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Deleted member 21784
Guest
You’ve just proven my point
Not really? He is 8 years older and only has 30 odd more caps
In 8 years if he averaged 8 games a year it's 64 caps ... Pushing him into the 100 club
If he carries on with his average ATM he will become the record cap holder
Pin-seeker
Well-known member
but you’re comparing him to HendersonNot really? He is 8 years older and only has 30 odd more caps
In 8 years if he averaged 8 games a year it's 64 caps ... Pushing him into the 100 club
If he carries on with his average ATM he will become the record cap holder
Bdill93
Undisputed King of FOMO
£65m for a rotation player is big money for Arsenal.
D
Deleted member 21784
Guest
but you’re comparing him to Henderson
No , I'm not. I'm saying Henderson wasn't good enough to dislodge the old guard sooner so had 77 caps at 32
Where as rice is that good he has dislodged established players and made the position his own at the age of 24.
Someone from this group will get to the record caps as we now play even more pointless games.Not really? He is 8 years older and only has 30 odd more caps
In 8 years if he averaged 8 games a year it's 64 caps ... Pushing him into the 100 club
If he carries on with his average ATM he will become the record cap holder
Not sure it'll be rice and footy will likely evolve again and midfielders are the ones who miss out (generally) when things change.
Orikoru
Tour Winner
Rice is top class. City were linked to Kovacic too though, will they sign both? Phillips career there pretty short-lived if so.
Henderson hasn't been dislodged yet though. He's still got almost 30 caps whilst paying with rice. And the old guard Henderson replaced was significantly better.
If rice was around during the era of Scholes, Gerrard and lampard he'd have a dozen caps at best ATM, just like Henderson did in a similar stage.
Orikoru
Tour Winner
I dunno... Owen Hargreaves managed 40 odd and was a similar sort of player/position. Once we found a manager who didn't just want to play 4-4-2 all the time.
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Deleted member 15344
Guest
Rice is a good player , could be very good , but will need to make that next step up to a big team where the pressure is on
He seems to have developed his game a bit more over the last 12 months instead of just a sitting mid
Gundogen was the same sort of player at Dortmund but evolved a bit more so I guess that’s what Pep would look to do in a three Rodri and KDB
With City getting Kovacic as well that’s Phillips going - hopefully he can kick start his career back again
He seems to have developed his game a bit more over the last 12 months instead of just a sitting mid
Gundogen was the same sort of player at Dortmund but evolved a bit more so I guess that’s what Pep would look to do in a three Rodri and KDB
With City getting Kovacic as well that’s Phillips going - hopefully he can kick start his career back again
pendodave
Tour Rookie
I'm guessing you've not sat down and watched him play much?
He's class, always has been. Hard to describe how much better he is than everyone else on the pitch.
I think he'll be just fine.
Orikoru
Tour Winner
Just throwing this out there - if Rice went to City I wouldn't rule out the possibility of him playing some games back in defence? Pep has form for it already, regularly did it with Fernandinho, and Stones now flips between the two. Wouldn't be surprised to see him there in some games.
Bdill93
Undisputed King of FOMO
Delighted to see John McGinn sign an extension at the Villa.
28 years old, club captain, absolute workhorse of a midfielder and loved by the Villa faithful.
Now just Ollie's deal to address....
Up the Villa!
28 years old, club captain, absolute workhorse of a midfielder and loved by the Villa faithful.
Now just Ollie's deal to address....
Up the Villa!
Bdill93
Undisputed King of FOMO
Ive seen this morning that he prefers the Arsenal move - but could just be BS... If you want to win things there's only one place to go atm IMO
Tashyboy
Please don’t ask to see my tatts 👍
Read half of peps book by Guilin Balauge. It’s from 2012. Flipping eck what read. Suffice to say am sure he could turn Rice into a world class midfielder. His meticulous planning when he started with Barca B and Barca is phenomenal. Having read it confirms my thoughts that people who think “ Pep has only worked with the best teams are either Pig ignorant, it fits there agenda of saying that, don’t know his history, or all three.
Looking
Forward to the second half of the book.
Looking
Forward to the second half of the book.
pendodave
Tour Rookie
I was hoping you were going to say "I wouldn't rule out him going back on loan to West ham until they avoid relegation next season" !
Bdill93
Undisputed King of FOMO
I get the point you're making - but besides working his way up at Barca he has only gone to powerhouses.
He does though get the best young talent available in the academy through - or at least gives them chances! Which I think is very important.
Tashyboy
Please don’t ask to see my tatts 👍
He did play Fernandinho in at centre half predominately because we had big centre half injuries. Putting Dino in there was not peps best plan. He was woefully short of pace. One game Vardy from Leicester run him Ragged. Thing is he had a good centre half from The academy who was overlooked.
Orikoru
Tour Winner
Rice has obviously played CB though and has a bit more size and speed I would say. We know Pep likes his players to be versatile anyway, so would be interesting.
Would be a little odd if he went to Arsenal to be honest. While they look in good shape, they've only had one good season really, no guarantee they're going to push on. But, maybe staying in London is more appealing for him. Chelsea aren't quite the attractive option they once were at the moment.
Tashyboy
Please don’t ask to see my tatts 👍
When I get chance I will mention some of the things in his life which I never knew.
First one though. Towards the end of his career when he knew he was going to coach. He had a “ trial” at City. Stuart Pearce the then manager offered him a six month deal. Suffice to say Psycho you Rammel headed tit.
