Player who left West Ham in 2018 says Declan Rice is not a leader

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A player who left West Ham United back in 2018 has suggested that Hammers captain Declan Rice is not a leader.

The 24-year-old took the West Ham captain’s armband from Mark Noble when the 35-year-old returned at the end of last season.

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There have been numerous times over the past year or so where his leadership skills have been called into question though.

Rice’s petulant reaction after our Europa League defeat against Eintracht Frankfurt was actually quite embarrassing to watch. Then there have been the multiple times when he throws his arms up in the air in the direction of his teammates, after they’ve made a mistake.

The latest blot on his copybook was his reaction to out 4-0 defeat to Brighton on Saturday, when he appeared to have a pop at the fans. I’m sorry but the fact that he said if they were experts they would be on the pitch completely rules out that jibe being aimed at pundits like Roy Keane.

And now his leadership has been called into question by a former Hammer…

Patrice Evra makes claim about West Ham ace Declan Rice

The 41-year-old, who left the Hammers in 2018, suggested that the 24-year-old isn’t yet ready to assume a leadership role, when speaking on Rio Ferdinand’s Vibe with Five YouTube channel:

“I played with Declan during my short time at West Ham. What I loved about the kid is, first of all, he is really humble, he wants to learn and I see the progress. Now he is making the right decisions. He can play for a top club if he has the right manager and the right players around him. He’s not a leader, he’s not ready in the way people in the media talk about him. I played with him. He’s not ready but he’s going in the right direction.”

That’s a fair comment from Evra, as much as some of our fans might not like to admit it.

Rice has a long way to go before he’s captain material in my book.

However, he has a big task between now and the end of the season. Declan Rice is the current West Ham captain, and we need to him to start leading by example.

If we are to stay up, we need Rice on his best form, that’s for sure.

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23-yo West Ham man not good enough or the PL after Brighton shocker, it’s as simple as that