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Those late late subs Fredericks/Snodgrass – here’s why

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We see it far too often and the appearance of  Ryan Fredericks last night once gain infuriated because there was absolutely no sensible game plan reason reason for him to appear.

Ok, had we been attempting to hang onto a lead or a 1-1 for example and the manager wanted to break up the game fair enough.

But three down with seconds to play and nothing to be gained is truly ridiculous for every reason except one.

And it really  should never be on the table notably in these days of covid and the finances that are being so sorely damaged.

For the reality is there is just one reason for doing it – indeed various managers during my own time in the game have told me so.

The appearance of the latest of subs – Snoddy was another a couple of weeks back – is done simply to give them an appearance bonus.

That helps nobody except them and although it’s unlikely to stop it needs to be widely known why it happens!

Personally I’m not impressed!

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Hugh Southon is a lifelong Iron and the founding editor of ClaretandHugh. He is a national newspaper journalist of many years experience and was Bobby Moore's 'ghost' writer during the great man's lifetime. He describes ClaretandHugh as "the Hammers daily newspaper!"

Follow on Twitter @hughsouthon

14 comments

  • zahamoore says:

    I agree with those who point to possible benefits in terms of making players feel wanted and building team spirit – I know that funds are tight but I try not to think of money – I honestly wish that we didn’t know what players earned – if Wiltshire had been paid 50 grand instead of 100 grand a week his signing would still have been a disaster

    So on this one I vote for giving Moyes a free pass

  • Scott says:

    Absolutey rubbish.
    There is no way he has brought these players on just to get them an appearance bonus.
    As if Moyes cares about their appearance fees.

    • So why do you think he brings players on for less than a minute. All managers do it. If it’s rubbish – despite it having been confirmed over and over by various managers – tell me why if your are going to condem so stupidly without explanation

  • Finn says:

    The reason he bought Fredericks on at the end is simple. He is thinking that he might like to turn Fredericks into a striker and play him up top in place of Haller. He has the pace to get in behind it’s just a question of whether he has the finishing skills.

    • hammers64 says:

      That is not a bad idea.Ok last night nobody really got a sniff near goal but we have given up countless chances especially over the past Month.A goal poacher is top of the Christmas wanted list but no matter how hard we try we just cannot find one and it goes back into the mists of time since we had a regular goal getter in the mould of Hurst,Pop Robson,Cottee,Mcavennie or even Hartson.It has turned into West Hams Holy Grail.

    • GaryD says:

      Interesting thought. He is fast, can head and can probably shoot.

  • Fred says:

    And there is another far more important reason and that is to give the player who has been left out a bit of a boost. To let them know they’ve not been forgotten about and that they are a valuable part of the squad. To make them feel included and a part of it. If you hadn’t noticed Moyes has given minutes in games to snodgrass, Noble, johnson, yarmolenko, benrahma, lanzini, and now Fredericks. In recent games.

  • Legin says:

    Team spirit is key to any clubs success. So if using this tactic is to keep morale up and it works, who cares.

  • GaryD says:

    For those of us who watch the match later, it allows us to fast-forward and put an end to our misery sooner.
    Rather considerate, really.

  • Aykay says:

    There still at the club snd still part of the squad . Right now theres a unity and togetherness about them that i havent seen in recent years , if Moyes chose to give them a short run out as part of a damage limitation exercise or even just for them to get that appearance bonus to keep them happy then so be it. We were talking about Masuaku, Cresswell and Balbuena the same way this time last year and look how its worked out. They have all been immense, you just never know whats round the corner with football …

  • Jersey Hammer says:

    I agree buddy and I am also not impressed. Footballers are on too much money already, yet it’s a constant stream of readies pourting into top tier footie players accounts, along with their agents no doubt. Another reason that footie is way down the ladder for me these days is because of the greed. Okay – supporting a team gives a great sense of being part of something cool. But so many players always have that look of innocence on their faces, knowing they can fall back on their agent / club if they want to force through moves or negotiate the rediculous salaries. They know exactly what they’re getting. The number of times I have debates with morons about this and their only answer is that the players working lives are limited – that shouldn’t matter if the player invests his money wisely. I have no synpathy for anyone who has a bunch of coin and is wealthy, to all of a sudden lose it all because of their incompetance in being shrewd. This is aimed at top tier not the lower leagues of course. Whilst many players do things for charity and actually do a lot more than one would realise, in my opinion, they should be doing this more often anyway. To be paid millions for kicking a ball around a patch of grass is something that must change…so with your article above, I fully agree. Also, I think football is the only industry where people are rewarded for failure and incompetence (apart from bankers and politicians perhaps). I should be more full Christmas joy but that’s hard to come by when I see how football has become what it is. I will forever hold WHU in my heart and I will always want them to win and achieve – but as for being an avid follower of football in general? No chance!. I’m also annoyed that I can’t travel up to Londonium for Chrimbo thanks to all those selfish t*ats who insisted the virus is fake! How the hell is Santa going to know where I am on Christmas Eve!!! 🙂

  • I think there is another reason and a more important one. Whilst it doesn’t exactly put them in the shop windows it does remind other clubs that they are here and available (not that I’d particularly want Snoddy to leave).

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