Heardy
Full Member
Sign him up Ole
Suited him to the ground.Not surprising his best game is the one game we play with a low block.
Yes his range of passing and defensive positioning were his strongest points by far and the two main things we are missing in all our current options I feel. Rice doesnt bring that range of passing, but I do think his defensive positioning for his age especially is very goodHis defensive positioning was excellent too. Stronger than his passing imo. He was slightly lindelof like passive in terms of sticking the boot in when needed though, only real weakness in an other wise well rounded player.
As someone else mentioned there was pressing but not as high up the pitch as currently. It was actually pressing hard on the midfielders recieving the ball. For me, it was something Carrick really struggled with in a lot of big games earlier in his career. Remember a couple of games against Liverpool it happened a lot. This was something he seemed to really improve in his latter years I feel more than any other part of his game, his composure and decision making was excellent in such situations once he hit 30Just a question about Carrick - had pressing been that much of a tactic when he was playing compared to the way it was post Klopp’s introduction to the game?
I hardly remember seeing it back then except maybe Barcelona?
He was injured for a few months in the second half of the season. Don’t think he’s 100%.Is it not worrying he couldn't finish games ? He is always gassed out as if he spends his energy running around needlessly
Yeah it is pretty common for West Ham too. He’s a bit like Harry Maguire in midfield. Exceptionally good at keeping hold of the ball but not actually that great at using it. He’s such a dominant defensive player that it seems simpler just to play him at centre back. Is he really so influential on the ball that you have to play him in midfield?I'm still not sure what to think of him. Take today, he wins the ball excellently, drives forward skinning two or three players effortlessly, then scuffs a 5 yard pass out of play or straight to the opposition. This seemed to happen multiple times
What? He had a better game for us tonight than usual, but we completely ceded possession and dropped behind the ball, so not sure how:He looked to offer more against Italy, made Veratti, Barella and co ineffective through the midfield. He's far more disciplined defensively than either Fred or Mctomminay. He would be class under the right manager and midfield balance.
Italy dominated possession collectively with the phases of play, they didn't dominate the midfield. The fact that most of Italy's attacking play came from the distribution of the centre backs not Jorginho or Veratti is telling of this as a narrative.What? He had a better game for us tonight than usual, but we completely ceded possession and dropped behind the ball, so not sure how:
a) he had anything to do with making Italy's midfield ineffective - which I dispute anyway
b)The fact the midfield were able to completely dominate possession, what did he do well tonight exactly? Also fell asleep for the goal as he was marking Bonucci.
Well this is the issue, if Rice is anything better at his weaknesses he would be one of the best players in world football. It's the fault of Southgate for not utilising a more controlling midfield, the balance in international football comes down to player selection. Theres no great passers of the ball to my knowledge for England period. The offset could have been to bring someone like a Lotus Cheek who can drive runs transitioning the ball to the attack. Rice / Phillips is far too defensive alongside playing 5 across the back, but England were never outplaying Italy when it came to possession.Hard to know what to think. Do you praise him for being fantastically tenacious and reading the game well, getting tackles in and having some moments of genuine class (same applies to his midfield partner) or do you say 'well, Italy's midfield did all that too AND absolutely bossed possession and controlled the game'.
I get the hype in some ways I just wish these types of midfielders had more about them. It's like watching a stronger version of Fred (who I think is decent too)