West Ham United: talkSPORT host rages at ‘small-minded’ Declan Rice to Arsenal comment live on air
talkSPORT host Jason Cundy hit out at a “small-minded” West Ham fan who argued the team is now stronger following the sale of Declan Rice to Arsenal.
Rice made the switch between the London rivals on 17 July for a fee of £105million [Sky Sports], which the Hammers put towards signing Mohammed Kudus, James Ward-Prowse, Edson Alvarez and Konstantinos Mavropanos.
West Ham have made a much brighter start to this season compared to last, having won four and lost only one of their opening six games in all competitions.
A fan named Scott phoned talkSPORT’s The Sports Bar on Thursday evening [21 September] arguing that United “are a better team without Declan Rice”, adding that the Irons were “too reliant” on the midfielder.
Cundy interjected, saying: “I’ve heard a couple of West Ham fans say that. It’s so small-minded to say that. What you’ve failed to recognise is that Declan Rice has helped by moving on.
“You brought in Kudus as well. When you say West Ham haven’t missed him, or are a better team, I think you need to show a little bit more respect for a captain that won the first trophy in a lifetime for some West Ham fans.
“And I’m going to say it every time – show some respect. He was your best player, you sold him for £100m and you were able to regenerate your squad.”
The truth
In many ways, both Cundy and the United caller have a point in this instance.
West Ham have more all-round quality this season, but that of course was only possible due to the large windfall Rice’s sale brought in.
Ultimately, though, the point still stands: the Hammers are a stronger team now than they were six months ago.
Call it “small-minded” or lacking respect, that is the bottom line.
That is not to say West Ham supporters will not fondly remember Rice’s time at the club, most notably the moment he lifted the Europa Conference League title in June.
It was a transfer that could have gone one of two ways from West Ham’s perspective, and thankfully the summer recruitment means they have successfully pushed on.
And as long as results are going West Ham’s way, supporters have every right to talk up the quality of the current squad in the absence of Rice.
In other West Ham news, Joe Cole was left wowed by a new “weapon” Moyes has available to use.