11 minutes ago, Argo said:

sh*t, not good enough for the top level Tomato/Tomato.

I didn't see this bit. It won't be less if they go down. The parachute payments means the punishments for relegations pretty much don't exist outside of temporarily having to play sh*tter teams for a season or two and those clubs can hold out like they're still in the PL (see SHU/Ramsdale).

Harry Maguire was as good (probably better than Fofana who we paid £70m for) at Leicester and was good for the first two years at Utd. Like i said, you're rewriting history.

If they go down there's no way Rice doesn't force a move. If he does that teams can low ball West Ham. £70m would be the maximum, depending on how many teams are in for him.

12 minutes ago, RIP Mourinho said:

Harry Maguire was as good (probably better than Fofana who we paid £70m for) at Leicester and was good for the first two years at Utd. Like i said, you're rewriting history.

So you would have even that version over their current first choice pair? At best he was "good" the same way Johnny Evans was for them or Robert Huth was for us.

And he also made some pretty big mistakes in those season's, including arguably the worst error in PL history vs Tottenham in that 1-6.

17 minutes ago, RIP Mourinho said:

If they go down there's no way Rice doesn't force a move. If he does that teams can low ball West Ham. £70m would be the maximum, depending on how many teams are in for him.

Ramsdale refused to play and even then Sheffield United held out for around £30m.

18 minutes ago, Argo said:

So you would have even that version over their current first choice pair? At best he was "good" the same way Johnny Evans was for them or Robert Huth was for us.

And he also made some pretty big mistakes in those season's, including arguably the worst error in PL history vs Tottenham in that 1-6.

Ramsdale refused to play and even then Sheffield United held out for around £30m.

we're talking 4 years apart. Would i have taken Leicester Harry Maguire over a 20 year old Martinez playing for Defensa y Justicia? Yes probably. 

Worst error in PL history, i'm assuming this is hyperbole?

If they hold onto him they have a disgruntled player in the Championship who after that would have one year left on his contract. West Ham don't win the player power battle there.

1 minute ago, RIP Mourinho said:

 Worst error in PL history, i'm assuming this is hyperbole?

I think tackling your own teammate while he's in the process of bailing our your initial error which in turn gives the player you should have been marking an easy goal takes some beating.

7 minutes ago, RIP Mourinho said:

Worst error in PL history, i'm assuming this is hyperbole?

No, it really was. I genuinely can't remember a worse string of errors in any game I have ever seen at this level.

@Argo You have done Maguire a favour with that video. It doesn't show the original error where he heads the ball into the back of Eric Bailly's head 😆

5 minutes ago, Argo said:

I think tackling your own teammate while he's in the process of bailing our your initial error which in turn gives the player you should have been marking an easy goal takes some beating.

Have we forgot about Enckleman against Bham already?

1 hour ago, Scott Harris said:

@Argo You have done Maguire a favour with that video. It doesn't show the original error where he heads the ball into the back of Eric Bailly's head 😆

You’re right the full clip is needed. I challenge anyone to watch that without laughing.

And then if you add some kind of Benny Hill music to it…

Apparently he is interested in joining Arsenal. Personally won't lose sleep over it since I honestly don't think he is the kind of midfielder we need at the moment.

1 minute ago, Frankie8Lampard said:

Apparently he is interested in joining Arsenal. Personally won't lose sleep over it since I honestly don't think he is the kind of midfielder we need at the moment.

Think we need his profile but its evident the club are prioritizing Caicedo in that regard. 

51 minutes ago, Frankie8Lampard said:

Apparently he is interested in joining Arsenal. Personally won't lose sleep over it since I honestly don't think he is the kind of midfielder we need at the moment.

Doesn't really matter. We need an Enzo/Modric type player if we're going to payout another 80m+ deal.

Rice at his best form should be 50m at most. I know he's a Chelsea kid at heart but so was Luke Shaw, Lukaku etc etc

13 minutes ago, Deino said:

Doesn't really matter. We need an Enzo/Modric type player if we're going to payout another 80m+ deal.

Rice at his best form should be 50m at most. I know he's a Chelsea kid at heart but so was Luke Shaw, Lukaku etc etc

Is he? Told the the shed end to f**k off back in 2019. 

Edited January 22, 20233 yr by Sconnie Blue

3 minutes ago, Deino said:

Doesn't really matter. We need an Enzo/Modric type player if we're going to payout another 80m+ deal.

Rice at his best form should be 50m at most. I know he's a Chelsea kid at heart but so was Luke Shaw, Lukaku etc etc

I don't buy Lukaku being a childhood Chelsea fan. I'm convinced that stadium tour was PR which unfortuently we fell for twice.

As much as I don't want Rice at the club i don't doubt his childhood support was genuine (which alone would have made the previous regime buy him but thankfully we seem to be more head over heart these days if the recent developments are accurate).

Just now, Sconnie Blue said:

Is he? Told the shed end to f**k off back in 2019. 

Heat of the moment innit? I mean, we have posters here(me included) that have hurled awful things at the players/club/owners/managers etc too. 

1 minute ago, Argo said:

I don't buy Lukaku being a childhood Chelsea fan. I'm convinced that stadium tour was PR which unfortuently we fell for twice.

As much as I don't want Rice at the club i don't doubt his childhood support was genuine (which alone would have made the previous regime buy him but thankfully we seem to be more head over heart these days if the recent developments are accurate).

I concede that one, it was far too romantic a story but personally I thought he was a Drogba fan and was a fan of that Chelsea side laterally. 

3 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Think we need his profile but its evident the club are prioritizing Caicedo in that regard. 

Im glad the club are prioritizing Calceido. Too many times in the last few years, we made a lot of "sentimental" decisions. It might be a fairy tale story for Rice to come back to his boyhood club but it would also feel like we are only buying him for that reason rather than putting the club's interests first.

11 minutes ago, Frankie8Lampard said:

Im glad the club are prioritizing Calceido. Too many times in the last few years, we made a lot of "sentimental" decisions. It might be a fairy tale story for Rice to come back to his boyhood club but it would also feel like we are only buying him for that reason rather than putting the club's interests first.

What makes it feel like that?

So Calceido is a significantly better player now? I’m not sure there’s much between them.

Makes sense if Rice picks Arsenal as they will be in the CL next season and we are left needing to win it to be so as well.

8 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

Makes sense if Rice picks Arsenal as they will be in the CL next season and we are left needing to win it to be so as well.

If he's that shortsighted then I want him even less than I already do.

1 hour ago, dkw said:

What makes it feel like that?

Trying to bring back Lukaku for several transfer windows for example and bringing back Mourinho despite the players we were recruiting at the time all tailored to a different kind of manager/system.

I like Rice, and it will probably touch a lot of fans hearts to see an academy player back but I just don't feel he is what we need at the moment or suit the system we are using.

Edited January 22, 20233 yr by Frankie8Lampard

I can't help coming back to the initial reasoning around Potter's appointment.  Wasn't his profile one of the ability of him and his support team team in identifying emerging talent in areas and leagues that may be a bit obscure and then developing that talent into better players in a functioning unit.

Indeed,  here one of the concerns has been Potter's ability to work with established stars that may feel that they are above him.

As such I would be surprised if the likes of Declan Rice would appeal to him. I would much more expect to see links with Caceido, Bissouma, Lavia, etc. I think part of the appeal of new up and coming youngsters is that he will get the respect from players who will more readily buy into the tactical plans.

1 hour ago, Argo said:

If he's that shortsighted then I want him even less than I already do.

Would be interested to see, if we agree a deal foe Enzo, if it puts him off too.

25 minutes ago, Frankie8Lampard said:

Trying to bring back Lukaku for several transfer windows for example and bringing back Mourinho despite the players we were recruiting at the time all tailored to a different kind of manager/system.

I like Rice, and it will probably touch a lot of fans hearts to see an academy player back but I just don't feel he is what we need at the moment or suit the system we are using.

It's a different owner, different manager and entirely different set of transfer targets. Rice exactly what we need, physicality, game management, athleticism, all things were lacking in our current midfield.

I'd pick Rice over Caceido, we need experience and strength in the midfield, he could keep possession too judging by the games he had with Engand. Rice is not an old lad either, could easily offer him a 7 years deal too.

3 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Makes sense if Rice picks Arsenal as they will be in the CL next season and we are left needing to win it to be so as well.

Now this is a strange one. I see why Arsenal want Rice but not at the fee required. He seems someone who is a like for like for Partey. Does he get in Arsenal's best team? They need depth but if they were to pursue him would be interesting to see how he fits in.