If you thought West Ham United were a bit of a mess off the field – protests against David Sullivan a soundtrack to every Premier League match these days – then spare a thought for the Marseille fans.
This month alone, the famously impassioned and no-doubt infuriated L’OM supporters have seen their beloved club dumped out of the Champions League thanks to a 3-0 trouncing by Club Brugge and a last-gasp goal from Benfica’s goalkeeper.
Roberto de Zerbi – the ever-combustible head coach who almost felt like a living embodiment of Marseille’s madcap unpredictability – walked away. Sporting director Mehdi Benatia resigned and then returned.
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Now, speculation is raging about a supposedly less-than-friendly relationship between top scorer Mason Greenwood and Habib Beye, De Zerbi’s replacement. And on a weekend in which Chelsea loanee Axel Disasi helped West Ham to another clean sheet – their third in four games under Nuno Espirito Santo – the embryonic Beye era suffered an early blow with a 2-0 defeat by Brest.
Nayef Aguerd has been one of the bright spots since leaving West Ham United for the Ligue 1 giants last summer. Call it a ‘nightmare’, call it a defensive ‘disaster’ – as the French press have – it is safe to assume Aguerd has not made a particularly positive first impression on his new boss.
West Ham United flop Nayef Aguerd was ‘disastrous’ as Marseille lose again
Le Parisien described that drab loss at the Stade Francis-Le Ble as a ‘nightmarish’ start for one-time Newcastle defender Beye.
And Nayef Aguerd, Le Figaro wrote in a scathing review of the Morocco international, ‘seems to have stayed at the Africa Cup of Nations’.
‘Aguerd and Benjamin Pavard [were] disastrous. A dreadful performance from the Marseille centre-backs’.
According to Benatia, De Zerbi demanded Marseille sign Aguerd in a deal which eventually set them back £17.5 million on deadline day. De Zerbi felt Aguerd’s left-footedness and ball-playing talents were the ideal fit for his possession principles.
Perhaps the main criticism which came his way in England though – even if some feel Aguerd was given a rough ride due to the injury he suffered immediately after joining from Rennes – was that the Moroccan struggled to cope with the more physical side of things.
The West Ham fans who remember Aguerd being bullied by Sunderland and Chelsea in a disastrous start to the current campaign will not be surprised to learn that he was ragdolled by Brest’s 6ft 5ins colossus of a centre-forward.
Ludovic Ajorque scored both goals.
“[We were] not very good in terms of intensity and our ability to withstand what Brest had to offer,” said a frustrated Beye “There was a lack of aggression in our penalty area and, against a player [Ajorque] with such a strong presence, we knew that [this would be a problem]
“I don’t like it when the defence is stigmatised in a way.”
Axel Disasi epitomises West Ham’s much-improved defensive record
The centre-back colossus we’ve been praying for! 🙏 🇫🇷
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Even before another faultless performance against Andoni Iraola’s side, many West ham fans are hoping Axel Disasi stays beyond his initial loan spell. Alongside another big aerial presence in Konstantinos Mavropanos, West Ham finally have a centre-back pairing who can withstand the pressure and a physical battle.
From Jean-Clair Todibo, Max Kilman and Aguerd – the defence which started the season in a 3-0 trouncing on Wearside – to Disasi and Mavropanos. It’s been quite the upgrade.
“You know what it’s like in this league,” captain Jarrod Bowen told Sky Sports on Saturday. “You can’t expect to score two or three goals every week and pick up results. We knew we needed to improve and change.
“And I think Axel has come in and been a really big presence.”
Despite failing to break Bournemouth’s resolve, West Ham go into matchday 28 a point closer to Bournemouth in 17th. Aguerd and Marseille, though, are now glancing nervously over their shoulders and clinging onto their Champions League spot with their fingernails.
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