🚨Simon Jordan doubles down on Declan Rice criticism after England displays Reporter: 🗣️ “Some fans felt calling Declan Rice a "limited" player was too harsh. Were you trying to provoke Arsenal supporters? Simon Jordan: 🗣️ “No. I think Graham's viewpoint has been influenced by what we've consistently seen from... Declan Rice in an England shirt. A lot of the time, Graham has a point. It's sideways, then backwards. Sideways, then backwards. We saw plenty of that during the World Cup. His influence in England's midfield has often been limited. People hear the word "limited" and immediately think it's an insult. It isn't. I'm talking about the role he performs for England and the outcomes that come from it. In that role, his ability to consistently unlock compact defences or dictate games has been limited. Arsenal fans tell me he's got every pass in his locker, that he can split defences at will. Maybe he shows more of that at club level, but when I watch him for England, I don't see it often enough. That's not trying to be controversial; it's simply what his performances have shown. If England want to win the biggest trophies, they need more from the heart of midfield than safe passes and ball retention. At the international level, that's just not enough.show more

I’m sorry, but any Arsenal fan that can’t admit Rice is limited is a liar or is biased. Rice is extremely limited. But he is EXCELLENT at what he does well. There’s no harm in saying that.

Nah he’s not. You need to watch him properly

@JKeane_12 If he’s not limited please explain why Arteta kept Jorghino, No. 5 and then got Zubi and now MLS in the position other Arsenal having been screaming he should play?

@ArsenalN41 @JKeane_12 do teams play with one midfielder? what are you on about?

@nathan__dm @ArsenalN41 I think he’s trying to say that Rice is clearly missing something that all of those players he listed has, and that is, ball progression abilities.

@nathan__dm @ArsenalN41

@nathan__dm @ArsenalN41 You do realise that Rice played for West Ham before Rodri got there… Rodri has won the Ballon d’Or

English blame culture continues again. The urge to pin the blame on one person instead of taking accountability. The fact that Rice wasn’t even on the pitch when Argentina scored those goal makes all this criticism look stupid

He didn’t lie Safe passes all the time Zero risk taking U don’t unlock teams playing that way

Hmmm

England has Gerrard, Lampard etc and couldn't even get to the quarters, now Rice have to single handed win them the WC. That's a joke. He's the best in what he does, simple.

Wasn’t Rice instrumental to their only goal against Argentina? Vindictive old man 😂

Same Rice who had the best performance after Jude Bellingham?? He must be joking

Rice was so good in the World Cup despite not being fit and he gets this

He created the most chances out of the entire England squad, played half dead not being able to walk while also sick. These pundits are fucking idiots.

As long as he keeps performing for Arsenal couldn’t care less how he plays for England.

You people really do not deserve Declan Rice…useless English media constantly tearing their players down

Rice is a very tactically astute player. He does creative work when he supports the wingers upfield. Centrally he does less due to the system in which Jude goes in box a lot leaving space behind.

Well I'm very happy if he's not required by England. We all saw what happened with him going off minutes after.

To be honest if England find Rice limited then please don’t play him so that he can come back to Arsenal fit and play his so called limited style there not too bothered about England if they can do better without him so be it.

As a neutral I feel the criticism of Rice is very unfair. He is very good player and would love to have him in my team. The line splitting central midfielder are a rare breed. Did Portugal’s “best midfield in the world” have any of them?

I genuinely believe Dec’s sacrifices his game for England so Anderson can have the ball more and do all the breaking line passes… which he failed to do. Team player is what Rice is.

Utterly bizarre fixation with Rice and Arsenal. Especially considering the shape of the team fell apart once he was taken off 🤯

The fact is Declan Rice is not an elite passer. He is a runner. Great a closing down space, taking run and galloping around the pitch. He needed a metronomic passer of the ball along side time rather than another defensive parter is we are to dictate play in the midfield

Literally 7th in the entire world cup for chances created.

I think Arsenal players should boycott England call ups because irrespective of their performance the media will talk down on them. They were not on the pitch when England lost but being blamed anyways

Declan, do yourself and family a favor and retire now. You were not playing when England lost but these folks on talksport are blaming you for the loss @_DeclanRice

It's just rubbish from Simon Jordan. England fell apart against Norway when Rice came off. They were 1-0 up against Argentina when he came off. Has Rodri made a defence splitting pass this tournament?

Simon Jordan is a big joker

A big one indeed

The few chances England had on offense were from Rice breaking up play and starting the counter so this is BS lol tired of the Arsenal hate to be frank.

Great leader, good engine but not even slightly close to being a world class player! A really good cm yes but that’s as far as I would go.

Is this really True

Utter bollocks. Rice played important part in creating the goal against Argentina. He ran half the length of the pitch to set up the first goal against Mexico. His run and cross against Congo helped create the vital equaliser. He took the perfect corner for 2nd goal v Croatia.

That's fine. Leave Rice out the England team, let him rest when they play and watch England fail miserably. Win win for Arsenal.

He is a good player

Graham Souness is a dinosaur.

Finally someone said the truth. A bang average overrated player

Rice is the best player

Why is it rices fault that Bellingham just acts like a second striker instead of linking up the play? These guys know nothing about football and it’s embarrassing.

While I agree Rice isn't elite breaking lines etc, why is Anderson escaping criticism? He literally cost more, isnt half the athlete Rice is so surely he must be amazing with the ball to compensate?

Better than Steven gerrard apparently couldn’t lace 1 of his boots let alone both! He’s just Jordan Henderson 2.0 does his job well nothing special!

He cannot play down his left side or change the direction of play. He can hit long balls right to left, but not the other way round. Rarely play quickly forward into front players.

But stats indicated that Anderson made more backwards passes than Rice. @talkSPORT and a lot of these uk media just won’t talk spilling their hate towards Arsenal