Declan "Deccers" Rice: Page 59 - The Arsenal discussion forum and community: One More in the Tolly

Declan "Deccers" Rice

Burnwinter

Rice is on duty looking after the youngsters in the squad and cracking jokes on TikToks, he has all the captaincy he wants for now. Dowman evidently idolises him. He's a great man in great form, let's not screw up and give him Steven Gerrard's personality.

In the past, players have commented Ødegaard has natural authority in the dressing room due to his ability, character and professionalism.

The medium term concern is whether Ødegaard is a nailed on starter since his injury troubles, but we remain a fair way from that being up for grabs.

Klaus

Who's the vice captain these days? Gabriel?

flobaba

Saka is VC

MistaT

I didn’t care to weigh in on Tony Adam’s opinion, but I do want to vouch for Gabriel being as (or more) worthy of the captaincy than Rice. To me Gabriel feels more “Arsenal” as he’s been riding with Arteta since day 1, and because Rice had such a high profile career with West Ham first.

Love them both, and it’s clear the team does too. We’re in good hands these days!

Honestly there isn’t a player on the team that concerns me character wise. The only players I worry about losing the plot are attackers like Martinelli and Saka who I’m sure would love a little more freedom.

Qwiss

MistaT I think Gabriel is the most influential player on the team in matches. While he was out so many players form dipped and I don't think its any coincidence. Rice has other qualities that are good for captain, he's great with the media, very outgoing, etc Don't think Gabriel would like that side of the job, Ode doesn't seem to relish it either.

I also think Saka could be a good captain. Saka, Dec, Gabriel and Ode all have leadership qualities that exhibit in different ways. No need to go messing about with that now and changing the pecking order and chemistry there. I reckon Zubi will become a leader extremely quickly too.

Don Pacifico

Haven't watched the clip but can't relate to some of the commentary in relation to TA. We know his opinions/take on football by now but the suggestion he has any ill intent (or is even a narcissist) seem a bit off to me. If anything, I've found him to be disarmingly humble (his brutal honesty about his own path in life) in interviews and when I've met him in person.

Knowing a few addicts in real life, I also think that a lot of his behaviour (maybe some of the more naive comments he makes) reflect a man who finds real joy in life having been in the grips of his addiction. That feeling of being free from the anxieties that plagued him is probably incredibly liberating to the point that I think he's probably quite unaware of how he comes across at times (because if he has no ill intent, then how people perceive you really isn't that relevant).

Qwiss

Don Pacifico his comments aren't really out of line with a lot of players from his era. Its common for players to think nothing really changes in football. I used to listen to John Giles podcast every week and he still thinks the game is more or less the same as it was in the 60's. I don't think its a whole lot deeper than that. TA loves Arsenal, as do most of our moany ex players turned pundit, they want the best for Arsenal and think Arteta is doing certain things wrong just like the rest of us. The idea that we should then arm chair diagnose them for it is weird. He's basically just doing what we do here but he has a bigger platform because he's one of the biggest legends in the clubs history.

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert

RocktheCasbah which big fella?

RocktheCasbah

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert I can't remember now, but it was whoever we had up top that night. I'm thinking it was probably super Nik.

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert

My first autograph (addressed personally to me) was from big Tone when my dad bumped into him at a restaurant in late 1998, and he brought the note home for me. Naturally I brought it to school the next morning and showed it to everyone.

So I won't hear the Adams slander!

JazzG

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert It is always hard when our heroes say things like this. I absolutely loved Adams as well but since retiring every few years he pops up with some absolute nonsense takes.

So after doing things like this we should strip him of the captaincy....

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert

JazzG wasn't totally serious; he does say cringe stuff. Remember that video of him "coaching" his players when he was out in Spain or Afghanistan or wherever the fuck he managed? Lol.

JazzG

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert

Meatwad

JazzG
yeah that's some crackhead adjacent shit right there.

Mirth

Qwiss agreed. I feel like our back line definitely drops in intensity without Big Gabi. Far more than when Rice doesn’t play.

Rice is probably the most well rounded choice though.

USArsenal

I think that Rice deserves to be captain, but i also dont think Odegaard deserves to be stripped of being captain. Both of them are central to the team, so we leave Ode as the captain and Rice will be the other de facto captain, just like Gabriel.

JazzG

USArsenal Exactly, Rice has become imo one of our most influential players and he is probably held with that regard within the squad as he should be but this idea we should strip a first team player of the captaincy and give it to another is just nonsense. When has that ever happened and worked before? Comments like this no doubt will make it to the players and what good will this do for Arsenal football club? If a past influential figure of a football speaks they should always think of that, will this do any good or harm for the club.

There are plenty of reasons why we haven't won a title in recent years but I'd say Odegaard being captain is definitely not one of them. It is like the class of 92 who have appointed themselves as the authority on all Man Utd matters in the media. It's not that surprising that in most cases great players don't make great managers. These guys were great at following instructions and leading men on the pitch but don't really have that deep of an understanding about how to coach/manage a club. I do get the impression there area a few Arsenal and even other club players in the media who are a bit jealous of Arteta, Arteta hasn't won anything big yet but he is coaching one of the top clubs in the world while this lot are getting paid to chat about it on TV.

flobaba

Don't think TA's comments are a big deal personally. I expect Arteta would have to address questions related to it in a press conference, and I hope he does the classic Arteta and says something along the lines of "everyone is entitled to their opinions, but Odegaard is our captain, a great and important player for us and more importantly, a great human being". End of story.

flobaba

JazzG but this idea we should strip a first team player of the captaincy and give it to another is just nonsense

Have no problem with the idea, it's the reasoning behind it. What is your why? I didn't listen to or watch the clip, but I'm guessing there isn't a why, and it's more to do with preference for a certain "type" of captain, perhaps to do with being English, perhaps because Odegaard was injured and suffered a loss of form last season.

Did Tony give a reason that made sense?

JazzG

flobaba He is basically saying the captain is a reflection on the manager and it is time for Arteta to be ruthless and make Rice his captain.

If given a choice out of all our players I'd say Rice should be our captain but that isn't how it works. If a new manager comes in then it can be justified or if a player doesn't want the responsibility any longer or even if they lose their place. I have my problems with Odegaard on the pitch but he has been a very good captain, on the pitch always encouraging and pushing the team on the front foot and usually the trigger when to press as well.

USArsenal

I have a problem with taking the captaincy away from an influential player, one of the leaders of the squad, and someone who is well liked by all of the players. He has been a model professional, he's trained hard, played hard and you don't just be 'ruthless' just for the sake of being ruthless when it comes to captaincy. There is no actual reason to take it away from him, as he has behaved well as our captain. If we did NOT have a captain, and it was up for grabs, then by all means give it to Rice. He would be my first choice, but Odegaard would also be in my top 3 choices, so there's no point to unsettling the team. Adams is a legend, and i have a lot of time for most of our legends, but him saying that is just spouting nonsense at this point.

RocktheCasbah

USArsenal Odegaard is Arteta's voice on the pitch, so there's no way he's losing the captaincy without one of them leaving the club imo.

awooga83

USArsenal I think the point around taking it away is fair but I think it shows the captaincy thing is mainly symbolic now. Yes you do the media or programme notes but I don't necessarily think I see on the pitch some of the responsibility that I think you want.

Like rice calling out Partey for a silly booking or in the Madrid home leg going against the coaches and ode to take responsibility and have a shot at the free kick. Yes you represent the manager but part of that is your trusted to make your own decisions on the pitch in the moment.

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