haven’t watched him play then

 

[VanDeBank]

You clearly haven’t watched him play then

His passing is very limited. Lots of sidways shit even when he drops deep. If our CB partnership is fecking Maguire and Varane and the midfield partner is one of McFred let's get a great passer of the ball rather than a CB in midfield (and yes I know CB in midfield doesn't do his defensive work justice, but that's kind of the scope of his ability on the ball).

 

[Conor]

Spending 100m on a DM that is playing for a team and nation that play conservative football is a very dangerous game. For that sort of money, you would want to have seen them consistently perform for a top tier team over a number of years. It's not really equivalent to an attacking player at all.

 

[Lash]

For me, I feel like people are crying out for our version of Kroos and Modric.

Yet that really only really worked to the best of their ability when Casemiro unearthed himself as a Real Madrid player.

It just gave Kroos and Modric the ability to focus on doing their thing with an ease of a cigar in their hand.

For me that's what Rice is. Even if he isn't our Kroos or Modric, he is our Casemiro giving an element of protection to the players both behind him and to those in front of him too.

This is what I don't understand then, are you saying we need someone like Modric and Kroos as well? Because we don't have a player like that. Also think you're you're not giving Modric any credit for his defensive work.

With all that in mind, why would we spend a fortune on a player, which would mean we need to also buy another player. If we also take they need to be like Modric or Kroos, they're even harder to find in the modern game and would be even more expensive than Rice.

 

[Bebestation]

This is what I don't understand then, are you saying we need someone like Modric and Kroos as well? Because we don't have a player like that. Also think you're you're not giving Modric any credit for his defensive work.

With all that in mind, why would we spend a fortune on a player, which would mean we need to also buy another player. If we also take they need to be like Modric or Kroos, they're even harder to find in the modern game and would be even more expensive than Rice.

Because we went and already tried to do that when we bought Pogba as a 90 mil player. We went and bought VDB as a 40m player. We also bought the creative Bruno Fernandes. We also hope for atleast one of Hannibal, Galbraith or Garner to step up and play as a creative midfielder.

All these players have shown that they need a Matic type player to provide them with protection.

I'm sure we are also keeping an eye on Bellingham at Dortmund who is another CM that will need a CDM'S protection.

The last player I remember buying as a Matic type player is Schneiderlin.

Like tell me, do you think that we can play a simple 433 formation with our most creative players in midfield? Can we play Xavi and Iniesta at United? Can we play Kroos and Modric with Fred or Mctominay?

I don't think so unless we utelise Matic. It's why I'm dying for the young replacement of Matic - a player that protects the CB'S behind them and protects the CM's in front, to allow them to be creative at ease.

It's why personally I was hoping for Ole to stick until January - because I'm sure he wanted Rice and to play this :

Rice
Bruno - Pogba/VDB
​

I'm not saying if that works or not, but I don't exactly see something missing in that 3 man midfield either. You have protection. You have creativity. You have hard work. You have intelligent runs. You have long shots. You just about have everything.

Whilst that is unlikely to happen now (pogba leaving) I dont see why we shouldn't buy a CDM that allows us to do that in the future with better players. Even if it's expensive, so will be a creative CM - this United don't have money so we shouldn't buy an expensive player is bullshit to me. We buy Maguire. We Buy Pogba. We buy Sancho. Our wages are off the roof. We can get a good expensive player and it won't stop us from getting another.

 

[Hugh Jass]

Please dont spunk a 100 million on him. It will be like Pogba all over again where he wont be able to match the fee.

 

[Lash]

Because we went and already tried to do that when we bought Pogba as a 90 mil player. We went and bought VDB as a 40m player. We also bought the creative Bruno Fernandes. We also hope for atleast one of Hannibal, Galbraith or Garner to step up and play as a creative midfielder.

All these players have shown that they need a Matic type player to provide them with protection.

I'm sure we are also keeping an eye on Bellingham at Dortmund who is another CM that will need a CDM'S protection.

The last player I remember buying as a Matic type player is Schneiderlin.

Like tell me, do you think that we can play a simple 433 formation with our most creative players in midfield? Can we play Xavi and Iniesta at United? Can we play Kroos and Modric with Fred or Mctominay?

I don't think so unless we utelise Matic. It's why I'm dying for the young replacement of Matic - a player that protects the CB'S behind them and protects the CM's in front, to allow them to be creative at ease.

It's why personally I was hoping for Ole to stick until January - because I'm sure he wanted Rice and to play this :

Rice
Bruno - Pogba/VDB
​

I'm not saying if that works or not, but I don't exactly see something missing in that 3 man midfield either. You have protection. You have creativity. You have hard work. You have intelligent runs. You have long shots. You just about have everything.

Whilst that is unlikely to happen now (pogba leaving) I dont see why we shouldn't buy a CDM that allows us to do that in the future with better players. Even if it's expensive, so will be a creative CM - this United don't have money so we shouldn't buy an expensive player is bullshit to me. We buy Maguire. We Buy Pogba. We buy Sancho. Our wages are off the roof. We can get a good expensive player and it won't stop us from getting another.

For me, I guess it depends on how we settle how to play and I agree, if say Mejbri can step up, I'm not that bothered about spending a load on Rice. It's a huge gamble though and also with the players we have on our books, plus those younger lads, I don't see Rice improving the side enough to warrant what will be spent on him.

I also don't think your simple 4-3-3 works with Bruno, Pogba and Rice - but I agree we can't play the xavis, iniestas, etc with Fred and Mctominay. So maybe we're coming at it from different angles.

I agree actually on your last point, but I do worry you end up in a situation City were in and couldnt get Kane, because of what they spent on Grealish. That's fine for them, but we need a lot more.