Graeme Souness questions Declan Rice’s midfield role, suggests he plays like a centre-half
Graeme Souness has again criticised Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice, suggesting that his deep-lying playing style amounts to “old man’s football” and that he is not a complete midfield player. Souness, a former Liverpool player, stated that Rice would not secure a starting position in some of the world’s top teams.
Rice joined Arsenal in the summer of 2023 for a reported £100m and has been a significant figure for the club. He played a key role in Arsenal winning their first Premier League title in 22 years and reaching the Champions League final last season. Despite these achievements, Souness remains unconvinced by his role in midfield.
Souness’s Criticism of Rice’s Positioning
Souness articulated his views on Piers Morgan‘s Football Uncensored show, highlighting Rice’s tendency to drop deep. He observed that Rice frequently positions himself as the last man with the ball, often sitting between two centre-halves or between a centre-half and a full-back. This positioning, according to Souness, means Rice is not consistently playing in midfield.
Souness likened Rice’s approach to what he termed “old man’s football,” a style he claims involves midfielders dropping into the back four to receive the ball under no pressure. He described this as “cheating” because it allows players to gain possession without the typical midfield challenges, often resulting in simple sideways passes.
The former midfielder explained that in his own career, he also moved into the back four during his second or third home game, a practice he now associates with this older style of play. He suggested that by playing so deep, Rice’s ability to influence the game is limited.
Souness acknowledged Rice’s defensive strengths, stating that he is “the best defensive midfielder in the country right now” and “smells danger.” However, he reiterated that Rice’s consistent deep positioning means he is “back there all the time,” which, in Souness’s view, makes him less of a traditional midfielder.
Comparison to Elite Midfielders and World Cup Performance
Souness went further, suggesting that Rice might be better suited as a centre-half due to his playing style. He noted that the ball travels faster than a player, and he often observes Rice running 30 yards with the ball only to pass it square. While acknowledging Rice’s ability to kick the ball well and open his body effectively, Souness maintained that he is not a “complete midfield player.”
In a discussion with Piers Morgan regarding Rice’s world-class status, Souness questioned whether Rice would be a starter for clubs like Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, or Manchester City. He cited Manchester City‘s previous midfielders, Fernandinho and Rodri, as examples of players who consistently operated in midfield roles.
Souness also attributed blame to Rice for England‘s exit from the World Cup semi-final against Argentina in July. He claimed that after England took a one-nil lead, the team, particularly central midfielders Rice and Elliot Anderson, became hesitant and failed to drive the team forward, instead retreating to the back four.
The criticism from Souness centres on the idea that modern players, including Rice, are sometimes “precious” and do not easily accept criticism. He maintains that despite Rice’s undeniable impact for both club and country, his deep positioning restricts his overall influence as a midfielder.
Souness’s assessment underscores his long-held belief that Rice operates too deep to genuinely shape the outcome of matches, despite his significant contributions to Arsenal‘s recent successes.
Source: football365.com
