Peter Crouch drools over West Ham midfielder Declan Rice
Peter Crouch has suggested that West Ham midfielder Declan Rice has reached another level recently.
The England midfielder has been an epitome of consistency for the Hammers, and Crouch has rightly hailed him as a “complete” player.
Rice was always good with his tackling and defensive duties, but he has added a lot more to his game this season.
Writing in his column for the Daily Mail, Crouch said: “You always have a favourite player and Declan Rice is mine at the moment.
“Everything about him draws you in — the way he plays, the character and the enjoyment that goes into his game.
“He has gone to another level recently. There is the way he carries the ball through midfield, he has a bit of pace and has added a few goals too, although there is definitely more to come in that department.
“Declan has always been strong in the tackle but he is now showcasing his full range of talents and has become a complete central midfielder.”
Outstanding
Rice has been phenomenal this season, and you don’t need stats to justify that.
The energy and drive he shows in every single game are a source of inspiration for others. He leads by example and demands the same from his teammates.
Where Rice has made a big improvement in his game is his understanding of when to get forward. Obviously, he has got a bit of help from his midfield partner, Tomas Soucek.
From down deep in midfield, every time Rice has moved forward with the ball in his feet, he has managed to strike terror in the heart of opposition defence.
While the big question remains how long can West Ham hold onto him, Rice seems unperturbed with talks about his future.
He has clarified time and again what he wants, and has pledged his commitment. The club is heading in the right direction, and they want Rice to be an integral part of it.
In other West Ham United news, David Sullivan is set to earn the Irons “tens of millions” in new 2022 windfall