@adexkola mentioned most of the points I was going to make. The only thing I’d add is that replacing Rice with Rodri or Casemiro in West Ham’s starting line up from last year would change very little. However you want to define the term “dictate play”, there isn’t a great deal of difference between a Casemiro in his 30s and Rice. Rodri is clearly a step above, but even he wouldn’t change things all that much.
I think you’ve managed to somehow both underrate and overrate the influence of the single pivot player. You’re downplaying Rodri’s importance to City, but suggesting that he would significantly elevate West Ham. I believe it’s the exact opposite. Rodri can dictate play at City because he surrounded by players on his level. That wouldn’t be the case at West Ham, particularly prior to their most recent transfer window.
Imagine dropping a prime Busquets into United’s midfield. Onana fizzes the ball to him and he controls it and pirouettes away from him marker all in one motion. He then:
- Lays it off to McTominay who miscontrols it and loses possession
- Or sprays it out to Wan-Bissaka who takes a heavy touch and is forced to play it back to Onana
- Or plays it into Bruno who attempts a shot from 35 yards
- Or finds Anthony whose predictable desire to cut in on his stronger foot is easily read by the defender
- Or pings it to Rashford in space who tries to go it alone despite United having a man over
- Or plays a through ball to Hojland whose meek attempt betrays a player bereft of confidence
Dictating play is dependent upon the team’s style of play.
Rice enables us to play Odegaard, Havertz, Saka, Martinelli and Jesus all in the same lineup and still concede fewer goals than any team bar Liverpool. There’s always room for improvement, but there are literally 8 players in our starting lineup I’d want to speak to before approaching Rice to buck up his ideas.