(Photo by James Griffiths/West Ham United FC via Getty Images)
I haven’t seen enough of Said Benrahma to know whether I rate him as a Premier League player but I think I know enough about David Moyes to believes he may have more than than a few doubts!
There’s was plenty of talk pre-season about whether the manager wanted him or Josh King at the club and I remember one agent telling me: “He won’t get many games under this manager!”
Whether that’s true or not remains to be seen but the signs are becoming slightly ominous for the Algerian international.
When a player for whom we apparently will be paying £30 million at the end of the season can’t get on the field against Brighton when a 33 year old Noble – with his best years well and truly behind him can – is more than a bit concerning.
Quite why Noble was playing and what his job was supposed to be is big question – it didn’t look good for the boy from Brentford.
That Lanzini was preferred to him as a second half sub today and did enough to justify squad inclusion against Southampton also raises some questions.
For the record here’s the Benrahma appearance record since he arrived.
- 1 minute against Liverpool.
- 18 mins against Fulham with an assist.
- 45 mins against Villa with an assist.
- 15 mins against Man Utd.
- 84 mins against Leeds.
- 88 mins against Palace.
- 23 mins v Chelsea.
In total just under three games!
That’s not encouraging and when compared to Jarrod Bowen, Tomas Soucek and Vladimir Couval’s starts with the club a scenario which has you wondering quite where this situation is heading.
His originally planned permanent move was amended to a loan with an “obligation” to buy at the end of the season when he had problems with some blood tests at his medical.
Now, with 15 games of the 38 gone and for which he has been available for nine something needs to change in Said Benrahma’s worl – whether David Moyes is ready to change it is beginning to look questionable.
Shame I’d of had Lanzini or Fornals as AM & Benrahma bon left especially with Tariq out. Noble said himself while back now he can’t be relied on & he isn’t an AM imo, Lanzini looked good. Tbh I think Johnson did well & considering the team was so bad. I like him as LB tbh I think he has looked better at LB in PL then RB. Some are good inverted FBs & think with Antonio Lanzini in AM or Fornals with & Benrahma on left. Has WB or LB I think he could do job in better team has pace & he can pass so can cut inside & help to start attacks by getting ball to AMs & Winger cutting in.
We play again in two days against Southampton. I’m sure Moyes will play him in that one.
Thanks for this article, and extremely relevant question.
How must Said B feel about these snubs. He us a million times better than all 20 on-field players, and given a fair chance, he will prove that?
This stinks just as bad as the covid issue.
And dont forget Antonio went through similar treatment with Slav B, who never rated him as a striker. And today?
And then Moyes highly rates Noble, Fornals and Jarrod above Said B, Lanzini, and Yarmo … and see what the 2 subs did today … and what Said B could have brought.
Another article asks if there is a clause in this flimsy contract stating if Said B plays a certain amount of games … WH would be obliged to make him permanent.
All these conspiracies … something in it?
Whether he is a Sullivan player or a Moyes player, every West Ham fan I’ve read on forums after the last 2 games (and between us all we have thousands of years of watching our team, week-in, week-out) share the opinion that Benrahma would be better than Mark Noble in that central midfield role, which therefore begs the question: why doesn’t the manager?
Having watched Behrhama play for Brentford his defensive shortcomings were obvious. He has skills but is selfish, and falls over alot. Cannot afford to have him play #10 till Arthur Masuaku is back, though Johnson did a passable job considering out of position.
As a aside, I didn’t think too much of Ollie Watkins either, but he seems to have made the grade. 50:50 is dumb luck.
Always assumed Benrahma was a Sullivan signing. Think this confirms it.
Today’s selection was absolutely atrocious. Hoping it’s not a sign of things to come with Moyes reverting to type.
Benrahma obviously not a Moyes signing. Not sure why we signed hm. I thought one of our best performances of the season was away to Leeds and I thought he played a huge part that night. I have not been as impressed since but a player will not get better sitting in the stands. He has lots to prove yet but the logic of playing Noble ahead of him in the last two games is baffling at best. Moyes has cost us at least 3 points in the last two games with his team selections.
It is a telling sign that Benrahma is in his mid 20s playing in the championship and not many other premier league teams were trying to sign him. He seems to be a very good championship player because there you get time on the ball, but so far i think he’s an average premier league player.
Surely poor Noble has had his lot.Players like old soldiers never die and need to be pushed aside otherwise they carry on embarrassing themselves as HE IS NOW..Leave us with the memories Nobes and not this shadow of what you once were.
1 minute against Liverpool.
– ignore
18 mins against Fulham with an assist.
– assist and crucial 3 points
45 mins against Villa with an assist.
– assist and crucial 3 points
15 mins against Man Utd.
– was brought on far too late
84 mins against Leeds.
– was brilliant in the 10 role
88 mins against Palace.
– got crowded out by some extremely athletic and large physical men
23 mins v Chelsea.
– did well, but brought on left side instead of where noble was wasting away
I think he has been pretty good when he’s started and been given enough minutes. Only palace bullied him out of the game.
I agree I would like to know why Cresswell can’t play left wing back and Diop at CB and play a creative player instead of Noble preferably Benrahma
Yup.
How can he not trust one of the 2 spare CBs to play left side of a 3. Then cress to a natural LWB position, natural enough anyway.
But instead, he’s messed around with the entire team formation, including the crucial midfield which we’ve only just cracked. He’s messed about Fornals, who was in form, and Coufal in terms of RB/RWB expectations.
So for the sake of not asking one CB to play on the opposite side to usual, but in the right area of the pitch, he’s compromises nearly 50% of the rest of the team.
And his treatment of Said and Lanzini is awful. No trust simply because they like to carry the ball and play passes, rather than lump it.