Declan Rice

[UpWithRivers]

Not a chance in hell west ham sell for 75m. Closer to 150m is what they'd want, probably settle for 120m

The 150 is just bull. No one in their right mind will spend 100 plus on a defensive midfielder. Touchameni just went for 80 mill euros with add ons to 100 mill and everyone thinks that's a ridiculous fee. Im thinking 80-90 maybe to 90-100 but in in add ons. If West Ham continue to be arses they will keep him for a year then be forced to sell for 60 max with his contract running down.

 

[Bebestation]

I think of De Jong more as a player who potentially could be the best on the ball player from midfield in the world.

On the other side someone like Rice plays a fantastic off the ball game at the same time at the age of 23.

I think some people don’t see the value in that and rather have two carricks or two De Jong’s if they could.

I see Rice as a player where his best are Frenkie’s weaknesses - whilst Rice’s weaknesses are De Jong’s strengths.

Whilst people talk about De Jong as a 6 - De jong was a player who had dribbling ability to be as deep as a CB but take the ball high up the pitch as a CAM at times.

The right CDM that allows him to play that “free roaming” type of game shouldn’t be looked down upon in my opinion.

Rice’s biggest weakness to people who don’t rate him is his lack of progressive passing. This is what De Jong is great at.When you watch Rice what he does is defensively drop down to protect the CB’s whilst sideward passing to a player to get the ball forward.

I can see this happening with De Jong. A CDM that allows the rest of the team to attack with a level of freedom because well - that’s what I see that Rice does.

 

[croadyman]

I think of De Jong more as a player who potentially could be the best on the ball player from midfield in the world.

On the other side someone like Rice plays a fantastic off the ball game at the same time at the age of 23.

I think some people don’t see the value in that and rather have two carricks or two De Jong’s if they could.

I see Rice as a player where his best are Frenkie’s weaknesses - whilst Rice’s weaknesses are De Jong’s strengths.

Whilst people talk about De Jong as a 6 - De jong was a player who had dribbling ability to be as deep as a CB but take the ball high up the pitch as a CAM at times.

The right CDM that allows him to play that “free roaming” type of game shouldn’t be looked down upon in my opinion.

Rice’s biggest weakness to people who don’t rate him is his lack of progressive passing. This is what De Jong is great at.When you watch Rice what he does is defensively drop down to protect the CB’s whilst sideward passing to a player to get the ball forward.

I can see this happening with De Jong. A CDM that allows the rest of the team to attack with a level of freedom because well - that’s what I see that Rice does.

Yeah you make a very valid point but surely we can find someone in Europe who can offer the same things as him not costing the earth

 

[Bebestation]

Yeah you make a very valid point but surely we can find someone in Europe who can offer the same things as him not costing the earth

Well for me Rice is most likely to come here as the “last piece of the puzzle” than the first piece of the puzzle; so for him to be this big price transfer that stops our other transfers from happening doesn’t seem realistic to me.

This is because Rice isn’t going to primarily come here to improve our attack. He is going to come here one day to make an already created good defense even harder or impossible to penetrate. This then gives his own team a freedom to go and create chances. Ten Hag’s football is known to have players running all over the place and switching positions. Either Ten Hag goes for that extra bit of defensive stability through a CDM to do that freely with 3/4’s rest of the team - or he wants his CDM to run around up and down the pitch instead and be part of the attack as well (rice wouldn’t fit this). With looking at players like Alvarez and Martinez - I do have a feeling Rice and Ten Hag does have a chance of working.

It’s a bit hard discussing Rice with fans who don’t rate him though because how he plays can be looked in two ways.

He plays a very simplistic looking game - the fans who don’t rate him thinks that his simplicity is a part of his inability. Whilst the fans who do rate him find that simplicity actually a part of the strength of how he is actually playing at the age of 23.

Again, Rice’s game is so simple yet consistent that many fans who don’t rate him believe that they can find him for 5-10 million in another league. They see him just as a CB that plays in CDM because of Rice not having the technical passes of a deep lying playmaker.

Then there is the other side of the game where he is exactly what he is - a great CB in CDM and this does lead to him reading the game earlier and higher up the pitch. It can really stop an attack from happening because of him constantly reading the attack and positioning him self to stop or slow down the opposition attack.

Let’s bring up Tchouameni for example, a player you probably see as someone who does more than Rice. That’s exactly true - he does more than Rice. He is running all over the place, reacting to the opposition attack like a bull chasing down a rabbit. Making tackles to a player that is Meters in front of him or sometimes have even gotten past him.

Rice is different - he doesn’t even need to make a tackle because usually he has just repositioned himself to the point that the opposition had to change both their best attacking pass and receiver to go around him.

It looks like Rice has done shit all - when all he is doing is constantly reading and repositioning in his game that he has stopped the opposition attack before it’s actually happened. Rice feels like an invisible physic or even chemical force that blocks/stops an attack before it even happens rather than a reactive player that is leaving his own position to chase down an opposition or held position.

I only want him if Ten Hag wants him though because that would prove to me that what I’m seeing in rice is something the manager is seeing in Rice too. I’ve yet to see a cheaper version of Rice. So let’s see if that comes as well.

 

[Charles Miller]

I find ineplicable how we kindly accept a massive club investing a fortune on its academy and don't be able to form ONE good DM, or high level full backs for an eternity. At least to save money in some positions in the market.

 

[Hammondo]

Well for me Rice is most likely to come here as the “last piece of the puzzle” than the first piece of the puzzle; so for him to be this big price transfer that stops our other transfers from happening doesn’t seem realistic to me.

This is because Rice isn’t going to primarily come here to improve our attack. He is going to come here one day to make an already created good defense even harder or impossible to penetrate. This then gives his own team a freedom to go and create chances. Ten Hag’s football is known to have players running all over the place and switching positions. Either Ten Hag goes for that extra bit of defensive stability through a CDM to do that freely with 3/4’s rest of the team - or he wants his CDM to run around up and down the pitch instead and be part of the attack as well (rice wouldn’t fit this). With looking at players like Alvarez and Martinez - I do have a feeling Rice and Ten Hag does have a chance of working.

It’s a bit hard discussing Rice with fans who don’t rate him though because how he plays can be looked in two ways.

He plays a very simplistic looking game - the fans who don’t rate him thinks that his simplicity is a part of his inability. Whilst the fans who do rate him find that simplicity actually a part of the strength of how he is actually playing at the age of 23.

Again, Rice’s game is so simple yet consistent that many fans who don’t rate him believe that they can find him for 5-10 million in another league. They see him just as a CB that plays in CDM because of Rice not having the technical passes of a deep lying playmaker.

Then there is the other side of the game where he is exactly what he is - a great CB in CDM and this does lead to him reading the game earlier and higher up the pitch. It can really stop an attack from happening because of him constantly reading the attack and positioning him self to stop or slow down the opposition attack.

Let’s bring up Tchouameni for example, a player you probably see as someone who does more than Rice. That’s exactly true - he does more than Rice. He is running all over the place, reacting to the opposition attack like a bull chasing down a rabbit. Making tackles to a player that is Meters in front of him or sometimes have even gotten past him.

Rice is different - he doesn’t even need to make a tackle because usually he has just repositioned himself to the point that the opposition had to change both their best attacking pass and receiver to go around him.

It looks like Rice has done shit all - when all he is doing is constantly reading and repositioning in his game that he has stopped the opposition attack before it’s actually happened. Rice feels like an invisible physic or even chemical force that blocks/stops an attack before it even happens rather than a reactive player that is leaving his own position to chase down an opposition or held position.

I only want him if Ten Hag wants him though because that would prove to me that what I’m seeing in rice is something the manager is seeing in Rice too. I’ve yet to see a cheaper version of Rice. So let’s see if that comes as well.

I think the problem is different if you read the criticisms.

He's very good at preventing goals, adds little to dominating midfields which is shown for club and country.

 

[Njord]

Would be the perfect partner for De Jong in a 4-2-3-1.

Playing those two would elevate our midfield from maybe the 10th-12th best in the PL last year, to possibly the best in the league.

It's a shame it would demand our entire transfer budget and more to get both. Although it would be interesting to see how much the rest of the team could improve with a world class midfield to support both defense and attack.

 

[Carl]

I dont think anyone thinks he wouldn't improve the side, because it's obvious he would. I just have an issue with the price, because to me he isn't even a 40mil player. Way too limited on the ball and that would be really evident playing for a side challenging for league titles.

I just think that there are players available like him all over the world. I cant name them, but i refuse to believe they don't exist and that they can't be identified by a club that has scouts in pretty much every part of the world.

 

[Bebestation]

I think the problem is different if you read the criticisms.

He's very good at preventing goals, adds little to dominating midfields which is shown for club and country.

Well I think there’s some people who look at the Euro Final for example and feel that he didn’t add anything in terms of creativity when no one else in the whole team did either. At the same time Italy thought Rice was our best player because he constantly stopped Italy’s attack except for one goal.

I remember when Rice got subbed, Italy became a totally different force.

I feel the same with Rice’s performances againat teams like Germany for example.

He may not be causing our team to win, but he is helping us not lose against big teams that would normally score easily against us.

I guess we have to wait and see if our possession based manager sees the importance of having one player try to iron out our team weaknesses rather than playing 11 players with the same strengths but the same weaknesses as well.

 

[Carl]

Well I think there’s some people who look at the Euro Final for example and feel that he didn’t add anything in terms of creativity when no one else in the whole team did either. At the same time Italy thought Rice was our best player because he constantly stopped Italy’s attack except for one goal.

I remember when Rice got subbed, Italy became a totally different force.

I feel the same with Rice’s performances againat teams like Germany for example.

He may not be causing our team to win, but he is helping us not lose against big teams that would normally score easily against us.

I guess we have to wait and see if our possession based manager sees the importance of having one player try to iron out our team weaknesses rather than playing 11 players with the same strengths but the same weaknesses as well.

Thought Rice was dreadful against Germany tbh, and I'm talking about defensively. I try not to use internationals to judge players though tbh. Especially not England players! (though the warning signs were there with Sancho internationally I suppose...)

 

[Hammondo]

Well I think there’s some people who look at the Euro Final for example and feel that he didn’t add anything in terms of creativity when no one else in the whole team did either. At the same time Italy thought Rice was our best player because he constantly stopped Italy’s attack except for one goal.

I remember when Rice got subbed, Italy became a totally different force.

I feel the same with Rice’s performances againat teams like Germany for example.

He may not be causing our team to win, but he is helping us not lose against big teams that would normally score easily against us.

I guess we have to wait and see if our possession based manager sees the importance of having one player try to iron out our team weaknesses rather than playing 11 players with the same strengths but the same weaknesses as well.

It tends to be in modern football that players are more balanced rather than specialist compare to in years past.

 

[MUnchies]

Well for me Rice is most likely to come here as the “last piece of the puzzle” than the first piece of the puzzle; so for him to be this big price transfer that stops our other transfers from happening doesn’t seem realistic to me.

This is because Rice isn’t going to primarily come here to improve our attack. He is going to come here one day to make an already created good defense even harder or impossible to penetrate. This then gives his own team a freedom to go and create chances. Ten Hag’s football is known to have players running all over the place and switching positions. Either Ten Hag goes for that extra bit of defensive stability through a CDM to do that freely with 3/4’s rest of the team - or he wants his CDM to run around up and down the pitch instead and be part of the attack as well (rice wouldn’t fit this). With looking at players like Alvarez and Martinez - I do have a feeling Rice and Ten Hag does have a chance of working.

It’s a bit hard discussing Rice with fans who don’t rate him though because how he plays can be looked in two ways.

He plays a very simplistic looking game - the fans who don’t rate him thinks that his simplicity is a part of his inability. Whilst the fans who do rate him find that simplicity actually a part of the strength of how he is actually playing at the age of 23.

Again, Rice’s game is so simple yet consistent that many fans who don’t rate him believe that they can find him for 5-10 million in another league. They see him just as a CB that plays in CDM because of Rice not having the technical passes of a deep lying playmaker.

Then there is the other side of the game where he is exactly what he is - a great CB in CDM and this does lead to him reading the game earlier and higher up the pitch. It can really stop an attack from happening because of him constantly reading the attack and positioning him self to stop or slow down the opposition attack.

Let’s bring up Tchouameni for example, a player you probably see as someone who does more than Rice. That’s exactly true - he does more than Rice. He is running all over the place, reacting to the opposition attack like a bull chasing down a rabbit. Making tackles to a player that is Meters in front of him or sometimes have even gotten past him.

Rice is different - he doesn’t even need to make a tackle because usually he has just repositioned himself to the point that the opposition had to change both their best attacking pass and receiver to go around him.

It looks like Rice has done shit all - when all he is doing is constantly reading and repositioning in his game that he has stopped the opposition attack before it’s actually happened. Rice feels like an invisible physic or even chemical force that blocks/stops an attack before it even happens rather than a reactive player that is leaving his own position to chase down an opposition or held position.

I only want him if Ten Hag wants him though because that would prove to me that what I’m seeing in rice is something the manager is seeing in Rice too. I’ve yet to see a cheaper version of Rice. So let’s see if that comes as well.

You have yet to see a cheaper version of Rice? So meaning he’s the best DM in the world? Hyperbole

A whole essay for a nothing player.

 

[Bebestation]

Didn’t watch England vs Hungry but soon as I saw the results I had a feeling that Rice didn’t play. I looked at the line up and it seemed it was true.

Ever since the England “only one shot taken vs them on goal” during the whole Euros I’ve been trying to see why that happened. Was it Phillips? Was it Maguire? Was it Rice?

Obviously it’s not linked to just one player, but Rice is one of the main reasons that teams don’t take shots or goals vs England as much as they used to.

Im not embarrassed to be a fan of his and is the English player I have wanted here the most ever since Rooney at Everton.

 

[Kostov]

Didn’t watch England vs Hungry but soon as I saw the results I had a feeling that Rice didn’t play. I looked at the line up and it seemed it was true.

Ever since the England “only one shot taken vs them on goal” during the whole Euros I’ve been trying to see why that happened. Was it Phillips? Was it Maguire? Was it Rice?

Obviously it’s not linked to just one player, but Rice is one of the main reasons that teams don’t take shots or goals vs England as much as they used to.

Im not embarrassed to be a fan of his and is the English player I have wanted here the most ever since Rooney at Everton.

Philips was always carrying him for England according to experts on the cafe.

 

[AndySmith1990]

You have yet to see a cheaper version of Rice? So meaning he’s the best DM in the world? Hyperbole

A whole essay for a nothing player.

He's obviously an undercover United scout. The complete lack of imagination and knowledge of players outside the PL is a give away

 

[Trex]

Didn’t watch England vs Hungry but soon as I saw the results I had a feeling that Rice didn’t play. I looked at the line up and it seemed it was true.

Ever since the England “only one shot taken vs them on goal” during the whole Euros I’ve been trying to see why that happened. Was it Phillips? Was it Maguire? Was it Rice?

Obviously it’s not linked to just one player, but Rice is one of the main reasons that teams don’t take shots or goals vs England as much as they used to.

Im not embarrassed to be a fan of his and is the English player I have wanted here the most ever since Rooney at Everton.

He is a good player, with good positional sense and physicality to back it up, but modern football requires more on ball qualities for a midfielder in a progressive set up, his weakness at England and West ham don't stand out due to their style of play.
Its telling that City need a holding midfielder and they choose to go for Kalvin Phillips over him, you would think City could work a deal out if they want to its not like money is a hindrance to them.

 

[Dec9003]

Rice is underrated on the ball if we’re saying he’s not technically good enough for a modern team. His passing is clean, he wins 50/50’s and is an intelligent player in general. He’d be a terrific signing for United just not at the current asking price.

 

[Branchofscience]

Why would Rice or Fdj come to united? Top players want to play in the top competitions. United can't offer that . So what makes you think you are going to get either one ?

 

[Solius]

Why would Rice or Fdj come to united? Top players want to play in the top competitions. United can't offer that . So what makes you think you are going to get either one ?

Sounds like we're pitching it with the goal to be back in the CL within a year. So players would buy into the long term project rather than the short term. Who knows if someone like Spurs will make the CL next season? It doesn't always make it a good choice just because a club are in it currently.

 

[UpWithRivers]

Why would Rice or Fdj come to united? Top players want to play in the top competitions. United can't offer that . So what makes you think you are going to get either one ?

They only have so many options. If Chelsea dont want Rice then whats his other choices? It might come down to either Man Utd or West Ham. Then we have a chance. A slim chance but Liverpool built with good players when they wernt very good. We need to get the rejects that the top teams arnt in for unfortunately. Thats our market.

 

[Branchofscience]

They only have so many options. If Chelsea dont want Rice then whats his other choices? It might come down to either Man Utd or West Ham. Then we have a chance. A slim chance but Liverpool built with good players when they wernt very good. We need to get the rejects that the top teams arnt in for unfortunately. Thats our market.

Liverpool already had a very good squad. They bought players . But they weren't rejects. They were players who had specific profiles.
Rice could potentially go to any champions league club in Europe. He isn't limited to the Premier league. Why would he make a sideways step to the unknown? He is already 1st name on the team sheet at whu .
Fdj is at Barcelona. Guaranteed champions league football. Hardly a reject .
The problem at united is the squad is not only haphazard its terribly poor.
There is no way to get those individuals to play as a team as they all so very different from a footballing perspective. They don't gel. Just scratching at the surface how do you play a high line with a goalkeeper who is rooted to his ? That's just one example

 

[Vapor trail]

Philips was always carrying him for England according to experts on the cafe.

Which goes to show how poorly those on here observe a game of football. Rice was easily the best midfielder for England at the euros. He is underrated in areas that are most impactful for his influence and his defensive positioning for me is his best attribute. The club have had a long standing interest but he's too expensive.

 

[UpWithRivers]

Liverpool already had a very good squad. They bought players . But they weren't rejects. They were players who had specific profiles.
Rice could potentially go to any champions league club in Europe. He isn't limited to the Premier league. Why would he make a sideways step to the unknown? He is already 1st name on the team sheet at whu .
Fdj is at Barcelona. Guaranteed champions league football. Hardly a reject .
The problem at united is the squad is not only haphazard its terribly poor.
There is no way to get those individuals to play as a team as they all so very different from a footballing perspective. They don't gel. Just scratching at the surface how do you play a high line with a goalkeeper who is rooted to his ? That's just one example

Rejects was the wrong word. Players that other clubs weren't in for, for various reasons. We were better than Liverpool if we went for Fabinho, Salah etc they would have joined us. Same as Real, Barca etc. But those top clubs had other priorities, better players or didnt rate them. Like Darwin. As soon as Liverpool were in for him we had no chance. But with Rice, who needs him? Even Chelsea are stacked with top quality midfielders. They are probably prioritizing strikers and Cb's. Man Utd is not a sideways step from WHU. Thats just madness even if we are sht! I agree he could get into a better team but he might have to wait a season or two until the top teams need him and anything can happen in 2 years.
Fdj will stay at Barca. I agree. But if Barca want cash and tell him he can go then again whats his options? Stay at a club you are not wanted or move - and again move where?

 

[Branchofscience]

Man Utd is not a sideways step from WHU

You are right about that. At this moment in time United is probably a step down from whu. They are a far better team collectively then united.

 

[Bebestation]

Which goes to show how poorly those on here observe a game of football. Rice was easily the best midfielder for England at the euros. He is underrated in areas that are most impactful for his influence and his defensive positioning for me is his best attribute. The club have had a long standing interest but he's too expensive.

I feel like some people when watching Football literally observes and “follows the football” during the match. Rice then looks like he does shit all because that’s not his best ability and isn’t very progressive with his passing.

When you don’t follow the football but purely focus on Rice’s constant defensive repositioning then that’s when you really can appreciate him.

He gives his team a shape, stability and a freedom nearly all through his own movement.

 

[Hammondo]

I feel like some people when watching Football literally observes and “follows the football” during the match. Rice then looks like he does shit all because that’s not his best ability and isn’t very progressive with his passing.

When you don’t follow the football but purely focus on Rice’s constant defensive repositioning then that’s when you really can appreciate him.

He gives his team a shape, stability and a freedom nearly all through his own movement.

100 percent true, but is that good enough?

 

[GL21]

I think Declan Rice is a fantastic player all around and people are trying to play him down for some reason. He's attainable as he is at a club who are striving to get into the Europe league so moving to a club like United where champions league qualifying is essential is surely the right move. I only see Chelsea standing in the way if they are interested. English media have done their usual to inflate this player, if we got him for 70m I would love it. Technically, tactically, physically and mentally this lad is more than equipped to be top class

 

[Hammondo]

Rejects was the wrong word. Players that other clubs weren't in for, for various reasons. We were better than Liverpool if we went for Fabinho, Salah etc they would have joined us. Same as Real, Barca etc. But those top clubs had other priorities, better players or didnt rate them. Like Darwin. As soon as Liverpool were in for him we had no chance. But with Rice, who needs him? Even Chelsea are stacked with top quality midfielders. They are probably prioritizing strikers and Cb's. Man Utd is not a sideways step from WHU. Thats just madness even if we are sht! I agree he could get into a better team but he might have to wait a season or two until the top teams need him and anything can happen in 2 years.
Fdj will stay at Barca. I agree. But if Barca want cash and tell him he can go then again whats his options? Stay at a club you are not wanted or move - and again move where?

Chelsea's midfield is passable, not at all stacked.

 

[Adam-Utd]

Didn’t watch England vs Hungry but soon as I saw the results I had a feeling that Rice didn’t play. I looked at the line up and it seemed it was true.

Ever since the England “only one shot taken vs them on goal” during the whole Euros I’ve been trying to see why that happened. Was it Phillips? Was it Maguire? Was it Rice?

Obviously it’s not linked to just one player, but Rice is one of the main reasons that teams don’t take shots or goals vs England as much as they used to.

Im not embarrassed to be a fan of his and is the English player I have wanted here the most ever since Rooney at Everton.

Perhaps watch the game before making judgements like that

The only goal Rice would have done better with was the 3rd. That was a direct mistake by Philips himself. The other goals came from set pieces and counter attacks.

Rice played the first 2/3 games and we look no better at all.

The reason why nobody took shots against us in the Euros was because we played a very defensive 3-5-2, and looked to counter with pace. It suited us defensively but meant we had very little cutting edge going forward.

We are STILL paying for that now.

 

[GazTheLegend]

Why would Rice or Fdj come to united? Top players want to play in the top competitions. United can't offer that . So what makes you think you are going to get either one ?

Same thing many opposition fans have said many, many times over the years, beginning with Juan Mata. "Why would Pogba come to United. Why would Di Maria. Sancho. Why would Ronaldo come to Man Utd" blah blah blah. Because Manchester United are a huge club, they play in front of 75,000 fans every week, they have huge ambition, they are a global brand for you as a player, and they can pay a fortune in wages. It's one season out the Champions League.

 

[Bebestation]

Perhaps watch the game before making judgements like that

The only goal Rice would have done better with was the 3rd. That was a direct mistake by Philips himself. The other goals came from set pieces and counter attacks.

Rice played the first 2/3 games and we look no better at all.

The reason why nobody took shots against us in the Euros was because we played a very defensive 3-5-2, and looked to counter with pace. It suited us defensively but meant we had very little cutting edge going forward.

We are STILL paying for that now.

Why can’t he stop the 2nd goal as well as the 3rd?

If you think a Rice in midfield of England is going to let 4 goals in vs Hungary even though he is a player that considerably lowers the attacking pressure then so be it. It’s literally what he is best at.

The fact that you compare how Rice wouldn’t be useful because the goals came from set pieces shows exactly how different football can be viewed depending on different people’s footballing eyes.

Rice would have stopped the attacking pressure of Hungary and probably stopped some of the set pieces turning up as well. Rice defensively sets a shape up which the team had no sign of when I watch the highlights. This is seen in Goal 2 and 3. The through ball of Goal 4? Just fouls everywhere. Cant even bother talking about the defensive set piece ability of Rice either.

6 shots on goal by Germany with 63% possession vs 6 shots on goal with 37% possession vs Hungary.

 

[Adam-Utd]

Why can’t he stop the 2nd goal as well as the 3rd?

If you think a Rice in midfield of England is going to let 4 goals in vs Hungary even though he is a player that considerably lowers the attacking pressure then so be it. It’s literally what he is best at.

The fact that you compare how Rice wouldn’t be useful because the goals came from set pieces shows exactly how different football can be viewed depending on different people’s footballing eyes.

Rice would have stopped the attacking pressure of Hungary and probably stopped some of the set pieces turning up as well. Rice defensively sets a shape up which the team had no sign of when I watch the highlights. This is seen in Goal 2 and 3. The through ball of Goal 4? Just fouls everywhere. Cant even bother talking about the defensive set piece ability of Rice either.

6 shots on goal by Germany with 63% possession vs 6 shots on goal with 37% possession vs Hungary.

Hungary played long ball counter attacking football. They completely bypassed the midfield winning and working off the 2nd ball.

It's fair to say Philips had an absolute stinker, could Rice have performed better? sure.

The 1st goal is a long ball free kick.

The 2nd goal is purely on Philips.

The 3rd is cross/knock down, could/should Philips have got there faster? maybe. Impossible to say Rice would have done better.

The 4th goal again we lose the ball and they quickly pass it through us. Defensive error once again.

I know you like to Imagine Rice is some sort of 1 man iron curtain but there is very little to suggest he'd do anything differently.

His performance against Germany was actually very poor also.

 

[Bebestation]

Hungary played long ball counter attacking football. They completely bypassed the midfield winning and working off the 2nd ball.

It's fair to say Philips had an absolute stinker, could Rice have performed better? sure.

Well this is why I want Rice to play in a possession team.

Not because he improves possession but because he then stops the long ball/ through ball counter attacks from his defensive repositioning.

A possession team with the counter player to the counter attack is the perfect balanced match in my opinion.

 

[WeePat]

Chelsea's midfield is passable, not at all stacked.

Agree, two players in relative decline but still pretty fantastic generally and Kovacic who is probably our best midfielder now. I think we desperately need Rice.

 

[Hammondo]

Agree, two players in relative decline but still pretty fantastic generally and Kovacic who is probably our best midfielder now. I think we desperately need Rice.

I think you need someone who can dictate play, someone who focuses their game around passing.

 

[WeePat]

I think you need someone who can dictate play, someone who focuses their game around passing.

That's not all we need. Rice solves a lot of issues for us, and could help us move away from the back 3.

 

[Kostov]

Which goes to show how poorly those on here observe a game of football. Rice was easily the best midfielder for England at the euros. He is underrated in areas that are most impactful for his influence and his defensive positioning for me is his best attribute. The club have had a long standing interest but he's too expensive.

Probably true, but it's not just a case of how poor people observe. There are posters on here who just because he is English and West Ham are quoting a crazy 100m fee, try to downplay how good he actually is as a player. Can someone please list a 5 CDMs who are so obvious alternatives and just as good or better?

 

[mikeyt]

Philips was always carrying him for England according to experts on the cafe.

Phillips is bang average! I can only think City want him to help their English contingent.

 

[Vapor trail]

I feel like some people when watching Football literally observes and “follows the football” during the match. Rice then looks like he does shit all because that’s not his best ability and isn’t very progressive with his passing.

When you don’t follow the football but purely focus on Rice’s constant defensive repositioning then that’s when you really can appreciate him.

He gives his team a shape, stability and a freedom nearly all through his own movement.

Very true

 

[honirelandboy]

Give them Fred and Scott and 80 million. Leave us with Rice, De Jong, Garner, VDB, Bruno, Hannibal. Get another DM in on loan.

Actually would they even want Fred or Scott.