Glen Johnson shares disagreement with Roy Keane’s verdict on West Ham United star Declan Rice
Former West Ham full-back Glen Johnson has shared his disagreement over Roy Keane’s controversial comments regarding Irons captain Declan Rice.
Ahead of the Hammers’ FA Cup fifth-round 3-1 defeat live on ITV [1 March, 7:20pm] against Manchester United, presenter Mark Pougatch suggested that Rice could be undertaking an auction ahead of a potential Old Trafford move.
Man United legend Keane responded, criticising the player’s performances this season and his lack of goals and assists from defensive midfield for the Hammers.
Although Johnson agrees with Keane in terms of contributing more in front of goal, the former Hammer believes that is something Rice can do at a top club.
Speaking to Betfred [7 March], he said: “I do agree in a sense because when you’re talking about players that have a value as high as Declan’s, then you need to be scoring goals, providing assists and being a bit more influential.
“However, where I disagree with Roy is that Declan could do all that in a top team.
“West Ham have been shocking and the players around him won’t allow him to focus solely on his role, so he has to try and do everything. If he plays for a top team and has a role, whether that’s you wanting him to score goals and play the role of a box-to-box midfielder, or you want him to sit there and protect your back four, once he holds that position down then you will see the true value of the player.
“Right now at West Ham, Declan’s trying to be a jack of all trades and rightly so as he’s trying to do his best for the team. He’s trying to make tackles, he’s trying to score goals and he’s trying to protect the back four.”
Clarity needed
Keane’s comments on Rice’s abilities and standing as a top defensive midfielder right now was incredibly baffling seeing as players in his role aren’t supposed to be scoring goals and assisting them.
However, Johnson is absolutely right in that because Rice is trying to do everything for the Hammers in what’s been a below-par midfield for the club this season, the England international is going to get stick because of his lack of goal contributions.
But, that doesn’t take away the fact that he has been the club’s best performer in what’s been an underwhelming Premier League campaign.
With Rice expected to move on this summer, to a top English club especially, he will need clarity within his role whether that be as a defensive midfielder or as a box-to-box midfielder.
Only then will he be judged by his goal contributions or lack of it. Right now, Rice is England’s best-performing defensive midfielder and the criticism of his lack of goals is really unwarranted, he has to be praised for the security and consistency he so regularly shows in a Hammers shirt.