“His performance is below par; he lacks the talent for the Premier League and has no future at West Ham. He’s simply not athletic enough to make an impact.” One West Ham player has been harshly criticized by Match of the Day pundits for failing to meet Premier League standards.
West Ham Star Criticized for Premier League Performance by Match of the Day Pundits
A West Ham player has come under fire from Match of the Day pundits for not meeting Premier League standards. There’s a sense that Julen Lopetegui was fortunate to secure a win over Manchester United, given the pressure he faced as head coach.
Before the recent 2-1 victory, Lopetegui had managed only two wins in eight Premier League matches. While this win provides him some breathing room, it ultimately cost Erik ten Hag his job, reinforcing West Ham’s reputation as the league’s Grim Reaper.
West Ham fans acknowledge that the victory was somewhat lucky, noting that Manchester United could have easily been ahead 3-0 by halftime, and the penalty awarded was questionable. Although the Hammers may feel justified given past decisions against them, the first half highlighted a concerning trend under Lopetegui, with the team appearing vulnerable and easy to break down.
The debate about why this is happening often falls on the manager. Credit to Lopetegui, though, for making crucial adjustments at halftime that led to an improved second-half performance.
Micah Richards and his colleagues have pinpointed Edson Alvarez as a significant issue for the team. The pundits described the Mexican midfielder as “heavy-legged” and questioned his ability to compete athletically in the Premier League.
Analyzing the match, Richards noted, “Alvarez struggled in the first half due to the pace of the game and Manchester United’s movement in midfield. He consistently found himself on the wrong side of Bruno Fernandes, unable to keep up with him.”
Richards elaborated on Alvarez’s struggles, mentioning his difficulty in tracking back against Alejandro Garnacho and his overall lack of athleticism.
Jason Mohammad added that Alvarez appears “very heavy-legged,” with Richards and Stephen Warnock agreeing that he often gets lost in his positioning and fails to manage his responsibilities effectively.
Warnock pointed out that Alvarez performed better when he dropped into a defensive role as a third centre-back, where he could engage more effectively. Initially, after joining from Ajax for £34.5 million, Alvarez impressed many West Ham fans, leading some to question the need for Declan Rice.
However, his form has notably declined since the start of the year, leading to a loss of his starting position under David Moyes. Moyes previously criticized Alvarez for his inability to last a full 90 minutes in the Premier League.
It seems Alvarez may have struggled to adapt to the pace and physicality of the Premier League after transitioning from the less demanding Dutch league. With doubts raised by both Moyes and Lopetegui, and now highlighted by pundits, Alvarez has become a key concern in West Ham’s midfield.
His performances have been lackluster in several matches, including heavy defeats to Chelsea and Liverpool. Moving forward, it may be best for him to operate as an auxiliary center-back.
It will be interesting to see how Lopetegui utilizes him, as it’s evident he struggles to keep pace in the midfield. Perhaps this explains why Alvarez has been linked to moves to leagues with a lower physical demand.
