Lucas Paqueta investigated by FA for alleged betting breaches

[RayCTID]

Was their talisman

Similar to Paqueta to be fair although it was a mixed first season at West Ham.

 

[Keeper!]

And what reason is that? He’s better than Paquetá by just about every metric, has been at a good level in PL for 5 years and can play on the right.

Why did he end up at Spurs and not a top club in the PL?

Highlight player.

 

[RayCTID]

85 is waaay to big of a fee for the player in question.

Maybe so but there are ways round that. Again similar reasoning for Grealish and Villa's valuation.

 

[Gumzy97]

What’s with the obsession with the fee , the markets fucked anyway

 

[Skrastins]

Apart from Kane probably the first name on Englands team sheet.

There's a reason Arsenal and Arteta broke the bank with Pep also interested.

If you don't rate Rice then that's on you.

We could say that Rice is 3rd best DM in prem, Rodri P1 and Casemiro 2nd

 

[Tony - MCFC]

Heard anything mate?

Nothing that isn’t reported. No bid yet, he wants the move this window. Suspect it’ll get done for around £85-90m, if City go that high.

 

[BlueHammer85]

genuine question here but what does rice do better or as good as anyone else that makes him a world class player, because if you're basing wc on being the 1st or 2nd name on englands teamsheet that is a low low bar

Some will never see it and perhaps I wouldn't if I only caught the odd game on TV.
However at West Ham, He was the star of the show most of the season and for 3-4 years, His work rate, decision making, tackling, box to box carrying and a lot of flair/skill which doesn't always get appreciated.
No chance we would have got Top 6, Top 7 and win European Trophy without his presence these last few years.

 

[Sir Joe Aguero]

Why did he end up at Spurs and not a top club in the PL?

Highlight player.

Why did Kalvin Phillips end up at City? Why are we even looking at spending 70mil on a player with 3 goals 4 assists?

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Made me laugh! :-)

But...

What if Paqueta was the target all along?

We contact West Ham and they say they don't really want to sell because they're about to sell Rice for £85m.

We say, what if Arsenal bid more so you have more money for replacements?

Then suddenly our half-arsed bid for Rice goes in and Arsenal stump up more money....

Probably nonsense, but it's got to be more chance of it being true than what Aluko said though hasn't it?

 

[kun]

£85m is inflated but he’s a top player.

His stats under a stifling defensive coach and system don’t do him justice at all.

That being said, I would personally much rather sign a winger and play Foden centrally.

 

[Phil1]

We could say that Rice is 3rd best DM in prem, Rodri P1 and Casemiro 2nd

You might be able to make that claim if he has a standout season at Arsenal and has them pushing for trophies. Not sure we can make the argument just yet.
Again, just to reiterate I really rate Rice and would have loved to see what he could do here.

 

[kun]

Why did Kalvin Phillips end up at City? Why are we even looking at spending 70mil on a player with 3 goals 4 assists?

We spend £100m on Grealish who gets similar numbers…

He went and won the treble.

 

[willipp]

What’s with the obsession with the fee , the markets fucked anyway

Because paying 85 million or whatever for a player totally out of left field who was at best 'good' for west ham last season may impact on our ability to invest in true targets in coming years. If we are testing clubs resolve to hold on to their better players for silly money why not be in for Guimares from newcastle?

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Devil’s advocate but we won 2 PL’s in a row without a striker, so we didn’t need Haaland?

Not to win the league, no. The Champions League, however…

 

[kun]

You might be able to make that claim if he has a standout season at Arsenal and has them pushing for trophies. Not sure we can make the argument just yet.
Again, just to reiterate I really rate Rice and would have loved to see what he could do here.

Rice is top 3, he didn’t have to play at a top club to show that.

 

[kun]

Devil’s advocate but we won 2 PL’s in a row without a striker, so we didn’t need Haaland?

No striker: the PL
Haaland: the treble

Feels like we did need him

 

[Vester]

Apart from Kane probably the first name on Englands team sheet.

If you don't rate Rice then that's on you.

To be fair, thats mainly because his main competition for a spot in that England team is Kalvin Phillips, a player who doesnt even play football anymore.

 

[richards30]

What’s with the obsession with the fee , the markets fucked anyway

While i agree, its fun to discuss/debate? The money men will worry about it but i suspect Pep is pushing this and it will get done.

 

[Gumzy97]

Because paying 85 million or whatever for a player totally out of left field who was at best 'good' for west ham last season may impact on our ability to invest in true targets in coming years. If we are testing clubs resolve to hold on to their better players for silly money why not be in for Guimares from newcastle?

Guimares would be 120 mil. Newcastle are in the champions league. Markets fucked it’s not going to decrease. Players will have to run down their contract

 

[Phil1]

Rice is top 3, he didn’t have to play at a top club to show that.

He’s in and around the argument for sure. You might even be right and as I’ve said I really rate him and would have liked him here.
I’m not entertaining the thought of him being WC just yet though.