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West Ham: Manuel Lanzini has been very un-jewel like this season

By Jeremiah Carson

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 31: Jamal Lewis of Norwich City battles for possession with Manuel Lanzini of West Ham United during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Norwich City at London Stadium on August 31, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 31: Jamal Lewis of Norwich City battles for possession with Manuel Lanzini of West Ham United during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Norwich City at London Stadium on August 31, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images) /
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It was expected that Lanzini would get back into form for West Ham this season. However, it’s been the opposite. Can he turn it around for him and his club?

Over his career at West Ham Manuel Lanzini has been appropriately nicknamed the Jewel and time n time again he had come through for the Hammers.  Before this season in just over 100 matches for the Hammers has had scored 21 times and assisted 17. So far this season, not so much.

Now in this 4th season with the club and seemingly back from the injury bug that had plagued him most of last season, this was supposed to be his time. However, after 12 matches so far and 0 goals to boot some question marks are being raised about the tenured Hammer.

Now, the last thing I want to do is discredit his 3 assists in 12 matches because that is some pretty solid numbers, especially for this West Ham side. But as an attacking midfielder, his stats are pretty woeful. He is averaging just 2 key passes a match and only beating players off the dribble just over twice a match.

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 16: John McGinn of Aston Villa battles with Manuel Lanzini and Declan Rice of West Ham United during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and West Ham United at Villa Park on September 16, 2019 in Birmingham, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 16: John McGinn of Aston Villa battles with Manuel Lanzini and Declan Rice of West Ham United during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and West Ham United at Villa Park on September 16, 2019 in Birmingham, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) /

It is quite possible that if the rest of the club were playing better than Manu might not be getting this much slack but they are and so he is. His game in the past has been to play off of the other, better attackers around him to slip in shots and pass the ball with ease but that is missing.

He had also been lacking the willingness to get into tough spots and prevail but that possibly has a lot to do with his previous injuries. With Lanzini going essentially 0 for 4 in those categories it doesn’t help that his counterpart and potential replacement, Pablo Fornals, has been lights out.

Next. An emotionless recap to a lackluster West Ham match against Palace. dark

As we are moving right around the halfway mark, we did recently see Lanzini come into play against Crystal Palace just yesterday where he played fairly well and set up Antonio for a potential goal. The potential is there, he just needs to step it up and get it going or maybe its time to go.