By Allen Cummings
Robert Snodgrass was only a very late substitute against Brightonas Manuel Pellegrini sought in vain to find the goal our second half performance deserved.
The fact it didn’t come was a huge disappointment all round, but that didn’t stop Snoddy spending almost as long applauding the travelling West Ham faithful at the end of the game as he’d spent on the pitch.
They duly responded in kind. Illustrating perfectly the amazing change in relationship between him and them this season
When Pellegrini was ‘splashing the cash’ during the summer, bringing in new faces to spark his West Ham revolution, few would have given much thought to the future at the club of Snodgrass.
Just a reminder. He’d spent the majority of last season on loan at Aston Villa, as the Villains battled to regain their Premiership status, a battle they ultimately lost. A permanent move to Villa Park, or elsewhere, looked a serious option.
But Pellegrini, in his wisdom, insisted neither Snodgrass nor anyone else would be going anywhere before he had personally assessed them and their worth to his squad.
Snoddy has seized his opportunity with both feet!
The Scottish international has been unrecognisable this season from the forlorn and much maligned figure of the Slaven Bilic era. Brought in by Bilic to fill the void after the departure of Dimitri Payet, a poison chalice if ever there was one, Snodgrass suffered mercilessly at the hands of some West Ham fans, who used the comments of the Co Chairman to fuel their criticism.
His loan move was probably a welcome relief to him. But this season there has been a complete sea change in his play and the home supporters’ perception of him. There’s been a spring and an energy about Snodgrass. A determination and a hunger that’s been obvious every time he’s taken to the pitch.
Supporters who were once calling for his head and now happy to chant his name. Following the recent Manchester United game Jose Mourinho, not known for dishing out praise lightly, held Snodgrass up as an example for his multi-million pound stars to follow.
He said: “When you could see for example Snodgrass coming to the pitch with an incredible attitude that he wants to eat the ball and eat everyone around him. You need that humility. You have always to try.”
Pellegrini will know know full well what his counterpart meant. He also knows in Snodgrass he has the same qualities he sees in Pablo Zabaleta and Mark Noble. Experience, knowhow, influence and leadership.
Snoddy knows he won’t always be a starter – but his manager knows he will always be a contributor and an influence when called upon. That is going to be vital in the season that lies ahead.