Declan Rice has hit back at fans again but the West Ham captain needs to get off social media and concentrate on the team.
There is an old saying which West Ham skipper Rice would do well to take stock of at the moment.
‘There is nothing is to be gained by arguing with fools’ is a saying traced back to famous humorist Mark Twain and it is very apt for West Ham’s talisman right about now.
The saying is believed to have derived from Twain’s passage: ‘Never argue with a fool; onlookers may not be able to tell the difference’.
Both derivatives need to be taken on board by Rice amid West Ham’s serious problems this season.
Yesterday Hammers News reported that Rice had responded to fan criticism on social media over his body language towards his West Ham teammates.
Responding to a fan on Instagram, Rice denied he has been throwing his hands up at his fellow players but rather decisions on the pitch.
“I don’t throw my hands at anyone or would ever throw my hands at my teammates,” Rice said on social media.
“I throw my hands at decisions on a football pitch, I’m passionate and care, if it was at my teammates it would be because I know we can be better. Stop assuming.”
Now Rice has been involved in another back and forth with West Ham supporters online after suggestions he described as ‘complete nonsense’.
‘Complete nonsense’ Declan Rice hits back at fans again but West Ham captain needs to get off social media and concentrate on team
Rice has hit back at fans again but the West Ham captain needs to get off social media and concentrate on the team.
Some supporters commented that Rice’s body language suggests he has ‘given up’ on West Ham.
Rice responded by saying: “Keep reading little comments like these that are 1-funny and 2-complete nonsense.
“I would never, ever give up for the fans or the club. Of course times on a football pitch get tough! But especially as captain and wearing this shirt, I know exactly what it means to play for West Ham.”
The first thing to say is that none of us want our players to be robots. We want to see personality, character, interaction and players that care.
We want a West Ham captain who is in touch with what fans are thinking and saying. And we want players to voice their opinions.
But there is nothing to be gained from engaging in this kind of petty, public bickering.
That is not to suggest these particular West Ham fans are wrong by the way, far from it. They are fans like anyone else who are entitled to their opinion. Rice knows that too.
There is, though, a school of thought – perhaps old school in nature – that a true fan would never directly criticise a player in such a way so as to get a rise or reaction.
Whatever way you look at it, Rice did upset and anger a large section of fans with his comments about his Champions League ambitions while on England duty at the World Cup.
But let’s have it right, in terms of effort levels and performances on the pitch, Rice does not need to explain himself or answer to any West Ham fan.
It’s great that Rice is willing to put his head above the parapet during tough times. It says everything about his character.
He is fighting a losing battle in that respect, though. Social media is awash with keyboard warriors and who is to say some of the people who goad Rice online are even West Ham fans? They could be supporters of other clubs stirring the pot after all.
Rice needs to get off social media and not let any more negativity creep into his thinking.
Give the team, his teammates and manager 100 per cent of his focus and shove these suggestions back down people’s throats in the best way – on the pitch.
Rice should be applauded for caring enough to respond and interact with fans online.
But there is a time and a place and until the skies are clearer above West Ham perhaps now and social media is not it.
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