22 Jul 2026 10:39:36.
Watching Souness commenting on Rice, saying he is not a world class centre midfielder because he runs too much with the ball. Thinks instead he should take at most 2 touches and then progress the ball.
Have to say when I coach I prefer my cm to release it quickly to open up the play. But then again I’m nowhere near Arteta's level.
Still goes to show why footy is so good - so many different ways to play the game.
22 Jul 2026 11:33:43
I like listening to Souness and he does come out with good stuff.
My favourite from that specific interview was where he described what is wrong with modern football.
He states, back in the good old days, the forwards and mavericks used to have the most touches of the ball, and now centre forwards are getting less than 20 touches a game, and the players with the most touches are centre halves.
22 Jul 2026 12:11:21
I've never understood the love for Rice.
He reminds me of a poor version of Henderson.
Even if he does take only 2 touches, he still takes too long to move the ball, and 90% of the time it's a sideways pass.
Henderson was a fantastic captain, but was also limited on the ball, but head and shoulders above Rice.
Both worked really hard, but for some strange reason, Rice seems to get so much more praise than Henderson ever did by the media.
22 Jul 2026 12:28:20
I don't think Rice is a bad player, but he's nowhere near the level the media like to gas him up to be... Difficult to say how much is down to his ability or Arteta's negative tactics, though.
I don't think he is disciplined enough or a good enough tackler to be a 6, and he doesn't have the vision or passing range/quality to be a world class 8... Hendo clears him atm, but he's still young.
22 Jul 2026 12:39:20
I posed this question recently. Comparing him with a peak Henderson. Rice is excellent at his best. He's a level below "world class".
22 Jul 2026 13:00:11
There's nowt wrong with constructive criticism from Souness.
Souness was better than Rice, but Rice is better than Henderson.
22 Jul 2026 13:34:26
Souness is right, Rice isn't World Class, not in my book anyway. Very good player, no doubt about it. He's overrated by the gooners, in my opinion, but look, I'm sure they feel the same way about us and Henderson.
What Henderson may have lacked in ability, he more than made up for with his leadership. I'm not seeing that with Rice at the moment; maybe that will change with time and experience.
22 Jul 2026 14:04:07
Rice and Henderson both have the same amount of PL medals, and both equally failed to rally England enough over the line in regards to leadership.
I suppose the only people who could answer the question of who is a better leader are the ones who have played with both.
22 Jul 2026 14:16:39
Sadly for me, Souness' opinions are tainted by the lacklustre job he did managing us.
22 Jul 2026 14:56:14
Souness managed us in a very difficult period for a lot of reasons.