Just like that, everyone’s talking about Republic of Ireland youngster Declan Rice.
The Premier League’s top marksman this season couldn’t find his groove on Thursday night and Declan Rice is deservedly getting a lot of the credit.
West Ham United have edged further out of the relegation zone after holding Tottenham Hotspur to a 1-1 draw in Wembley. While Pedro Obiang’s goal of the season contender was crucial to the point, it was the Hammers’ defensive prowess that earned the accolades after the final whistle blew.
Angelo Ogbonna’s performance earned rave reviews, but Rice was the man who turned the most heads with his showing in defence.
Declan Rice.
18 years old.
Man of the match.
👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/NhlflOcdCJ— West Ham United (@WestHam) January 4, 2018
Former Hammer Joe Cole led the praise for Rice after the match. He believes Rice is the homegrown academy graduate fans have been waiting for.
“They’ve (West Ham) not seen a young player come through in a long time, and stay there. This kid here, looking at him, he could get in and stay in; and that’s what the punters thrive off. They want to see one of their own in there.”
Rice has represented the Republic of Ireland from u-16 right up to u-21 level. Although he was born in London, he qualifies for the Boys In Green through his Cork grandparents. He was brought into the senior Ireland squad for friendlies against Uruguay, Mexico and the World Cup qualifier against Austria, but has yet to earn that elusive first cap.
After his performance on Thursday night though, fans will be hoping Martin O’Neill gets him in the team sooner rather than later.
https://twitter.com/mattyethers/status/949037379054075904
https://twitter.com/MichaelBeale/status/949036520530432000
https://twitter.com/TomDown3/status/948314011682172929
Another impressive hour put in by Declan Rice.
Stays on his feet for as long as possible and has a good understanding of when to step out, get tight, or drop off. Comfortable. pic.twitter.com/8RiKOhSHnv
— SCOUTED (@scoutedftbl) January 4, 2018
Declan Rice getting rave reviews all round again tonight.
We're not exactly stuck for CB's or holding midfielders but his quality is clear and not hard to see him break into our team this year. #ybig— The Opel Jersey (@TheOpelJersey) January 4, 2018
https://twitter.com/MasuakuWHUFC/status/949073223475499016
I thought @_DeclanRice was magnificent at Wembley, a young man with a huge future pic.twitter.com/JP3LQigG2j
— Ian Abrahams (Moose) (@BroadcastMoose) January 5, 2018
Declan Rice will rightly get plaudits tonight (he was my MOTM) but once again, I thought Angelo Ogbonna was superb. Two games in a row he has been excellent for West Ham.
— Sam Inkersole (@Sam_InkersoleTM) January 4, 2018
Just how good was @_DeclanRice again tonight! Maturity, awareness, calm on the ball, quality defending, playing out from the back! He should be first name on the team sheet for me going forward for a very long time! #WHUFC #westhamunited #TOTWHU
— The Boleyn WHUFC ⚒ (@boleyn_the) January 4, 2018
Declan Rice was excellent for West Ham tonight
— Phil Egan (@philegansport) January 4, 2018
Declan Rice looked brilliant tonight. You’d never know he was relatively new to the starting 11 👌🏻⚒⚽️ #TOTWHU #COYI
— hollseey (@hollseey) January 4, 2018
https://twitter.com/Reggie_Disley/status/949041671379079168
