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Snodgrass can shine for West Ham in Yarmolenko absence

By Scott Johnson

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 20: Andriy Yarmolenko of West Ham United reacts to a injury during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur at London Stadium on October 20, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 20: Andriy Yarmolenko of West Ham United reacts to a injury during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur at London Stadium on October 20, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /
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With Yarmolenko injured, West ham have another long term injury lay off on their hands. But here, they have a ready made replacement. Step forward Robert Snodgrass.

It seems that West Ham have one of the worst injury records in the Premier League right now. We go out and make some big signings, or bring a player back from the injury list, and then we’re struck with another one. With Carroll reportedly close to a return, Yarmolenko tears his achilles and is likely to be out for 6 months.

However, unlike Carroll who has very few like for like options in the game, the Hammers do have a left footed, right winger. Not that he has been played there much since his signing from Hull. But Snodgrass is as much a like for like replacement as we will get. And he seems in good form.

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Pelelgrini is obviously looking to play with ‘Inverted’ wingers where possible as they look to get in and join Arnie, and Snodgrass is capable of playing that role very well. Although his long range shot isn’t as dangerous as Yarmolenko’s, he does have more of a right foot than the Ukrainian and could open up that side a bit.

When the Scotsman was signed by Bilic he was played as a direct replacement to Payet. No disrespect to him, but Payet was in another league. And played on the left, not the right. So no wonder the side wasn’t as fluid or creative when he stepped in. But although he lacks the same physical presence as the Ukrainian, in footballing style they are pretty similar. And with Snodgrass on the pitch, our set pieces are that much more dangerous.

Grady Diangana, who made his first significant Premier League appearance at the weekend, could also come in. He replaced Yarmolenko in the first half (Snodgrass played centrally against Spurs) instead of more experienced options like Michail Antonio. However I expect Pellegrini will prefer Snodgrass to take over that role longer term, but I wouldn’t be disappointed at all to see the young academy graduate.

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So as West Ham look to push up the table with a long run of favourable fixtures, they will miss Yarmolenko. However they are unlikely to see a big shift in the playing style, and I hope Pellegrini continues to push his brand of football. The Spurs loss may have hurt, but the fact is for a lot of it we matched an established Champions League side. There’s more to come for sure.