Bundesliga Expert: Isolate Fullkrug and He’ll Fail

Today, Hammers Chat spoke exclusively with Bundesliga expert Derek Rae to discuss his thoughts on summer signing Niclas Füllkrug and he didn’t pull any punches. Rae, a familiar voice on the airwaves, is ESPN’s top commentator for Germany’s biggest matches, including Bundesliga and the national team.

Rae has extensive knowledge of Füllkrug, having followed his career closely through work over his years working in Germany. In a candid interview with Hammers Chat, Rae provided honest and concerning observations on how to get the best out of a player who the Hammers paid big money for.

Rae emphasised that Füllkrug needs support, ideally in the form of a strike partner which is a concern given West Ham’s early performances under Julen Lopetegui.

“The distances between different parts of the team could be a big problem. If Füllkrug finds himself isolated, he’s probably not going to prosper,” Rae commented.

“His strike partner needs to complement him, bringing out his strengths. Last season, I was concerned Dortmund didn’t cross the ball often, and without a striking partner or regular crosses, it was hard to get the best out of him.”

Rae concluded that West Ham must either find a suitable strike partner or ensure fast players operate close to Füllkrug, running beyond him as they do for the national team. If Julen Lopetegui is to get the best out of his £27m forward, Füllkrug cannot be left isolated up front.