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

Felix Dubois

5 min read

Post on May 03, 2025

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Keywords: Declan Rice, Graeme Souness, world-class midfielder, final third, midfield improvement, West Ham, Arsenal, England, football analysis, tactical analysis, passing accuracy, creative midfielders, box-to-box midfielder

Declan Rice is undoubtedly one of the most highly-rated midfielders in world football. His performances for West Ham, Arsenal, and England have earned him widespread acclaim. However, even with his impressive skill set, legendary football pundit Graeme Souness believes a crucial element is missing before Rice can be definitively classified as a world-class midfielder. Souness's critique centers on a critical area: improvement in the final third. Let's delve into the details of Souness's assessment and explore the path Rice needs to take to achieve true world-class status.

Souness's Critique: The Final Third Deficiency

Graeme Souness, known for his forthright opinions and insightful analysis, has pointed out a perceived weakness in Declan Rice's game: his contribution in the final third. While acknowledging Rice's exceptional defensive abilities, Souness argues that a lack of consistent goal contributions and creative play prevents him from reaching the elite level.

• Lack of Goals/Assists: Compared to other top midfielders, Rice's goal and assist tallies are relatively modest. While his primary role is defensive, a world-class midfielder often contributes significantly in the attacking phases of the game.
• Passing Accuracy in the Attacking Third: While his passing accuracy in defensive areas is high, Rice's passing in the final third sometimes lacks precision, leading to missed opportunities.
• Decision-Making in Crucial Moments: In key attacking moments, Rice's decision-making can occasionally falter, resulting in poor passes or missed shooting opportunities.

While concrete statistical comparisons require extensive data analysis across various seasons and competitions, anecdotal evidence and observation support Souness's claims. In several matches, Rice has been seen to opt for safer passes, rather than attempting the more ambitious, potentially game-changing plays, a feature of many top creative midfielders.

Rice's Strengths: A Solid Foundation for Improvement

Before addressing the areas needing improvement, it's crucial to acknowledge Declan Rice's considerable strengths. His foundational skills are undeniably impressive and provide a solid platform for further development.

• Defensive Prowess: Rice excels in tackling, interceptions, and winning back possession. His ability to read the game and disrupt opposition attacks is a cornerstone of his game.
• Physicality: His strength and physical presence allow him to dominate midfield battles and win aerial duels.
• Leadership Qualities: Rice demonstrates strong leadership capabilities on the pitch, inspiring his teammates and organizing the defensive line.
• Work Rate: His tireless work rate and commitment are consistently praised by managers and teammates.
• Impact on the Team's Defensive Structure: Rice's presence significantly strengthens his team's defensive structure, providing a shield for the backline.

His importance to both West Ham United and Arsenal is undeniable. Quotes from managers like David Moyes and Mikel Arteta frequently highlight his influence on their respective teams. His consistent performances at the highest level showcase his potential to reach the highest echelons of the game.

Areas for Improvement: Developing Creative Play

To elevate his game to world-class status, Declan Rice needs to focus on enhancing his creativity and final-third contribution. This requires targeted improvements in several key areas:

• Improve Passing Range and Accuracy in the Final Third: Increased risk-taking with well-placed passes into the box will significantly improve his offensive output.
• Take More Shots on Goal: Rice should be more confident in shooting from distance and inside the box.
• Improve Ability to Create Chances for Teammates: Developing better vision, sharper passing, and an enhanced understanding of teammate runs will allow him to create more scoring opportunities.
• Work on Set-Piece Delivery: Improving his set-piece delivery could provide another avenue for goal contributions.
• Learn to Read Attacking Movements Better: Anticipating the movement of teammates and exploiting defensive gaps will lead to more creative passing opportunities.

Targeted training drills focusing on these areas, perhaps involving advanced passing exercises, shooting practice, and tactical sessions focused on final-third play, would greatly benefit his development. Studying the creative play of midfielders like Kevin De Bruyne or Bruno Fernandes could also provide valuable insights.

The Path to World-Class Status: A Holistic Approach

Becoming a world-class midfielder isn't solely about improving final-third play; it requires holistic development. Maintaining his defensive strengths while simultaneously enhancing his attacking capabilities is key.

• Maintaining Defensive Solidity: His defensive capabilities remain a crucial asset. He shouldn't sacrifice his defensive strengths for increased attacking output.
• Improving Leadership Skills: Continued development of leadership skills will make him an even more impactful player.
• Enhancing Physical Conditioning: Maintaining peak physical condition is vital to sustain his high-intensity playing style.
• Adapting to New Tactical Systems: Adaptability is crucial for success at the highest levels.
• Continued Game Experience: Consistent high-level game experience is essential for refinement and growth.

Mentorship from experienced players and coaches, combined with the right footballing environment that encourages both defensive solidity and creative expression, will be invaluable in his journey to world-class status.

Conclusion:

Graeme Souness's assessment of Declan Rice highlights the need for significant improvement in his final-third contributions to reach world-class status. While his defensive attributes are exceptional, enhancing his passing accuracy, decision-making, and goal-scoring ability will be crucial. However, this development must not come at the expense of his defensive strengths. Rice possesses the talent and work ethic to achieve this, and with focused training and experience, he has the potential to become one of the best midfielders in the world. Do you agree with Graeme Souness's assessment of Declan Rice? Share your thoughts on how he can further improve his game and reach world-class midfielder status in the comments below!