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

Laila Abdi

4 min read

Post on May 03, 2025

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Souness's Criticism: A Focus on Final Third Effectiveness

Souness, known for his direct and insightful analysis, hasn't explicitly detailed a single quote criticizing Rice's final third play. However, the underlying message of his comments points to a lack of consistent attacking output. The context is clear: While Rice's defensive contributions are undeniable, his creative influence and goal involvement often fall short of what's expected from a midfielder aiming for the very top.

• Lack of consistent goal contributions: Rice's goal tally remains relatively low compared to other top midfielders. While he occasionally chips in with vital goals, consistency in this area is lacking.
• Inconsistency in key passes and assists: His key passes and assists are sporadic. For a player of his caliber, creating more chances for teammates is crucial for elevating his game.
• Areas where Rice's passing accuracy needs to improve in the attacking third: While his passing completion rate is generally high, his accuracy in the final third, particularly in the creation of goal-scoring opportunities, needs improvement.
• Comparison to other top midfielders in terms of final third output: When compared to players like Kevin De Bruyne or Bruno Fernandes, the disparity in final third contributions becomes apparent. These players consistently provide goals and assists, a crucial aspect missing in Rice's current game.

Declan Rice's Strengths: A Solid Foundation

Before addressing the areas for improvement, it's crucial to acknowledge Rice's significant strengths. His defensive capabilities are already world-class. He is a formidable presence in midfield, offering:

• Impressive defensive statistics: Consistently high numbers of tackles, interceptions, and clearances highlight his defensive prowess.
• Strong leadership qualities: Rice often captains his team, demonstrating maturity and leadership on the pitch.
• Physical presence in midfield: His strength, stamina, and work rate allow him to dominate midfield battles.
• Consistent performance in defensive aspects: Rice delivers dependable performances in defensive midfield, rarely dropping below a high standard.

Potential Areas for Improvement: Developing the Final Third Game

To elevate his game to the next level, Rice needs to focus on enhancing his final third contributions. This involves several key areas:

• Improving shooting accuracy: More clinical finishing from both inside and outside the box is essential.
• Working on creative passing and through balls: Developing the ability to deliver incisive passes that split defences would significantly increase his assist count.
• Enhanced decision-making in the final third: Improving his ability to identify and exploit spaces and make quick, decisive decisions will be key.
• Improving his link-up play with forwards: Building a better understanding with his teammates in attack will unlock more opportunities.

Tactical Adaptations and Coaching Influence

Mikel Arteta, Rice's manager at Arsenal, and Gareth Southgate at the England national team, play a crucial role in his development. Tactical adjustments and focused training can significantly improve his final third impact.

• Specific training exercises: Dedicated sessions focused on shooting accuracy, creative passing, and decision-making in tight spaces.
• Tactical positioning changes: Experimenting with slightly more advanced positions might give him better opportunities to impact the attack.
• Examples of other players who have improved similar aspects of their game: Studying and emulating how other midfielders have improved their attacking contributions could prove beneficial.

Conclusion

Graeme Souness's assessment highlights a key area for Declan Rice's development: his final third effectiveness. While he's already an exceptional defensive midfielder, and a box-to-box midfielder with immense strength and leadership, reaching true world-class status requires consistent contributions in the attacking third. Improving shooting accuracy, creative passing, and decision-making are crucial steps. However, the potential is undeniably there. Will Declan Rice heed this advice and transform into a truly world-class midfielder? Only time will tell. Let's discuss: What do you think Declan Rice needs to do to reach the pinnacle of his game? Share your thoughts in the comments below! #DeclanRice #WorldClassMidfielder #FinalThird #FootballAnalysis #Arsenal #England