Declan Rice

[city2]

Have we not learned our lesson after buying Philip, we don’t need another average player.

 

[Chi-town blues]

Over priced

Over cooked.

 

[simon23]

Good player, PL proven, English so not as likely to want away to a different league(Rodri might some day want back to Spain), not injury prone, high work rate, ticks a lot of the right boxes for a Pep team. However, he could need a lengthy adjustment period and he's massively overpriced for a player who isn't yet world class. He may never quite reach those heights, hopefully he will for the national team if not City some day.

Think how long it took Rodri to convince everyone he was a good enough fit for a Pep team(I feel like it was a season and a half off the top of my head), that's why I think people are being way too fast to write Phillips off(who's not even been available for something like 3 quarters of his time here).

because no decent top team in europe would take him

 

[Alexia_Ko]

because no decent top team in europe would take him

Exactly, then comes the issue of his price

 

[ScottSinclair]

Problem with Rice is that he is a ball carrier rather than a passer. He fits playing in a 2 with a destroyer or a deep lying playmaker beside him. A sole 6 for us should be a good metronome passer first and foremost, opening up space for our offensive midfielders rather than carrying the ball into that space forcing them to worry about covering for him.

Not that he is the same caliber of talent, but he would have been a good Yaya replacement back in the day, if we still played like we did under Mancini

 

[Gaz (FMwkdsoul)]

Problem with Rice is that he is a ball carrier rather than a passer. He fits playing in a 2 with a destroyer or a deep lying playmaker beside him. A sole 6 for us should be a good metronome passer first and foremost, opening up space for our offensive midfielders rather than carrying the ball into that space forcing them to worry about covering for him.

Not that he is the same caliber of talent, but he would have been a good Yaya replacement back in the day, if we still played like we did under Mancini

if Pep is think 4231 then Rice will be ideal, not sure in a 433 personally

 

[ScottSinclair]

if Pep is think 4231 then Rice will be ideal, not sure in a 433 personally

I could see Pep turning him into a CB

 

[Gaz (FMwkdsoul)]

I could see Pep turning him into a CB

Yeah, if Stones continues to break down Rice would be great in that role. I've said in other chats in a full clear out i'd lose Phillips & cash in on Akanji's 5th CB role (within another season) for Rice in a brutal move, keeping Peps squad size small and allowing for investment other positions.

 

[Kamaro011]

I could see Pep turning him into a CB

He can, but could he be very good one for us?

 

[RayCTID]

Again not the solution.

 

[youngbob]

Rice is just about good enough to play for a team in the Europa League. Not Champions League quality.

 

[Cheadle_hulmeBlue]

I think he’d be class. He’s been great for a few years now .

 

[FantasyIreland]

He is far better than being an understudy for Rodri.

And that is why it aint happening.

 

[Gaz (FMwkdsoul)]

He is far better than being an understudy for Rodri.

And that is why it aint happening.

makes more sense to me that Mount least Rice can cover 3/4 roles in the squad/team

 

[cordonbleu]

I could see Pep turning him into a CB

Interesting. It's not that far fetched. 4-2-3-1 or 3-4-3?

 

[It'sBlue93:20]

Could see a Phillips + cash deal maybe?

 

[Champions Again Ole Ole]

Could see a Phillips + cash deal maybe?

I think if we sign both it'll deffo see Silva go to Barca

 

[Tricky_Trev]

He is far better than being an understudy for Rodri.

And that is why it aint happening.

Also too expensive for just an understudy role, but there is one scenario where it could make sense. We could be doubling down on the double pivot, with it not necessarily coming from an inverted full back. We could be planning to just play a straight 3-2-5 or 3-2-2-3, whatever we would call it, with a near fullback-less squad. Maybe full back is just going to be a redundant position for us.

 

[Plain Speaking]

Could see a Phillips + cash deal maybe?

Philips doesn't seem comfortable playing our system, I think Rice would be a much better fit.

 

[It'sBlue93:20]

I think if we sign both it'll deffo see Silva go to Barca

I reckon Phillips goes if we sign Rice. Bernardo goes if we sign Bellingham and Gundogan goes if we get Kovacic.