Really interesting piece and as always it’s hard to argue against the statistics and data. However, this just doesn’t pass the eye test in my mind.
Is Rice the equal of a fading Thomas, yes of course and his cross field switch passing which Mikel is using absent Ødegaard is quite magnificent.
However, I find Declan a frustrating deep line playmaker watch. This isn’t aesthetic bias, I really don’t care about what a player looks like.
But it’s clear for all to see, that his ability to take the ball on turn off both feet is nowhere near say a Rodri. That’s a high bar, but that’s the level Mikel is trying to surpass.
I really worry about his ability to launch attacks and control tempo, albeit that is largely shouldered by Ødegaard when fit.
I’m still not convinced he is a world class 6, he is a world class DM, but it depends on whether Mikel is shaping the team around a 6’s ability to launch attacks, although Saliba also does this well.
I’d take an in form fit Thomas over Declan at 6 any day of the week, but I caveat that by saying it depends on how Mikel is setting the team up.
I am a bit confused by the framing here as "how much of a dropoff is Rice" when statistically the framing that would make more sense is "how much better is Rice." You show he is better in basically every metric over past two years and the peak Partey is, at best numerically for Partey, a wash. I also think it is pretty clearly an advantage to be able to pass both sides and that Partey's strong preference for a specific pass is an obvious weakness as teams can game plan for that. Am I missing something? Why is the conversation here about Rice's relative drop-off instead of his relative benefit?
Really enjoyed the article and deep dive! I definitely was surprised by the numbers, but now think the narrative of Partey passing being missed with Rice, even if we are talking about Peak Partey before he entered his 30s, is seemingly very misleading.
i felt we missed Parteys passing before Xmas last year, as, you note in the article, he get's it forward quicker, longer pass, and to the right, to Ode, who also felt like he 'dropped off' a little pre xmas, potentially to the lack of 'quick ball' as we say in Rugby circles....
I think it's a little harsh to only include the last two seasons for Partey, as they have been injury ravaged, and part of that was caused by our small squad at the time, and as Ben White did, he perhaps played when he maybe shouldn't have.
That said, it would appear Rice is more balanced and therefore makes us harder to defend against, and also he was learning a new job last year....
All bodes well, fingers crossed, and it will be interesting to see selections, once everyones fit....
I feel he go for Rice in the bigger games for security, and Partey for more mid table match ups....
Really interesting piece and as always it’s hard to argue against the statistics and data. However, this just doesn’t pass the eye test in my mind.
Is Rice the equal of a fading Thomas, yes of course and his cross field switch passing which Mikel is using absent Ødegaard is quite magnificent.
However, I find Declan a frustrating deep line playmaker watch. This isn’t aesthetic bias, I really don’t care about what a player looks like.
But it’s clear for all to see, that his ability to take the ball on turn off both feet is nowhere near say a Rodri. That’s a high bar, but that’s the level Mikel is trying to surpass.
I really worry about his ability to launch attacks and control tempo, albeit that is largely shouldered by Ødegaard when fit.
I’m still not convinced he is a world class 6, he is a world class DM, but it depends on whether Mikel is shaping the team around a 6’s ability to launch attacks, although Saliba also does this well.
I’d take an in form fit Thomas over Declan at 6 any day of the week, but I caveat that by saying it depends on how Mikel is setting the team up.
I am a bit confused by the framing here as "how much of a dropoff is Rice" when statistically the framing that would make more sense is "how much better is Rice." You show he is better in basically every metric over past two years and the peak Partey is, at best numerically for Partey, a wash. I also think it is pretty clearly an advantage to be able to pass both sides and that Partey's strong preference for a specific pass is an obvious weakness as teams can game plan for that. Am I missing something? Why is the conversation here about Rice's relative drop-off instead of his relative benefit?
Really enjoyed the article and deep dive! I definitely was surprised by the numbers, but now think the narrative of Partey passing being missed with Rice, even if we are talking about Peak Partey before he entered his 30s, is seemingly very misleading.
great article, as always !
i felt we missed Parteys passing before Xmas last year, as, you note in the article, he get's it forward quicker, longer pass, and to the right, to Ode, who also felt like he 'dropped off' a little pre xmas, potentially to the lack of 'quick ball' as we say in Rugby circles....
I think it's a little harsh to only include the last two seasons for Partey, as they have been injury ravaged, and part of that was caused by our small squad at the time, and as Ben White did, he perhaps played when he maybe shouldn't have.
That said, it would appear Rice is more balanced and therefore makes us harder to defend against, and also he was learning a new job last year....
All bodes well, fingers crossed, and it will be interesting to see selections, once everyones fit....
I feel he go for Rice in the bigger games for security, and Partey for more mid table match ups....