Tore Injury A Blessing In Disguise As Cresswell Eyes Return?

Gokhan Tore's loan move from Besiktas to West Ham has been fraught with difficulties and niggling injuries, so news that the 24 year old has suffered a quadriceps muscle problem and won’t be back for at least next month shouldn't really be that much of a surprise. Hammers are not able to send him back to his parent club in January despite the Turkish International player's poor start to the season, Tore has played five times so far this campaign, but has made no real impact and has exhibited all the traits of a player who is either too confident or too circumspect, classic behaviour associated with a footballer who is completely out of sorts. Tore's recent performances have divided opinion among the Hammers faithful with some willing to give him more time to 'bed in' while others think he is a waste of space! Such considerations are academic now given the player's current injury and recent poor showing, but it may well turn out to be a blessing in disguise for a couple of reasons. Namely the enforced break will open up a place in the team for Sofianne Feghouli who is only just returning from injury himself, but more importantly Aaron Cresswell's impending return means that West Ham fans will finally see a sight that they became used to, that of the diminutive defender bombing down the wing, scaring the hell out of the opposition's defence and either pinging in a great cross or attempting one of the left foot piledriver shots at goal that he is more than capable of delivering. Slaven Bilic's side have won just once so far this season in the Premier League and lie uncomfortably in the relegation zone but have not yet been prominently featured in the 'drop zone' stakes at www.bethut.co.uk , injuries have been a major issue with at least seven first team members unavailable, strikers Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho should be back within the next few weeks along with record £20million signing Ghana star Andre Ayew who is scheduled to return towards the end of the month after nearly requiring thigh surgery but avoiding the actual operation because of the stellar rehabilitation work carried out by the Hammers medical team.
All the above mentioned players returning should provide a fillip for manager, co-owners and fans alike, but it is the impending return of Cresswell that is the most crucial element. Not only has the defence looked shaky without him, but the team has looked bereft of ideas going forward on the left hand side of the pitch without him, the entire balance of the team has looked incorrect since his non availability and has been compared to one of those old christmas cracker toys where you are required to move all the numbers or letters around but only have one spare space with which to manoeuvre, and Cresswell is that 'missing' space. The onus on Cresswell is huge, however if his recent interviews are anything are anything to go by he is relishing the prospect of the extra width provided by the expanses of the London Stadium pitch, electric pace down the flank is his preserve, and an element that has been sorely missed from West Ham United's opening games.
Perhaps on reflection the club concentrated too much on 'marquee' signings during the summer and would have been better off consolidating the position of those who were at the club already and arranging back up just in case! Of course hindsight is a wonderful thing, but it is to be hoped that the dreadful start to the season can become a distant memory and that West Ham can return to being the team that 'top' teams were frightened of playing last season. - Ed