Here’s exactly what has happened to the West Ham dressing room since Declan Rice left. Declan Rice left West Ham United to join Arsenal in the summer of 2023, and he has obviously been missed.
West Ham‘s midfield hasn’t been the same since Declan Rice left, but it seems as though he left a huge void behind regarding his influence off the pitch as well.
The 25-year-old joined Arsenal from the Hammers 16 months ago for a fee believed to be worth around £105 million, and whilst that was a great deal for us, we have never been the same team since.
Dec is one of the very best box-to-box midfielders on the planet.David Moyes and Tim Steidten in 2023 and Julen Lopetegui in 2024 failing to replace his attributes was simply unfathomable.
I have to admit, since Rice left the London Stadium, the feel-good factor seems to have disappeared from the club. So what is our dressing room really like now, in the absence of characters like Dec?
Here’s exactly what has happened to the dressing room since Declan Rice left
All is not well at the London Stadium right now, that much is clear to see. West Ham are a collective of individuals, rather than a proper team – one that lacks any kind of real leadership.
It seems to me like it’s been that way for well over a year now as well, that’s the worrying thing.
And according to the Sun, the Hammers are really missing Rice behind the scenes.
Jack Rosser wrote:
“Sources say the dressing room has become a quiet one in the absence of Declan Rice’s leadership or Mark Noble before him.“
That’s not really surprising is it.
Kurt Zouma was made captain last season – a terrible, terrible decision from Moyes, and Jarrod Bowen has the armband this term, another questionable choice, this time from Lopetegui.
If Lopetegui remains in charge of the Hammers, I firmly believe he needs to make Max Kilman or Tomas Soucek captain AND sign more leaders in the next two transfer windows. With no big characters out on the pitch, it’s no wonder that we’ve formed a habit of folding like a cheap suit when the going gets tough.
West Ham obviously miss Declan Rice badly – no shock there. However, the failure to sufficiently replace him has gone un the radar somewhat in my opinion.
