Souness Slams Rice for 'Old Man's Football' After Arsenal Derby Win
SingTao · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Liverpool legend Graeme Souness has launched a fierce critique of Arsenal's England international midfielder Declan Rice, accusing him of playing "old man's football" and essentially functioning as a defender rather than a top-class midfielder. Speaking on Piers Morgan's programme, Souness dissected Rice's positioning during build-up play, claiming the £105-million star retreats too far back, often becoming the deepest player in the defensive line. Despite acknowledging Rice as England's best defensive midfielder, Souness argued he cannot rank among Europe's elite complete midfielders and proposed a positional switch to centre-back.
Key Points
- Arsenal secured a 2-1 victory over Chelsea in Saturday's London derby, maintaining their competitive Premier League standing
- Graeme Souness criticized Rice for consistently dropping between the centre-backs during possession, far from typical midfield zones
- The former Liverpool manager described Rice's unpressured backward passes as "completely old man's football" and accused him of laziness
- Despite Rice's £105 million (approximately HK$1.05 billion) valuation, Souness argued he lacks the attacking influence expected of elite midfielders
- Souness proposed that Rice's exceptional defensive awareness would make him better suited as a centre-back rather than persisting as a deep-lying playmaker
Why It Matters
Souness's comments reignite the debate about modern football's evolving tactical demands, where traditional midfield roles increasingly blur with defensive responsibilities. For Hong Kong fans invested in Premier League narratives, this criticism of one of England's most expensive players highlights the tension between defensive solidity and creative midfield influence that defines top-level tactical discourse .
Souness's comments reignite the debate about modern football's evolving tactical demands, where traditional midfield roles increasingly blur with defensive responsibilities. For Hong Kong fans invested in Premier League narratives, this criticism of one of England's most expensive players highlights the tension between defensive solidity and creative midfield influence that defines top-level tactical discourse .