West Ham United fans have been reacting on Twitter to a startling debate asking who is better: Declan Rice or Newcastle United’s Sean Longstaff.
Rice, as we all know, has shown himself to be one of the best defensive midfielders in the Premier League at present with a great ability to control a game and is coming on leaps and bounds the more he plays.
As for Longstaff, the Newcastle man has only played six top-flight games for the Magpies, all coming this season, and had only been an established member of any side when on loan with Blackpool in League One when the Seasiders finished in 12th place.
But, interestingly, his stats in those six games would support there being an argument, as the 21-year-old has registered an attempted tackle once every 17.3 minutes, a successful effort every 33.4, and has cleared the ball 1.5 times per ninety minutes.
Rice, on the other hand, has averaged an attempted tackle every 22 minutes, winning the ball every 33.8, but has cleared the ball 1.8 times while playing 44.5 passes per ninety minutes throughout his 23 games this season.
With the battle a lot closer than you may have imagined, one football fan decided to start a debate to who is the better midfielder, and these West Ham fans fought for Rice’s cause in the replies…
What sort of sick joke is this
— Billy ???????? (@WHUFCBilly) February 15, 2019
How is this even a comparison, christ almighty ????????????
— Ben Hick (@MrBenHick) February 15, 2019
This poll is the equivalent of comparing Barca to West Ham.
— Tom ⚒ Jordan (@TomCOYI_92) February 15, 2019
Who the hell is Longstaff?!????
— Ciaran Condon⚒ (@CondonCiaran) February 15, 2019
Doubt he’s gonna protect Newcastle from getting relegated
— Paddy Worboyes (@Pworboyes1995) February 15, 2019
Long staff is older than rice and hasn’t achieved a quarter of what rife has achieved ????????
— West Ham Stats (@TheWestHamVault) February 15, 2019
Who is longstaff ????????
— George horton (@georgehorton23) February 15, 2019
What a joke of a poll
— joel cheshire (@joelcheshire41) February 15, 2019
Both ????????
— WHUlogical⚒ (@WHUlogical) February 15, 2019