Is Felipe Anderson to blame for West Ham issues on the left?

On saturday West Ham again conceded after an attack come down our left. Is the fan attack on Anderson fair or unwarranted?

When you become the record signing for any club, it’s going to be tough to impress. The fans will look to you to become the best player at the club and will not be too forgiving of mistakes or rough patches. With West Ham fans starting to lose patience with Anderson, it’s not going to get much easier for him during the next few games.

Anderson is an attacking winger but has not shown the flair he was brought in for, at least not consistently. But it’s his tracking back that is being highlighted at the moment. Whilst it is a secondary job for a winger, it’s an important one. Especially when we conceded from play that built down that side again.

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I do understand the pushback he has received for the Spurs match, because he wasn’t on form at all. And his lazy track back on that occasion led to the only goal of the match. But I do think that he is being called out more than others, especially given the defensive level down that side.

Whilst Cresswell and Masuaku can offer something going forward I do not think that they are Premier League level left backs defensively. They are constantly out of position, do not get close enough to their man when necessary and offer an easy run in behind other times by getting too close. It’s a constant struggle for them to stand in the correct position when we are defending.

I watched a replay of the match this morning and I noted how often in the first half the commentators said Anderson was tracking back and helping out. Yarmolenko has received no criticism despite the fact he has made demonstrably fewer challenges and interceptions in his own half. That is because other sides have targeted our left side because of perceived weakness, and that Zabaleta is a much better defender on the right. When Yarmolenko doesn’t get back the experienced Argentine is strong enough to hold the attack up until the midfield can help. Masuaku and Cresswell do not.

Next. Player Grades after spurs loss. dark

So whilst I think Anderson should have been tracking Sissoko back for the Spurs goal I do think it’s harsh for us to criticise it as an overall thing. We never expected Payet to get back, but he consistently produced at the front. If Anderson is going to struggle getting back, he should make it his focus to push forward and impact the game positively for the Hammers.