Pablo Zabaleta has been outstanding for West Ham in their past two league matches.
He followed up a battling performance at Goodison Park by shackling Eden Hazard, the Premier League’s form player. He showed last night at Anfield what he can do, but the Argentine didn’t give him an inch on Sunday.
Manuel Pellegrini trusts him and he is a leader. That meant that Ryan Fredericks had to take the chance he was given against Macclesfield.
The former Fulham flier endured a shaky start to his Hammers career; his defensive ability has to improve and that was exposed in the early weeks of the season.
Took his chance
Zabaleta is rightly the man in possession. But Fredericks responded in some style; putting in an energetic performance that he capped with a stunning second half strike.
Of course Zabaleta wants to carry on playing for as long as possible; but the plan is surely for Fredericks to be West Ham’s long-term right-back.
He has the pace to drive the team forward and years ahead of him to grow into the role. Zabaleta, good as his career has been, is becoming yesterday’s man.
If Fredericks can replicate Wednesday’s performance regularly against better opposition, he will get his spot back. And rightly so; Zabaleta is a short-term fix, Fredericks represents the future.
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