Declan Rice

[GX Blue]

Phillips has been told he's unlikely to get many more starting opportunities again next season.

When did your source say Kalvin was told this?

 

[flb]

He didn’t have a lot of luck with injury but then took the piss and Guadiola noticed

Second season syndrome has affected a lot of City’s buys - but the difference is the likes of Rodri were given air time in their first season to bed in - Philips hasn’t featured at all , and him getting shit faced at the soonest opportunity doesn’t do him any favours , you just don’t come back from England camp at the World Cup - overweight , like you’ve been on the piss with the lads at Benidorm for a month, it’s the only feasible reason that we maybe in for Rice , if I was Kalvin I’d be on the phone pronto and not going on the piss again before pre season.

 

[alexmcity]

Thing is I can’t see us buying Rice with the intention of him playing the same position as Rodri, he’d hardly play though he might fill in for him sometimes. The intention must be a change of system and they both play , which makes it far easier than it was for Phillips expected to be able to be back up and do the Rodri role solo.

I like Rice but I doubt he can do what Rodri does. Rodri completes over 80 passes per game, sometimes over 100. Rice can't do this without being too safe in his passing. One of the reasons why Rodri was underrated even by City fans was that his passes looked easy and nothing special. Actually, very few players in the world can do what Rodri does as a deep playmaker.

But Rice can do things Rodri can't, such as powerful runs with the ball and without the ball. Both can complement each other really well.

 

[BamberBridgeBlue]

This has become waaay too complicated. If the success relies on Phillips going then I’m calling it. I can’t see how we’ll get all the ducks in a row.

 

[blueparrot]

If we play two dm in new system then who is going the backup for those two that's very good question.

Maybe Stones and Gvardiol will be played in there if needed.

That was my question, which is why I’m a little surprised we want Phillips out as part of the deal. However I can’t believe Pep will want 2 sitting DMs he’ll want something more creative from either Rice or Rodri or both, which is maybe where Kovacic comes into the rotation equation.
Somebody did post
…………………..RODRI

…….RICE……………………KOVACIC

……………..………KDB
So maybe something like that with Stones or Gvaurdiol stepping in. Whatever Pep will have a plan :)

 

[flb]

Players can't win it seems, Kalvin has admitted he struggled last season and wants to put it right and fight for his place and is obviously committed to the club but everyone is ready to get rid of him after one season. Many on here were fine with Ake being sold and he was crucial to our season Kalvin might be able to turn it around and personally I think he should be given the chance to do so. If it's true that people are pressuring Phillips maybe the club and Pep need to look at themselves they bought him and gave him the contract. It really doesn't sit right with me the way some people are trying to justify treating him in a shitty way because they want someone else. It's on the club not Phillips.

Maybe Pep sees it in training everyday, let’s hope he’s given the chance to put the wrongs right, this is a big season coming up after the Lord Mayors show , no resting on our laurels now , Pep will be on them to see if they want more , let’s do four in a row and smash every record ever set.

 

[Gaylord du Bois]

Tolmies post reminds me of that documentary about City’s young hooligans on a few years ago on tv,where a blue makes a phone call and said “is that West Ham” ? when they were arranging a meet up to fight.

That's the Blazin' Squad, pal. They'd shit all over the ICF. The world's a safer place when they've got our backs.

 

[harley]

Second season syndrome has affected a lot of City’s buys - but the difference is the likes of Rodri were given air time in their first season to bed in - Philips hasn’t featured at all , and him getting shit faced at the soonest opportunity doesn’t do him any favours , you just don’t come back from England camp at the World Cup - overweight , like you’ve been on the piss with the lads at Benidorm for a month, it’s the only feasible reason that we maybe in for Rice , if I was Kalvin I’d be on the phone pronto and not going on the piss again before pre season.

This has become waaay too complicated. If the success relies on Phillips going then I’m calling it. I can’t see how we’ll get all the ducks in a row.

It's not complicated phillips is not going to make it at city, sounds like he's been told, with west ham he gets to stay in the PL and gets a great chance to resurrect his career and more importantly to him his england career, he was told by Southgate to play more football

 

[Tangled up in blue.]

I dont get it, Rice saying he wants to go to arsenal.
He made a statement a couple of weeks ago that he wanted to go to a club that wins trophies, a club that wins the big cup. I think his agent needs to have a word with him

 

[richards30]

I dont get it, Rice saying he wants to go to arsenal.
He made a statement a couple of weeks ago that he wanted to go to a club that wins trophies, a club that wins the big cup. I think his agent needs to have a word with him

Has Rice actually said he wants arsenal or is it shitty twitter accounts and red top media who want him to go to Arsenal?

 

[malg]

The thing is though he will make a fairly reasonable post and half the board gets wildly offended and calls him a **** and says fuck off for no reason. Certain City fans have become hyper sensitive with success. It's gotten so opposition fans can't even come on here and offer a perspective, makes the board a poorer place.

It does get a tad RAWK'ish.

I'm not a fan of Arsenal due to their capitulation to the Rags and thought Wenger should have stood up for himself more against the piss can. They also put the stadium ahead of the squad and therefore allowed the horrible twats in Salford to win more league titles. However, that Hackett fella seems ok - even more so as he takes dog's abuse from some. I suppose it goes with the territory of going on another team's forum. I would certainly never sign up to a Rag forum.

 

[Thaksinssoldier]

Someone better tell City, they have been speaking to West Ham today.

Crazy, so we’re exactly a week behind everyone’s timelines.

Need to pick up the phone to Declan and get moving on that front, if they call him it’ll be a major sign it’s agreed with Sullivan.

 

[Chopper2115]

Crazy, so we’re exactly a week behind everyone’s timelines.

Need to pick up the phone to Declan and get moving on that front, if they call him it’ll be a major sign it’s agreed with Sullivan.

We will definitely hear news tomorrow morning I reckon.

 

[Bluearmy]

Has Rice actually said he wants arsenal or is it shitty twitter accounts and red top media who want him to go to Arsenal?

I dont believe so. I think he told West Ham he wanted out (and at that point Arsenal were likely the only ones to have show their hand), so the press promptly put 2 and 2 together and it became “Rice only wants Arsenal.

Having said that im not convinced he’ll come to us personally. Bit surprised the rags arent in for him big time!!

 

[skillman]

City won't sign Rice unless Phillips is moved on. West Ham are desperate for him to be included.

Two birds, one stone (/deal).

If Kalvin agrees to it, though. He’s well within his rights not to given the contract we gave him 12 months ago.

 

[nmc]

There‘s very little evidence that our fans were celebrating back in March. We‘ve had too many occasions in the past when early hopes were subsequently dashed. If you look at my posts all season, you will see I was always clear a title win was unlikely given the relative weakness of our squad and the over dependence on key players who if injured we couldn’t cover for. But don’t let the facts get in the way of your prejudice, eh?

Below is my post from October last year in the Arsenal thread:

You’re right to point to our lack of depth and the over dependence on key players who if missing through injury would badly impact our performances and that is why the league in reality is highly unlikely. I suspect we might have a better prospect therefore with the Europa League but even that is difficult. Our goal is top 4. Anything else is a bonus. Were we unable again to secure champions league football, the season would be seen as a failure.

I need say no more.

Ppppffffff yeah right….. you lot were giving it large in March. Loads of ‘champions’ merchandise started appearing amongst street sellers - you were all giddy with it….

 

[hello]

Thing is I can’t see us buying Rice with the intention of him playing the same position as Rodri, he’d hardly play though he might fill in for him sometimes. The intention must be a change of system and they both play , which makes it far easier than it was for Phillips expected to be able to be back up and do the Rodri role solo.

Although if moving to some kind of full time double pivot then if Phillips didn’t go 3 covering 2 slots is still 40 games each on average

 

[St.Pauli support]

If we play two dm in new system then who is going the backup for those two that's very good question.

Maybe Stones and Gvardiol will be played in there if needed.

Gvardiol is 21, he won't play there. He's LCB.
Stones it is.

 

[balotelli's back pocket]

Gvardiol is 21, he won't play there. He's LCB.
Stones it is.

Rico Lewis is 18 and he's played there.

 

[Gaz (FMwkdsoul)]

If we play two dm in new system then who is going the backup for those two that's very good question.

Maybe Stones and Gvardiol will be played in there if needed.

would suprise me eventually, depending whic side Pep wants to overload and paly through.