Missing person report: Where are two of West Ham United’s defenders?
West Ham United hasn’t been at their best defensively so far this season, but there have been glimpses of hope. However, the hope is missing from the starting XI.
At the beginning of the season, both the West Ham board and Pellegrini and Co seemed pretty content with the defense of the football club. Maybe it was because they finished on good form the season before or maybe it was something else. Whatever the case was, they were content with it.
Throughout this season, however, Pellegrini has made some choice moves at certain times that have either really paid off or haven’t. Two of those moves have been to give Angelo Ogbonna and Arthur Masuaku more playtime. Both have progressed beyond previous expectations but both have been missing from the West Ham starting XI for some time.
Masuaku’s disappearance really started after he was sent off against Ashton Villa two months leaving the door open for Aaron Cresswell to come in and redeem his position. Cresswell has done that to an extent, but not enough to just write off King Arthur.
Neither left-back has really outperformed the other but Masuaku’s pace could be used against some of the more speed heavy attackers that the EPL has to offer but, he’s nowhere to be found. Besides playing all 90 minutes against Everton, Arthur hasn’t even made the bench.
Moving to an even more mysterious disappearance, where in the world is Angelo Ogbonna? Like the Lindbergh baby, he’s missing and nobody seems to know why or care for that matter. This case is even weirder because of his replacement, Fabian Balbuena, being way worse in the center back role.
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Think that’s weird enough? Try this next piece of info on for size. On the weekly West Ham Way Podcast co-host and West Ham ITK, ExWHUemployee, stated that Pellegrini was starting Balbuena over Oggy because he felt bad for the lack of play Balbuena was getting. Yes, you heard that right, he felt bad for him!
Week after week of Manuel Pellegrini stating that they need to get better and that they will improve and yet 2 of there better-defending options found more regularly on the back of a milk carton then the starting XI. If he wants to change, this has to be it.
Balbuena looked nonexistent last week against Burnley and like Roberto, has to be the last straw. Oggy needs to start in two weeks when the Hammers face crosstown rival Spurs if there is to be any type of leadership in the back row.
Next. West Ham should sack Pellegrini now and why. dark
For the case of Masuaku, he might not need to start over Cresswell but he would be a solid selection to be there in need of pace or a late-game flair. But as previously talked about, how is that the rest of the world sees these issues yet Pellegrini doesn’t. That in itself is the biggest issue.