West Ham can’t afford to carry ‘passengers’ like Fornals after confession – pundit
Paul Robinson has insisted West Ham “cannot afford to carry passengers” like Nikola Vlasic and Pablo Fornals after Sunday’s defeat to Southampton.
The former Tottenham goalkeeper, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, claimed the duo have to win back David Moyes’ favour after being hooked at half-time against the Saints.
As quoted by football.london (26 December), Moyes stated the Irons were “really poor” in attack and confessed he “could have changed four or five” at the break.
The Hammers equalised twice before slipping to a 3-2 defeat to the Saints.
Robinson insisted Moyes was right to take Fornals and Vlasic off.
He told Football Insider’s Dylan Childs: “Fornals has been consistent so you can be forgiven for the odd bad game.
“But where West Ham are at the moment, they’re in a real bad dip in form. Moyes took them off at half-time because you can’t afford to carry two passengers.
“Where they are, they’re not playing particularly well, results aren’t going well. They can’t afford to have two passengers if that’s how the manager feels.
“He sets high standards and he expects the players to hit those standards. Moyes is meticulous and works hard, like a football obsessive in a way.
“What he’s been able to do with West Ham and the squad he’s got has been excellent. This is their first real test.
“It was only a couple of weeks ago we were praising them for their results, how they were rotating the squad and coping with the European football.
“This is their first real blip in the last 12 months or so. It will be interesting to see how they react and how players react to coming off at half-time.”
West Ham have now failed to win in their last five games across all competitions.
Their last win was the 3-2 victory over Chelsea at the start of December.
In other news, pundit fears West Ham will miss out on European football next season after referee makes confession.