Can Andriy Yarmolenko still succeed at West Ham?
After a dominating performance at the Euro’s, David Moyes has decided (so far) to keep his right-winger; but can he still flourish at West Ham United?
In the summer of 2018, Andriy Yarmolenko hit the West Ham media like a hurricane. Nobody knew that he would be moving to East London, and his hype was more than most could withstand. The Ukrainian winger tore up his home countries Premier League for 11 years before moving to Borussia Dortmund and then to West Ham just 24 months later.
Since arriving at the LS, he has contributed seven goals and four assists for the Hammers, mostly coming from his left foot and coming in on the right side. It’s his signature move, and he performs it well. However impressive his abilities can be, it’s equally as impressive when looking at his missed opportunities or times when he didn’t play as committed.
There’s really only one thing that West Ham fans care about, and it’s the commitment level of the lads. If they come to play and give their all, that’s all we care about. For Yarmo, that hasn’t always been the case, but has his recent rejuvenation over the summer changed his outlook?
Can Andriy Yarmolenko still succeed at West Ham?
In the absence of Yarmolenko, Jarrod Bowen has taken nicely to the right side of the midfield and has 100% secured that position. That leaves the 31-year-old on the outside looking in. Yarmo is, in my opinion, a fantastic option coming off the bench, as he can defend well and be a nuisance in the final third.
David Moyes may have only kept the Ukrainian around due to depth issues and the lack of incoming transfers, but this option can still favor both parties. He lacks the drive and pace of Bowen, but his veteran know-all can be a real factor for the dressing-room and on the bench.
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Although the definition of success may have changed what Andriy Yarmolenko needs to accomplish in East London, he can still get it done. He showed a desire earlier this week playing with the U23s, and he looked poised all preseason. “The sky is the limit” might not be the best way to describe him anymore, but there is still a lot he can accomplish before his contract runs out.