Tony Gale can’t believe West Ham player Thilo Kehrer is an international after what he saw against Aston Villa.
David Moyes is hardly spoilt for choice at right-back this season and don’t West Ham fans know it.
It is a situation of the manager’s own making, though, having failed to sign the young, modern, powerful full-back they so obviously needed in the summer – or to address the issue in January.
Vladimir Coufal is the best of a bad bunch but has suddenly seen his stock rise by not playing in recent weeks through injury.
But it must be remembered he too had been woeful for much of this season and last. And he was poor for the Hammers against Forest before coming off at half-time.
Kehrer found himself being used there again against Aston Villa.
The Germany international was signed from PSG for £10m in the summer despite warnings from their fans that he is a liability.
Before the World Cup break Kehrer was described as ‘woeful’ by analysts Matchday 365 who revealed he has made the most errors directly resulting in goals for the opposition in the entire Premier League this season.
He then endured a torrid time as Germany were sent packing from Qatar at the group stage.
Kehrer was once again poor against Villa, although he was far from the worst of West Ham’s performers.
His decision-making, positional sense and awareness were awful yet again. And he offered nothing in an attacking sense.
One former Hammer certainly wasn’t impressed.
Gale can’t believe West Ham player Kehrer is an international footballer after what he saw against Aston Villa.
Gale was on co-commentary for the match for Premier League productions.
And the former West Ham defender was highly critical of Kehrer throughout.
One particular moment left Gale shocked as he was completely caught out by a simple pass which almost resulted in a Villa goal.
“That is unbelievably bad from Kehrer and he is supposed to be an international footballer,” Gale said during live coverage.
“Look at him, he gets completely done by a simple pass, he’s ball watching, gets sucked in and Villa are in.
“That really is awful defending.”
Gale then criticised Kehrer repeatedly for failing to close down his man and stop crosses, adding he is getting “nowhere near it”.
And the pundit said it was clear Unai Emery had targeted Kehrer as a major weak link.
What a disastrous signing he has been. And there’s a few of those to choose from.