It was one hell of a day to be inside the stadium and many years since I have seen such an outpouring of joy as Dec’s shot hit the back of the net.
His smile was seen from the Bobby Moore Upper in all its glory as the best player of the year in claret and blue scored his first goal for the club at League level.
The reaction of his team mates and the fans was unbelievable – this is the boy born to be King Hammers as the team scored a great victory over the Gooners.
Beyond the goal this was his victory as he chased all over the park making critical interventions and setting up attacks.
That Manel Pellegrini was moved to single him out afterwards was very special and unpredictable.
He said: “I think we are seeing a complete player. He is just 19 years old and I’m sure in the future he will be a top, top player.”
Our cool and calm manager isn’t prone to such displays of excitement but the lad does exactly that to every one of us and Pelle proved it is no different for him.
It was the perfect afternoon from every point of view, none more so than watching Dec perform with us all safe in the knowledge that he is ours for another six years.
There were great performances elsewhere, from Anderson in particular, but this was Declan’s day.
He may not agree with all the Mooro comparisons but they will continue to come his way as for those of us who grew up with the greatest Hammer of all it sometimes feels as though we are living in a sixties and seventies time warp watching this kid.
What a player!! Hopefully he will be the new Mr.West Ham
Having had the greatest honour of watching Sir Bobby makes his debut against Man U and being a season ticket holder in the Main stand for all his career, I never thought to see his like again……….that is until today.
Declan has a long way to go but, he has in my opinion there is some very close comparisons,
He reads the game really well. (Bobby new what a player was going to do before they did)
His timing is spot on and he seams to be in the right place at the right time, but his coolness in possession is the biggest similarity, after winning the ball just strolls away or lays it off to perfection.
This lad has it all and the best comparison of all he wears the same shirt.
Well Hugh, when you first started singing Rice’s praises on here awhile back I thought you were getting ahead of yourself & that I had heard it (&seen it ) all before. I am a pessimist by nature, so I take a bit of convincing. But not for the first time this season I am coming on here to munch a bit of humble pie. I still feel cautious about saying it, but I watched some of the game back last night & with my eyes half closed I was seeing Bobby Moore out there. And after a couple of drinks I was saying all the things in your article- and more (or Moore-sorry!). Silly old s*** are we not?
But one quibble …after Payet & Arnautovich we can’t say he is ours for another six months let alone six years. I am not saying the young man cannot compare to Bobby as a man because I just don’t know. But the game has changed for the worse in some ways & if he continues to play like that I would lay good money that he will spend most of the next ten years away from the LS. That’s also sad but let’s enjoy it while we can.