The Rice situation

[Come On You Irons]

"For me, Rice is part of the problem this season. He comes across as far too immature to lead a struggling team on the pitch and doesn't have natural leadership qualities. His body language is way off, it comes across as he doesn't want to be at the club any longer (which is no doubt true) and his form is seriously in decline. He was very lucky not to give away a penalty yesterday with his casual dawdling on the ball in his team's own penalty area. Basic schoolboy level mistakes that a professional international footballer should not be making. I think Roy Keane was correct in his assessment of Rice the other week when he says he doesn't do enough to justify the hype. The more the season goes on, the more it looks like it was a mistake by the club to let Rice run down his contract and contribute to a toxic environment this season. In hindsight, we should have sold him last summer when he still had a premium value."

[Grumpster]

A lot of our fans who don't rate him are gonna look very silly when he isn't playing next to one of the worst midfielders in the league and under such a fucking atrocious manager. Been pretty apparent for a long time though that a large number of our fans are clueless cunts!!

[zico]

"Not sure if I remember this rightly but I am sure a few years ago Roy Keane said that at that point in time Declan was better than Keane himself was at that age. I suspect his recent criticism is that he hasn't improved as much as maybe expected with regard to dominating matches, but it's hard to dominate matches in a poor team who doesn't have much of the ball. Keane played for Forest and United, two teams who would always have a lion share of possession, well certainly that Forest side that dismantled us so well at Villa Park! I certainly don't think Rice is a Captain, but that's more to o with the fact that he shows his emotions on the pitch and if you are frustrated that rubs off on the team. That said it must be hard behind the scenes with unhappy players and the shit that is currently going on."

[Pentonville]

Said it at beginning of season and all the way through and stand by it despite all the flak. You cannot have a captain who isn't part of the clubs future especially when integrating new players into a project. He doesn't have rhe gravitas as a man that noble had to command respect and heavily relied on noble last year. He doesn't take games by scruff of neck and I can't wait until the Irish Chelsea boy is gone.

[Takashi Miike]

"the twat in charge and his four foot boss have created the toxic atmosphere. keane is clearly talking through his flag, and hasn't watched us much as rice has been our most consistent player for the last three seasons. it has fuck all to do with hype. I do agree though that he should be moved on if he isn't happy, but who is happy playing under the current cսnt? it's no surprise mitty the attention seeking fantasist is digging out yet another player"

[stepney hammer]

I do agree that his form has dipped and he shouldn't be captain. I didn't agree with Keane's criticism about not getting enough goals and assists. I don't see the likes of Rodri or Fabinho getting that criticism. Even Casemiro who's had a really good season has the same amount of league goals as Rice this season. But yeah he knows he's going end of the season and probably gives less of a fuck every passing week. As someone else said it does seem a shit environment to work in. In some ways I don't even blame Moyes completely. He's been asked to do something that isn't in his skillset. If you want to spend big money and build a side that will be more possession based and progressive then you bring in a manager who can actually deliver that. Moyes has never done that anywhere in his entire managerial career. He's basically just having his weaknesses exposed by being given a remit he can't deliver on. I dare say he's just happy collecting his pay cheque for now and waiting for his pay off when he eventually gets the boot. Probably after we've been relegated. It's why he doesn't give a fuck about making digs at the fans or freezing out players he doesn't want to use.

[stepney hammer]

I do agree that his form has dipped and he shouldn't be captain. I didn't agree with Keane's criticism about not getting enough goals and assists. I don't see the likes of Rodri or Fabinho getting that criticism. Even Casemiro who's had a really good season has the same amount of league goals as Rice this season. But yeah he knows he's going end of the season and probably gives less of a fuck every passing week. As someone else said it does seem a shit environment to work in. In some ways I don't even blame Moyes completely. He's been asked to do something that isn't in his skillset. If you want to spend big money and build a side that will be more possession based and progressive then you bring in a manager who can actually deliver that. Moyes has never done that anywhere in his entire managerial career. He's basically just having his weaknesses exposed by being given a remit he can't deliver on. I dare say he's just happy collecting his pay cheque for now and waiting for his pay off when he eventually gets the boot. Probably after we've been relegated. It's why he doesn't give a fuck about making digs at the fans or freezing out players he doesn't want to use.

[ATBOG]

didn't do too badly last year when the squad were being flogged to death by Moyes.

[Come On You Irons]

"Fuck off Manuel, you bald, fat, ladyboy loving ex-pat cսnt."

[Manuel]

"Oh ffs, no need to dress it up you just want to rip into another of our players with your look at me nonsense, you could have put this on the match thread you twat. But yes, crap captain, overrated by many, not all, WH fans, rated by hardly anyone else elsewhere, can't score, can't assist, very avarage passer. Good at breaking up play and going on the odd forging run, nut usually ending with his final ball letting him down. Let's get our 60 odd mil in the summer and move on from the cսnt."

[Willtell]

Obviously you've never worked in a toxic atmosphere where the boss constantly makes bad choices and is a control freak. Moyes destroys everything creative around him. It's just how he is and he obviously has a kindred spirit in Sullivan. Working in that environment kills everyone and it's no surprise that youngsters and 1st teamers are all desperate to get out of WHU...

[icwhs]

"Rice is 100% part of the problem, without knowing it himself. Should have been sold in the summer. Not great captain material. His interview at the WC was totally out of order, he could have thrown the reporter a curveball by answering he’s on England duty blah blah. He didn’t, he chose to say he wanted away. Fuck him. Sooner he fucks off the better for all parties."