
Originally Posted by
21_GOONER_SALUTE
I think your assessment of Rice is clouded by the fact you preferred another player who went for roughly the same amount.
Though like you, I also wanted Caicedo over Rice, I must admit I'm not having sleepless nights over it anymore. I mean I still do believe a partnership of Partey and Caicedo is superior to what we are witnessing now, however I don't see Rice as an inferior player like you do.
From the 3 games we've witnessed (and the Citeh game) its clear he's a different kind of player from the box to box midfielder we all envisioned, however, the kid "knows his shit", plays with his brains and is only going to get better.. I can't really describe it or put it in more coherent words...but I know that if I'm playing a final against a Citeh, Madrid or Barca, he's one of the first names I'll be putting on the sheet from our current squad. He's a signing a coach like Klopp would do wonders with.
I mean yes, the balance is wrong currently......and yes, he probably shouldn't be starting every game with Partey, however that's all down to Captain Black being a royal mong.
We will get value from Rice either from Arteta or someone else. I am sure of it. As for Kai Havertz, if we were in a 3rd world dictatorship, I would be feeding Arteta to my pet lions for sport.