Declan Rice

[Dribble]

Doesn't look like Kalvin can be used as a makeweight. All the rumours are Kalvin doesnt want to leave.

Kalvin's categorically stated in an interview that he's staying & is desperate to prove himself.

He said he's taken inspiration from Dog, Rodri, Bernardo, Stones, Aké & Grealish who all suffered for a season or two until they settled & finally got the complicated Pep-Ball.

He's popular with our squad & they've come out in support of him to say he's the best & most accurate passer at the club.

Hopefully with a full, injury free pre-season & a Tr3bl3 winning season behind him, he can start with a clean slate & prove himself to be the player who excelled in the Euro's & for Leeds.

If City do indeed go for Rice with a cash plus player deal, we've several excellent youngsters coming through on a similar level to Romeo Lavia who would interest WHU.

I think if anything, that's the way City will go IF we are indeed interested in signing Rice, who would be added to the England contingent of Foden, Stones, Walker Philips & Grealish...

 

[waspish]

Kalvin's categorically stated in an interview that he's staying & is desperate to prove himself.

He said he's taken inspiration from Dog, Rodri, Bernardo, Stones, Aké & Grealish who all suffered for a season or two until they settled & got the complicated Pep-Ball.

He's popular with our squad & they've come in support of him to say he's the best & most accurate passer at the club.

Hopefully with a full, injury free pre-season & a Tr3bl3 winning season behind him, he can start with a clean slate & prove himself to be the player who excelled in the Euro's & for Leeds.

If City do indeed go for Rice with a cash plus player deal, we've several excellent youngsters coming through on a similar level to Romeo Lavia who would interest WHU.

I think if anything, that's the way City will go IF we are indeed interested in signing Rice, who would be added to the England contingent of Foden, Stones, Walker Philips & Grealish...

All those players he mentioned started more games played more minute that tells me pep thinks Phillips can not take on board what he is instructing him to do

 

[Johnny Mars Bar]

LOL say no more, the way the big fellas head is starting to wobble is genuinely scary, early sign of dementia sadly.

Hang on - Sam Allardyce has a podcast called "No Tippy Tippy Football" ?!

Please tell me this is some Fast Show type sketch...jumpers for goalposts, cheesy peas at half time, Bovril for dad, muddy goal areas, terraced houses in the background, isn't it, mm, football. Marvellous."

 

[rodders]

Plus with Stones’ role now, it would be a silly signing this one. Stones is now ready to play in Rodri’s position on his own when we need to give Rodri a rest and they can play together in the big games. We also have Phillips who will undoubtedly be better next season if he stays with us.

We need a creative, tempo setting, attacking midfielder who plays between the lines and is hard to get the ball off and a right winger, or someone who can play in attacking mid and right wing; we do not need a third Rodri/Stones type player.

We need to move Foden into attacking midfield for this, not sign someone like Rice. Foden is Gündoğan’s replacement. Foden is going to take a step up as a player over the next few years and is going to be immense by the time he gets to his prime (26-29). Also because he didn’t play a great deal from his appendix op onwards this season, he’s going to be like a new signing next season.

Look at Foden’s assist for Álvarez for the fourth goal against Madrid… Or the turn and burst of pace into the box like Phil’s chance in the CL final (he should have scored, mind)… that’s the sort of player we need to be starting in our team, threading passes like that through to the forwards and creating havoc with skill.

Then we need to look at de Bruyne’s replacement next Summer.

Kovacic can take Foden’s squad player role from the second half of this season and can be in rotation for Rodri/Stones/Phillips n’all.

I can't really argue with that PC but I have a different perspective if our interest in him is real.

Firstly I'd be happy with a Phillips plus cash deal as imo he offers a lot move than Kalvin could, plus we stop a potential rival strengthening in the process. One in one out. Kalvin gets regular game time at WHU.

As you say Phil will likely be more pivotal in the centre next season and I think that's the part where we benefit as I believe he can be that tempo setting, creative force you mention next to Rodders, or Stones or in another scenario Rice adding a bit of steel. We'd still have one or two, maybe both of Gundo and Bernie to choose from and it looks like Kovacic is on his way too.

If Gundo and/or Bernie leave we'll have someone to replace either lined up. If the reports are true we'll also have McAtee and maybe Bobb learning the ropes and gaining experience with the first team squad. Both are better in the central area from the times I seen them so far. I haven't even included KDB in the equation.

Stones being able to give Rodders a rest is a fair shout. He's been immense in that role. Gvardiol coming in covers the loss of Eric and he looks very capable and as versatile as Johnny has been.

So where does Rice fit in ?

Cost aside, IMO he's the best option around to strengthen us even further in that central mid and defensive area. Pep likes versatility and he can cover both. He's got a great engine on him, will add legs to the midfield and we'll have multiple options in the event of injuries in both areas of the pitch. I also be flabbergasted if Pep doesn't improve him and bring out qualities that we've not seen before.

He's only 24 with the temperament of a player much older. I wouldn't like to see him at one of our rivals.

 

[Keeper!]

Hang on - Sam Allardyce has a podcast called "No Tippy Tippy Football" ?!

Please tell me this is some Fast Show type sketch...jumpers for goalposts, cheesy peas at half time, Bovril for dad, muddy goal areas, terraced houses in the background, isn't it, mm, football. Marvellous."

That was my exact thought when it popped up, has to be a parody sketch, especially with all 3 on that table.

 

[manimanc]

Kalvin's categorically stated in an interview that he's staying & is desperate to prove himself.

He said he's taken inspiration from Dog, Rodri, Bernardo, Stones, Aké & Grealish who all suffered for a season or two until they settled & finally got the complicated Pep-Ball.

He's popular with our squad & they've come out in support of him to say he's the best & most accurate passer at the club.

Hopefully with a full, injury free pre-season & a Tr3bl3 winning season behind him, he can start with a clean slate & prove himself to be the player who excelled in the Euro's & for Leeds.

If City do indeed go for Rice with a cash plus player deal, we've several excellent youngsters coming through on a similar level to Romeo Lavia who would interest WHU.

I think if anything, that's the way City will go IF we are indeed interested in signing Rice, who would be added to the England contingent of Foden, Stones, Walker Philips & Grealish...

It wouldn't surprise me if pep tried to turn him into a right back, doing the Rico and Stonesy role of being fluid and inverted.

 

[bluesince76]

Why, because I call out the BS about Kalvin Phillips being used as a 40-50m makeweight?

Also, there is a market for Arsenal not making the top 4. You can 'lay' Arsenal on betfair, and for every pound you put on, based on current odds you can make 144%.The bookies have priced Arsenal shorter odds than Man United and Liverpool to make top 4, let alone Chelsea. Will he bet big ? I dont think you will.

No, you're a nonce for coming on here, but you'll disappear like the rest of your wet arses when you fuck up next season as well.

I actually agree that Phillips is unlikely to be a makeweight, swap deals rarely happen, but he wouldn't need to be part of the deal and it's probably only being suggested as West Ham enquired about him in January.

I'm not a mug, so I don't bet, so won't be laying it regardless of the odds. But odds are as meaningless as net spend in terms of what happens on the pitch. You finished 2nd, it's reasonable to assume you'd be one of the favourites to finish top 4 next season, I'm just saying you won't. The others will be stronger next season, plus there's Newcastle and you'll be one of the teams squeezed out. We'll only know for certain next May, but my prediction is you'll be whining on loads of other forums next summer as well as this one.

 

[Keeper!]

Kalvin's categorically stated in an interview that he's staying & is desperate to prove himself.

He said he's taken inspiration from Dog, Rodri, Bernardo, Stones, Aké & Grealish who all suffered for a season or two until they settled & finally got the complicated Pep-Ball.

He's popular with our squad & they've come out in support of him to say he's the best & most accurate passer at the club.

Hopefully with a full, injury free pre-season & a Tr3bl3 winning season behind him, he can start with a clean slate & prove himself to be the player who excelled in the Euro's & for Leeds.

If City do indeed go for Rice with a cash plus player deal, we've several excellent youngsters coming through on a similar level to Romeo Lavia who would interest WHU.

I think if anything, that's the way City will go IF we are indeed interested in signing Rice, who would be added to the England contingent of Foden, Stones, Walker Philips & Grealish...

"Kalvin's categorically stated in an interview that he's staying & is desperate to prove himself."

180k a week for another 5 years may be a bigger factor, if he goes he will want paying off.

 

[its a Barm]

Well, it is a Barm

Pep says it is so there.

 

[Dribble]

All those players he mentioned started more games played more minute that tells me pep thinks Phillips can not take on board what he is instructing him to do

Aké? Stones? Plus Philips wasn't really fit to play until January. He's essentially had less time to acclimatise than the aforementioned mate...