I cannot tell if by 'not making an effort' you mean Man U were not interested in Rice, or that the malaise in the club means they were never up to the challenge of negotiating a transfer for him. Given the stories I have heard about how everyone in that back room is 'learning on the job', I suspect it is the latter.
I think they generally keep hold of players longer than seems justifiable. Kroos and Modric are well past their best, but they've not got rid. Pepe is a bit of a freak and I wouldn't count him, Odegaard is a good call though, he'd certainly be in every matchday squad.
Probably the latter. He seemed like such an obvious target for what they needed, almost the Roy Keane equivalent, yet it was like they didn't realise.
Modric kept being amazing for ages, I mean he is still pretty great now. I don't think Kroos is anything like past it either.
30 I think
Really? Struggling to think who else comes close to him and Rodri.
Palhinha and Guimares are definitely around Rice's level IMO.
Bit of a terrible post this. They sign incredibly high quality players who are able to maintain high levels of performance for a number of years.
I never doubted that. My point was that they rarely sell players before they're past their best (see the 3 who went to Man Utd). I don't think Kroos or Modric are still at their best, but the fact they've still got them outlines perhaps the quality they thought the 3 they offloaded to OT were at.
Possibly, but the other factor with Rice was that he'd already proven himself in the Premier League, it was pretty much a zero risk investment.
Definitely. Chelsea signed Caicedo and Lavia instead and they’ve both bombed so far. Rice felt like more of a sure thing.
idk what you’re saying when Kroos has been great this season to the point that the German national team were begging for him to come back despite his role not being the critical absence in their team, Modric has been more inconsistent but he’s also shone well enough. if you wanted to pick out egs of players they held onto despite them being their past their best Bale is a good shout as is Isco
Caicedo has been turning it around recently tbf, if he keeps up the form in his last 2-3 matches he will eventually work out to be fine
Is he at his best? Probably not right there. Did Real think of getting rid of him at the age of 34? No.
I think he was a victim of Chelsea signing so many new players and the manager having no idea how to use them all. There are signs though now that things are starting to click, I suspect they'll be challengers for a Top 4 spot next season.
Yeah, this is how good I think he is and you could tell that from his West Ham performances. This season has just been a continuation.