I believe that's his fair valuation and as I rate him highly I wouldn't be averse for us to even over pay by 5-10 m more to get him here but if that's not enough then we should move on quickly to other targets .
Declan Rice
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I am still concerned about set-plays and Lindeloff being bullied off the ball.
Correct. 50m would be about right. If West Ham demand well above it, we should just move on and look for other options. There are a lots of good DM around if we are willing to pay 50m.
If we are to spend 80-90m on one player this summer, I'd rather we spend it on Sancho or Grealish.
There isn't a level of performance he can put in at CDM that would justify paying 70m for him which is almost the same as what we're going to fork out for Sancho. I'd rather we look elsewhere for cheaper options.
The ideal CDM for our setup is an experienced and a proven one anyway rather than a young player with just one good season in his resume.
A signing like this has the potential to set us back significantly considering the cost and our situation.
The ideal CDM for our setup is an experienced and a proven one anyway rather than a young player with just one good season in his resume.
A signing like this has the potential to set us back significantly considering the cost and our situation.
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Just look at City with John Stones with and without a DM. Without Fernandinho or Rodri, he looks useless. With one of them he looks not awful and they function way better in midfield. Modric and Kroos also failed as a partnership until Zidane started using Casemiro. You need the DM.
When we bought Schneiderlin - were our fans happy or did they know whilst he was at Southampton that he was a flop?
I hope they were happy so it may show there is potential for Rice to be better than expected.
I don’t always get things right with players either - just that something about Rice playing as a leader in the deep areas of our midfield gives me a slight historical feeling to it.
I hope they were happy so it may show there is potential for Rice to be better than expected.
I don’t always get things right with players either - just that something about Rice playing as a leader in the deep areas of our midfield gives me a slight historical feeling to it.
Has there been any credible link to Rice at all. Given that he's not that brilliant and is on a long contract, it makes no sense to spend close to 80 million on him.
That would be utter stupidity
That would be utter stupidity
I still remember back then everyone in the cafe, including me, really thought Schneiderlin was going to be a great buy and destined to be the answer in DM we have been looking for. It just don't seem possible he would be a flop, I never even doubt for a sec.
Yes I’d much rather have Grealish but he will cost more than £90m. Might get Sancho for £80-£90m I suppose. No way we (or anyone) gets Rice for £50m. If that’s the most anyone will pay, he stays at West Ham.
personally I rate Bielsa's boy Phillips higher
I was very excited to see him in the PL but I don’t think he has been that great when I watched him.
He seems a great passer but not really much more than that to my eyes. I wouldn’t see him having the ability to defensively hold Modric and Kroos for example even though he has a good pass.
Maybe I’m wrong.
Please not Rice. Right now one of the most overrated footballers of his generation who will be poor value
I agree and he will be far cheaper
I would be very wary signing anyone playing for a team greater than the sum of their parts. Think Philips will be very average out of that Bielsa setup.
that's the danger with Leeds players right? How will they do with totally different tactics
My exact thought. We need individuals who can excel in a non-rigid system.
Manuel Locatelli and Bossumo would be great alternative options to Rice.
In my opinion, the role of DM is the most critical position in the team that needs filling this summer. Rice looks outside our budget.
Manuel Locatelli looks like a great option as he can control the midfield, great awareness around him, a conductor in midfield, keeping the ball moving.
Bossumo would be a slightly different option, more aggressive and faster over short distances, similar to Ndidi, but perfect for keeping the ball moving.
If we can land either if these players, it would change the dynamic of this team.
In my opinion, the role of DM is the most critical position in the team that needs filling this summer. Rice looks outside our budget.
Manuel Locatelli looks like a great option as he can control the midfield, great awareness around him, a conductor in midfield, keeping the ball moving.
Bossumo would be a slightly different option, more aggressive and faster over short distances, similar to Ndidi, but perfect for keeping the ball moving.
If we can land either if these players, it would change the dynamic of this team.
Last year it was one of Sandro Tonali, Zaniolo, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Nicolo Barella that was the solution to all our problems. Italians generally prefer to stay in Italy.
I think Ole will have a look at Garner in training before deciding whether he will sign a specialist defensive midfielder or not. Rice will be priced out of a move. If Ole splashes the cash on a midfielder, it will more than likely be some 19 year old who nobody has heard of, but with massive potential.
If McT is good enough then Rice is Keane.
I think you miss my point which is that Manuel Locatell and Bossumo are good alternatives to Rice. I can't see Manuel Locatell coming to united as you are correct in saying most of the best Italians stay in Italy, but he's a superb player who would suit our needs.
I like the idea of giving Garner a chance as he looks as he looks like he could be a regular starter in years to come if he takes his chance. Buying a 19-year-old is not what we need; it's a ready-made starter we need urgently.
Rice improves us exponentially in my opinion. We are severely lacking in that position and have to play two players in most games. Declan Rice changed that completely. He can play there on his own, leaving us to play two more attacking players. I'd buy him in a heartbeat.
I don't think for a second that we will though.
I don't think for a second that we will though.
If we willing to spend 50m on a DM, I am sure a lot would improves us exponentially too. Doesn't mean we have to overpay 80-90m for Rice though. Yeh I know he is young and English, but there are always better value elsewhere. City bought Diaz for 60m and he then went on become best defender in PL and Europe, despite we spend 80m on Maguire, who didn't quite manage to reach the same height (but he is still a good CB regardless). We just need to go out and find those players for more reasonable price, and try to avoid building a "reputation' for being so bad in business. Overpaid Maguire by 25-30m is already quite a poor business, overpaid Rice by 35-40m is COVID market would be far worst. If we are smart in business we could have bought say Diaz, top DM and another top CB (say Varane), instead of just Maguire and Rice, with same amount of money.
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Where is the evidence that he can hold the midfield on his own. He plays in a two at West ham and for England? If England start with him along side Mount and Foden or Grealish, and it works then fair enough. Until I see him play well holding on his own I remain sceptical that paying 100 million for him is a good idea.
He idolises Roy Keane by the way and obviously grew up watching United.
It’s intuition more than anything since virtually no one starter alone holds the midfield by themselves if you’re talking semantics.
Rice showcases more defensive minded/holding abilities than any midfielder on United apart from maybe Matic who’s now ancient. It’s rather simple why we should get him really.
There is a very fine line between intuition and wishful thinking. If we get him I hope it works but 100 million on a player to play in a position he doesn't play and has never played because he looks like he could play there is a Russian roulette transfer strategy.
This forum is wonderful I am Belgian and I speak French and a little bit English. I don't know you know Machester Devils it's a French-speaking forum but here there are a lot more people but in all these great members on this forum I don't know where the message was posted
First time I’m properly watching Rice. Holds his position, screens the centre halves. Doesn’t show himself for the ball all that much, much for focused on keeping his position.
Is this is normal game?
Is this is normal game?
Didn't remember he was on the pitch
Hiding.
Totally agree with this. 13 clean sheets with McFred. Will be interesting to see that number if we had a legitimate sitting DM (Rice/N'didi etc).
One thing he isn’t is a hider
Limited on the ball. Has better discipline than McTominay, but similar ball playing wise.
We need someone who can play the ball out and build attacks. A deep lying playmaker who can play in a midfield 2 without being a liability defensively. Camavinga for example.
Rice is not a good fit. Would be terrible next to Fred/McT.
We need someone who can play the ball out and build attacks. A deep lying playmaker who can play in a midfield 2 without being a liability defensively. Camavinga for example.
Rice is not a good fit. Would be terrible next to Fred/McT.
Honestly think Scott is better gping fkrward with the ball. Hes excellent at carrying it up the pitch
Did his job well in that first half, people want something from him that he isn't though.
Yeah going forward McTominay is better, I do think as a DM though Rice is equally better. If you combined the two you'd have a very good midfielder
He prevented a lot of progressive passing from Croatia with his positioning.
Don't think it's a matter of "wanting" him to be something. Couldn't give two shits about him. But if we are interested in him he should have qualities he doesn't seem to have.
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