Today being ‘Move-On Monday“- looking forward instead of back, there are indeed strengths to this West Ham team and it is important to keep those in mind. Some of the performances can improve, will improve as we have been told on player social media accounts by everyone from Alvarez to Soler at the weekend, so let’s start looking at where we are strong.
Michael Owen, pictured, whos opinion is based on being one of the top strikers of his era, considers the deployment of Aaron Wan Bissaka as an advanced wing back, suggests that he should be playing to his strengths instead.
From Football365, Says Owen of Wan-Bissaka:
I think he’s brilliant, he’s probably the best right-back defensively in the country, in the Premier League.
“But if you’re going to ask somebody to get up wide and high and come inside and play central, I don’t know why you’d get Wan-Bissaka. That’s not his game – his game is plugging the gaps, he’s not letting anything past, he’s a brilliant defender, he’s not brilliant going forward.
Wan Bissaka – fabulous signing – in the right role.
Whilst former Hammer Jermain Defoe voiced a similar opinion:
I can’t remember seeing Wan-Bissaka play like that ever. I can’t remember the amount of times I’ve seen him running back towards his own goal; he’s never probably played like that before. I think with him, you speak about one vs one defending, he probably has to stay in his position and probably make it a little bit difficult.
“It was weird how high he played, in certain moments he was playing inverted inside.”
Wan-Bissaka at his best, a ‘brilliant’ defender – has the chance to shine in his natural right back position away at Liverpool next. Common sense will prevail and Hammers’ set up can allow some of these players to show their abilities. He has already picked up one ‘Man of The Match’ performance in his handful of games at West Ham since making the move back to London.
Recruitment is all about bringing in talent. Team management and selection is all about making the most of the available players and getting the best out of them. Jhon Duran missed a bullet by not transferring to West Ham. He is a revelation at Aston Villa. So far a bit part player, but playing in a team that is ‘secure’ at the back and not afraid to instinctively move the ball forwards. Had he come to West Ham, Duran would be resembling Michail Antonio so far this season. Given a full season up front with our team would see him being compared with Sebastian Haller and Gianluca Scamacca. Great players – but considered as flops in their times with Irons.
Lopetegui cannot get everything right from day one. Wan-Bissaka as a winger might not turn out to be a great decision. Do the day job first and add the bells and whistles when the occasion permits. Biggest problem Julen has to sort so far is to get the motivation that is demonstrated by Jarrod Bowen into the rest of the squad. Too many were ball-watching and strolling against Chelsea. More Paqueta and less Mavropanos. We used to be handicapped by having to play at the speed of Mark Noble in his closing years. There is no excuse any more. We looked good under Declan Rice. Positive play with upbeat tempo. We must not revert to deliberation and we must succumb to positive flair and up the work rate.
Julen and his support crew should have done better after three months at the helm. Let us hope that we see fruits before it becomes too late.
COYI
He may have been played “out of position”, but in my view he was still one of only three of our players who had any thing approaching a decent game. The others being Kudus & Summerville. Talking of whom ; why on earth bring your most threatening, & probably best player, on the day , off at half time (when you are 0-2 down) ? Beats me !