Rice is still a 6, for me. The line-breaking pass is something he's just got to learn. Some development to do. Jorginho doesn't get the ball to Odegaard much better, either. Maybe one line-breaker per game while Declan has zero. Partey would have 2 or 3.
Havertz instead of Zubimendi, if that was an actual calculation, makes sense if you believe in Partey. As I and others have said a few times now, the decision to keep Partey is the reason we have Havertz, and it's the real problem with our summer dealings. That belief was misplaced.
If Timber weren't injured, Rice would still be struggling to get the ball to Odegaard. He's both the problem and the solution. If Partey were fit, we'd have other options. Rice could develop his vertical passing and tight space dribbling under less pressure, and do some time at left 8 (more like a second pivot, really) next to Thomas. Instead, he's doing that time next to Jorginho.
