Diogenes wrote: ↑Wed Jan 12, 2022 11:42 am
Tezza, my understanding is that Rice is contracted until summer 2024 with an option of a further year until 2025. That is another 2 to 3 seasons after this one. I am not sure that another couple of years extension will make any difference to his value over the next 18-24 months (whereas his performances and maturity will) or whether he stays or goes.
I also understand that the main reason a new contract has not been agreed, is because Rice/Agent would want a release clause inserted. So nothing overly sinister. In which case, I assume that the two parties, on what that release clause may be, will be wildly apart. From a business perspective why would you limit the value of your biggest asset now when you don't have to? Both the club and Rice seem pretty relaxed over it and so am I.
Personally, I take the view that Rice will be looking at the World Cup later this year as a personal target/milestone rather zthan a move into uncertain waters that he doesn't need to take, yet.
I really hope I am so wrong on this lads and that is not the case.
I know he loves it at West Hamand the responsibility of being the captain too.I don't think he will have a much better dressing room,but money is a big pull.A career is only 10-15 years long and you want to get what you can in that time.
Just wanted to post that i thought he was superb last night. Best player on the park by a country mile.
Last ditch tackles, winning 50/50s, storming forward and not misplacing a single pass - long or short
He covers so much ground and his movement off the ball is brilliant
A truly exceptional player who would walk into any team in world football IMHO
His tackle in the first half is as good of a tackle I've watched. Coming in from am angle as their player was ahead of him. He had to get it spot on and nailed it. Perfect challenge, took the ball cleanly and we got the ball back after it. Norwich player asking for a foul was ridiculous.
You know when someone special comes along and changes your whole life for the better, makes you the happiest you’ve ever been and gives you a reason for being.
I had that annoyingly catchy Manchester United chant “We’ve seen it all, we’ve won the lot, we’re Man United and we’re never gonna stop … etc” (you get the idea) in my head when hearing it the other day. A fast track to insanity I know.
To get it out of my head I thought I’d try and change it to make it a Rice song and came up with the below.
“He does it all,
Our midfield boss,
He’s Declan Rice and he’s never gonna stop,
He’s England’s best,
And Europe’s too,
He’s Declan Rice and he wears the claret and blue”.
Go easy on me.
Someone of his class deserves a chant with a bit more thought than the one we have for him right now.
I think what happens in the summer depends on what happens for the rest of the season. Win the FA Cup, he stays, win the Europa he stays, qualify for the Europa he stays, qualify for the Champions League he stays, finish outside of the European places and he leaves. It’s really that simple I think.
I would love to believe all those permutations would result in him staying, but I think I would only truly expect him to stay if we managed to secure a Champions League spot. Anything less and I see a world where he leaves.
I really hope we don’t just miss out, either by coming 5th or losing in the EL final for example. I say that because if we came so close and then lose him to a big European outfit, I can see some fans getting bitter.
I would absolutely love another season from him, and part of me would expect another season from him if we get into the Champions League (big if), but he has earned a move to one of the giga-giants already in my mind, and I’d love (if/when that time comes) for him to go with our support but it rarely ever works out that way.
The one thing in our favour at the moment is that a lot of the teams that would otherwise be his suitors are out of sorts at the moment. The stars may well be aligning for another year for him at our place.
GALF wrote: ↑Sun Jan 16, 2022 10:28 am
I would love to believe all those permutations would result in him staying, but I think I would only truly expect him to stay if we managed to secure a Champions League spot. Anything less and I see a world where he leaves.
We’ll also have to give him at least 200 bags a week - which I believe is doable but alters the entire wage structure of the club. As someone else said, a watershed moment.
The key thing with Dec is that we need to be scouting for his replacement already.
We won't ever sign another Declan, but if we got £100m for him and can sign a solid DM for £20m, and bag ourselves a LB, CB and CF with the money, his departure could make us a more balanced side.
I don't want him to go, but I hope the club are planning for both outcomes.