West Ham’s former employees, Tim Steidten and Julen Lopetegui, were so busy playing the blame game over central defender Nayef Aguerd that they both got it wrong.
In the game of ‘he said, she said,’ both Steidten and Lopetegui have accused the other of being responsible for Aguerd’s summer exit.
The Moroccan centre-back is spending the season on loan in La Liga and has been a revelation. So much so that the likes of Madrid and Barcelona are rumoured to be interested in signing him permanently—quite an embarrassment for the Hammers given how short we are on defenders.
However, it’s worth noting that Aguerd had been agitating for a move for more than 12 months before he eventually left for Real Sociedad. Such was the 28-year-old’s determination to leave the London Stadium that he even appointed a new agent to speed up his departure.
Aguerd was being offered to clubs in Germany, Italy, Spain, and Saudi Arabia while David Moyes was still in charge. So, in this instance, he’s probably not a good candidate for the blame game being played out between Lopetegui and Steidten.
Like many others, I’m hopeful he can return to West Ham and thrive as the left-sided centre-back in Graham Potter’s three-man defence. That said, it’s the player himself who will take some convincing that the London Stadium is where he wants to play his football again
Aguerd helped us win a European trophy. I’ll always thank him for that. Don’t know if he left or was forced out, who knows. At the end of the day it would be up to him if he wants to come back I guess. No surprise some players wanted out when Rice left and then when Moyes went. Also Benrahma and Zouma left, Aguerds best mates. There would have been a different vibe about the place for him.
Aguerd was agitating for a move for a year before his eventual loan, and offered to clubs in 4 different countries. You even point out he appointed a new agent to speed up his departure, so it was hardly a surprise when he moved to Real Sociade! He didn’t want to play for the club and had already said his goodbyes.
It’s time to move on.
Another non story. Aguerd had wanted to leave for ages and this site was amongst the many saying he wasn’t good enough for the Premier League, yet now you are making out he is a superstar and having another unfair and baseless crack at Steiden.
The club will regret getting rid of Steiden and the best thing with Augerd is to sell him to the highest bidder come the summer
I will be glad when this FA Cup week is over and you and Martin find something current to talk about. How you manage to always leave yourselves out of the “blame game” is almost an art form.
To be fair, even if we had Virgil van Dyke under Moyes, he would have struggled. Anyone with their backs to the wall for 85 minutes is eventually gonna make a mistake. I would have Aguerd back in a stroke!
Aguerd leaving was nothing to do with either Lopetegui or Steidten, he didn’t want to play for the club.
A low block doesn’t really suit him as a player and it may even be that premier league football doesn’t suit him as a player. He’s a good player but wasn’t a good fit.
Aguerd’s speed is perfect in a high line possession based tactical set up which isn’t the Moyes or LOSEpetegui way . Potter’s tactics on the other hand could be a perfect match for Aguerd’s offensive ball playing skills .
agreed! this is all Moyes’ fault. Aguerd captained his country to a WC semi-final and is possibly one of the quickest backs we’ve seen at WH. he possesses a lovely passing game too. hopefully Potter can convince him to come back and occupy the spot Cressy currently has
i suppose Fulkrug was a brilliant signing too if you believe snidens point of view
shut the f**k up, Annie. you’re a sad bore