Whilst most of us have switched off footy for the season and now sit and enjoy re-runs of the EUCL final of 2 years ago that keeps popping up on social media feeds, West Ham still have players active in the international arena. Germany took on France today in the customary, pointless third and fourth placed playoff for the UEFA Nations League competition.
You might expect at this stage of a season the legs are weary, the older players might be reduced to bit parts: Certainly not the case for Hammer Niclas Fullkrug who started-and finished the game against France and had the most shots of anyone on the pitch (4).
Fullkrug at 32 might have an excuse for an early bath but played the whole 90 minutes + stoppage time in the game which the French won 2-0 thanks in part to some dodgy VAR calls. Having spent half the season out injured ‘West Ham’s German’ is obviously not carrying long-term fatigue.
There is a serious point here: If Germany’s international manager Julian Nagelsmann feels that Fullkrug can be an effective forward for ninety minutes then maybe he and Graham Potter need to have a chat: Potter’s own reluctance to use Fulkrug as a ‘starter’ has drawn widespread criticism.
To be fair, in last years European Championship tournament Fullkrug was limited to ‘super-sub’ appearances for the German side but evidently he has impressed with his fitness levels in a way which apparently cuts no ice at Rush Green. If nothing else, it would seem Fullkrug is ready to hit the ground running in preseason and stake his claim as a starter in Potter’s Premier League side for August.
Which is just as well since at present it looks as if he is West Ham’s only forward.
I thought we looked a much better team with Fullkrug on the pitch and Bowen out wide. That option wasn’t available enough last season but it looked decent when it was. He’s a better player than people give him credit for, with good movement, nice touches and short passing when he drops into the 10 position (often vacant) and a reliable menace in the air – classic 9 stuff. I hope he stays as an option, with a pacey striker as the first choice.
Headline: “Fulkrug completes 90 minutes!!”
Unfortunately his performance on the whole did not garner much positive reaction from local media from what I’ve seen…
Because he’s not fit. Which explains why Potter didn’t start him.
We do everything arse upwards at W ham As soon as our players go on international duty or move on to other clubs they start to perform and fitness levels improve TELLS YOU SOMETHING DOSNT IT
It’s the players and it hasn’t changed for 40 years.
The glory boys would turn it on and win at Manu. The following Wednesday they would lose at home to Hull.
The team get relegated and all of a sudden the players are called world class and transfer to Manu, Chelsea etc etc.
I think he’ll be good to go when the season starts and be a useful squad member.
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Thanks for the Potter’s alert.
Carefully watching Potter’s team selection, esp his neglect of Fullkrug + Ferguson, personally I feel Potter does not have a clue how to play the players at his disposal.
Also the few minutes he has given to Guilhermo is questionable too. So is his choice of the backline.
Hopingly all this can be cleared up in the new season?
Cheers. Personally I think Potter did Fullkrug and Ferguson a huge favour by not playing them.
Since he has been steadily making his return from injury and slowly improving his fitness even since the end of the season it’s no surprise if he’s playing now. I doubt he’s at peak fitness though. For the start of the new season and given a rest he might be.