Declan Rice refuses to use Adama Traore’s incredible 26 minuts on the pitch as an excuse for defeat against Wolves.
The England defensive midfielder moved back to the position where he started life – at central defence – and produced a man of the match performance.
It was a reminder – not that it was ever needed – of just how important this one player will be at the club over the next eight games.
He even showed himself capable of dealing with Traore when he came across to cover him and proved capable of thwarting his forward movement by forcing a corner.
Two or three more Declans and we certainly wouldn’t be in the mess we are right now and looking to the Spurs match for something when – apart from Bournemouth – every club took something from the first round of games.
Speaking afterwards he made his feelings clear on where the club has to go from here and the attitude which the players must adopt.
Speaking at https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2020/june/20-june/declan-rice-we-need-lift-our-heads he said: “In the position we’re in we can’t be dropping points. We need to lift our heads up [for Tuesday].
“Obviously the goals are sloppy [and tough] to take. Traore came on and they were two great crosses, but we’ve got to deal with them. We were happy with our performance [to that point], but we need to be better.
“I think it’s a case of taking our chances. We had one in the first half for [Pablo] Fornals and I don’t think he knew Michail [Antonio] was there [unmarked to his left].
“We’re creating some good chances but not taking them, and it’s the other side of the game too where we need to stay switched on for the full 90 minutes. We can’t concede sloppy goals because in recent games that’s happened too much.
“Against Brighton [in February] we were 3-1 up and drew 3-3 and there’s no time left to do that so it’s at both ends of the pitch.”
Discussing his ‘new’ role at the back he said: “I felt comfortable. As has been said before, it’s a position I’ve played before and when the Gaffer pulled me during the week and said he wants me to play there, there were no questions asked – I’d go back there and do a job for the team.
“I tried my best and tried to impose that. When I play at the back I can see the whole game. I’ve got to be a leader and I’ve got to talk because I can see everything that’s going on. If I keep my mouth shut the other players wouldn’t know what’s going on, so that’s what I do – I speak to the players and try to encourage them.
“We went 1-0 down and we’ve got to keep our heads up and push each other on, to give us the spurt to maybe go on and get a goal.
“It didn’t happen, but I’ll keep talking to them in every game.”
A disgraceful gutless performance . What makes Moyes think that 3 months break will improve the team . A complete shambles . Rice was superb and Noble proved once again that Premiereship football has long since passed him by . There is no leadership from the sideline or on the pitch . . Make Rice skipper and play anyone with pace in midfield . Both goals created by pace leaving our midfield floundering when they should be back helping their full back .Noble is the root cause of the problems lacking in every department . Anderson dosent care and Lanzini has not recovered from the injury that looks to have ended his top flight career . I cannot see a way out of this as Moyes has no plan A let alone a plan B .
Well put Peter.We have known all season that the engine room is really struggling.Noble has had his day and Anderson is woeful for starters.Totally overrun yesterday and the lack of fire power is a huge concern too.