Declan Rice: All Hands On Dec

[Aubamabludclat94]

His absence was felt the second half when Norway really took a stranglehold on the game without his physicality on the pitch. I still think he’s been playing at about 70% capacity for the past 3 or so games (basically since the knockouts). He’s gonna need a long break

 

[Topside]

Well we are 100% going to sign another CM.

MLS Zubimendi Merino Ødegaard Eze and whoever we get in should be the options first three weeks of the season central areas.

Maybe Chelsea at home 6th Sept which would be 7 weeks after the WC ends a reasonable target.

 

[blaze_of_glory]

The England vs Norway match showed just how important Declan Rice is. He does so much of the unnoticed work that keeps the team balanced. Once he was substituted at half time, England looked vulnerable and were overrun in central midfield for much of the second half. It almost ended up costing them the game.

Yup. Think Mainoo should have come on if Rice had to come off. Eze and Jude both in midfield means Anderson is left alone to try to control things and he's not up to it. Wasn't until James came on and Eze went wide that England got on top again. Seems Tuchel just doesn't trust Mainoo at all for some reason.

 

[MartiSaka]

Worried about Rice, he is injured and not dominating like he should be. Think its a big concern for next season. Rest him for a month or two, and hope he can get back to his best (i.e. injuries clear up and he recharges), whilst playing Bruno G and Zubi. Hope its not another Saka burnout decline.

 

[Riou]

Yup. Think Mainoo should have come on if Rice had to come off.

Agree.

Though I am enjoying United fans going mental over him not playing too, so hopefully he leaves the World Cup with zero minutes lol.

 

[blaze_of_glory]

Agree.

Though I am enjoying United fans going mental over him not playing too, so hopefully he leaves the World Cup with zero minutes lol.

LOL yeah my friend is so, so sour about it.

 

[blaze_of_glory]

Only player from a losing side to make team of the week for the semis.

 

[Batman]

View attachment 49448

Only player from a losing side to make team of the week for the semis.

A higher rating than Rodri is a bit shocking but he was clearly England's best player on the night.

 

[blaze_of_glory]

A higher rating than Rodri is obvious for moral reasons and he is clearly England's best player.

Agreed

 

[Thrice]

If we lose him for a large part of the season I have no idea how we compensate. Losing Saliba is bad enough, but I trust Mosquera to fill the gap to some extent.
But we have absolutely no one who can replace Rice. We will feel what City felt when they lost Rodri.

 

[dino bravo]

A higher rating than Rodri is a bit shocking but he was clearly England's best player on the night.

Agreed, but personally I would say he was England’s best player with a 6.5/10. The rest were appalling.

 

[Legend14]

Get a good enough 6, who Arteta trusts, so we do not need to see Rice until December. Same with Saka.

 

[BigPoppaPump]

Get a good enough 6, who Arteta trusts, so we do not need to see Rice until December. Same with Saka.

Rice don't even play as a 6 though so there's no need, just get a creative midfielder.

 

[Legend14]

Rice don't even play as a 6 though so there's no need, just get a creative midfielder.

It seemed he pretty much did at the end of the season with MLS playing more of the 8. Didn’t see Rice being nearly as progressive ( deep runs).

 

[Kuroske]

Rice's best position is as a 6 DM, where he can use his incredible drive for his defensive duties. His drive is remarkable, but he lacks the vision and creativity needed to be a world class 8. The last few games have shown that MLS is the 8 we have all been waiting for. What he needs now is consistent game time and experience to keep developing. Unfortunately, he is not yet at the level where you can trust him to start every game. That is why Bruno would be an excellent short term signing, allowing MLS to take over in a couple of years.

 

[BigPoppaPump]

It seemed he pretty much did at the end of the season with MLS playing more of the 8. Didn’t see Rice being nearly as progressive ( deep runs).

People say this but if you look at the heat maps he played the same way throughout. He cannot pass from deep so he’s not a 6.

Rice best attributes are defensive and set pieces he’s not gonna dictate play or pass with intelligence.

 

[GoonerJay24]

People talk about Rice as if he's world class. To some extent he is. He has world class attributes. He can carry the ball, cover huge ground and I think he has the IQ to play in midfield. Tuchel even said before the tournament that he's excellent at taking on tactical instruction.

The problem is that he lacks the technical precision, first touch and passing quality of the very best deep-lying playmakers. Footballs become increasingly possession based, where setting the tempo, playing through pressure and building from the back are constantlt scrutinised; those limitations become more obvious.

I've always felt Rice would've been even more effective under managers like Ferguson, Mourinho, Klopp or Conte where his athleticism, ball winning and carrying would be maximised.

He can certainly help control games, but he's not the type of midfielder who dictates the tempo like a Rodri, Busquets, Jorginho or Pirlo. That's why, despite his qualities, this debate keeps resurfacing whenever England struggle to dominate possession.

 

[Thrice]

Get a good enough 6, who Arteta trusts, so we do not need to see Rice until December. Same with Saka.

Might as well keep Nørgaard then. Because whoever we sign will be a big downgrade anyway.

 

[viktor]

@Dokaka

 

[Uncle Macho]

If Rice isn’t world class CM then I don’t know what is. Every team he’s in seems to reach some sort of finals even from West Ham who have since been relegated after his departure.

Yes he’s no Pirlo or Fabregas, but with all the stuff in his locker using that against him is simply a desperate nitpick.

There’s been periods when England have had Scholes, Lampard and Gerrard all at the same time and they still sh*t the bed - so don’t put England’s woes on Rice.