Ok I’ll admit it.
Few have been more damning of Jack Wilshere than me and it remains too early to start hailing some miraculous comeback after a came appearance against Newcastle.
But there was a moment which held out some hope that at long last we may be ready to get something from a bloke who has so far cost the club – at £100,000 a week for nearly two seasons – approaching £10 million in wages.
Appearing late on, the former Gooner provided a moment when, with a touch more luck and space – would have seen Mikey Antonio score from a neat ball forward which ultimately was blocked by the Chelsea keeper.
Throughout his limited time on the pitch he looked pretty decent and at a time when creativity has been very thin on the Hammers ground my fingers are crossed he can supply exactly that.
Felipe Aderson has shown himself not to be the answer, Manu Lanzini looked a little better whilst Wilshere – at his best and right now 60 per cent of that might help – is a known performer in that area.
I’m not expecting a start from him on Sunday but should Lanzini – who probably will – not be finding his touch then Jack could get 45 minutes and another opportunity to show that he has one last chance during the rest of this season and next to show that he yet has a Hammers future.
And, yes, this is a piece I was not expecting to write! 🙂
I thought he showed a few good touches, he needs some pace running off him but more than anything he needs to start grabbing games by the scruff of the neck and putting some tackles in.
Lanzini is Poor this season. He needs to sort his nut out ⚒⚒
Hugh I don’t think his quality has ever been in doubt. If he can stay fit at the level required for the Premier League then he gets a start every time in my book. Hopefully, our trainers and medical staff can keep him healthy and allow him to find his feet again. Also a bit unfair to expect him to be brilliant after just his first 20 mins in 18 months but he showed us a glimpse of what he can do.
What is the point of relying on player who has proved he is more injured than fit. Try Silva or one of the younger players. Forget old players who have never tried to really put in a lot of effort. Pick someone who has never really been given the chance.
Hugh your representation of what happened in that situation is incorrect. He went to go back the defender and the ball misdirected into the path of Antonio, it was not as you described. The last thing we need is Wilshere anywhere near this team. He is finished has no legs. If you even look at Yarmos brilliant winner you could see how many players ran by him. Stop talking about this guy, its an insult how much press this guy gets to players like Fornals, Yarmo, Anderson and Lanzini.