Green Street Hammers
Fansided

So, Robert Snodgrass is West Ham’s best player, huh?

By Adam Smith

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 18: Robert Snodgrass of West Ham United scores a disallowed goal during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Everton FC at London Stadium on January 18, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 18: Robert Snodgrass of West Ham United scores a disallowed goal during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Everton FC at London Stadium on January 18, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

To say West Ham’s offensive output has been inconsistent would be an understatement. Robert Snodgrass, however, is proving that given time he can be a difference-maker.

West Ham have netted 26 goals in 22 matches this season, relying on 12 different players to score them. £40m striker Sebastien Haller tops the list with six on the season but has been underwhelming, to say the least in his debut Premier League season. His name topping the list wouldn’t be a surprise, but seeing Robert Snodgrass in second place probably would be.

With three goals to his name in 17 matches played in, Snodgrass is by no means a goal-scoring machine, but he’s exceeding his expected offensive impact this season. He’s topped his two-goal season last year and is chasing down the five assists he has in the last campaign as well, in an attempt to prove that set-piece efficiency can trump youthful speed.

And that’s just it. Robert Snodgrass is proving that he’s a necessity through his setpiece play this season. Against Everton, Snodgrass who patrolled the right side of a 4-4-2 formation, whipped in a lovely ball that found the delayed run of Issa Diop for the opening goal of the match. The ball curled perfectly over the defenders in a classic Snodgrass-esque delivery, perfectly landing on Diop’s head.

He isn’t flashy, he isn’t the quickest, and he isn’t an up-and-coming prospect to build the team around, but what he is, is a dependable and durable niche player who is exactly what the team needs in its current state. Say what you will about Snodgrass starting and the ambition of the team, but the player delivers the ball like no one else can on the pitch and tried for every last second he’s out there.

Next. West Ham Player Grades after a “growth” draw against Everton. dark

He’s undoubtedly received a bump in stature with fellow Scot David Moyes stepping into the manager role, and so far so good! He’s never going to cheat the team on effort and work rate, and for the relegation battle we are currently in, that is what West Ham’s games need.