Eamon Dunphy has said that Republic of Ireland and West Ham United defender Declan Rice should stay off Twitter after the 19-year-old took to the social media platform to apologise for his mistake in the lead up to Aaron Ramsey’s goal in the Hammers 4-1 defeat to Arsenal on Sunday.
Rice ducked a second-half cross from Ramsey in the belief that West Ham goalkeeper Joe Hart would have the delivery covered.
Hart was caught off guard by Rice’s hesitation as the ball went into the back of the net to give Arsenal a 2-1 lead.
A late double from Alexandre Lacazette compounded the Gunners misery with Moyes claiming that Rice’s mistake ultimately flattened his side.
“The young centre-half should head the ball away and it wouldn’t have even got to 2-1, it was that easy. Why he would duck in the box I’ve got no idea,” the former Manchester United manager told Sky Sports following the game.
“But look, we’ve all been young players going into games and we’re always going to make mistakes. The most important thing is you learn from your mistakes, you don’t do it again and you understand how important it is. Even if Joe Hart did shout, any centre-half – and I was one of them – can never let the ball go. The ball is in the middle of your goal and you are probably only six yards from your goal.
“You can never let the ball go. You deal with it and you argue about it afterwards. The rules for any centre-half have always been, ‘I’m going to head it clear first and talk to you after’. We are distraught for the team because I thought the team’s efforts were incredible. We’ve had good results and I think today we were going a long way to getting a good result.”
I'm young.. I'll make mistakes.. it's all a leaning process to get to the top. thank you too the fans again who were brilliant❤⚒ ready to bounce back next week.
— Declan Rice (@_DeclanRice) April 22, 2018
Dunphy believes that anything that goes on between himself and his coach should stay within the dressing room and should not be broadcast on social media.
“It was very unlike David Moyes – he’s not really like that and I can’t remember him publicly criticising a player before,” Dunphy told RTÉ Sport.
“Certainly, Declan Rice should get off Twitter because anything that goes on between himself and his coach should stay within the dressing room – you don’t need to go public like he did.
“He’s a very good, young player. Young players make mistakes and you have to put your hand up sometimes. David Moyes is a good guy, he’s not some fool, and he was clearly angry.
“He shouldn’t have had a go at the kid, but the kid should keep quiet and get on with his work. It’s one mistake, he’ll learn.
“If you’re on Twitter answering your coach, then you’re on the wrong side of where you should be. If Moyes has a problem with his attitude, then there’s probably something wrong with his attitude.”
