Graeme Souness Critiques Declan Rice's Final Third Performance

Viktoria Ivanova

5 min read

Post on May 02, 2025

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Souness's Specific Criticisms of Declan Rice's Final Third Play

Graeme Souness's criticism of Declan Rice centers on his perceived shortcomings in the final third. Souness, known for his direct and often uncompromising style of commentary, didn't pull any punches when assessing Rice's attacking contributions. His criticisms revolved around several key areas:

• Lack of Incisive Passing: Souness highlighted a perceived deficiency in Rice's passing range and accuracy when approaching the opposition's penalty area. He argued that Rice often opts for safe, sideways passes instead of attempting more ambitious, through balls that could unlock defenses. This lack of risk-taking, according to Souness, hampers the team's attacking fluidity.

• Hesitant Decision-Making: Souness questioned Rice's decision-making in attacking situations. He suggested that Rice often hesitates before making a pass or taking a shot, allowing the opposition to recover and stifle the attack. This indecisiveness, the pundit argued, is a significant factor limiting Rice's impact in the final third.

• Poor Final Ball Accuracy: The effectiveness of a midfielder is often judged on their ability to deliver the final ball to a teammate in a scoring position. Souness criticized Rice's accuracy and effectiveness in this area, noting missed opportunities to create high-quality scoring chances for his teammates. This lack of precision, he implied, undermines the attacking efforts of the entire team.

• Comparison to Creative Midfielders: Souness's criticism implicitly compared Rice unfavorably to more creative midfielders who excel in the final third. He suggested that Rice lacks the vision, the flair, and the killer pass that characterizes top-tier attacking midfielders. While acknowledging Rice's defensive strengths, Souness implied a need for greater attacking intent.

• Match Examples: While Souness didn't cite specific matches in every instance, instances during his commentary often referred to games where Rice's hesitancy in the final third appeared particularly costly, leading to missed scoring opportunities.

Analyzing the Validity of Souness's Assessment

While Souness's criticisms are strong, it's crucial to analyze their validity within the context of Rice's overall role and tactical responsibilities.

• Statistical Performance: Analyzing Rice's statistics reveals a mixed picture. While his pass completion rate is generally high, the number of key passes and chances created might be lower than expected from a box-to-box midfielder. However, it's important to note that expected goals (xG) statistics also need to be considered to fully assess Rice's contribution to attacking play.

• Defensive Midfielder's Role: It's essential to acknowledge Rice's primary role as a defensive midfielder. His responsibilities often prioritize winning back possession, shielding the defense, and maintaining structural stability. Expecting the same level of attacking contribution as a more advanced midfielder is perhaps unrealistic.

• Tactical Context: Rice's performance also needs to be examined within the context of both West Ham's and Arsenal's tactical setups. At West Ham, his role was more defensively focused, while at Arsenal, the system might afford him more opportunities to venture forward. A direct comparison across different tactical systems may be misleading.

• Overall Team Contribution: Souness's critique, however sharp, might overlook Rice's significant contributions in other aspects of the game. His defensive work rate, ability to win back possession, and overall tactical awareness are undeniable assets to any team.

• Strengths Elsewhere: Rice's strengths are arguably more evident in his defensive stability and ball recovery skills. These are equally critical for a team's overall success, especially considering his effectiveness in breaking up opposition attacks.

Potential for Improvement and Future Development

Despite the validity of some of Souness's criticisms, there is undeniable room for Declan Rice to improve his final third play.

• Skill Development: Focusing on skill development, particularly practicing shooting accuracy from range and improving the weight and precision of his longer passes, could significantly enhance his attacking output.

• Coaching Influence: A tailored training regime focusing on attacking aspects of the game, under the guidance of experienced coaches, could help Rice develop his offensive capabilities. Arsenal’s coaching staff, for example, could implement specific drills to improve his decision-making in the final third.

• Tactical Flexibility: A shift in tactical deployment, giving Rice more license to roam forward, could help unlock his attacking potential. Depending on the system employed, a more balanced role, incorporating more attacking responsibilities, could be beneficial.

• Learning from Others: Studying the game of other midfielders who have successfully transitioned from primarily defensive roles into more balanced players—players who can both defend effectively and contribute significantly in attack—could prove invaluable for Rice's development.

Conclusion

This article has explored Graeme Souness's critique of Declan Rice's final third performance, examining the validity of his points and analyzing Rice's overall contribution. We've considered Rice’s role, his statistics, and the potential for future development. While some criticism is understandable, it's crucial to remember the context of his primary defensive duties. While Souness’s points are valid in some areas, they shouldn't overshadow Rice's significant contributions elsewhere on the pitch.

Call to Action: What are your thoughts on Graeme Souness's assessment of Declan Rice's final third contributions? Join the discussion in the comments below and share your opinions on Declan Rice's potential to improve his attacking game. Let's continue the conversation on Declan Rice's final third performance and whether he can address Souness's criticisms. Do you believe he can develop into a more complete, box-to-box midfielder?