Benrahma? Trust Moysie

By CandH’s top blogger Allen Cummings

Said Benrahma has already shown he has the ability to make a real and valuable contribution to the West Ham side David Moyes is continuing to craft.

He made a big impression with his first start against Leeds United, but last night against Crystal Palace he found the going much tougher and the game much harder to influence.

Said is very much a ‘work in process’ – which is exactly what Moyes was trying to emphasise when he refused to jump on the Benrahma bandwagon following our victory at Elland Road. A stance some people questioned.

This isn’t a criticism of Benrahma – simply an observation. Palace were a far more organised and resolute team than Leeds. They denied the Algerian the space and freedom to operate in, something he enjoyed to full effect last Friday.

As a consequence he found it much harder to carry the ball forward, run at and commit defenders, which is his game.

He never really got going, found himself running into cul-de-sacs and as a result looked frustrated at times, giving up the ball a little too easy on occasions for my liking – and I’m sure for his manager’s  too.

In some ways Said could learn from Palace’s Eberechi Eze, who looked an impressive purchase by Roy Hodgson. Moyes admitted he was interested in the former Queen’s Park Rangers player, but at the time he was on the market the finances weren’t in place to make a successful bid.

Eze was possibly Palace’s best player last night, but was somewhat surprisingly sacrificed by Hodgson when Benteke was sent off. Eze looks to be physically stronger than Benrahma at the moment, too – and able to involve himself more regularly in the game.

But Eze’s confidence has come with game time – which is what Benrahma now needs to build on. With fixtures coming thick and fast at the moment, there will be plenty of opportunity for Said to grow in stature and durability.

Moyes knew exactly the way to integrate Jarrod Bowen’s talents into the team – and now the former Hull City man is a vital cog in the wheel. The manager will continue to do what he believes is right for Said Benrahma and the team – an why wouldn’t we trust him on that.