He isn't anywhere close to 100M but he fits a certain demographic and the media lap him up.

United and Chelsea have ruined the market

Who cares mate. It's not our money. It's about time we spent really big. Should be getting him and Caciedo, not one or the other

What do you mean who cares? I don't want to see the club waste money and slip from a decent position to one where we're flailing around again.

It didn't work out the last time fans were saying it's about time we spent really big, we got Ozil ffs.

If he is an upgrade on what we have why would we "slip from a decent position to one where we're flailing around again"?

Arteta really wants him. And he generally improves the midfielders we have. Think he will be a great player for us after his settling in period. Can play as the #6 or #8.

comment by TopForm (U15726)
posted 3 minutes ago
It didn't work out the last time fans were saying it's about time we spent really big, we got Ozil ffs.
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Ozil did work out, plus he wasn't last time we spent big. Alexis and Auba also came for big money and won us trophies.

Decent position as a club, not just as a team.

He's not a big enough upgrade for what we're paying for him and we're not a bottomless pit like City and eventually will have to reign it it. We're only going to get so many shots at signing players with this sort of money.

So if he turns out to be an upgrade but not a big enough one to win us titles then it's a waste of money for that amount because we're stuck with him.

comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 12 seconds ago
comment by TopForm (U15726)
posted 3 minutes ago
It didn't work out the last time fans were saying it's about time we spent really big, we got Ozil ffs.
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Ozil did work out, plus he wasn't last time we spent big. Alexis and Auba also came for big money and won us trophies.
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Yes, I know it wasn't the last time we spend big and didn't say so. I said the last time fans had the mentality that we need to spend big without caring about the potential consequences.

I don't know what worked out means to you but for me it means winning titles and not being saddled with marquee signings sitting on the bench.

comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 10 minutes ago
comment by TopForm (U15726)
posted 3 minutes ago
It didn't work out the last time fans were saying it's about time we spent really big, we got Ozil ffs.
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Ozil did work out, plus he wasn't last time we spent big. Alexis and Auba also came for big money and won us trophies.
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"Ozil did work out"

😳

Yes, I know it wasn't the last time we spend big and didn't say so. I said the last time fans had the mentality that we need to spend big without caring about the potential consequences.
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That isn't the mentality now though, people just want the best players to improve the team, and Rice has been identified as that.

I remember Wenger even came out and stated that we paid over the odds for him.

But it was a different time then where fans were practically demanding we make a big signing. We've been doing well in the transfer market recently and we're not in the same place now as far as I'm concerned.

I get other people's perspective on this but I can't help shake the feeling that it's going to turn out to be a mistake and undo us.

Yet if he was £60m he would be good enough? Surely if he isn't good enough his price is irrelevant.

comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 4 minutes ago
Yes, I know it wasn't the last time we spend big and didn't say so. I said the last time fans had the mentality that we need to spend big without caring about the potential consequences.
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That isn't the mentality now though, people just want the best players to improve the team, and Rice has been identified as that.
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Maybe, as I say I get your viewpoint but I can't help feel that given the strength of our season and that players like Saliba want to remain we're an attractive proposition and should be doing better in the market than this.

I get that it's complicated and I could be wrong but that's just the way I feel about it.

There's been plenty of sticks for the fans to beat Granit Xhaka with over the years. But the one thing that has always made me defend him is his impressive fitness record.

Thomas Partey is twice the player Xhaka is when it comes to talent. But half as reliable, across a 50-game season.

Spend the money. A reliable workhorse like Declan Rice would be a perfect long-term replacement for Xhaka.

I wouldn't say he didnt turn up in the conference final West Ham just did what they do sitback and wait for a chance to counter and it worked for them. Playing like that means you aint going to see much of the ball and he couldn't really have much influence on the game.

In truth it's all guess work at the moment in regards to how much he will improve us. It's a lot of money but its no accident he has that price tag he's a good player who probably hasn't even reached his potential. He's been managed by bang average defence minded managers for club and country. Let's see what he does in a progressive setup.

comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 2 minutes ago
Yet if he was £60m he would be good enough? Surely if he isn't good enough his price is irrelevant.
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Good enough for what though? To improve the team? yes. To win us titles, we've yet to see.

So yes at 60m I'd be happy because it means that we couldn't sign a player worth 90 million who's even better.

comment by TopForm (U15726)
posted 7 seconds ago
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 2 minutes ago
Yet if he was £60m he would be good enough? Surely if he isn't good enough his price is irrelevant.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Good enough for what though? To improve the team? yes. To win us titles, we've yet to see.

So yes at 60m I'd be happy because it means that we couldn't sign a player worth 90 million who's even better.
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So you'd be happy to buy a player at £60m rather than a better player at £90m??

comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 21 seconds ago
comment by TopForm (U15726)
posted 7 seconds ago
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 2 minutes ago
Yet if he was £60m he would be good enough? Surely if he isn't good enough his price is irrelevant.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Good enough for what though? To improve the team? yes. To win us titles, we've yet to see.

So yes at 60m I'd be happy because it means that we couldn't sign a player worth 90 million who's even better.
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So you'd be happy to buy a player at £60m rather than a better player at £90m??
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I'd be happier if we signed a better player than Rice at 90m and I think we can do just as well at 60 million and less. But that's one I'm not going to get into before I go to sleep.

comment by Admiral Ozil is my new favourite Star Wars character (U10178)
posted 5 minutes ago
I wouldn't say he didnt turn up in the conference final West Ham just did what they do sitback and wait for a chance to counter and it worked for them. Playing like that means you aint going to see much of the ball and he couldn't really have much influence on the game.

In truth it's all guess work at the moment in regards to how much he will improve us. It's a lot of money but its no accident he has that price tag he's a good player who probably hasn't even reached his potential. He's been managed by bang average defence minded managers for club and country. Let's see what he does in a progressive setup.
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Declan Rice is fine just as he is.

He sits deep, protects the defence, covers half the pitch, tackles everything around him, and frees the creative players up to do their business.

For both club and country.

I wouldn't change a thing.

comment by Gillespie Rd. (U18361)
posted 24 minutes ago
comment by Admiral Ozil is my new favourite Star Wars character (U10178)
posted 5 minutes ago
I wouldn't say he didnt turn up in the conference final West Ham just did what they do sitback and wait for a chance to counter and it worked for them. Playing like that means you aint going to see much of the ball and he couldn't really have much influence on the game.

In truth it's all guess work at the moment in regards to how much he will improve us. It's a lot of money but its no accident he has that price tag he's a good player who probably hasn't even reached his potential. He's been managed by bang average defence minded managers for club and country. Let's see what he does in a progressive setup.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Declan Rice is fine just as he is.

He sits deep, protects the defence, covers half the pitch, tackles everything around him, and frees the creative players up to do their business.

For both club and country.

I wouldn't change a thing.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I would. He's prone to holding on to the ball for too long at the back.

See if you look at Rodri he's just continually moving the ball around but RIce under Moyes and Southgate just doesn't have this element to his game.. And this is what all the top level clubs have these days. It's something that he'll have to work on or our build up play is not going to cut it at against a team like City.

You have to consider that west ham will not ask a player like rice to progress the ball like a player in his position would do at city or arsenal.

That doesn't mean rice isn't capable. Itll take a while for him to grasp, but that's why it's imperative we get him in for pre season, which it looks like we will.

That was my point, that he hasn't been playing in a team or been coached at that level. I'm not saying he's not capable, but he'll have to add that element to his game.

The point is for 90+m I'd expect a DM to be totally comfortable moving the ball under pressure at the back, and he's not.

It just puts me on the fence about the signing as I wonder whether we can be doing a lot better.

Not worth the money for me. He’s extremely over-rated. True valuation of Rice is £45 million

For me he doesn’t even upgrade our midfield. I was one of Xhakas biggest critics and for me Rice is no improvement.

For the money we’re paying, any club in the world would sell up so we could be buying any Central Midfielder if we wanted - So much better options.

Pros;
-He’s English and will adapt to the culture of the club

-He’s an English international so will get plenty of experience

-Leadership - potential future captain

-A player for the next decade. He seem the type that would stick around at the club for the rest of his career. So we COULD be getting a long serving decent player.

-He’s been captain at a young age and seems respected by fellow players so he must have something about him.

-Height- good to have tall players in the centre of the pitch

- Appears to have a good attitude

That’s about it for me.

Cons:
- Slow on the ball
-Lacks quality forward passing
-Extremely slow at running
-shooting ability
-Slow in the tackle for a CM/CDM
-Holds onto the ball too long
- Much better out there for the price
-Doesn’t upgrade the midfield

Overall for me, he would be an ok signing if we were buying him for much less.

It’s a shame because we could be getting an already world class midfielder for that money.

He’s got potential to be a good player but nothing more
Will settle into the club nicely and could be a captain one day but he’s no upgrade. He’s not a bad player but he’s not quality. He’s good
That’s my opinion