Declan Rice: Bend It Like Decam

[outlawz]

During our banter era most times we didn’t dominate possession against united or Chelsea most of the time. People are just making things up to defend what they think is an attack. It’s smart to do what we are doing giving up possession large parts of games against top teams. We are not at a level in midfield to keep possession against these teams most of the game in midfield.

Learn to read, I didn't say most times during the banter era. I said Ferguson and Mourinho games and I was specifically referring to the Fabregas years, so that only refers to a specific period up to 2011 just before Ferguson left and the Mourinho's first stint. So the only person making **** up is you.

 

[Rasmi]

Learn to read, I didn't say most times during the banter era. I said Ferguson and Mourinho games and I was specifically referring to the Fabregas years, so that only refers to a specific period up to 2011 just before Ferguson left and the Mourinho's first stint. So the only person making **** up is you.

We not great at keeping the ball in midfield and I don’t think improving in this area will harm us. I can read perfectly well and know when I see defensive people

 

[outlawz]

We not great at keeping the ball in midfield and I don’t think improving in this area will harm us. I can read perfectly well and know when I see defensive people

You obviously can't because you created a strawman and can't even decipher what you said was wrong. You said we don't choose to have less possession, and people pushed back to say it is a tactic to let the opposition have the ball when you're leading if they don't have the means to punish you. I then cited Ferguson and Mourinho who did exactly that to us. People aren't defensive, they're calling out how blatantly incorrect you are. Newsflash: We aren't trying to be the team with the most possession, we are clearly a mixed team who shifts between in and out of possession.

Now your other point about improving possession capabilities is not something I necessarily disagree with, but teams choose to cede possession and play on the counter attack all of the time, especially when they are winning. I was wrong, you don't need to learn how to read, you need to learn how to think and see first.

 

[Batman]

It's straight out of the Emirates era playbook of Ferguson and Mourinho. We'd dominate possession, and they'd beat us. We thought we were the better team cause we had more of the ball, but their tactic was to let us have it and then penalise the mistakes. It's like you said, far more expedient when you are leading.

It's how Jose used to beat Pep as well. The famous quote is, "Pep can have the ball, I'll take the 3 points" or something to that effect. Ironically, we dropped some important points losing a game against United and 7 Hag in the 22/23 season by not realizing this, dominating possession and then getting done multiple times on the counter when we should have let them have the ball and do nothing.

 

[Fabregasm]

when we should have let them have the ball and do nothing.

While it sounds like a great idea but given our unwillingness and inefficiency of counter attack it means they will attack us like mad dogs till they score

 

[Rasmi]

It's how Jose used to beat Pep as well. The famous quote is, "Pep can have the ball, I'll take the 3 points" or something to that effect. Ironically, we dropped some important points losing a game against United and 7 Hag in the 22/23 season by not realizing this, dominating possession and then getting done multiple times on the counter when we should have let them have the ball and do nothing.

Again he set that up because he had no choice. No jose team could keep the ball like peps barca. If we play psg or Barca they will dominate the ball because they have better ball players than us. And yes having the ball doesn’t guarantee you a win. But in general it’s always better to have the ball in football

West Ham just beat us at home, I’m guessing their tactic was to “let” us have the ball and counter as well

 

[Batman]

While it sounds like a great idea but given our unwillingness and inefficiency of counter attack it means they will attack us like mad dogs till they score

They won't score though. Team like Tottenham and United can't break down a mid to low block. Virtually every goal you see them score is off of a counter. They're not tactically adept enough to unlock a compact defense and so they can attack you like "mad dogs" but it's going to be a lot of sideways passes going nowhere.

Remember how we played City down a man at the Etihad and all they could do was shoot from distance until we made one mistake on a short corner when time should already have been called? That's a team used to playing against low blocks that can actually score and they had no answers. These teams that rely on transition won't do anything against 2 compact lines.

That's not to negate our inefficiency on the counter attack because that is a problem but when we have a lead against a team that has proven they can't break down a set defense, there's no need to overcommit numbers when we are in possession to afford them an opportunity.

 

[ksarp]

These teams that rely on transition won't do anything against 2 compact lines.

You know soccer!!!

 

[DJ_Markstar]

You know soccer!!!

 

[outlawz]

Again he set that up because he had no choice. No jose team could keep the ball like peps barca. If we play psg or Barca they will dominate the ball because they have better ball players than us. And yes having the ball doesn’t guarantee you a win. But in general it’s always better to have the ball in football

West Ham just beat us at home, I’m guessing their tactic was to “let” us have the ball and counter as well

Nonsense. It's not as simple as they have better players, it more that different teams and managers have different priorities. Some managers value possession above all else, so they will setup their team to facilitate that. Other managers are not obsessed with it, so will allow the opponent the ball. If Jose wanted to compete with Pep on possession, he had Xabi Alonso, Mesut Özil and Kaka to do it with. That was not his method. If you had a clue, you would know Jose's style was all about disruption and capitalising on mistakes.

Pep's Bayern had far more possession than both Real Madrid and Barcelona in the CL matchups but got spanked each time. It's always better to have the ball in football is one of those simplistic statements a 14 year old says when he first learns about principles without understanding any sort of nuance, application or context. We lost the title in 22/23 partly because City came to the Emirates, let us have the ball and countered us. By your logic, we had the better midfielders, right? Chelsea and Tottenham have some of the highest possession stats in the league, better midfield than us? Man is truly simple jack.

and yes, that was exactly West Ham's tactic. Finally got it.

 

[Riou]

One positive thing even I have to admit about him is for someone who can't really play football at all, he's not done too shabby in his career

 

[Mitch]

An assist in each game for Rice for England. One the 3 first names on the team sheet for England with Bellingham and a fit Saka.

 

[field442]

Been putting in better numbers that Gerrard did at the same age when he was moved to 8 role.

Gerrard had 21G 18A in a season when he was 27. If you think Rice is getting anywhere near that at the same age you should put the crack pipe down.

 

[Dokaka]

Gerrard had 21G 18A in a season when he was 27. If you think Rice is getting anywhere near that at the same age you should put the crack pipe down.

I mean, it'll never happen if he isn't on penalties for one thing; 5 of those goals were penalties. That season he got 22 G/A in the league while on penalties, doesn't seem that outrageous to me to think Rice could hit similar numbers potentially.

Rice already hit 15 G/A last season while shifting between 6 and 8, if you add the penalties on top of that he's very close, no?

 

[lomekian]

More importantly Rice doesn't totally destabilise the team tactically like Gerrard. Amazing player, but It was only alongside Alonso where he didn't hurt the team when he wasn't producing

 

[A_G]

He must be glad to finally be playing for a manager who knows how to use him to his strengths.

 

[Dokaka]

Some of you lot owe me an apology tbh

 

[Fabregasm]

Whoever you are do your public apology before I quote you out one by one

 

[ArsenalInMyHeart]

This is 100m player

 

[A_G]

They tried to compare Moses Dryceido to this guy?