David Moyes may have played a very clever game with Said Benrahma last season and if pre-season is anything to go by it may well have paid off.
Sean wrote the other day that the Benny’s pre-season form could well be the reason the Hammers interest has apparently cooled in Jesse Lingard – who now seems to be in line for a sale if anyone comes in.
Said has been outstanding against the likes of Brentford and Atalanta and should he carry that sort of form into the new season we hardly need Lingard.
And it may well be that Moyes used the Manchester United 28 year old to demonstrate to the former Brentford player what he expects of him in the new season.
Moyes – per Hammers News – is quoted as saying: “Not all players come to the Premier League and are an instant hit. I had a strange feeling that there would be a big expectation on Said which maybe he wasn’t ready for. I feel he had to take his time, sit back and observe a bit.
“But he’s started very well, and I hope he continues in this form as he’s starting to give us something a little bit different. It’s good as he’s now stepping up and I hope he can show it in the games to come.”
It’s been very noticeable indeed that the £25 million signing has been operating in very similar fashion to Lingard and it would be bizarre if he hadn’t picked up a lot from the player.
It now looks very much as though the Hammers are really only (strange word in the circumstances) of a striker and central defender plus a left back if possible.
It would leave us a little short: Fornals, Benrahma, Bowen is a great collection of attacking mids. But one injury and we need Yarmolenko (who can be very good, but isn’t always). Masuaku is a possibility, but is quite often injured, and Fredricks and Johnson have been used higher up too… so, I guess there are makeshift options, but we’d really need a youngster to step up. Maybe Oko-Flex? There is Lanzini maybe, too, but I would like to see some more of him a little further back if there are chances.
I do agree though: a centre back and a striker are more of a priority than an attacking mid. I would think the order is striker, centre back, left full back. and only then an attacking mid.
Regardless, I think, there is a chance for young players to step up this season, even if we make a few signings. There could well be over 50 games.
Hugh is it possible the takeover distraction is making the owners think about selling the club and not buying players?. They might not care about next season if they will no longer be owners
Also, understand the consortium is led by a Spurs fan, do you know if this is true? If it is then I know it’s business but we surely can’t have a Spurs fan as owner???
One thing I do like about our chairman is they have never and would never sell anyone decent to Spurs (not like past chairman), no one knows what this other mob would do. They are already disrupting our season…