Bellingham 150m / Rice 100m

[Cloud7]

I feel like Rice's stock has gone down quite a bit this year. Last year every top club was being linked with him and the price was 100 mil plus and it was a race to see who was going to be lucky enough to sign him. Now I feel like he's a player that's not in the spotlight as much, not having as much of an impact and is being linked with lower tier teams, like Arsenal and Chelsea.

West Ham should have cashed in last summer, they suck this year anyway and the probably would have got 30-50 mil more last year than this year, because you'd have to be insane to spend 100 mil on him now.

To be fair Rice was never worth anywhere near that kind of money. And he is nowhere near the best DM's either nor has he shown the potential to bring to the game as someone like Casemiro. Basically last year was all hype and now we're seeing a regression to the amount of hype and attention he should actually be at.

 

[SalfordRed18]

I think we've learned by now that the age based argument counts for nothing. We've seen numerous examples of players that aer capable of playing senior football at 16, but not really improve beyond their teenage years. Bellingham looks like a quality player, but it's no as if he's a technical wizard who is struggling to impose himself on games, due to lack of physical attributes and experience. This is his 4th full season of senior football. This isn't a 20 year old with a handful of appearances. Paul Scholes was nearly 20 when he made his senior debut and it wasn't because he wasn't as talented as Jude Bellingham.

I want to stress I'm not saying Bellingham isn't a quality player, but just that the age thing is over emphasised and too often physical development and experience are ignored because a player is young. Bellingham is only 19, but he's already one of the most physically imposing players around.

I look at more his decision making and

I think we've learned by now that the age based argument counts for nothing. We've seen numerous examples of players that aer capable of playing senior football at 16, but not really improve beyond their teenage years. Bellingham looks like a quality player, but it's no as if he's a technical wizard who is struggling to impose himself on games, due to lack of physical attributes and experience. This is his 4th full season of senior football. This isn't a 20 year old with a handful of appearances. Paul Scholes was nearly 20 when he made his senior debut and it wasn't because he wasn't as talented as Jude Bellingham.

I want to stress I'm not saying Bellingham isn't a quality player, but just that the age thing is over emphasised and too often physical development and experience are ignored because a player is young. Bellingham is only 19, but he's already one of the most physically imposing players around.

Less his physical attributes and more his mentality, decision making and character. The likes of mbappe isn't going to be physically better with age, but he will get better with experience because he'll know what to do better in certain situations. And that's the same with Jude.

 

[ThinkTank@Cafe]

in the world where Casemiro is 60M (even at his age) it's insane to pay 100M for a player like Rice

 

[cyberman]

Rice loves these shitty games when he has an excuse to sit back and become a third DM. It hides his limitations

 

[Hammondo]

Rice loves these shitty games when he has an excuse to sit back and become a third DM. It hides his limitations

You mean CB right?

 

[adexkola]

Very few players are worth 100M but a couple of ye will look silly in a few seasons when he's picked up by a top 6 team

 

[Kazi]

Garnacho 250m / Fred 200m

 

[rpitchfo]

He’s looked good today to be fair

 

[Cloud7]

I don't see a "top club" player in him

 

[90 + 5min]

I’ve said this once. He is almost on same level as John O’Shea was. Almost, because Oshea got lot of medals to show and is lot more useful. Rice is a midtable / relegation club kind of player. Nothing more.

 

[adexkola]

I’ve said this once. He is almost on same level as John O’Shea was. Almost, because Oshea got lot of medals to show and is lot more useful. Rice is a midtable / relegation club kind of player. Nothing more.

So you've said something silly, twice. Well done

 

[Fortitude]

Very few players are worth 100M but a couple of ye will look silly in a few seasons when he's picked up by a top 6 team

How much do you think he's worth? The issue with him has always been the valuation, as he's never been anywhere near it.

 

[adexkola]

How much do you think he's worth? The issue with him has always been the valuation, as he's never been anywhere near it.

There are a few posts questioning his quality, not price tag

I think he's a good buy for 70M, depending on the team who needs him and their overall budget. Taking his age, nationality, quality and "PL proven" status into consideration.

 

[charlenefan]

Fair play to Rice, we've played West Ham twice at OT this season and he's been everywhere in midfield

Nowhere near worth the asking price but he'd be a decent signing for the right price

 

[Lecland07]

Rice is a very good defensive midfielder - he will be a very good buy for Chelsea/Liverpool etc. He is pretty balanced in getting interceptions and tackles. He rarely loses the ball, also.

The £100m is just West Ham wanting to get the maximum amount possible. Nothing really to see there.

 

[AltiUn]

His positioning reminds me of how Matic used to play, albeit a more mobile version of him. If we didn't have Casemiro already he'd be a good buy at around £65m, which is still an extortionate fee but more representative of his ability.

 

[Fortitude]

There are a few posts questioning his quality, not price tag

I think he's a good buy for 70M, depending on the team who needs him and their overall budget. Taking his age, nationality, quality and "PL proven" status into consideration.

He's really got a lot to do to meet the hype/regard he has, tbh. Keane had it right in saying he has to do more and should stand out in the role he plays.

£70m, agree. Something like that.

 

[Valencia Shin Crosses]

My problem with Rice every time I watch him is that unless his teams are more reserved and sitting back, he doesn't really show much. Both for England and West Ham, I've never watched him dictate and game with authority or look the best midfielder on the pitch when on the front foot. He makes a lot of tackles I guess but for 100m I'd think you want more upside than a standard shielding DM

 

[cyberman]

You mean CB right?

You’re right I do.

 

[Brwned]

He is really hard to beat 1v1 and always covers in the right areas. Not sure I could ever enjoy someone so conservative on the ball though.

 

[90 + 5min]

So you've said something silly, twice. Well done

There are a few posts questioning his quality, not price tag

I think he's a good buy for 70M, depending on the team who needs him and their overall budget. Taking his age, nationality, quality and "PL proven" status into consideration.

70M? In what currency?

If you slash his price tag about 70-80%, you might be closer to his real price. Just because he is english doesn't mean that he is good. His reputation is bizarre.

 

[Sviken]

If Rice is a 100 million player, Casemiro is 1 billion.

 

[Livewire1974]

Rice is not a top level player.

 

[Stevondo8]

I feel like Rice is very good at the defensive side of the DM role, breaking up play and so on, but hasn’t got the passing range to control the tempo of a game for a big team. Better in a team that is usually on the back foot.

 

[Fortitude]

70M? In what currency?

If you slash his price tag about 70-80%, you might be closer to his real price. Just because he is english doesn't mean that he is good. His reputation is bizarre.

He'll go for c. that amount regardless. Unless Chelsea decide to offer West Ham £130m.

 

[TheReligion]

Was interesting seeing Casemiro come in and completely dominate the midfield.

 

[Livewire1974]

If Rice is a 100 million player, Casemiro is 1 billion.

The PR team of Rice worth a billion also.

 

[OverratedOpinion]

Maybe I don't "know ball" as the kids say but to me Declan Rice seems like a player who could be a very functional part of a top Premier League side and nothing more. That's fine but it's not over 100 million pounds fine.

To pay twice what we payed for Casemiro you'd have to at least hope someone would be as good for twice as long. He would have the longevity but from what I see (admittedly only England games and when we play them) Casemiro is a million miles away on quality.

 

[redshaw]

Rice is a good reader of the game but lacks ability.

He's always been a good £50-60m player should you want to go down that limited DM route which can be successful. He should move just for himself though, wind the contract down, he could mature very well.

 

[Sid234]

It would be great to have Rice backup Casemiro, McTominay does not suit that role well

 

[Hammondo]

You’re right I do.

Yea are right, he gives up the midfield so often and so easily.

 

[Reapersoul20]

I really hope Arsenal spunk their load on this lad. Be great for them to spend 100mill on mediocrity.

 

[Mr PG]

Midfield about mobility and while Bellingham and Rice may be fast in a straight line.. they lack in lateral mobility. That’s why we dominated Barcelona with a Fred and chelsea went to shat the minute Kante went down.

 

[Valencia Shin Crosses]

It would be great to have Rice backup Casemiro, McTominay does not suit that role well

We can find someone that does his role from another league for half of the price I'd guess

 

[NoPace]

I don't have any inside information and still find it very unlikely given Mohamed Elneny just signed an one year extension to his contract and Albert Sambi Lokonga is also a backup option. Arsenal has more urgent need for a right winger to compete with Saka. May be the young players can make the step up next season.

Isn't that what Marquinhos was bought for? Also Viera or Odegaard might be able to do okay there if they get an overlapping attacking RB option, which they need anyways, since they're playing CBs out there and you want the option there (the rumoured Frimpong or a similar type actually makes sense for them, since Zinchenko can play alongside their DM/Partey ahead of the 2 CMs anyways and getting Saka more inside and closer to goal makes sense, even if that's only their plan off the bench when they need to attack).

They need to upgrade Xhaka's spot, and Jorginho for me, while a good player, is not going to last more than 18 months at this level would be my guess. But yeah, they'll probably just buy someone to compete with Xhaka this summer and then replace Jorginho with a new DM to backup/compete with Partey in 2024. They're in good shape if they choose correctly between Balogun and Nkhetia, spend 80% of their budget on a really good LCM (Bellingham should consider them because the tactical fit is nice, but presumably they can't afford him) and an attacking RB this summer, and that feels extremely doable.

 

[NoPace]

I would absolutely not want Bellingham for £100 million, he’s a Pogba type but works harder.

I think Ten Hag is after specialists, he has his intelligent DM now he needs a technical playmaker in the mould of a young Ericksen or De Jong, this to me is an actual plan and shows where we are trying to go.

Fred, Ericksen, Casemiro, De Jong is brilliant for gong into next season, quality balanced midfielders are like golddust in football almost as rare as strikers. One in one out from there I think. Bruno is the key piece though I feel if he was out we could lack creativity but I trust Ten Haag to sort all this out anyway which is beautiful, finally attractive football isnt far away.

------------------A quality #9----------
Rashford-------Eriksen------Antony
-------------De Jong-Casemiro----
Shaw---Lisandro----Varane------Dalot

looks fairly creative all over the park, apart from Varane, as long as Dalot keeps improving.

 

[gaffs]

Midfield about mobility and while Bellingham and Rice may be fast in a straight line.. they lack in lateral mobility. That’s why we dominated Barcelona with a Fred and chelsea went to shat the minute Kante went down.

Good point. Though both are bigger, taller players. There is room for both types.

 

[gaffs]

Put a quality player in a dross team and eventually he will get dragged down the their level.

Rice needs a change - he’s been at West Ham too long. Under Ten Hag and surrounded by quality players, he would shine. He’s clearly not Casemiro level, but then again Casemiro has never had to play for years under Moyes at West Ham.

100m would be crazy, but it's not easy to convince another Premier League player to part with their best player. West Ham just spent 200mil and have very little to show for it.

 

[NoPace]

Good, let them have their Maguire moment.

Believe me, this lad is over rated and not worth the amount of money being talked about. We should steer well clear unless his price comes down to £30m

I'd say 50M is fair if you're missing a DM, but we aren't anymore. He's solid there. Best England has had in that role since Carrick, does everything well except create, that's a quality midfielder, even a #8 if you have a good passer next to him and a #10 who can create a ton. Like if Newcastle can spend 250M this summer and don't want to disrupt their defence a ton (an LB and an RB let's say, and no keeper or striker, so just one winger for a total of 5 signings) and throw out a midfield of Maddison in front of Rice and Bruno G with Longstaff and Joelinton as backups and Willock as an option off the bench to come on and try to create something (probably his ultimate role at a top 7 club barring a ton of improvement in his overall play) they'll probably be really, really good.

 

[skc_18]

With Casemiro in, we dont need Rice unless as a backup.
We need a partner to Casemiro who is mobile and good passer.