West Ham United have endured a difficult season so far, as the club has been very inconsistent for large portions of the season. They had invested smartly in the summer, but a run of poor results saw Slaven Bilic being sacked after a few months. David Moyes steadied the ship for some matches, but since then the team has not seen consistent performances. Despite having some talented players in attack, West Ham have leaked goals this season.
Some huge gaps need to be filled in the back end of the pitch. However, there has been one promising player who has impressed everyone with his performances. Declan Rice was a largely unknown prospect until this season but has grown on to become an important player under Moyes. The former Manchester United manager strives on maintaining a good defensive shape.
Moreover, upon his arrival to West Ham, Moyes spent the first international break improving the defensive shape of his team. Hence, Rice’s rise has coincided well with an equally defensive minded manager. Rice made some sporadic appearances from the bench earlier but now tends to be a regular on the pitch.
Actually, the defender has an interesting history as the lad was released by Chelsea’s youth academy four years ago. Apparently, it was a huge blow to his young career but Rice put his head down and worked his way hard up from West Ham’s academy. Essentially a central defender, his positional awareness is impressive. Sitting down the pitch, he reads the game well and tends to break attacks by intercepting the ball early.
His aerial prowess is impressive too and hence Rice is well used while defending from set pieces. Rice is physically imposing too and is a tough man to beat in and around the box. The lad is quick on his feet and hence tracks back on time whenever his time is caught on the counter-attack. The Hammers need to have a good season next time as they were quite close to relegation at one point in this season.
They have been consistent in the top flight so far and need to make sure that they avoid any such scares of dropping down a division next time onwards. Hence, the board needs to act smart and tie down players whom they think are essential for the future of the club. Declan Rice is a player for the future and apparently was touted to be in contention to make the England squad too.
Moyes looks set to stay at the club and he would want the lad to stay too as no manager likes young talent being lured away from the club. Hence, the news of his new deal would be a welcome news for the supporters of the club.