Danny Murphy suggested that West Ham boss David Moyes’s isolation of Sebastien Haller up front is ‘worrying’, when writing a column for the Daily Mail.
The 25-year-old joined the Hammers form Eintracht Frankfurt in the summer for around £45 million (BBC).
Haller has really struggled to establish himself in the Premier League, however.
The Frenchman has scored just six goals in 26 games for West Ham so far (Transfermarkt).
Sure, it could be argued that Haller’s lack of goals is mostly his own fault, and the fact that he quite simply doesn’t put himself about enough.
At the same time, however, it is clear to see that the Frenchman hasn’t received as much support through the middle as he should have done. He thrived last season when playing alongside Luka Jovic for Eintracht Frankfurt.
And the only time he has looked at his best in a West Ham shirt is when Michail Antonio has been played up top with him.
Murphy suggested that it is worrying that West Ham boss David Moyes continues to play the 25-year-old as a lone striker, when writing a column for the Daily Mail:
“The isolation of Sebastien Haller up front is worrying and the fact that a £45million striker has scored only three goals since August tells its own story. Moyes will know better than me because he sees the players in training every day but I see a centre-forward who is galvanised by having a partner and I think it’s important for West Ham that Michail Antonio stays fit and gives Haller the support he requires.”
Murphy is absolutely spot on. Haller proved what kind of a threat he can be with a magnificent performance away at Southampton in December. And guess what? Michail Antonio played up front alongside him.
It is something that Moyes must do on a consistent basis if he is to get the best out of the misfiring Frenchman.
And playing 4-4-2 between now and the end of the season might just be the answer to West Ham’s problems.
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
