Graeme Souness: Declan Rice Needs Final Third Improvement For World-Class Status

4 min read Post on May 03, 2025

Graeme Souness: Declan Rice Needs Final Third Improvement For World-Class Status

Declan Rice, the West Ham and England midfielder, is a powerhouse. His defensive capabilities and midfield dominance are widely lauded. However, football pundit Graeme Souness believes a significant area for improvement remains – his final third play. Souness's assertion raises a crucial question: what does Rice need to do to elevate his game to truly world-class status? This article delves into Souness's criticism and explores the aspects of Rice's game that require refinement to achieve elite status.

Souness's Criticism: A Lack of Final Third Impact

Graeme Souness, a midfield legend himself, hasn't pulled any punches in his assessment of Declan Rice. His criticism centers on Rice's limited impact in the final third of the pitch. Specifically, Souness points to:

Lack of Goals: While Rice is a strong physical presence, his goal-scoring record doesn't reflect the potential of a world-class midfielder.
Limited Assists: His creative playmaking and ability to set up teammates for goals need significant improvement.
Few Key Passes: Rice often opts for safe, sideways passes rather than taking risks to unlock defenses with incisive through balls.
Absence of Creative Playmaking: Compared to midfield maestros like Kevin De Bruyne or Luka Modric, Rice lacks the vision and flair to consistently create scoring opportunities.

Games against top opposition often highlight this deficiency. In matches where West Ham or England face well-organized defenses, Rice's contributions in the final third often become less noticeable. While his defensive work is exemplary, his attacking output remains a point of concern for achieving elite status. Souness himself has reportedly stated (although precise quotes are difficult to verify without specific source material) the need for more attacking intent and final-third contribution.

Rice's Strengths: A Solid Foundation

Before addressing the areas needing improvement, it's crucial to acknowledge Rice's considerable strengths. He forms a solid foundation upon which to build a truly world-class game:

Defensive Prowess: Rice excels at tackling, intercepting passes, and winning back possession. His statistics in these areas consistently rank among the best in the Premier League.
Physicality and Presence: His strength, height, and aerial ability make him a formidable presence in midfield, dominating both defensive and attacking midfield duels.
Leadership Qualities: He is a natural leader on the pitch, organizing his teammates and inspiring confidence. His captaincy for West Ham underlines this crucial skillset.
Consistent Performances: Rice delivers reliable performances game after game, showing a dedication to his role and tactical discipline.

Areas for Improvement: Developing Final Third Skills

To reach world-class status, Declan Rice must significantly enhance his final-third contributions. This requires focused development in several key areas:

Improving Passing Range and Accuracy

Rice needs to increase the range and accuracy of his passing, particularly long balls to split defenses. Practicing weighted passes and improving his vision are crucial. He needs to learn to take more calculated risks and weigh the potential rewards against the potential risks of a lost possession.

Enhancing Shot Accuracy and Power

Rice's shooting statistics need improvement. Dedicated practice on shot placement, power, and technique can significantly boost his goalscoring threat. Regular shooting drills and tactical training on when to take a shot are vital.

Developing Creative Playmaking Abilities

Improving his vision, dribbling skills, and ability to create chances for teammates is paramount. This involves practicing his passing angles, weight of pass, and working on first-time passes. Dribbling practice in confined spaces will enhance his ability to beat opponents.

Decision-Making in the Final Third

Rice often plays it safe, opting for simpler passes instead of taking risks. He needs to improve his decision-making in the final third, weighing up when to take a riskier but potentially higher-reward pass. Analyzing game footage and working with coaches to identify opportunities for more ambitious passes are crucial elements.

The Path to World-Class Status: A Holistic Approach

Reaching world-class status for Declan Rice isn't just about improving technical skills; it's about a holistic approach. It requires:

Technical Skill Enhancement: Mastering the areas discussed above is essential.
Tactical Awareness: Understanding the game's flow and identifying opportunities to make a decisive impact is crucial.
Consistent Performance: Delivering consistently high-level performances against all opponents is what separates elite midfielders from the rest.
Adaptability: Adapting his game to different opponents and tactical approaches is essential for success at the highest level.

Conclusion:

Graeme Souness's assessment highlights the need for Declan Rice to significantly improve his final-third contributions to reach world-class status. While his defensive capabilities and midfield presence are undeniable strengths, enhancing his passing range, shooting accuracy, creative playmaking, and decision-making in the final third are crucial steps towards achieving his full potential. This requires focused training, tactical awareness, and consistent performance.

Do you agree with Graeme Souness's assessment of Declan Rice? Share your thoughts on what Declan Rice needs to do to improve his final third play and achieve world-class status in the comments below!