Declan Rice: All Hands On Dec

[Batman]

I thought he was fine today. Did well pressing and no mistakes. Made a couple of crucial interceptions too. The manager's refusal to play creators is not his fault. I'll repeat until I'm blue in the face that if you're going to play him as an 8 and especially now with Saka out, you play him on the right side of the pitch and you use his ability to fire the ball in at pace the way City used to use KDB or Liverpool used to use Trent. That's in his locker. He's better as a 6 but even as an 8 he's not being used to his full potential there on the left. All of this is on the manager. His effort and talent are obvious. If he's smart, he'll go to Madrid or somewhere.

 

[Legend14]

Frustrated that he did not step up to stop the first goal. Instead he pointed. Can’t do that.

 

[Artisan]

He wasn't. Berta signing. Scouting team identified that Agoume dude.

lmao **** off with this lie. All indications were that Berta wanted to get Agoume but the manager and his scout team wanted PL experience.

 

[Sanchez11]

Hes not an 8

 

[Zaza]

lmao **** off with this lie. All indications were that Berta wanted to get Agoume but the manager and his scout team wanted PL experience.

We were linked with Agoume before Berta arrived.

 

[Batman]

lmao **** off with this lie. All indications were that Berta wanted to get Agoume but the manager and his scout team wanted PL experience.

Agoume,Garcia and Saddam Huijsen were rumored to be the manager's preference. Berta is allegedly responsible for Kepa and Nørgaard so there would be more money for depth.

 

[LG10]

He was always a world class 6 who is ok on the ball. Needs to be with MLS and proper creative 8/10 but he was another player misprofiled by the idiot

 

[Artisan]

Agoume,Garcia and Saddam Huijsen were rumored to be the manager's preference. Berta is allegedly responsible for Kepa and Nørgaard so there would be more money for depth.

I can't find it now, but I definitely remember it being mentioned that Nørgaard was chosen because the club wanted PL experience. Does that sound like Berta or Arteta? Agoume was also being touted as a cheap option, probably would have only been 5-6m more than this guy and probably cheaper wages, doubt it would have been a budget constraint. At this point, who knows though.

 

[Batman]

I can't find it now, but I definitely remember it being mentioned that Nørgaard was chosen because the club wanted PL experience. Does that sound like Berta or Arteta? Agoume was also being touted as a cheap option, probably would have only been 5-6m more than this guy and probably cheaper wages, doubt it would have been a budget constraint. At this point, who knows though.

I mean it sounds like Berta spread what we were trying to spend on 2 players to 4 signings, Mosquera, Hincapie, Kepa and Nørgaard. If it were an Arteta signing, Nørgaard would have more than 59 PL minutes played, don't you think? When has someone he advocated for signing ever played that little? Every Arteta driven signing gets a run even if they're clearly sh*t.

 

[goonerfamily]

I can't find it now, but I definitely remember it being mentioned that Nørgaard was chosen because the club wanted PL experience. Does that sound like Berta or Arteta? Agoume was also being touted as a cheap option, probably would have only been 5-6m more than this guy and probably cheaper wages, doubt it would have been a budget constraint. At this point, who knows though.

Nørgaard was clearly a panic signing by the club when it became clear that it would not be socially acceptable to extend Partey’s contract.

 

[Rasputin]

Hes not an 8

100%. Plays his worst football when pushed forward. Plays his best as a deep 6. Mik just doesn't get it.

 

[Zaza]

Hes not an 8

Not a 6 for a top side either.

 

[BigPoppaPump]

Rice is definitely good enough to be a part of title winning team but his mix of strengths/weaknesses means he's not the easiest jig-saw piece to build a midfield around. However a manager being paid a top5 salary in the world should be able to complete that puzzle but Mikel just can't.

I feel like this is revisionist, he’s been getting hyped as the best midfielder in the world as an 8. He doesn’t have the skill set of a 6 anyway.

 

[GoonerJay24]

Hes not an 8

But he's played as an 8 all season and people have said balon Dor contender

 

[Sanchez11]

But he's played as an 8 all season and people have said balon Dor contender

Not for me

 

[GoonerJay24]

Not for me

Same, but this is why Arsenal fans must take responsibility too. Overhyping certain players when it was clear the teams in possession balance wasn't right. Reversely, criticising and putting down players like Ødegaard.

All these comments surely impact the team. Individually and collectively.

I've been saying about Rice from the beginning, yet people don't listen. Now look where we are

 

[BigPoppaPump]

But he's played as an 8 all season and people have said balon Dor contender

When they realise he’s mediocre on the ball it’s always ‘he’s not an 8’ or ‘he’s exhausted’

 

[Jakarta]

You can’t play him as a lone 6 because he doesn’t have the ability to build up play from the back and neither does he have the ability to turn under pressure. He isn’t an 8 either because other than shots outside the box he has nothing going for him attacking wise.

But no doubt he has a crazy engine, snuffs out danger defensively. He’s basically a physical specimen that should be used as a workhorse nothing more I.e how Klopp used Henderson.

Play Rice in a midfield pivot with a ball playing 6 but then also having two attacking full backs like Liverpool did with Robertson and TAA providing the width and a 10 who has freedom to orchestrate our attack.

Or play

A midfield like this

Leao---------------Osimhen-----Saka/Dowman
------------------MLS/Eze-----Rice/Nwaneri-------
-----'----------------Jorginho type 6---------------------
Timber---Gabriel/Cala----Saliba---attacking RB

Reduce defensive responsibilities for the wingers and let MLS/Rice do the work Henderson and Wijnadulm used to do for Mane/Salah.

We have the defensive base and a great counter stopper in Rice all we need is a top quality LW and striker and let the front three stay high up to counter teams. I can't believe instead of using Rice to reduce the burden on our attacking players defensively instead we have increases the burden of our attacking players defensively.

Imagine we had Leao's pace against City? They would be sh1tting their pants. We saw how Havertz held the ball up well against City and won his headers? Now imagine Osimhen who could do that and also run in behind and is a deadly finisher?

Sell Madueke,Martinelli,Trossard and Gyok whilst they have some stock. Bring in technical players who can play in tight spaces and take on their man. Keep Havertz as a backup and keep Ødegaard as a rotation player because of his technique if he manages to stay fit and find some form to create(he really needs to stop with the endless pressing and focus on being a 10 who orchestrate play and cuts through teams).

 

[GoonerJay24]

When they realise he’s mediocre on the ball it’s always ‘he’s not an 8’ or ‘he’s exhausted’

A lot of City fans saying they can't believe he's rated so highly in the media and amongst our fans

 

[Rasmi]

When they realise he’s mediocre on the ball it’s always ‘he’s not an 8’ or ‘he’s exhausted’

He’s not elite 6 or 8. He’s a great athlete and honest guy