Moyes names West Ham player who has made ‘big improvements’ during his time away
David Moyes’ enforced sabbatical as West Ham United manager probably didn’t turn out how anyone at the club intended.
The Hammers gave the Scot the boot after he’d steered them clear of relegation in 2018, with the more glamorous appointment of Manuel Pellegrini expected to take the team to the next level.
It didn’t work out like that, of course, with Moyes now back in the hot seat hoping to secure another great escape.
His time away from the London Stadium, though, will have allowed him to observe the growth of the players at the club.
There’s one player who has made a leap exponentially larger than any of his peers: defensive midfielder Declan Rice.
Take that from the horse’s mouth: “”I can see big improvements from when I left,” Moyes told Sky Sports.
“He’s now someone who is physically much better: he’s much quicker, much stronger. And he has a better understanding.
“Many of the great players got into a team and had to find their own way to do things. Declan’s doing that himself. He is self-developing – and he’s doing an awful lot of things which prove why he’s getting into Gareth Southgate’s England squads.”
How good is Rice?
He’s excellent, there’s no doubt about that. The England international is already – at just 21 years of age – one of the best holding midfielders in the country.
The only players who could be ranked above him are arguably Liverpool duo Fabinho and Jordan Henderson; Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante; Manchester City ace Fernandinho and Leicester City star Wilfred Ndidi.
But Rice probably has more potential than any of them, and could still rise to or above their level.
The progress he’s made in the season or so since Moyes left has been astonishing to witness. He’s top class.
In other West Ham news, Sky Sports pundit Charlie Nicholas has delivered his prediction for Monday’s clash with Liverpool.