It’s time to make it official!
David Moyes should take the next step in his development of West Ham United and name Declan Rice as the first team’s permanent skipper.
Yes of course it’s now obvious that Dec is the main Hammers man and the armband is his but it’s always good to formalise things and it would be great to hear it announced from the horse’s mouth.
From almost Day One the manager has made it clear that he is going to build West Ham around Declan and it wasn’t the biggest step in the world to make him skipper.
What’s so impressive is that the 22 year old has taken every new step in his career without batting an eyelid and has gone on to bigger and better things.
He has emerged stronger from relegation battles as a very young player with no problem. He completed 100 games…no problem…became an England regular …no problem.
He became the on field leader proudly wearing the armband. No problem!
David Moyes is making him central to everything that happens at this football club and in doing so is ensuring he makes it as difficult as he possibly can to allow him to walk away to Chelsea or anywhere else.
Right now Dec’s attitude is that of a man who thinks of nothing but West Ham United – he needs to be named skipper with Mark remaining as club skipper.
I hope Nobes is around for many years as a Hammer but he will know, like the rest of us, that Declan’s time is here!
I think wait a bit, he said himself he’s learning so much off Nobes, no need to put everything on his shoulders just yet
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I wonder what the board will do now with Moyes, if he has a cracker of a season up until Christmas his price tag a worth will go up and up and clubs might start fancying him again.
By not backing him with a decent contract to start they may well have cost themselves millions more than would have been.
Agree Dave, for all insensitive purposes he is Captain on the pitch. I think he respects Noble too much to take it off him mid season while still on squad unless he offered himself. Noble is still huge off the pitch & Rice is still learning from him & others. His desire to learn is something that makes him so special he soakcs up all the information he can from players in club in England squad coaches who he meets, watching tape etc. Has that hunger & desire & still only 21 ridiculous to think what he will be like at 25.
Agree about Moyes he has done a good job brought a real team togetherness, fight & spirit. I can definitely see clubs like Palace & others interested in him. We do are player contracts in January so hopefully he gets anew deal. I think 2-3 years would be fair I wouldn’t do 5. If we can lock down him & Antonio plus Balbuena imo that would be good. Balbuena I always rated & so half didn’t sell even with new CB he has great attitude 29 so has good years left & wage only £30k. Won’t loan being a squad player later if need to be again.
He could be offered the number 6 shirt, to show how important he is to the club and in how much regard he is held.
He really is the successor to Bobby Moore!
Yes he is
I’ve heard the talk about unretiring the #6 & giving it to Rice but I wouldn’t do it tbh. And personal I don’t think Rice would want to take it, I think he would want it to be respected. He has been open about making #41 his own & doesn’t care about the 1-11 numbers like some players.
Which I admire some go for the numbers right they are available Yarmo, Lanzini, Chicharito… The player make the number & Rice will make 41 promising. He is Captain on the pitch & Noble is still important off the pitch. His traits of humility hungry & always learning make him the player he has become & will only get better. #41 ⚒