Declan Rice

[Abraxas]

My biggest problem with Phillips was that in the Euro's we didn't see him play like Yorkshire Pirlo.

No passing at all.

I think the Leeds fans had their tongues very firmly planted within their cheeks when they came up with that misnomer. I guess at Championship level he probably did look a level above.

He does clip some appealing looking long balls a couple of times a game. But they are very slowly done, civilisations have risen and fallen by the time he picks it out.

Good player but not for us. He could be Liverpool's new Henderson I think.

 

[mitchmouse]

The world cup?

You want to go two seasons without a DM?

World Cup is Nov/Dec 2022

yeh... got a bit ahead of myself. that said, it wouldn't surprise me with United!

 

[SAF is the GOAT]

Anyone seen his goal today in the Europa league against Dynamo Zagreb ? The guy is a unit

 

[andersj]

Anyone seen his goal today in the Europa league against Dynamo Zagreb ? The guy is a unit

Too slow, CB-playing in midfield…

 

[Adnan]

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[shaggy]

I've watched Rice for England and he's looked great. Would love him in a United shirt, miles better than our current options and I've never understood why people rate him so poorly here.

 

[TwoSheds]

Great defending there as well. Like prime Bale!

 

[TwoSheds]

I've watched Rice for England and he's looked great. Would love him in a United shirt, miles better than our current options and I've never understood why people rate him so poorly here.

Because he's not even a better player than Phillips who himself is nothing special.

 

[MadMike]

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He's had that in his locker to be fair, he's a strong runner. He scored something similar on the last game of last season, against Southampton.

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

Because he's not even a better player than Phillips who himself is nothing special.

Who do you rate as 'special' in that role?

 

[shaggy]

Because he's not even a better player than Phillips who himself is nothing special.

Phillips is also a good player. There's a reason England and West Ham are doing very well at the minute and it ain't Southgate. Not saying Rice is solely responsible

 

[TwoSheds]

Who do you rate as 'special' in that role?

Kanté, Fernandinho, Kimmich, Fabinho, Ndidi (better defender anyway), Bissouma (soon), Casemiro, Kessié, Jorginho (last year)

 

[MadMike]

Phillips is also a good player. There's a reason England and West Ham are doing very well at the minute and it ain't Southgate. Not saying Rice is solely responsible

I'd say it has more to do with England's immense options in attack and defence, than their midfield. The midfield is without a doubt the weakest area of the team.

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

Kanté, Fernandinho, Kimmich, Fabinho, Ndidi (better defender anyway), Bissouma (soon), Casemiro, Kessié, Jorginho (last year)

Can I ask what it is about these players that makes them special?

 

[TwoSheds]

Can I ask what it is about these players that makes them special?

Quite a wide range of things given they're all different players. Main common thread would be that they're good at playing DM as opposed to middling.

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

Quite a wide range of things given they're all different players. Main common thread would be that they're good at playing DM as opposed to middling.

So what would Rice need to add to his game for him to be included in that list?

 

[NYAS]

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Glad to have you on board the Rice train bro, took you a while but you made it in the end

 

[TwoSheds]

So what would Rice need to add to his game for him to be included in that list?

Incisive passing would be a good start.

 

[Adnan]

Glad to have you on board the Rice train bro, took you a while but you made it in the end

 

[bucky]

Incisive passing would be a good start.

How come Ndidi is on your list then?

 

[MadMike]

How come Ndidi is on your list then?

You wash your mouth before you talk about the Nigerian Pirlo, alright?

 

[bucky]

You wash your mouth before you talk about the Nigerian Pirlo, alright?

 

[golden_blunder]

Incisive passing would be a good start.

Interesting take matching that requirement with your list

 

[golden_blunder]

Good to see that Rice so far is true to his word when he said that this season he would take more risks and show people that there’s more to his game

 

[sewey89]

I don’t understand how he’s still so underrated on here. Exactly the player that we need in my opinion

 

[golden_blunder]

I like him a lot, he’s going to get better with age and experience too. We will kick ourselves if we lose out in my opinion

 

[mu4c_20le]

Chelsea will move for him next year

 

[Bebestation]

Just a video to show some stats & bits on his progressive passing and dribbling

 

[TwoSheds]

How come Ndidi is on your list then?

Because he's a better defender than Rice. You have to be really good at something in order to be a really good DM.

 

[EtH]

Want. Hope he’s terrible at the weekend though.

 

[TwoSheds]

Rice fans, if I give you some general categories for footballing attributes, how would you rate him out of 10 in each?

Ball winning / tackling:
Heading:
Passing:
Touch/technique/skill:
Shooting:
Attitude:
Pace/physical:

 

[GueRed]

Saw someone on here compare him to John O'Shea the other day

People who dont rate him probably havent watched him for more than a few england games tbf

 

[Adnan]

He's actually very good on the ball for a player that is deployed as the most defensive minded midfielder. His ability to retain possession and recycle the ball with either foot is very impressive. I think he's gonna end up at either Chelsea or United.

But if he does end up at United, then I'm hoping we make a effort in trying to balance the midfield out with a more creative #8 next to him, who also has the ability to also drop in as a #6 without the ball.

 

[AjaxCunian]

Not his biggest fan, but seems like a great guy with room to improve. Would have him here.

 

[Bebestation]

The more you watch him the more you realise that he is press resistant.

I absolutely love watching that side of his game.

 

[Bondi77]

I think we will turn his head this season and then make our move and try and keep the fee as low as possible.

 

[Bondi77]

He's actually very good on the ball for a player that is deployed as the most defensive minded midfielder. His ability to retain possession and recycle the ball with either foot is very impressive. I think he's gonna end up at either Chelsea or United.

But if he does end up at United, then I'm hoping we make a effort in trying to balance the midfield out with a more creative #8 next to him, who also has the ability to also drop in as a #6 without the ball.

Do you think VDB is up to that task?

 

[gajender]

I think we will turn his head this season and then make our move and try and keep the fee as low as possible.

His long contract means West Ham are the one who would call the Shots .

 

[GueRed]

I think we will turn his head this season and then make our move and try and keep the fee as low as possible.

I think his head is turned already.

He's 100% committed to West Ham this season though.

Next summer he'll move. To where remains to be seen.

If Ole's genuinely interested Agent England-United players would've had a word already.

Next : an unofficial approach....

 

[Adnan]

Do you think VDB is up to that task?

VdB could be upto the task but I feel we can aim higher. Someone like Bellingham or Camavinga (I know he's joined Madrid) look to have the profile of the player I have in mind. But we also have young Hannibal Mejbri who I would like to see given a opportunity to, if/when he's considered ready for the first team.