CandH Exclusive By Hughie Southon
West Ham have put a halt on contract talks with Ben Johnson’s representatives given the defender’s current form.
The two sides have been unable to come to an agreement on a new deal in previous negotiations this year.
And such has been the player’s performance levels over this season’s games that there are no certainties on his and other players new deals Claret and Hugh has been told.
The 22-year-old has been used in just seven Premier League games this season playing back- up to both Philo Kehrer and Vladi Coufal.
It was thought the player was nailed on for a new deal before he comes out of contract but no further negotiations are planned beyond those already concluded along with other players.
A key London Road source added that the league position was very worrying and made the renewal of contracts very difficult.
That is code for the threat of relegation with our source saying: ” He and others haven’t been in great form and we ’ll review in due course.
Where we are in the table makes creates a big problem and makes it very difficult to do any new contracts, but we have to stay up.”
Yes, I’m afraid he fails to convince me that he’s up to the Premiership, his only saving grace is that he can play, if required, on the left – not good enough, alas! 😳
Hold hard here – this young man, still an U23, has been played outrageously in three different positions, thrown in and then dropped every time, been given responsibility to backfill anywhere in the back line and criticised if he drops below excellent, and now fans say not good enough? Just how many senior players in any club are asked to do that? He should be being developed personally into one position and given a run for consistency, not used as an out of position sticking plaster by Moyes and then blamed. What are we doing?
I agree with you hammerpete6. But it makes you question what is going on when Ben Johnson’s form deserted him at pretty much the same time as so many other of our players.
Is it all down to fatigue, too many games, being played out of position etc? Or has Moyes lost the dressing room? Surely there must be frustration from the players over Moyes refusing to drop out of form players and refusing to try different formations and tactics. I think Antonio was up for a front two attack alongside Scamacca but Moyes wouldn’t listen.