Robert Snodgrass has delivered a devastating assessment of his time at West Ham and how he couldn’t wait to get out of the London Stadium.
And he claims his entire problem at the club centred on Slaven Bilic’s determination to play him out of position.
Speaking to Aston Villa media officials following his loan move he said: “I think last season my quality was scoring goals and creating goals and I did that in the first part of the season (at Hull),”
“I went to West Ham and I had a manager that played me out of position. To be honest with you it was very tough to take. Sometimes, with the way you’ve been brought up, you try to just put your heart on your sleeve and play anywhere.
“To get the best out of any player you need to play him in his best position, it’s as simple as that. I’ve done it my full career,” he said. I’ve scored goals, created goals everywhere I’ve been.
“You need to play your right position and this is the reason why I made the step to try and go and play football.
“I spoke to the manager there (West Ham) and said to him, ‘You wanted me to try and replace Payet, it’s not my position’.
“I couldn’t have made that any more clear. When I spoke to him this season I said ‘I need to play my position, I need a run of games in my position’. This is the reason why I’ve come here.
“I’ve got a manager (Steve Bruce) who knows what I’m about. He’s signed me for a lot of money at Hull. To get the best out of any player you need to play them in their right position, it’s as simple as that.”
“I just get a smile on my face talking about it,” he said. “It’s a terrific club with a great set of fans. I haven’t enjoyed not knowing what’s happening (at West Ham). “Nobody’s spoken to me at West Ham really and it’s a weird feeling.
“I’ve always had a Bristish-based manager who has talked to me and had a good relationship with, so to have that feeling back is a good feeling.
“I can’t wait. I’ve got that feeling knowing what the Championship’s all about, knowing you’re coming here with some terrific players.”
The players know the problem and (most) of the fans know the problem. Tactics, set up, fitness, transfers have not been good enough for over a year now. He should have some respect for the club and resign
Every article is going to be a Bilic pop now is it.
People want biblical to do well but there is a consistent theme with him around playing people out of position and picking players on sentiment rather than form. For me,sadly, enough is enough
Bilic !
Robert Snodgrass is an average player and when played in HIS position for us played exactly as poor. It’s excuses for being too slow and being a low league player.
Teams in the premiership would have snapped him up if he was as good as he says.
Average to poor player. But does not remove the fact that this is ANOTHER player Bilic has fallen out with whilst being here.
oh and i believe it was Matt Richie (plus Callum Wilson?) who we were trying to buy from Bournemouth who ended up going to Newcastle, because Slaven preferred Tore and Fegouli. No wonder he was so motivated against us yesterday.
i think i’d be safe to assume Ritchie and Wilson were board picks (british with prem lague experience) and what we ended up with was Slaven’s choices.
Bilic does bring this stuff on himself – the whole right-back fiasco over the last couple of years is an indictment of Bilic’s pigheadedness – what surprises you is that players like Kouyate and Antonio are prepared to go along with Bilic’s stupidity and take the resulting criticism when they inevitably drop a gooly!
Good and or half decent players seem to lose Thier form at West Ham , why ? .
Snodgrass wasn’t searched out by other Premiership clubs because his form was drubbed out of him by clueless coaching and disrespect for his true playing position . Snodgrass suddenly became useless when he signed for Bilic .
Can only wish him good luck under Bruce . Somebody who understands a players strengths . He was treated harshly by our fans through no fault of his own . We have commented a lot on Bilic playing people out f position , so you must feel a little for Snodgrass imo .
Great post Kevin,
I don’t believe for a minute Snodgrass was the right player for WHU, but still a good pro,
Good luck to him at Villa, to be fair he was never a Payet replacement,
I think he was treated bad by Slav.
Chris Woods, a player Bilic didn’t fancy has scored against Spuds at Wembley….