Bellingham 150m / Rice 100m

[RedStarUnited]

Why were these supremely priced players Outplayed by their cheaper American counter parts?

I like Bellingham and I think he should have a fine career. But he is yet another english midfielder whos best qualities are all heavily reliant on goal scoring or creation. So when that doesnt happen, he becomes mostly useless.

Why do England struggle to produce midfielders who are very technical but not focussed on goal scoring? This is the missing piece that I believe stopped England reaching the world final and winning the Euros. In both those games, Croatia and Italy simply controlled the games better than England.

 

[P-Nut]

Bellingham isn't focused on goal scoring, in fact he's only recently added that to his game. He's a player that can do almost everything in midfield. He's been further forward this season as Dortmund set him the challenge of adding goals to his game

 

[Crimson King]

It would be mad to spend that money on either of these players right now.

 

[RedCurry]

Bellingham isn't focused on goal scoring, in fact he's only recently added that to his game. He's a player that can do almost everything in midfield. He's been further forward this season as Dortmund set him the challenge of adding goals to his game

I strongly believe that in midfield you require specialists. Players who can excel at the highest level at something specific. All of the best midfields of recent times were made up of specialists. Barca and Real dominated Europe with that formula. City is dominating PL the same way. Bellingham will have to focus on a role and become a master of it in order to become world class.

 

[Wrecking ralf]

Bellingham isn’t worth 150mil currently. He’s good of course and will improve a lot over the next 5 years. But he’s still learning and won’t be consistent in the prem at a high level if he moves here next summer. We know how it’s been for Sancho and I’d say Sancho was better during his stint at dortmund than Bellingham has been.

 

[P-Nut]

I strongly believe that in midfield you require specialists. Players who can excel at the highest level at something specific. All of the best midfields of recent times were made up of specialists. Barca and Real dominated Europe with that formula. City is dominating PL the same way. Bellingham will have to focus on a role and become a master of it in order to become world class.

Yeah I agree, but it's rare for a CM to be performing at the level he currently is, never mind have a mapped out role that they excel at. Gavi is at a similar point in that he isn't really a specialist at anything but you can see the potential to become pretty much anything.

In the future it's likely Bellingham becomes the link between defence and attack, much like Eriksens current role for us, but for now he's working on adding more strings to his bow which can never be a bad thing

 

[Abraxas]

I think it's a bit early to be saying what Bellingham is or isn't. He's got a lot of qualities in a lot of areas. The kid is 19 years of age which is a baby in midfield terms. It will probably depend on where he ends up and the influence of the manager.

But yes, in general it's a conundrum for England. There isn't really a great link between attack and defence. It was a major problem with Rice and Phillips and you cannot expect throwing a 19 year old in to solve all those ills. There are also structural issues, you can't just blame Rice in my opinion. He takes some blame but a functioning team needs movement, needs options. I don't think Southgate is a master in solving some of the problems.

 

[bond19821982]

Get Musah and Adams for one tenth of it and build on them. Such was the promise showed by them today.

 

[Raees]

Bellingham isn't focused on goal scoring, in fact he's only recently added that to his game. He's a player that can do almost everything in midfield. He's been further forward this season as Dortmund set him the challenge of adding goals to his game

he can’t do everything. He can’t dictate a game or play make from deeper areas

 

[P-Nut]

he can’t do everything. He can’t dictate a game or play make from deeper areas

Yeah I agree, hence why I said almost, it's probably his weakest area though now, when last season you'd say a weakness was adding goals from midfield and he's taken to that very easily.

If his next manager tasks him with dictating the game from deeper I'd expect him to adapt to it as he's got the skillset

 

[Righteous Steps]

Yeah I agree, hence why I said almost, it's probably his weakest area though now, when last season you'd say a weakness was adding goals from midfield and he's taken to that very easily.

If his next manager tasks him with dictating the game from deeper I'd expect him to adapt to it as he's got the skillset

I’m not sure he’s really got the skill set I don’t see him as a particularly great passer of the ball, both in range and penetration.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

Neither 0 million

 

[amolbhatia50k]

he can’t do everything. He can’t dictate a game or play make from deeper areas

Yup. Imagine spending 150 million and still not solving the biggest issue in midfield. Bellingham looks an all action attacking midfielder to me. More like Lampard or Gerrard. With Bruno already here it's not what we need.

We desperately need a midfield playmaker. I thought FDJ would be a good fit but seeing him for Holland even he seems too rash trying to force the issue at the wrong moments.

 

[RedRonaldo]

I still can't tell how good Bellingham is going to be, but he does look good in his all action role. But for now I would only rate him as 70-80m signing.

Rice though, I never really rate him as highly as other do. Just a no non-sense midfielder who likes to sit deep and play safe. Never a 100m to me, more like a 50-60m player to me.

 

[sport2793]

Get Musah and Adams for one tenth of it and build on them. Such was the promise showed by them today.

Can't see Leeds selling Adams for 1/10th of Rice, probably would ask £35-40 million, he's had a very good season for them.

 

[Howl]

I still can't tell how good Bellingham is going to be, but he does look good in his all action role. But for now I would only rate him as 70-80m signing.

Rice though, I never really rate him as highly as other do. Just a no non-sense midfielder who likes to sit deep and play safe. Never a 100m to me, more like a 50-60m player to me.

I agree on Rice, I think he's very good in that holding role however he did show in the Euro final a great ability to drive forward with the ball from deep. I really don't see what the big deal is with Bellingham if I am being honest. Never really looks comfortable with the ball at his feet, doesn't look natural with it. Not really a good passer of the ball either in my opinion. I really hope we stay away from him as he seems like another Dortmund hype job.

 

[jeepers]

So what. They can’t perform on the biggest stages against a weaker team but tomorrow you’ll have people clamouring for their signings even though neither of them are priority for the current first eleven.

 

[Tyrion]

It would be mad to spend that money on either of these players right now.

Most transfers of over 100m don't even work out. I heard a journalist go through them on a podcast recently and most failed.

 

[DatIrishFella]

You'd have be a fecking idiot to even consider them at those prices. Knock off £70m from Jude and £40m from Rice.

 

[Chief123]

You could probably get Pedri for cheaper than Bellingham will cost even though Pedri has a bigger potential for me.

 

[Charles Miller]

The price of those players are not their choice, its the market. Sometimes players carry the weight of being "overpriced", when its not their fault. People tend to blame agents and players, but they are scapegoats most of the time. Clubs themselves created this mess.

 

[Valencia Shin Crosses]

Yup. Imagine spending 150 million and still not solving the biggest issue in midfield. Bellingham looks an all action attacking midfielder to me. More like Lampard or Gerrard. With Bruno already here it's not what we need.

We desperately need a midfield playmaker. I thought FDJ would be a good fit but seeing him for Holland even he seems too rash trying to force the issue at the wrong moments.

That’s because FDJ is literally on his own in that shit system.

 

[WI_Red]

Get Musah and Adams for one tenth of it and build on them. Such was the promise showed by them today.

And Musah, I think, has an English passport and trained at Arsenal so might be simpler to sign and register.

 

[Himannv]

Neither are worth that sum.

 

[DrogaPortoroz]

You could probably get Pedri for cheaper than Bellingham will cost even though Pedri has a bigger potential for me.

Pedri would cost 1B (release clause)
PSG did Barca dirty with Neymar.
But I am with you about Jude.It is just crazy money for someone who had few good games in BL.

 

[arnie_ni]

Musah for 20 or 30 looks a good deal

 

[Kazi]

15/10

 

[Lay]

I don’t see what the fuss is about with Rice. He’s a bit of a clogger

 

[amolbhatia50k]

I don’t see what the fuss is about with Rice. He’s a bit of a clogger

Would suit a Mourinho team. We don't need him.

 

[Raees]

Yeah I agree, hence why I said almost, it's probably his weakest area though now, when last season you'd say a weakness was adding goals from midfield and he's taken to that very easily.

If his next manager tasks him with dictating the game from deeper I'd expect him to adapt to it as he's got the skillset

that’s the thing - I don’t think he does have the skill set.

 

[Raees]

Yup. Imagine spending 150 million and still not solving the biggest issue in midfield. Bellingham looks an all action attacking midfielder to me. More like Lampard or Gerrard. With Bruno already here it's not what we need.

We desperately need a midfield playmaker. I thought FDJ would be a good fit but seeing him for Holland even he seems too rash trying to force the issue at the wrong moments.

Spot on. He’s a roided Lampard potentially. Not a Scholes.

 

[Adisa]

Anyone that sanctions £100m for Rice needs to be institutionalised.

 

[Red Rash]

The typical overpriced English taxed prices thrown out by the media.

Both are good players but nowhere near the level of the most elite players in the world. I see Rice as being similar to someone like Carrick in that regard. Carrick was a very good player and very underrated for us but he wasn't at the level of the very best midfielders.

Bellingham has potential but is still very unproven. Doing well in the bundesliga but we have seen many times this doesn't necessarily translate to the same level in the PL.

At their current levels I'd be interested in Rice and Bellingham up to 60 - 70 million each but beyond that the risk is huge and there are better options that would present less risk.

 

[Buster15]

Both should not be judged on last night performance. It very much depends on the way you play them. For West Ham Rice is allowed to be much more free and more attacking.
Bellingham is a very good player already.
Maybe not £100m plus but both very good players.

 

[LoneStar]

I agree, from our club's perspective. Either sign young potential wc talents (who are not already popular like Bellingham), or sign a very specific player for a specific role.

City have built an amazing midfield without spending exorbitant amounts on a single player. Besides, we have quite a few positions to fill in with limited money.

The only players who would be worth it at 100M+ (imo) are generational forwards like Messi, Ronaldo, Haaland, Mbappe etc. And that's because these forwards can single handedly decide matches on their own regardless of the system/tactics/managers etc.

 

[Remember the geese]

Spot on. He’s a roided Lampard potentially. Not a Scholes.

A roided Lampard? So Bellingham will be scoring 200+ Premier League goals? Bellingham is often compared to Gerrard, but he doesn't look anywhere near as big a talent in my opinion.

 

[DWelbz19]

Games like yesterday massively illustrated the weakness of both — neither of them can play with the ball in the middle third, they need that conductor type of player there for them. Rice wants to protect and screen the back 4 and that’s about it, whilst Bellingham wants to make runs further forward and impact the final third.

England don’t - and haven’t had for years - the type of central midfielder who kind of sits in the middle of the football field, averages a feck tonne of passes, and ensures the ball circulates around without things getting too stale.

 

[Polar]

I still can't tell how good Bellingham is going to be, but he does look good in his all action role. But for now I would only rate him as 70-80m signing.

Rice though, I never really rate him as highly as other do. Just a no non-sense midfielder who likes to sit deep and play safe. Never a 100m to me, more like a 50-60m player to me.

Pretty much agree, but the difference should be higher. It only makes sense to adjust Bellingham’s price up. Let’s say 90-100m.

Bellingham is younger and have much more talent/potential, and I imagine him playing on every national team. I can’t imagine Rice playing on a top-10 national team, except from England.

 

[90 + 5min]

Why were these supremely priced players Outplayed by their cheaper American counter parts?

I like Bellingham and I think he should have a fine career. But he is yet another english midfielder whos best qualities are all heavily reliant on goal scoring or creation. So when that doesnt happen, he becomes mostly useless.

Why do England struggle to produce midfielders who are very technical but not focussed on goal scoring? This is the missing piece that I believe stopped England reaching the world final and winning the Euros. In both those games, Croatia and Italy simply controlled the games better than England.

I’ve previously said that those two could be worth looking at for maximum (around) €30m. Not more. Likely even less. Overrated.

 

[Sassy Colin]

The price of those players are not their choice, its the market. Sometimes players carry the weight of being "overpriced", when its not their fault. People tend to blame agents and players, but they are scapegoats most of the time. Clubs themselves created this mess.

No one is blaming the players