Proof, if it were needed, has arrived that David Moyes made the right call when he controversially shipped Felipe Anderson out of West Ham.
After a brilliant debut season at West Ham when joining from Lazio for £35m, things went from bad to worse for Brazilian attacker Anderson.
Despite scoring in a 4-0 win over Bournemouth on Moyes’s return to West Ham two years ago, it soon became clear Anderson was not the Scot’s type of character.
A disastrous loan spell at Porto failed to spark interest from elsewhere in Anderson.
And West Ham then made the controversial decision to sell the 28-year-old back to Lazio for a paltry £4 million last summer (Tutto Mercato Web).
The decision divided many West Ham fans who felt Anderson might be needed as the Hammers embarked on a campaign with the added exertions of European football.
With the likes of Andriy Yarmolenko offering little or nothing to the cause this season on the pitch, it could be argued those fans were right.
Proof David Moyes made the right call on player he controversially shipped out of West Ham as Felipe Anderson ends four month goal drought
But proof Moyes made the right call on Anderson arrived yesterday when the ex Hammer scored to end a FOUR-MONTH goal drought.
Anderson scored the equaliser for Lazio in a 1-1 draw at Udinese. But it was his first goal since October and only his fifth in 35 appearances in all competitions for Lazio since leaving West Ham.
Considering Anderson has effectively been used as a forward since going back to Rome, that’s not a great record.
And Moyes certainly won’t be losing any sleep over it.
The Hammers boss wanted Anderson to work harder for the team in a defensive capacity too.
In fairness to Anderson he has also registered six assists for Lazio this season. That means he has a goal and assist record of 11 in 35 games (WhoScored). Given the form of Jarrod Bowen it’s hardly a big miss.
But it could still be argued Anderson may have been able to do a job as a back-up striker or over on the left of the front three.
There could yet be a reunion for West Ham and Anderson in the Europa League.
Lazio trail Porto 2-1 after the first leg of their last 32 tie – thanks to a brace from another former Hammer Toni Martinez.
If they can turn the result around in Italy this Thursday night then a clash between West Ham and Anderson’s Lazio is a possibility when the last 16 draw is made this Friday.
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Moyes insists big change next week will get a reaction from players.
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