When speaking to reporters last night, West Ham United boss David Moyes explained his decision to bring Said Benrahma off against Leeds with 20 minutes still to be played, as quoted by Football.London.
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At the time, it seemed like an absolutely baffling decision.
The 25-year-old winger actually played well against Leeds.
His ability to hold onto the ball in tight areas was priceless against the Whites’ high and intense press.

Benrahma has made a slow start to life in East London. That isn’t to say that he hasn’t impressed, however.
The Algerian offers us something that we don’t otherwise possess. He is a real magician and the West Ham fans already love him.
Said Benrahma gets David Moyes treatment yet again
The Scot surprisingly chose to bring Jarrod Bowen on for Benny with 20 minutes remaining against Leeds last night.
And Moyes explained his decision after the match, as quoted by Football.London:

“I thought he played well in the first half at times, I thought he a couple of good shooting opportunities but I also was hoping he would have made the final pass and this is the thing we are looking for with him. It’s not easy for him because we are looking for so many things from him but he did a lot of good things. He ran the ball out, he took the ball under pressure but as I said earlier I didn’t particularly think the forward players played as well as they should have and I think if they had then we would have had a chance of scoring more goals and creating more chances.”
David Moyes has made a habit of calling out Benrahma for his poor decision making in the final third numerous times before.
What does he expect from the 25-year-old, however? He is a maverick – a match-winning entertainer.
Those kind of players lose the ball more than others, it really is very simple. You need look no further than Manchester City ace Kevin De Bruyne.
Let’s hope that Moyes realises that sooner rather than later.
Benrahma has the ability to go on and become a West Ham legend. Moyes just needs to let him off the reigns a bit more.
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