28 Jun 2020 10:58:06
Hi Ed I was wondering, Is Defensive midfield cover in Chelsea’s plans for the summer?
And if so Is Rice (West Ham) a target for that position, or is that then dependent on West Ham’s survival.

{Ed002's Note - It depends who leaves - there is the likes of Kante and Jorginho to consider.}


1.) 28 Jun 2020
28 Jun 2020 12:24:26
Any news in that Lampard sees Declan Rice as a CB if any interest occurred Ed?

{Ed002's Note - Everyone has explained that defenders have signed already and I know nothing, so I am no longer bothering about the entire defence.}


2.) 28 Jun 2020
28 Jun 2020 13:37:42
Ed 002 please temper justice with mercy a lot of us here do not fancy those posters who pick an information from twitter and come here to deride your transfer knowledge. For our sake just forgive and forget them. Giving them less or no attention might change them.


3.) 28 Jun 2020
28 Jun 2020 15:10:51
Imagine kante leaving and Declan rice coming in, what a downgrade, Even five replacing jorginho wouldn’t be an upgrade,


4.) 28 Jun 2020
28 Jun 2020 15:25:49
I agree Matt. Don’t know why we would go for Rice and then convert him to a Cb when we have Ampadu.


5.) 28 Jun 2020
28 Jun 2020 15:48:51
I don't think you can compare Rice to Kante, completely different players. I'd certainly want Rice over Jorginho, offers much more. But, I do see Mount developing into a better defender than midfielder.


6.) 28 Jun 2020
28 Jun 2020 15:25:53
Yes, that was my thinking if Jorginho moves on and West Ham get relegated could be the perfect recipe for a move.


7.) 28 Jun 2020
28 Jun 2020 15:53:39
People are really overrating Ampadu here and underrating Rice. Ampadu doesn’t have the physicality to start at CB and couldn’t even get games for Leipzig. Rice has progressed much further than Ampadu already. People just don’t like Rice cause he’s at West Ham and not a European club. West Ham fans will tell you yourselves how solid he is and consistent and he’s always been a natural CB and leader before he got moved to CDM. I wouldn’t have him for the fee quoted but people are definitely sleeping on Declan Rice.


8.) 28 Jun 2020
28 Jun 2020 16:58:53
As I’ve been saying for some time, I rate Rice by I can’t see why there is a comparison between him and Ampadu.

I’ve already asked the Eds how many times Rice has played at CH and it’s hardly any.

Also Ampadu IMO will be a better player than Rice at CH every day of the week but it’s all about opinions.


9.) 28 Jun 2020
28 Jun 2020 18:38:47
Rice replacing jorginho is a sideways move, doesn’t weaken us doesn’t improve us, kante is our only undebatable world class player, build around what we have. If jorginho goes we need to add a no8, up and down but gets goals, or a mobile ball player to play beside kante in a two,


10.) 28 Jun 2020
28 Jun 2020 18:46:44
How does it not improve us? 😂 Rice is better aerially, better at Defending and actually sticks to his position not like Jorginho he starts pressing in the number 10 and running around like a headless chicken leaving space behind him. Unbelievable.


11.) 28 Jun 2020
28 Jun 2020 19:19:12
Where does rice play, CM? Beside kante in a two, or Dm, his young and English so the hype is there, same with grealish, even if it did improve us it wouldn’t take us up a level, he stands out at West Ham the same as Parker did, a good player surrounded by average,


12.) 28 Jun 2020
28 Jun 2020 21:14:57
I like your comments Matt Martin- very true.


13.) 28 Jun 2020
28 Jun 2020 21:35:58
I hope he has a stinker on Wednesday.


14.) 28 Jun 2020
28 Jun 2020 21:54:19
I mean there aren’t many 21 year olds that are going to walk in and improve the team. Gone are the days of filling the homegrown quotas with Ross Turnbulls, Rob Greens and and Danny Drinkwaters of the world (no disrespect to them) we are now using our own talent and signing young English players that immediately plugs a gap should someone leave (but also has the potential to improve our team in 1-2 years) is a good strategy to go with that policy.


15.) 29 Jun 2020
28 Jun 2020 23:38:49
Young English and from another premier league team, that adds £30m on, I’d take camavinga before rice. I don’t dislike rice but I remember this hype of Eric dier and how united we’re going to spend big on him, seems same for rice. Aouar of Lyon, 21, there’s an upgrade,


16.) 29 Jun 2020
29 Jun 2020 04:11:08
Kante leaving would be bad for us. His presence in midfield is immense (world class) . Close to impossible to get a player like him. He is the difference maker . to us challenging for the title next season. Without him we can bid it goodbye for another season.

Ed002 who would be an option for Kante was to leave? Same with jorginho?

{Ed002's Note - Chelsea were interested in Sandro Tonali but he won't be joining.}


17.) 29 Jun 2020
29 Jun 2020 09:13:14
How longs Aouar being a DM? Blimey it gets better 🤣.


18.) 29 Jun 2020
29 Jun 2020 09:56:04
Shame; Sandro Tonali is the one I really like, I guess he’s staying in Italy maybe fancies Inter Milan.


19.) 29 Jun 2020
29 Jun 2020 11:08:26
I’m confused, again not for the first time. Are some posters seeing Rice as a CH or a DM or both?


20.) 29 Jun 2020
29 Jun 2020 11:30:06
Haha if you have kante and a partner beside him one is a DM other is a ball player but who is mobile, kante beside aouar, matic / Fabregas for example, it would work with jorginho but his too slow, cheers anyway blm.


21.) 29 Jun 2020
29 Jun 2020 11:50:47
To me rice is a Dm, why sign him as a CB when we have Ampadu, I’m always worried about players when we’re not sure if there a dm or CB, I worry you get a Phil Jones who isn’t either at a good enough level,


22.) 29 Jun 2020
29 Jun 2020 12:28:27
Good point Matt.


23.) 29 Jun 2020
29 Jun 2020 14:43:48
I think right now Rice is a CM, but I think he'll develope into a better CB.

{Ed002's Note - He is a defensive midfield player.}


24.) 29 Jun 2020
29 Jun 2020 17:31:20
Declan Rice has the 3rd highest Interceptions In the entire premier league. Who is saying he should play CB? Get a grip if he was meant to be a CB then West Ham (who really need to stop leaking goals as they are in a relegation battle) would probably be playing him there. Believe me they have one of the most successful Academy’s in English football history, they know what they are doing.


25.) 29 Jun 2020
29 Jun 2020 20:52:45
Sorry rocky balboa 😂.


26.) 29 Jun 2020
29 Jun 2020 21:29:56
I guess that marks the end of the points for debate.


27.) 29 Jun 2020
29 Jun 2020 21:51:30
If you knew anything about football was that he graduated out of Chelsea academy as a CB but I wouldn’t expect you to.

{Ed002's Note - He did not “graduate out of Chelsea Academy” he left at 14.}


28.) 29 Jun 2020
29 Jun 2020 22:12:12
Looks that way but I’m sure it will be discussed again if Rice plays well on Wednesday.

Let’s hope he doesn’t.


29.) 29 Jun 2020
29 Jun 2020 22:37:27
Thanks for the information Ed.


30.) 30 Jun 2020
30 Jun 2020 04:25:44
Jorginho has a good interception rate too, he also got over taken by a referee whilst tracking back, rice is good, not great we have jorginho kante kovecic in midfield who don’t score enough goals / assists so why Declan rice is even a debate is beyond me,


31.) 30 Jun 2020
30 Jun 2020 08:02:09
Haha 😂 I’m not even going to bother with you BLM you seem to do just fine messing yourself up. I think it would be tidy business if we could get Rice for the same fee we sell Jorginho for if we do. Actual defensive minded cover for kante unlike jorgi offers atm and I don’t think Rice would expect to start every game right away. We have all Been debating where he plays best but if we step away from that for a second it’s actually a good thing we even can have a discussion about where he plays must mean he is a useful young man.