Declan Rice - Signs 5 1/2 year deal (or does he...)

Hamstew

Would any proud Irishman even contemplate playing for England? I wouldn't know because I'm not an Irishman but not sure if I would play for Ireland if it was the other way around ;hmm

Cuz1

It’s the rules that’s at fault not the players who choose to work with them imo

OutcastLondoner

I think 20 years ago plenty would've chosen Ireland over England. Feelings have probably dulled now.

grey_til_I_dye

Hamstew

A question being asked after Deccers included being 'a proud Englishman' in his statement.

Cuz

That's the point of view I've seen expressed by most Irish former internationals that have had a say on it.

Hamstew

Yep that's what got me thinking about it grey ;ok I think Kilbane may have said how can he be a proud Englishman if he has already worn the green of Ireland. Unless I imagined it. But if so it works the other way to.

grey_til_I_dye

My impression is that his father considers himself Irish, and presumably hoped his son would feel the same way.

I've said before, I think he was fulfilling his father's dream playing for Ireland, rather than his own.

It seems clear that, primarily, Deccers considers himself English.

BubblesNeverDies

This:
http://whu606.com/discussion/comment/922019/#Comment_922019

;ok

BubblesNeverDies

This is interesting:


and this comment:

Conor Furlong
Breen is correct. Rice said he was a “proud Englishman”. He did not say he was a proud Irishman. He said he was proud of his Irish heritage. That’s a very different thing.

It’s like Americans who say they’re proud of their Irish heritage ...but they’re not Irish.

PrestonHammer

I used to go out and celebrate St Patricks Day but stopped when I was called a plastic paddy by Irish people because I claimed to be Irish. I tried to explain to them that I'm not claiming to be Irish, I am Irish descent because both of my grandparents are Irish and that if Irish people were green, than I would be too. It didn't seem to wash with them so I decided not to celebrate it anymore.

MrsGrey

It's not really any of their business.

imo

PrestonHammer

You're right, it's not but I couldn't be bothered with the discussion.

Cuz1

My mother was Italian but I can’t speak the lingo except ti amo lol

imagelost

PrestonHammer said:

I used to go out and celebrate St Patricks Day but stopped when I was called a plastic paddy by Irish people because I claimed to be Irish. I tried to explain to them that I'm not claiming to be Irish, I am Irish descent because both of my grandparents are Irish and that if Irish people were green, than I would be too. It didn't seem to wash with them so I decided not to celebrate it anymore.

I thought “ st “Patrick was the son of roman living neer Walsh border,, kidnaped and taken to Ireland ,,, ?

MarkNobleLocalHero

To play football? ;wink

Yeoldhammer

All said and done, he will get booed when we play Ireland regardless, on virtue of being English. xD

MrsGrey

https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2019/february/28-february/rice-wins-young-player-year-accolade-london-football-awards

Congratulations to Declan, winning Young Player of the Year at the London Football Awards. ;clap ;champagne



But ... Rice is the first West Ham player to win at the London Football Awards since Dimitri Payet was named the Premier League Player of the Year in 2016

... let's hope we don't see a repeat of what happened next ;sofa

Bazshuayi

It was lucky Longstaff doesnt play for a London team or Rice wouldve surely come second ;whistle ;wink

BubblesNeverDies

Pep on Friday told reporters: "You know we are going to try for a holding midfielder and other positions we are thinking about."

The tapping-up begins. ;nonono

IronHerb

It won't be Rice.

WHU_Champo_league_in_7_years

If fred and Jorginho both cost about £55/60mil....Id say no less than £200mil ;wahoo

grey_til_I_dye

Champo

And how much for his other leg?

Bazshuayi

Perhaps when Rice goes to Man City, Grey can provide counselling drawing on what its been like recently to lose Rice ;whome

Ok I've got to stop this Rice teasing (I just dont know how to yet ;angel Sometimes I forgot, being so far away in USA that bants should be directed at other teams supporters ;hmm )

Slaven_Cups_His_Beard

Hamstew

Best player on the pitch

claretandbluesky

Does anyone know who he was shooshing? Usually that particular tired gesture is done when a player has been getting criticism they feel is unfounded, Young Declan has been getting nothing but lavish praise from all corners of the world however! maybe that was it, maybe it was all too much and he was asking them to stop.


It also looked like he had been taking dancing lessons from Antonio, it's rubbish when Antonio does it Declan so I cant see you coming away with anything.


I am not a Rugby fan but I do wish footballers would take a leaf from their book with regard two things, when you get a knock we know it isn't child birth you are going through, and if it was you wouldn't be getting up and sprinting in 20 seconds time, just get on with it. Also not every goal needs celebrating as though it were a FA cup final winner, you scored and that's what you are meant to do, in Rugby its a well deserved pat on the back and a well done. There is no mass bundle, not shirts with messages and no robot dances, just not necessary.

Lukerz

I wondered at the time if that was where the pundits box was where he was looking towards? I know it is in a corner & I think it is that one. May have been a bit of a message regarding all the talk about his international future? Or maybe he picked up on the comment by Keown who said he felt Longstaff was a better player.

Hamstew

He was shooshing the Newcastle fans apparently. I'd heard on twitter that they were singing some pretty vile stuff about him. I'm not sure he would have done it because of the Longstaff debate. Not directly anyway.

IronHerb

It was aimed at the Newcastle fans. Their Rice wannabe was subbed at half time.

IronHerb

FIFA have given their clearance for Declan to play for England.

alderz

Apparently he’s won Irish Young Player of the Year as the voting happened a little while ago...