Declan….This is no time to over-react

By Allen Cummings

Declan Rice is with doubt the brightest young prospect at West Ham for many a long year, a throwback to the halcyon days of Ferdinand, Lampard, Carrick, Defoe and Cole. A player with the football world at his feet – literally.

With the exception of Arnie, Declan was our player of the season by a country mile. I was one of his biggest fans – and many others on C&H were equally like-minded.

But football is a fast-changing world. Yesterday’s hero can quickly become today’s villain. I’m not suggesting Declan is morphing into public enemy No. 1. Far from it.

But I do detect a subtle shift in attitude from fans like myself as the progress – or more specifically – the lack of it over the player signing a new improved contract has dragged on through the summer.

As Hugh has mentioned only this morning in a news update it looks like the two parties, West Ham and Team Rice appearing to be at an impasse.

Meanwhile, of course, Manuel Pellegrini has steadily been bringing in new faces and consequently stronger competition for all positions, a strengthening that makes Declan’s first team place no longer the certainty it once looked, and most of us were urging for, just a few months ago.

As an old school Hammer I love seeing our youngster progress. It’s what we did so well in those days of yore. It’s a different ball game in today’s football though. A youngster coming through the ranks is an exception rather than a rule. There’s no doubt Declan IS an exception. An exceptional talent with massive potential. But ‘potential’ is the key word. With just 27 Premier League appearances behind him Rice still has plenty to prove.

There are debates over where Declan might be used in Pellegrini’s favoured 4,2,2,2. With proven challengers in both defence and midfield, it’s unlikely the youngster will be a first team regular. But football is clearly a squad game now, so Rice is sure to figure in the manager’s overall game plan.

Thought to be currently on £3k a week, the offer on the table to Rice is said to be £18k, plus £10k for each first team appearance. On the face of it to us mere mortals not a bad reward at all, especially for a 19 year old.

But the spectre of the reported £20k paid to Reece Oxford looms over the deal and therein lies a big problem. If it’s good enough for Oxford more should be given to Rice is the argument on social media.

Truth is the Oxford deal was a knee-jerk reaction, made without due thought for the implications or consequences. What at the time looked to be a milestone in the youngster’s career has now become something of a millstone for the club to deal with.

Rice and Oxford look to be different characters. Declan comes across a very level-headed and unassuming young man. But he’s still impressionable for all that. Open to outside influence that some feel, me included, may not have his best all round interests at heart.

The consensus of informed opinion now is that Manuel Pellegrini will monitor Rice over the coming months until the end of the year, then make up his mind on where he wants to go with the youngster.

I see nothing wrong with that plan at all. If, at decision day, Pellegrini believes there’s no place for Rice on his terms, so be it. As hard as it might be to swallow. We’ll survive.