Can see why we wanted Bissouma. His take on percentage is up there w/ Partey. Attrmpts were way lower last season (0.3 per game) but they’re way higher this season (1.9 per game) with Ange ball. For context, Partey averaged 1.5 per game last season. So Bissouma’s on course to hit 60+ assuming the same number of apps as last season. Big IF to maintain that level though.
Rice has already shown himself to be better than peak Partey for me after 17 starts. tl;dr we haven’t had a ball winner as good as Rice since Viera and we need this steel in our midfield for the other two more creative midfielders to flourish. Partey is only better than Rice at line splitting passes (passing progression) or being press-resistant - these are two qualities the other two midfielders will have in spades (think Ozil/Fabregas/Odegaard/Ramsey/Cazorla/Wilshere).
Purely going off of current Rice and peak Partey:
Defending: Rice is clear. He won possession more times than any player last season, and the numbers have only gotten BETTER this year. He gets dribbled past less, covers more ground and is more athletic than Partey. I don’t think we’ve had a ball winner this good since Viera. The counter attacks that we get from him winning the ball is game changing - think Saka’s goal against Sevilla.
Passing: Partey is better at line splitting passes and progressive passing, but is more error prone. Rice hardly gives the ball away and so far seems to have a better weight of pass and can hit a pinged pass better too.
Dribbling/Press-resistance: Rice is better at driving forward with the ball, but Partey is definitely better at beating the press and turning his man, but can sometimes get caught out too. Ex: Rice won the ball from Partey last season close to our box, leading to Gabriel giving away a penalty. Not entirely his fault, but 2 crucial points missed.
Shooting: Neither player has scored many goals over their career, but Rice has shown he has the more consistent shooting ability and has already scored two very important goals. Remember when Partey shooting to row Z was a meme?
Durability: Hugely important, but imo it’s not a fair comparison to include injury record when comparing the two because Partey is 30 and we’ve seen almost all of his career whereas Rice is only 24. Back at Atletico, Partey barely missed any games - just like Rice so far. Crossing my fingers here for Rice.
And a 24 year old Rice will only get better.
Rice has already shown himself to be better than peak Partey for me after 17 starts. tl;dr we haven’t had a ball winner as good as Rice since Viera and we need this steel in our midfield for the other two more creative midfielders to flourish. Partey is only better than Rice at line splitting passes (passing progression) or being press-resistant - these are two qualities the other two midfielders will have in spades (think Ozil/Fabregas/Odegaard/Ramsey/Cazorla/Wilshere).
Purely going off of current Rice and peak Partey:
Defending: Rice is clear. He won possession more times than any player last season, and the numbers have only gotten BETTER this year. He gets dribbled past less, covers more ground and is more athletic than Partey. I don’t think we’ve had a ball winner this good since Viera. The counter attacks that we get from him winning the ball is game changing - think Saka’s goal against Sevilla.
Passing: Partey is better at line splitting passes and progressive passing, but is more error prone. Rice hardly gives the ball away and so far seems to have a better weight of pass and can hit a pinged pass better too.
Dribbling/Press-resistance: Rice is better at driving forward with the ball, but Partey is definitely better at beating the press and turning his man, but can sometimes get caught out too. Ex: Rice won the ball from Partey last season close to our box, leading to Gabriel giving away a penalty. Not entirely his fault, but 2 crucial points missed.
Shooting: Neither player has scored many goals over their career, but Rice has shown he has the more consistent shooting ability and has already scored two very important goals. Remember when Partey shooting to row Z was a meme?
Durability: Hugely important, but imo it’s not a fair comparison to include injury record when comparing the two because Partey is 30 and we’ve seen almost all of his career whereas Rice is only 24. Back at Atletico, Partey barely missed any games - just like Rice so far. Crossing my fingers here for Rice.
And a 24 year old Rice will only get better.
Rice has already shown himself to be better than peak Partey for me after 17 starts. tl;dr we haven’t had a ball winner as good as Rice since Viera and we need this steel in our midfield for the other two more creative midfielders to flourish. Partey is only better than Rice at line splitting passes (passing progression) or being press-resistant - these are two qualities the other two midfielders will have in spades (think Ozil/Fabregas/Odegaard/Ramsey/Cazorla/Wilshere).
Purely going off of current Rice and peak Partey:
Defending: Rice is clear. He won possession more times than any player last season, and the numbers have only gotten BETTER this year. He gets dribbled past less, covers more ground and is more athletic than Partey. I don’t think we’ve had a ball winner this good since Viera. The counter attacks that we get from him winning the ball is game changing - think Saka’s goal against Sevilla.
Passing: Partey is better at line splitting passes and progressive passing, but is more error prone. Rice hardly gives the ball away and so far seems to have a better weight of pass and can hit a pinged pass better too.
Dribbling/Press-resistance: Rice is better at driving forward with the ball, but Partey is definitely better at beating the press and turning his man, but can sometimes get caught out too. Ex: Rice won the ball from Partey last season close to our box, leading to Gabriel giving away a penalty. Not entirely his fault, but 2 crucial points missed.
Shooting: Neither player has scored many goals over their career, but Rice has shown he has the more consistent shooting ability and has already scored two very important goals. Remember when Partey shooting to row Z was a meme?
Durability: Hugely important, but imo it’s not a fair comparison to include injury record when comparing the two because Partey is 30 and we’ve seen almost all of his career whereas Rice is only 24. Back at Atletico, Partey barely missed any games - just like Rice so far. Crossing my fingers here for Rice.
And a 24 year old Rice will only get better.
Still remember some beautiful lobs he scored in some cup games. Remember thinking, what a talent. Shame he never quite had the ability to make it here
I was lucky to be there that game sitting high up but with a perfect view right in line behind him. Ridiculous finish. Then the next day I went on a stadium tour and took a selfie right in his spot in the locker room.
Seems like every time he gets a good run of form he picks up a knock though. Fingers crossed