Injuries to either of those will hit as hard as Rodri or De Bruyne for City. They're so vital to what you do.
Declan Rice
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Injuries to either of those will hit as hard as Rodri or De Bruyne for City. They're so vital to what you do.
Yep. If that trio stay fit I’m very confident we can take the league down to the wire.
Superb in almost every game this season.
Is delivering on what they paid for.
There was a moment around 70th minute where he was facing 4 Liverpool players on the counter and they failed to score (Trent hit the post). Don't know how that quite happened.
The ball seemed to bobble up which put Trent off I think. That pitch today looked awful, players seemed to be slipping all over the place.
Feel like you guys need a solid LB in January if you want to cement your place at the top. Don't think Zinchenko is good enough, he was a liability today too.
We are looking short in defence, think that may be our top priority in Jan (or another midifeld). Tomi and Timber injured, and who knows how the latter will come back after a long lay off. Do think Arteta was thinking of moving on from Zinchenko (or at least giving himself another option) when he signed Timber.
It's a tricky one because when Timber and Tomiyasu are back this isn't really a need, or at least it wouldn't provide enough minutes for anyone top class. But Tomiyasu is back just in time to get injured again at the Asian Cup, and Timber is out until at least March.
IMO I think we may need to prioritise another midfielder before another defender, but there's not much in it. But defensively we have at least Kiwior who is decent, but in CM if Rice gets injured we'd be done for. Hard to trust Partey with his injury record and advancing age.
I remember arguing during the summer how Rice would have been the perfect midfielder for us unlike Mason Mount yet people were telling me that no, Mount will be a better option and Rice is overrated.
Anyway, knowing United, we would have transformed Rice into the new Schneiderlin so I guess it's for him he didn't come here. We're the graveyard of talented players at the moment.
Anyway, knowing United, we would have transformed Rice into the new Schneiderlin so I guess it's for him he didn't come here. We're the graveyard of talented players at the moment.
One of the few 100m signings that actually worked.
I said a couple of months ago that he was making his price tag look like a bargain, if that's possible. He is absolutely immense and rarely makes a mistake.
Who said that?
I don't want to call names to be honest.
He’s a great player but nah not a bargain, he wasn’t, outright the best midfielder on the pitch today either, but I’d certainly have him as the best DM in the league after Rodri overall.
Hate this thread.
Instructed to shield the back 4 even more than usual for good reasons. Zinchenko and our front 3 did everything they could to gift Liverpool chances.
Rice and Saliba were absolute rocks. Got called "useless" by some genius though
Only saw the highlights. Zinchenko was so poor for Salah's goal. What rock has he been living under that he doesn't know you don't let Salah cut back onto his left!
I was really upset to see him join Arsenal. I was really upset to see us sign Mount. Thinking about that makes me even more upset.
I always thought he was a little overrated at West Ham but fair play - he's proven me wrong. His positional awareness is elite. Must be a huge relief knowing they can play Havertz and Odegaard further forward without having to worry about losing the midfield battle.
Same on both points. Unbelievable how many people dismissed him as "limited" especially coming from a fan base that has had to endure Mctominay in midfield for years now.
The type of signing Sir Alex would've made 100%.
Havertz and Odegaard hold their own and don’t stop running, but yes, Rice seems to be able to do the work of two people. Agree about his positioning - so often he looks faster than others when I don’t think that’s the case at all. He just is more intelligent and positions himself in the right areas, whether to nick the ball back or make himself available to keep possession.
Hilarious to see the back track here. Half this board was saying he was a £50m player at best 6 months ago.
I agree. Though not necessarily a LB, Tomiyasu, Kiwior and eventually Timber can play there. So it could be a CB or RB that we bring in. But we desperately need another defender. It’s why we fizzled out last year and we can’t make the same mistake again.
Proved me wrong. Thought he would struggle. Quality player.
Tis grand, we only spent 60 on Mount, 40 on VDB and 70 on Casemiro, who needs rice We have the alpha male, the main who should be prime minister, the future captain of Man united, the man who makes Kevin De Bryune look like Djemba Djemba, the future UFC Heavyweight champion, the one and only Scot F***in Mctominay
We have the alpha male, the main who should be prime minister, the future captain of Man united, the man who makes Kevin De Bryune look like Djemba Djemba, the future UFC Heavyweight champion, the one and only Scot F***in Mctominay Monster of a player. Him and 3 of our back 4 stay fit, and we're top 3 at least.
We've still got people (or at least one person) saying he's no better than McTominay.
TBF many Arsenal fans (myself included) were skeptical of the signing considering the fee. But can now see why Arteta creamed himself for Rice. IMO for all his physicality, technical prowess, defensive attributes etc, the main reason Arteta was desperate for him was because of his intelligence, mentality and leadership qualities. He is an absolute beast in that sense.
Excellent player. He's what allows Arteta to play two attacking midfielders in front of him, which is what Ten Hag wants to do but is too stupid to see that he does not have that level of DM.
Really not that hilarious when you consider he only had 1 year left on his contract, he was playing for a mid table selling club in West Ham, who knew it was their last chance to make any money on an academy product. Perhaps 50m would've been shortchanging them, but 70m would've been more than fair.
Remember when we was constantly linked to him? 
Biggest compliment I could give him is Arsenal could hilariously play a Havertz in that midfield cause Rice is that good in anchoring and carrying that midfield. Makes you wonder had we signed Rice, the Mctominay and Bruno midfield experiment may actually work?
He is still not a player people want he him to be here. Arsenal are very good at pressing with their forward line where Jesus is vital for them. With Odegaard controlig games in brilliant way and very good Havertz it is not hard to be cleaner behind them. His most important value is his attitude and mentality.
He is also faster than most
Yes, McTominay is as good as him isn't he? fecking hell
Anyone who understands football and watched him at West Ham during the 2021/2022 season could see what a quality player he was. A leader as well.
Meanwhile here at the Redcafe "overrated english player" "i hate the way he runs" "the new Eric Dier"
I wanted him at United in 2022 before we bought Casimero. I remember @Bebestation on here was most vocal for the move, it was like watching him swimming against a tide of shit on here though
Meanwhile here at the Redcafe "overrated english player" "i hate the way he runs" "the new Eric Dier"
I wanted him at United in 2022 before we bought Casimero. I remember @Bebestation on here was most vocal for the move, it was like watching him swimming against a tide of shit on here though
I think there was a small group of people that actually wanted Mount here (especially considering we're stacked with #10s), and even smaller group that thought he was a better option than Rice.
Rice would've been a sensible transfer addition this, last, previous to last season. But I wouldn't accuse United of doing sensible transfer moves in the last few years. In fact, is there any other sensible transfer in current squad apart from Martinez? Eriksen might look like a sensible freebie, but he's on a long contract and every month looks less like a professional athlete.
Despite some idiotic takes on here he was such a sure thing signing. Surely everyone can just admit they were wrong on this one.
Absolutely, the lad's the real deal. In Fergie's heyday, the gaffer would have sent people to report back to him who gets in and out of his and his family's house, and he would have travelled to Romford in person to pick him up and drive him to Manchester.