Declan Rice: All Hands On Dec

[Dokaka]

He was ever present in that first season we finished 2nd under Arteta and for his entire Athletico stint.

His form collapsed to the point where he was replaced by Jorginho in the starting lineup?

 

[OnlyOne]

He was ever present in that first season we finished 2nd under Arteta and for his entire Athletico stint. The injury prone Partey is literally just a version of him.

Why do you think I laughed when Rice was pointing to where/who Partey should pass to in a Champions league game? I think he's still single digit appearances in that competition just about.

What on earth are you on about in that last paragraph? I don’t care about that. Never post anything like that to me again.

You don’t have Rice last season we finish 4th maybe 5th because Partey was injured, thankfully Rice’s level is absolutely top so we still mounted a title challenge.

It’ll be the same again when Partey is injured this season.

 

[Macho]

His form collapsed to the point where he was replaced by Jorginho in the starting lineup?

Yeah but it wasn't for injury was it?

Listen I am one of those that think Partey can/should go, but it doesn't look good that he's holding down the 6 role when we've paid 100m for Rice when Rice isn't a 100m left 8 - which is what some on here are trying to spell out.

Especially as Partey doesn't have to play at all right now between Jorginho and Merino.

 

[Macho]

What on earth are you on about in that last paragraph?

I am trying to spell out to you that Partey has forgotten more Champions League fixtures than Rice has featured in, so "3 months of consistency" was incorrect..

Especially as Partey has finished 2nd in this team before and is currently getting selected in the 6 role before your Rice for now.

 

[Rasmi]

Yeah but it wasn't for injury was it?

Listen I am one of those that think Partey can/should go, but it doesn't look good that he's holding down the 6 role when we've paid 100m for Rice when Rice isn't a 100m left 8 - which is what some on here are trying to spell out.

Especially as Partey doesn't have to play at all right now between Jorginho and Merino.

The only reason I’m for Partey extension is because if he leaves Arteta will ask to pay for Zubimendi clause. I just don’t think he rates Rice as a 6 as some people here do

 

[Thrice]

Before we got Rice we lost pretty much every match against City and Liverpool. Since we have Rice we're unbeaten against them.

I guess that's just coincidence?

 

[OnlyOne]

I am trying to spell out to you that Partey has forgotten more Champions League fixtures than Rice has featured in, so "3 months of consistency" was incorrect..

Especially as Partey has finished 2nd in this team before and is currently getting selected in the 6 role before your Rice for now.

Partey is better than Rice, but if you had to choose one for the season you choose Rice because Partey is an injury prone loser and therefore less important to the team.

How’s that for spelling it out, huh?

 

[Dokaka]

You don’t have Rice last season we finish 4th maybe 5th because Partey was injured, thankfully Rice’s level is absolutely top so we still mounted a title challenge.

It really is puzzling to me that Rice could be ever-present in your best season in many years yet be seen as a problem. You literally improved results wise by effectively replacing Partey with Rice, despite also losing Xhaka. Whether the football was more fun to watch is a fair debate but that shouldn't factor into an objective valuation.

Yeah but it wasn't for injury was it?

Listen I am one of those that think Partey can/should go, but it doesn't look good that he's holding down the 6 role when we've paid 100m for Rice when Rice isn't a 100m left 8 - which is what some on here are trying to spell out.

Especially as Partey doesn't have to play at all right now between Jorginho and Merino.

I think Rice will be an effective 8 if the right player supports him from deep. It worked really well last season with Jorginho at the base but Jorginho's legs are just completely gone at this point. Once the midfield settled on Jorginho/Rice/Ødegaard last season and Havertz was moved to CF everything was working well.

 

[outlawz]

Partey being better than Rice, when he can be bothered to stay fit, isn't the slight on Rice that people think it is. Partey on song is one of the best in his position, better than Rice, but Rice is still amongst the best in the world in his position as well. This is a bit like having a go at Bergkamp for not being as good as Henry. It's the kind of dumb wumming **** a Tottenham fan would engage in.

 

[Makingtrax]

No one has ever argued that actual greats from previous eras wouldn't be great today given modern tools etc. They are greats for a reason. The problem is people highlight the truly exceptional individuals when making points about an entire era of football as if 10 Maradonas went up against 10 Maldinis 38 times a season.

Seriously, sit down and watch a couple of full matches from those eras and tell me with a straight face that the overall technical level was higher. It just wasn't, you'd be borderline insane to suggest it. That doesn't mean Maradona, Platini or *insert all time great* weren't exceptional technical players, no one has or will argue that, but their individual brilliance isn't an indicator of the era as a whole.

Freaks aside, like Maradona, Messi etc the average control and individual skill set of players in the nineties and noughties were as good if not better than today bro. Without doubt. And the reason is because they had much more freedom to express themselves and try difficult stuff. It was applauded and encouraged. Whilst today the game is based and very contrived, micro managed passing. Arteta would have a fit if a player today ran from the backline or midfield and tried an outrageous dribble through 2/3 players and then lost the ball, “being greedy”. It’s just not acceptable. Possession, control, game management and passing rules the day.

 

[Blood on the Tracks]

It's not about Partey being better then Rice, though maybe he is.

Rice is more versatile than Partey that's why he's playing 8. His versatility is actually a hinderance to him personally, though good for the team. There is no way Partey even in this current form has the legs or stamina to do what Rice does at 8

Partey isn't playing as a DM in a defensive sense really. He's a deep lying player and is doing an excellent job at it.

It's why the comparisons between the two fall flat for me. Even when they're occupy the same area of the pitch they're very different players and compliment each other very well.

At 6 Rice is a more traditional DM with some box to box elements.

Partey is a playmaker from deep who's traditional defensive role is kind of secondary.

 

[grange]

We overpaid for this guy to the tune of 45-50m and that's the biggest issue I have with him. He was paid for growing into a more all around midfielder but he is what he is.

 

[jones]

Being English harms players on this forum.

 

[albakos]

Wow, just skimmed through the last few pages, there's always a tweet from @Riou's buddy @souster to provide some extra context

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1862228574691852446

The quality of football has Declined so much

 

[db10_therza]

Freaks aside, like Maradona, Messi etc the average control and individual skill set of players in the nineties and noughties were as good if not better than today bro. Without doubt. And the reason is because they had much more freedom to express themselves and try difficult stuff. It was applauded and encouraged. Whilst today the game is based and very contrived, micro managed passing. Arteta would have a fit if a player today ran from the backline or midfield and tried an outrageous dribble through 2/3 players and then lost the ball, “being greedy”. It’s just not acceptable. Possession, control, game management and passing rules the day.

You’re conflating technical ability with tactical instructions, they are not the same thing.

English football in the 90s was a ****ing joke. The reason it isn’t now is in no small part down to Arsène Wenger who paved the way for more technical players to thrive in what was a predominantly hoofball league.

Unless of course you want to talk down the great man’s achievements in which case…

 

[db10_therza]

We overpaid for this guy to the tune of 45-50m and that's the biggest issue I have with him. He was paid for growing into a more all around midfielder but he is what he is.

Sounds like you have an issue with Arteta and Edu and not Declan Rice. Glad we could help.

 

[blaze_of_glory]

Wow, just skimmed through the last few pages, there's always a tweet from @Riou's buddy @souster to provide some extra context

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1862228574691852446

The quality of football has Declined so much

I generally agree the quality has gone down from an entertainment perspective. But play devil's advocate here, you kind of understand why you don't see stuff like this that much any more with coaches prioritizing ball retention, etc. First one ends up in a scramble and barely kept in play and the second is turned over immediately.

Genuinely think if e.g. Rice had done these flicks in our last game half this board would be calling him an idiot.

 

[A_G]

Genuinely think if e.g. Rice had done these flicks in our last game half this board would be calling him an idiot.

@Rasmi would accuse him of appropriating Brazilian culture

 

[grange]

Sounds like you have an issue with Arteta and Edu and not Declan Rice. Glad we could help.

Edu’s gone. Rice is next. Good times are just around the corner.

 

[Rex Stone]

Not going to bother reading this very closely but anyone saying Rice is better than Vieira should have their internet access taken away.