The great West Ham United debate over Sebastien Haller took another twist after the striker scored the winner on his debut for the Ivory Coast.
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Haller divides opinion at West Ham.
Some label West Ham’s record £45million signing as workshy and simply not good enough to adapt to the Premier League.
Others point out that he has been misused by West Ham ever since signing from Eintracht Frankfurt nearly 18 months ago.
Haller marks international bow with winning goal
Haller was fast earning a reputation as one of the most feared strikers in Europe before his big money move to east London.
But it hasn’t happened for him yet at West Ham with a record of eight goals in 35 Premier League games.
Maybe the section of fans who say West Ham and the club’s setup are the problem have a point, though.
That’s after Haller marked his first senior international match with a goal following his switch of allegiance from France.
Haller won flick-on header to start the attack and then ran into the box before stooping to head home a cross from Max Gradel.
It turned out to be the winner too as Ivory Coast held on for a 2-1 victory in African Nations qualifying against their group leaders Madagascar.
Perhaps West Ham ARE the problem after all?
Haller looks happy in his new surroundings having been filmed all smiles doing an initiation dance in front of his teammates.
West Ham boss David Moyes has challenged Haller to show his best form to turn his Hammers career around.
The Scot, and all West Ham fans, will be hoping he can take confidence from this when he returns after the international break.
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He is a powerful presence and sometimes it looks like he does not use that to his full advantage.
But what Haller really needs is a couple of goals to kickstart his West Ham career.
And he needs to find them soon before Moyes calls time on it, possibly as early as January.
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