West Ham boss David Moyes spoke to reporters yesterday and opened up on why Said Benrahma hasn’t featured much since moving to the London Stadium on loan in the summer transfer window, as quoted by Football.London.
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The 25-year-old joined the Hammers on a season-long loan from Brentford in October for £4 million (Eurosport).
The east London club have an obligation to buy the Algeria international for £25 million in the summer (Eurosport).
Said Benrahma has struggled for regular game-time at West Ham, however. He has played just 273 minutes of Premier League football for David Moyes’s side thus far.
The former Brentford ace has made a huge impact when he has played, already chalking up two assists at vital times for the Hammers.
Both of those assists were for match winning goals against Fulham and Aston Villa.
David Moyes taking his time with Said Benrahma
So it seems strange that Benrahma hasn’t been given more chances.
David Moyes responded when asked by reporters yesterday his reasoning for easing the Algerian in slowly, as quoted by Football.London:
“Retention of the ball would be one of them, I would say. We like him, he has ability, but retention of the ball and making the right decisions, that’s what we are after. This is a step up for him, this is why if we are going to be pushing him, and I said this with Jarrod [Bowen] and Tomas [Soucek], I know the boys from the Championship can come in and hit the ground right away, others need time to settle. Said, we are building him up and making sure he realises the importance of making the correct pass, keeping the ball when it’s not on. I’m sure he is [frustrated] but he’s also come into a side that in the main has been playing very well so from that point of view he will need to wait like everybody else.”
Ok fair enough. It worked with Jarrod Bowen. That doesn’t mean that every single player from the Championship has to be eased in slowly.
Aston Villa haven’t done it with Ollie Watkins and Matty Cash. Crystal Palace haven’t done it with Eberechi Eze.
Who’s to say that Said Benrahma wouldn’t have taken to the Premier League like a duck to water had he started every game?
David Moyes has done a fine job since taking over at West Ham. His team selection and tactics have left a lot to be desired in the last few games, however.
By leaving Benrahma out, he is making a rod for his own back. The Scot is leaving himself open to criticism. And that’s not the smartest move from the West Ham manager.
Hopefully Moyes sees the light and starts Benrahma away at Southampton today. We won’t be surprised if the Algerian is stuck warming the bench again, however.
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