Graeme Souness On Declan Rice: Final Third Performance Key To World-Class Aspiration

Aria Freeman

4 min read

Post on May 03, 2025

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Souness's Criticism: A Lack of Final Third Impact

Souness's criticism centers on Rice's perceived lack of impact in the final third. While acknowledging Rice's defensive strengths and midfield dominance, Souness believes a significant improvement in his attacking contributions is necessary for him to join the ranks of the world's best. He points to a relative lack of goals, assists, and creative playmaking as key areas for development. Souness's comments, though direct, weren't solely negative; they were aimed at pushing Rice to unlock his full potential.

• Declan Rice passing: Souness highlighted the need for more incisive passing in the final third, suggesting that while Rice's distribution is generally safe, it often lacks the killer pass to unlock defenses.
• Declan Rice shooting: A noted area for improvement is his shooting accuracy and power from distance. More confident and frequent attempts on goal are needed.
• Declan Rice creativity: The lack of consistent creative plays, key passes, and chance creation was also a point of focus for Souness. Rice needs to show more vision and flair in the final third.
• Examples: Games against defensively organized teams, where Rice's distribution often becomes overly sideways, illustrate Souness's point. The lack of goalscoring opportunities created in such matches highlights the need for improvement in his final third effectiveness.
• Counterargument: It's important to note that Rice's role often prioritizes defensive stability. His team's tactical setup may limit his opportunities to showcase attacking prowess.

The Importance of the Final Third for Elite Midfielders

World-class midfielders are defined not only by their defensive work rate but also by their significant contributions in the final third. Elite players consistently demonstrate attacking prowess, impacting the game through goals, assists, and chance creation. Consider the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Luka Modrić; these players are renowned not only for their midfield mastery but also for their incredible ability to unlock defenses and create scoring opportunities.

• Goal-scoring midfielder: The ability to score crucial goals, particularly from outside the box, is a hallmark of top-tier midfielders.
• Assists: Consistent delivery of assists highlights vision, passing accuracy and understanding of teammate movements.
• Key passes: Creating high-quality chances through intelligent passing is another key indicator of final-third excellence.
• Chance creation: The ability to orchestrate attacking moves and create scoring opportunities for teammates is vital.
• Box-to-box midfielder: While Rice displays elements of this, enhancing his attacking contributions will solidify his status in this elite category.

Areas for Declan Rice to Improve

To reach world-class status, Declan Rice must focus on specific improvements in his final-third play. These improvements aren't about a complete transformation but rather a refinement of existing skills and the addition of new attacking weapons.

• Declan Rice Improvement: Targeted training focused on improving shooting accuracy, power, and technique is crucial.
• Skill Development: Working on a wider range of passes, including through balls and curlers, will enhance his creativity.
• Tactical Awareness: A deeper understanding of space and timing in the final third will allow him to make better decisions under pressure.
• Finishing: Practicing different finishing techniques, including first-time shots and volleys, will improve his goal-scoring ability.
• Decision-Making: Developing the ability to quickly assess the best attacking option and execute it effectively is key.

Declan Rice's Potential and Future Outlook

Despite the criticisms, Declan Rice possesses immense potential. His defensive contributions, physicality, and leadership qualities are already exceptional. The improvements suggested above are not about fixing fundamental flaws, but rather elevating an already excellent player to the next level.

• Declan Rice Potential: His age and current trajectory suggest he has ample time to develop these skills.
• Future Prospects: A move to a club that prioritizes attacking football could provide more opportunities to showcase his offensive abilities.
• Midfield Evolution: The evolution of his game will be fascinating to observe, especially as he matures and gains more experience at the highest level.
• Existing Strengths: His defensive solidity and work rate are exceptional assets, ensuring his value regardless of offensive contributions.

Conclusion: Declan Rice's Path to World-Class Status

Graeme Souness’s assessment of Declan Rice underscores the importance of improving his final third performance. While Rice’s defensive capabilities are undeniable, consistent contributions in the attacking third are crucial for reaching world-class status. By focusing on enhancing his shooting accuracy, passing range, creativity, and decision-making in the final third, Rice can realize his immense potential. His journey to becoming a truly elite midfielder hinges on refining these areas. Do you agree with Graeme Souness's assessment of Declan Rice's final third performance? Share your thoughts on how Declan Rice can elevate his game to world-class status in the comments below!