Declan Rice: Cooking Again

[Trilly]

Interesting if true, find it hard to believe a manager with Pep's stature wouldn't have 100% complete control over who his club signs.

It was something to do with him being happy to keep Jesus/Zinny but accepting that it was best for the club to sell them.

I'd assume that there's something similar going on with incomings. Probably a similar approach to Klopp where he tells them the type of player he wants and they bring him a list of a few options.

Around the time we signed Rice I read something that said he wasn't a Pep target per-se but was happy with the signing and had a plan to use him.

 

[db10_therza]

It was something to do with him being happy to keep Jesus/Zinny but accepting that it was best for the club to sell them.

I'd assume that there's something similar going on with incomings. Probably a similar approach to Klopp where he tells them the type of player he wants and they bring him a list of a few options.

Around the time we signed Rice I read something that said he wasn't a Pep target per-se but was happy with the signing and had a plan to use him.

I think @DJ_Markstar hit the nail on the head - I think you’re right in that there will be some smaller stature signings and particularly outgoings that he doesn’t pursue personally, but the big ticket items most definitely have buy in from across the board.

City is far too well run a club to throw 90m around on a whim.

 

[drippin]

From the Daily Mirror earlier in the season.

Pep Guardiola has claimed Manchester City would have been attacked for spending over £100million on Declan Rice.

But as his City stars face the Arsenal and England midfielder at The Emirates today, Guardiola has admitted for the first time that he really wanted the “exceptional” 24-year-old star - and pushed as far as he could to land him.

And there goes the agenda that Pep didn't want Rice. Poof!

@GoonerJay24 comments?

 

[Rasmi]

And there goes the agenda that Pep didn't want Rice. Poof!

@GoonerJay24 comments?

pep is notorious liar. Not saying he didn’t want him. But I take everything he says with a grain of sugar

 

[ArsenesCoatMaker]

I think @DJ_Markstar hit the nail on the head - I think you’re right in that there will be some smaller stature signings and particularly outgoings that he doesn’t pursue personally, but the big ticket items most definitely have buy in from across the board.

City is far too well run a club to throw 90m around on a whim.

I remember reading that the City board had to convince Pep that Halaand would be better long term value for the club because in a footballing sense Pep preferred Kane. If you think about it Kane's link up play would be a better fit for City's total football

 

[Blood on the Tracks]

It's obviously not just Pep that makes signing decisions.

I think now though it's beyond a doubt that Pep wanted him, would have wanted Man City to pay a significant amount for him, whether he brought the clubs attention to Rice or someone else did and Pep was just on board with it.

Man City wouldn't spend £100m or whatever on a player the manager didn't want, it makes no sense at all.

Anyway Arteta wanted to build the midfield around Rice, Pep wanted him as a little brother to Rodri, so it's no real surprise Rice wanted to come here.

 

[ArsenesCoatMaker]

It's obviously not just Pep that makes signing decisions.

I think now though it's beyond a doubt that Pep wanted him, would have wanted Man City to pay a significant amount for him, whether he brought the clubs attention to Rice or someone else did and Pep was just on board with it.

Man City wouldn't spend £100m or whatever on a player the manager didn't want, it makes no sense at all.

Anyway Arteta wanted to build the midfield around Rice, Pep wanted him as a little brother to Rodri, so it's no real surprise Rice wanted to come here.

I think it's looking likely that Kalvin Phillips wasn't his buy. City probably thought he was good value. Pep didn't trust him and doesn't look like he trusts Nunes either. Just think those 2 together cost more than Rice

 

[drippin]

I think it's looking likely that Kalvin Phillips wasn't his buy. City probably thought he was good value. Pep didn't trust him and doesn't look like he trusts Nunes either. Just think those 2 together cost more than Rice

Phillips was pretty good value with his contract, but injuries ruined him.

 

[Blankety Blank]

pep is notorious liar. Not saying he didn’t want him. But I take everything he says with a grain of sugar

It would have been better to say he didn't want him if he was gonna lie.

 

[Dokaka]

It would have been better to say he didn't want him if he was gonna lie.

Nah people love to make up scenarios where they lose and then publicize it, elite PR.

 

[GoonerJay24]

He bid 90 million for him, that's a fact.

Clubs don't bid such sums just for laughs. If Arsenal wouldn't have bid more, he would have had to buy him for that sum if West Ham agreed to it. So he rated him that highly and was ready to get him to his team.

It's okay if you can't see what top managers see in Rice. You will hopefully though.

Nah, don't buy it. Football transfers aren't that straightforward, and typically, when Pep really wants someone, he gets them.

It's obvious what Rice offers. I'd go as far as to say he's a generational CDM who can become world-class, but only in the right system. Let's see what he does with us in the coming years, but I have doubts.

 

[GoonerJay24]

And there goes the agenda that Pep didn't want Rice. Poof!

@GoonerJay24 comments?

I've read that interview before. Didn't Pep say Rice was too expensive and that he'd mainly be backup to Rodri there?

If so, it proves my whole point regarding Rice. Top experienced managers who've played proactive passing possession football, would never pay that amount for him. It's done now, lets hope it works out long term.

 

[RunTheTrap]

If so, it proves my whole point regarding Rice. Top experienced managers who've played proactive passing possession football, would never pay that amount for him. It's done now, lets hope it works out long term.

I remember people were telling me Pep would never sign Halaand because Pep only likes false nines. I was told traditional fullbacks were relics of the past and Pep only wants Cancelo and Zinchenko types.

I think you're doing a big disservice to Rice. Pep got 100 points with Fernandinho at the base of his midfield. Rice is better technically than the Brazilian, but people won't like that.

 

[GoonerJay24]

I remember people were telling me Pep would never sign Halaand because Pep only likes false nines. I was told traditional fullbacks were relics of the past and Pep only wants Cancelo and Zinchenko types.

I think you're doing a big disservice to Rice. Pep got 100 points with Fernandinho at the base of his midfield. Rice is better technically than the Brazilian, but people won't like that.

For that style of play what's the most important position? Rice is nowhere near Fernandinho technically, I'm sorry that's nonsense mate. Even so, he wasn't a Pep signing but still managed to build a system to maximize him.

 

[drippin]

Nah, don't buy it. Football transfers aren't that straightforward, and typically, when Pep really wants someone, he gets them.

Pep could not get him, because Rice wanted to be a clear starter in London for Arsenal and become a legend, rather than compete at City who have 115 charges and no proper history.

He tried, but couldn't convince him, so he didn't bid more as it was futile.

 

[db10_therza]

For that style of play what's the most important position? Rice is nowhere near Fernandinho technically, I'm sorry that's nonsense mate. Even so, he wasn't a Pep signing but still managed to build a system to maximize him.

So what do you actually think happened re City and Rice?

You can’t just reject something without providing a plausible alternative…

 

[Farzad Stoned]

I think Rice made right call there is a cloud hanging over City that even without being punished yet; is going to dissuade a big player with other options. Plus let’s be honest if he helps Arsenal return to glory it is a bigger accomplishment than just helping City get another notch in their belt. I rate Klopp higher than Pep for some of same reasons. Winning when you are the richest club who also cheats relentlessly isn’t much of an accomplishment. Rice strikes me as someone with personal integrity.

 

[Riou]

Isn't Rodri like only a year older than Rice, and he's very established in that team too ..Rice wouldn't have been a out and out starter there (would have played a lot though) would have been a waste of a player of his quality to go there.

Here Dec not only gets to be the main man in midfield, but will be hero worshipped here in a way he wouldn't get there really.

He made the right choice 100%...the Community Shield win in his first game proved that!

 

[Dokaka]

Isn't Rodri like only a year older than Rice, and he's very established in that team too ..Rice wouldn't have been a out and out starter there (would have played a lot though) would have been a waste of a player of his quality to go there.

Here Dec not only gets to be the main man in midfield, but will be hero worshipped here in a way he wouldn't get there really.

He made the right choice 100%...the Community Shield win in his first game proved that!

Pep wanted Rice to replace Gundogan, so him and Rodri would've played together. With a fully fit squad they would basically have had the Rice/Jorginho/Ødegaard dynamic but with Rodri in the Jorginho role and KDB as the main creator, which would've been absolutely insane.

It's been confirmed by several people with good sources that him replacing Gundogan was what he was being promised to try and lure him to City, despite how some people in this thread keep wanting to deny reality to fit their own agenda.

 

[Riou]

Pep wanted Rice to replace Gundogan, so him and Rodri would've played together. With a fully fit squad they would basically have had the Rice/Jorginho/Ødegaard dynamic but with Rodri in the Jorginho role and KDB as the main creator, which would've been absolutely insane.

It's been confirmed by several people with good sources that him replacing Gundogan was what he was being promised to try and lure him to City, despite how some people in this thread keep wanting to deny reality to fit their own agenda.

Never really seen Pep play with two midfielders like Rodri and Rice too much, tbh...Declan was certainly good enough to start for them, but just not sure he would've as Rodri has the position on lock.

Either way I don't really care, just happy he picked us over them.