Green Street Hammers
Fansided

Fornals given chance to shine for West Ham in Lanzini’s absence

By Scott Johnson

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 22: Victor Lindelof of Manchester United is challenged by Pablo Fornals of West Ham United during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Manchester United at London Stadium on September 22, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Henry Browne/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 22: Victor Lindelof of Manchester United is challenged by Pablo Fornals of West Ham United during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Manchester United at London Stadium on September 22, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Henry Browne/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

It’s a new time for West Ham, sitting in 5th after a comfortable win over Manchester United. And with an injury to a top player, we have someone ready to jump straight in.

Any West Ham fan will tell you of a time we’ve been doing well and been derailed by an injury to a key player. Whether that be a defender, striker or midfielder they’ve gone down and you see the confidence leave the side. But with Lanzini out for a month, Fornals has the ability to step in and keep the club’s momentum up.

When Fornals was signed in the summer the only downside I thought the transfer had was that he would be directly competing with Lanzini for gametime, and he wouldn’t get much time to cement his place in the squad. Now the Spaniard will be playing for a few matches without the threat of replacement, and I think he’ll come into the side and shine.

More from Green Street Hammers - West Ham

For those that watched the Manchester United match, Fornals wasn’t as attacking as Lanzini can be, but his passing was still top quality. Making 85% of his passes, completing 40 in total, he was efficient on the ball and ensured that the Hammers weren’t having to play too much on the defensive. Against sides that don’t set up as defensive as United did, he will create more than the 1 chance he did at the weekend.

The one change I would like to see would be a bit more of a drive towards goal. It’s common in football that someone who is very astute with their passing sometimes shies away from taking on the shot themselves, and Fornals falls into that category sometimes. The chance that fell to him against Villa was an obvious one for that category, but I think that will be a change that comes with increased confidence playing regularly will bring.

Next. West Ham win...but stories follow the other club.... dark

If Fornals plays up to his ability, and retains the niggly and competetive nature he showed against United, then West Ham will be good for the period whilst Lanzini recovers. And the Hammers will have introduced a top player to the Premier League on a regular basis. Then the only problem Pellegrini has is which creative midfielder actually gets to start in their preferred position. Which isn’t the worst problem to have…especially for the Hammers.