Alan Pardew believes players should not be selected when they are not fully fit, regardless of their importance to the team, as he reflected on Declan Rice’s recent involvement with England at the World Cup.
Rice has been carrying an injury since the end of last season and has continued to feature for England throughout the tournament despite concerns over his fitness. Even with those issues, the midfielder has remained a regular starter under Thomas Tuchel because of his importance to the Three Lions.
Pardew questions Tuchel’s decision
Before England’s quarter-final against Norway, there were also reports that Rice may have been affected by illness, with a sickness bug circulating within the squad. Despite those concerns, Tuchel selected the midfielder in the starting line-up for the crucial fixture.
Rice was unable to produce his usual level of performance and was substituted during the match as England eventually secured victory in extra time. Jude Bellingham delivered an impressive display to help the Three Lions progress, but Rice’s performance attracted criticism after another difficult outing.
Former manager explains his view
Discussing the decision to start Rice, Pardew said, as reported by Talk Sport:
“So of course when I got older, and I realised that if a player wasn’t right I wouldn’t play him. They just can’t produce, they haven’t got the emotional thought process to be happy and be good.
“They’re kind of down and that and their game goes down. Dec looked like he looked down yesterday, didn’t he? You only had to look at him.
“So, he wasn’t buzzing and being the Declan Rice that we know. So that was a mistake that Thomas made there.”
Pardew’s comments reflect his belief that selecting players who are not fully fit can have a negative impact on both the individual and the team. While Rice remains one of England’s most influential midfielders, his recent fitness concerns have raised questions about whether he should continue to start such demanding matches until he has fully recovered.
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Agree entirely. Always have. Clubs should have a say. Players, of course always want to play & consider themselves fit because of injections,pain killers or ice packs. He is Arsenals player first & foremost. He should not have been picked & should not in the next game. HE IS NOT FIT!!!!!
Alan who????
I agree with Pardew,but Tuchel has brought upon problems for himself with the make up of his squad which seems to me unbalanced.The likes of James ,who is injury prone, and Henderson who is well past his sell by date ought not to have been included in the squad whilst others such as, Scott,Wharton ,Alexander Arnold and Hall of Newcastle should be in the pool.Why was Mainoo not used when Rice was substituted ?To use James who plays 90% of matches for Chelsea at right back, in a midfield role suggest that Tuchel does not trust the Man Utd player so why was he included in the squad.Despite my allegiance to Arsenal neither Madueke nor Eze justify their selection and despite reaching the semi finals,the performances of the England team has been far from impressive.Perhaps the Gods will shine on Tuchel ,England will go on to win the World Cup and the rantings of an old man will be treated with disdain?
On point with most of what you said. If Rice is out, Maino should rightly be playing in midfield not James. Madueke had a terrible game against Norway. I agree that in midfield he could have done better than Eze with other options at home. But the truth is that the team is missing the stability that Rice brings to the midfield and it is affecting the team all over the pitch. Maino sure wins balls but cannot dictate play from deep. No one in the squad, not even Bellingham can do it. That is why he keeps starting Rice. Rice does more than just winning the ball. Maino cannot replace him even though he will be better than James. That is where the scott you mentioned would have come in to try to do something. Padew can say what he likes but the truth is that Rice is irreplaceable to the team. No player in the squad or at home can do what he does. Without Rice they are just a star studded disjointed team in their play, put whoever you like. They will just have to win matches with spirited display. Disjointed yes, but they will have to fight for the result without being pleasing to the eye. If Rice does not perform, just forget about a smooth pleasing performance, especially judging by the caliber of the opposition. Which midfield combination do you want to use to dominate Argentina without Rice. It would have been possible if England had a ball playing 10. You could use Maino and Anderson to mark and win the ball while the 10 conducts play in the midfield without Rice in the team, but who is the 10. Definitely not Bellingham.
Pardew was right on his statement and t.t should not risk again against the world champions
Grandad,
You may say the rantings of an old man.
I say the rantings of a wise old man, I totally agree with every word of you’re post.
Apart from the last line, obviously.