Defensive Denial

What ever way you look at it, even with the most claret and blue tinted glasses, the wheels have truly come off the Hammers' bandwagon. So much emphasis was placed and effort concentrated on finding a replacement for Seb Haller, that defensive considerations took a back seat, no one contemplated the sequence of events that has seen Hammers ENTIRE back line changed in recent games.

The injuries to Angelo Ogbonna and Kurt Zouma were bad enough, but to lose Aaron Creswell for what is going to be some considerable time has really thrown a spanner in the works, Cress is missed on so many levels, whether it is bringing the ball out of defence or pinging in delicious crosses, all of which is in addition to his normal defensive full back duties.

Now that David Moyes knows he will be without Cresswell for up to another 10 weeks, he will HAVE to find a way to bring back the missing Cresswell element, namely pin point accuracy from crosses and dead ball situations. One thing that is for sure is that Masuaku CANNOT be given ANY defensive duties and really should not be starting as managers now know all they have to do is flood the left flank and they will be rewarded by a Massive mistake from Authur, usually sooner rather than later.

Masuaku has become such a LIABILITY that it would be better to use Alese in his stead, at least he knows how to defend! The situation is far from ideal, but it is what it is and fans are going to have to lump it, which is rather a pity, if only Daniel Kretinsky had been on board during the summer transfer window, where might Hammers be now?

THere is no point in being in denial about what has happened to Hammers defence, but at least Johnson, Diop and Dawson have just about held their own, the problem is, none of them are capable of providing the type of incisive pass that Cresswell does.

The left back that many wrote off a couple of years ago, is a vital cog in the 'Moyes machine', his return cannot come soon enough!- Ed