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da aviator aposta： Declan Rice has blossomed into one of England’s most promising young talents this season with the influence and mentoring of Manuel Pellegrini, who’s overseen the evolution of the youngster from defence to midfield.
Eric Dier seems to hold the starting place as the anchor of England’s midfield after Jordan Henderson’s reinvention of his own from a holding midfielder to one with more flair and forward drive, but does the young Hammer arguably deserve the starting spot over the Spurs star after coming out victorious against his England counter-part on derby day?
The Chalkboard
Rice has done very well to break into West Ham’s midfield. The likes of Pedro Obiang and Carlos Sanchez are more experienced and natural holding midfielders, and Jack Wilshere also arrived in the summer only to resume his injury problems of old at his new club.
Mark Noble has always been a rock for the Hammers, but these names show the need for some fresh young blood to come in and make the role his own: Rice is stepping up.
Dier has endured a mixed time at Tottenham Hotspur, one that’s included his own evolution from defence to midfield as he battles with more experienced names in his position.
Like Rice, Dier has developed from a young, cultured centre-back into a more accomplished midfielder, charged with breaking opposition attacks and adding balance to the naturally more attack-minded around him.
Rice for England
Both Rice and Dier have had similar developments, play very similar positions with almost identical attributes, but one is looked at far more positively than the other.
Despite Dier’s heroics at the World Cup as he slotted home England’s winning penalty against Colombia, the Tottenham man is often accused of tepid and ineffective displays in the middle of the pitch. Dier has evolved into somewhat of a ‘cog in the machine’ type player. He serves a purpose, and perhaps his influence is under-appreciated, but he’s not one to steal the limelight with midfield masterclasses. He’s there to do a job.
However, one of his undoubted strengths is his flexibility, a trait which allows his side to play with more vigour and intent. His ability to slot in as a centre-back when the fulls backs pour forward or the full-back position when the counter-attack begins and to get up and down the pitch quickly when pressing and recovering from the press makes him a player who can give his side a different dimension and unpredictability.
Rice plays the role slightly differently, and somewhat more traditionally. For all the qualities mentioned above about Dier, his natural instinct in that position has evolved from being the ball-winner to being more of a deep-lying playmake and trying to spray the ball around. Rice, on the other hand ,runs for the full 90 minutes, winning the ball and feeding the more creative players before looking to snuff out and read the dangers of a possible counter-attack.
Dier’s role is less noticed and appreciated to the naked eye, whereas Rice offers a more energetic presence. Unfortunately, this England team need more Rices to compliment the flair that England have going forward than they do Diers.
Despite the Tottenham man’s versatility, it’s hard to look beyond Rice’s form this season. Dier undoubtedly has a role to play in the England squad like he did at the World Cup, but when it comes to simply having your best players out on the pitch, Rice surely gets the nod.