Declan Rice: Bend It Like Decam

[Mrs Bergkamp]

For real, how did it take for him moving to Arsenal to find out he could strike a ball so cleanly?

How was he already not on set piece duty at West Ham and England prior to him coming here? That idiot Southgate had the likes of Foden taking corners ahead of Rice at the Euros

I think Rice is a nice and humble guy who does what he's told. I doubt he said much in the England team. His price tag forced him to step up because it came with big expectations. The Caicedo comparisons probably helped to drive him on too as did standing alongside Starboy and the other big names we have at the club.

 

[Dokaka]

For real, how did it take for him moving to Arsenal to find out he could strike a ball so cleanly?

How was he already not on set piece duty at West Ham and England prior to him coming here? That idiot Southgate had the likes of Foden taking corners ahead of Rice at the Euros

Rice was on corners for us in his last season.

 

[Makingtrax]

For real, how did it take for him moving to Arsenal to find out he could strike a ball so cleanly?

How was he already not on set piece duty at West Ham and England prior to him coming here? That idiot Southgate had the likes of Foden taking corners ahead of Rice at the Euros

Roy Hodgson had Kane taking corners at Euros 2016. Let that sink in

 

[Trilly]

For real, how did it take for him moving to Arsenal to find out he could strike a ball so cleanly?

How was he already not on set piece duty at West Ham and England prior to him coming here? That idiot Southgate had the likes of Foden taking corners ahead of Rice at the Euros

Wilshere called him the best finisher at West Ham so it’s been known. One of those mysteries I guess.

He’s probably gotten better at them at Arsenal too since he became our taker.

 

[Dokaka]

I think it’s just coz he’s also good in the air + massive so he was always trying to get on the end of them.

Also yeah, this is accurate. Our fans were questioning why the **** he was on corners because of this, but it quickly became evident.

Wilshere called him the best finisher at West Ham so it’s been known. One of those mysteries I guess.

He’s probably gotten better at them at Arsenal too since he became our taker.

The whiplash I felt for years watching Rice and then reading A-M was unreal. I'd watch him do some genuinely impressive stuff on a technical level just to read endless posts about him being an untalented donkey.

The Rice transfer thread was like months of me delivering facts to people who A. Had barely watched him and B. Did not care, just wanted to sound smarter than "T H E M E D I A" etc.

**** sake man people even called Partey quicker than Rice. Why did I take a look at that thread again. I'm my own worst enemy.

 

[Gooner Zig]

Yeah if you’re talking B2B then it’s Bellingham.

Takeaway the set pieces and Rice is still learning when it comes to consistently making an impact in the final third while Jude is Jude.

Don’t want to get into another Trilly hates Arsenal players thing I just think crowning him the best in the world is a stretch when he’s basically an OOP + set piece player.

Think you're short changing Rice big time here

 

[Geofranco]

Those guys are also nowhere near Rice defensively though so I'm not sure they're inherently better, just different.

If Rice had Pedri's passing he'd literally be the best player of all time

He'll need Iniesta's dribbling to match that for him to be in the best player ever category lol

 

[Return of The King]

Bellingham may have more moves in his locker but Rice rarely puts a foot wrong. They’re different types of players. Rice more like Rodri in that he does the basics extremely well without looking silky.

I agree Rice is more like Rodri but lacks Rodri’s one touch passing and distribution in open play. He has added box crashing and big goals to his locker.

@albakos do you see this? It’s this kind of analysis that gets you the coveted Green Badge

 

[A_G]

Jude was a lot more balanced in England and Germany. Got made an auxiliary forward in his debut Madrid season and ended up playing the same role for England but he’s always been a true B2B midfielder imo.

I think he’s playing a more traditional CM role now so let’s how this season goes for him.

Saw a tactico say “Jude Van Nistelrooy is just Declan Rice with a better eye for goal”

 

[lomekian]

Also yeah, this is accurate. Our fans were questioning why the **** he was on corners because of this, but it quickly became evident.



The whiplash I felt for years watching Rice and then reading A-M was unreal. I'd watch him do some genuinely impressive stuff on a technical level just to read endless posts about him being an untalented donkey.

The Rice transfer thread was like months of me delivering facts to people who A. Had barely watched him and B. Did not care, just wanted to sound smarter than "T H E M E D I A" etc.

**** sake man people even called Partey quicker than Rice. Why did I take a look at that thread again. I'm my own worst enemy.

Just remember that plenty of us were still super excited when it became clear we might get him.

 

[db10_therza]

Just remember that plenty of us were still super excited when it became clear we might get him.

Most of AM was. It’s just that the loonies are more prolific posters.

 

[Trilly]

Think you're short changing Rice big time here

I’ve rated Rice since his early West Ham days but he’s learning to be an attacking player, he says it himself.

He’s doing a great job at it but there were games, especially last season where Ode was the only midfielder we could rely on to create in the final third, it’s also why we’re horrible whenever we play him with Merino and expect one of them to create something. You also see it for England where the system around him isn’t as good.

Rice can box crash and finish off moves because his execution is great but the creating for himself and others is a work in progress.

 

[db10_therza]

I’ve rated Rice since his early West Ham days but he’s learning to be an attacking player, he says it himself.

He’s doing a great job at it but there were games, especially last season where Ode was the only midfielder we could rely on to create in the final third, it’s also why we’re horrible whenever we play him with Merino and expect one of them to create something. You also see it for England where the system around him isn’t as good.

Rice can box crash and finish off moves because his execution is great but the creating for himself and others is a work in progress.

Yeah but creating isn’t the only criteria you judge a b2b mf by?

I mean yeah Jude is a better 10 but you’d be hard pressed to find people who think he’s a better b2b midfielder than Declan right now. I was one of them a year or 2 ago but not now.

Is Jude more talented? Yes. Would I have him ahead of Rice? Nope. The game ain’t all about talent.

 

[Blood on the Tracks]

I agree that there are a couple of facts of Rice's game that are a 6/10.

But if he was great at those other things too we wouldn't have bought one of the best players in his position in the world in his era ( which he is), we'd have bought an all time great midfielder. Which as much as a rate him I just don't think he's at that level and it's a crazy high bar for anyone to attain.

I don't think I've seen a midfielder in my lifetime that was a 9/10 in every offensive, defensive and physical aspect of the game. They've probably never existed to be honest. Everyone had one of two weaker or less natural facets to their game.

£105m is a silly fee for any footballer but in the context of modern football transfers it looks a pretty good bit of business from our perspective.

 

[db10_therza]

I don't think I've seen a midfielder in my lifetime that was a 9/10 in every offensive, defensive and physical aspect of the game. They've probably never existed to be honest.

Seedorf.

 

[Trilly]

Yeah but creating isn’t the only criteria you judge a b2b mf by?

I mean yeah Jude is a better 10 but you’d be hard pressed to find people who think he’s a better b2b midfielder than Declan right now. I was one of them a year or 2 ago but not now.

Is Jude more talented? Yes. Would I have him ahead of Rice? Nope. The game ain’t all about talent.

I’m judging a B2B by his attacking and defending, both sides of the game.

His defensive side is elite but half of his attacking game is missing, i.e. creating for others/yourself.

I don’t want to start comparing him with Jude who I think is a bit overrated anyway as a B2B midfielder, and I’m not trying to debate who is a better B2B midfielder either but Jude’s game is more complete.

Rice gives you a 10/10 defensively, a 7/10 at finishing off moves, but probably a 5/10 creatively. Jude let’s say gives you a 6/10 defensively but then gives a 9/10 in terms of finishing off moves and a 7/10 defensively.

Those scores probably add up to the same or favour Rice but the creativity is a big part of being B2B it can’t just be ignored.

 

[Blood on the Tracks]

Seedorf.

Probably as close as I've seen.

 

[db10_therza]

I’m judging a B2B by his attacking and defending, both sides of the game.

His defensive side is elite but half of his attacking game is missing, i.e. creating for others/yourself.

I don’t want to start comparing him with Jude who I think is a bit overrated anyway as a B2B midfielder, and I’m not trying to debate who is a better B2B midfielder either but Jude’s game is more complete.

Rice gives you a 10/10 defensively, a 7/10 at finishing off moves, but probably a 5/10 creatively. Jude let’s say gives you a 6/10 defensively but then gives a 9/10 in terms of finishing off moves and a 7/10 defensively.

Those scores probably add up to the same or favour Rice but the creativity is a big part of being B2B it can’t just be ignored.

Yeah I agree with this - I thought you were saying Jude was better or something. In my defence I’ve reread your original post and it’s still very ambiguous lmao but this is clear

I don’t think Rice is “perfect” but rn there is literally no one I would swap him for. That’s got a lot to do with the fact that he’s paired with Zubimendi though. As a duo they are phenomenal.

 

[Bogart]

I’m judging a B2B by his attacking and defending, both sides of the game.

His defensive side is elite but half of his attacking game is missing, i.e. creating for others/yourself.

I don’t want to start comparing him with Jude who I think is a bit overrated anyway as a B2B midfielder, and I’m not trying to debate who is a better B2B midfielder either but Jude’s game is more complete.

Rice gives you a 10/10 defensively, a 7/10 at finishing off moves, but probably a 5/10 creatively. Jude let’s say gives you a 6/10 defensively but then gives a 9/10 in terms of finishing off moves and a 7/10 defensively.

Those scores probably add up to the same or favour Rice but the creativity is a big part of being B2B it can’t just be ignored.

For my money, Bellingham can do whatever the **** he likes; if he isn't doing it it’s probably a choice. Gullit regen who can play every position. I feel like he’s spent too much time ****ing around as a 10 or whatever and should focus on being an out and out b2b mf

 

[Trilly]

For my money, Bellingham can do whatever the **** he likes; if he isn't doing it it’s probably a choice. Gullit regen who can play every position. I feel like he’s spent too much time ****ing around as a 10 or whatever and should focus on being an out and out b2b mf

This is what he was looking like he was going to be at Dortmund before that false 9 season in his debut real season ruined him imo. It was great for Madrid but pretty bad for England and highlighted his decision making still needing some work.

Will be interesting to see someone with his talent develop under a Xabi Alonso type but if he combines Spanish midfield play with his physical attributes and talent he could be terrifying. He’s 22 now so we’ll know pretty soon.