We have to hope that David Moyes is involving us in some smoke and mirrors ahead of the game against when half suggesting that Manu Lanzini may not be available for the game.
But if that is the case then the time must be here to give Nikola Vlasic a run out as Said Benrahma simply isn’t producing the goods after arriving for £30 million and making 78 appearances.
ClaretandHuigh follower hammerpete6 sums up the Algerian international’s problems as well as I’ve seen them declaring: “Already teams have worked him out.
His first instinct is to run with it/ dribble, but he is often dispossessed by a quick challenge. When he nears goal it’s drop shoulder right foot shot, no matter who is better placed.
He must astutely change or become a liability. He is turning over possession more than creating.”
Spot on and against a Bees team that has won three of its last four games we need the strongest team we can field as this is a banana skin – and a defeat double for the first time this season – we need to avoid big time.
They are going to cause us problems and I’m hoping that the recently super effective Manu is available and that Vladi Coufal is brought back into the team for Ryan Fredericks.
Moyes paid £30 million for Vlasic yet seems entirely reluctant to play him but surely he can be no worse and likely better than Benrahma.
CandH prediction 2-2
I agree, Bennie needs to develop his game if he wants to stay at West Ham, however, I am always in favour of having players return to their former clubs as it’s often a special moment and adds something for them, hopefully a MotM display.
Would love to see £24mil. Vlasic get a chance, perhaps rest some of the others like Bowen, Fornals, Mikey, Soucek, it’s a big game on Thursday.
Vlasic was probably more like 18m when you consider that the additionals won’t have been met whatsoever. Anyway it’s telling he’s fallen completely off the radar since that miss against Sevilla.