Stats a disgrace as Pablo Fornals puts in his worst West Ham stroll yet in the 2-2 draw with the Blades at Bramall Lane.
West Ham’s trip to basement boys Sheffield United always looked a tough one for David Moyes’ patched up side.
Injuries and absences to key players, the blustery conditions and a long trip north looked ominous for the Hammers.
Alleged former West Ham target Ben Brereton Diaz got his inevitable first ever Premier League goal. Indeed his first goal of any sort for an age following a failed spell at Villarreal.
Two red cards, two penalties, four goals, one clear penalty not given at the death, a first Hammers Prem goal for Maxwel Cornet and an excellent performance from Danny Ings were just some of the headlines.
Stats a disgrace
One performance which won’t be remembered – certainly not for the right reasons anyway – was that of Pablo Fornals.
The Spaniard has gone from being a passionate, fundamental starter under Moyes in previous seasons to a bit-part player who looks like he has his mind elsewhere.
Stats a disgrace as Fornals puts in his worst West Ham stroll yet in the Blades draw.
The first half in particular must go down as Fornals’ worst performance to date in the claret and blue.
Chasing shadows off the ball he attempted 18 passes and completed just eight leaving him with a passing accuracy of just 44%.
Fornals puts in his worst stroll yet
He also gave away possession TWELVE times in the first half alone. Slow and lacking in agility, Fornals was so wasteful in key areas and looked almost certain to be substituted in the second half. But he somehow completed the full 104 minutes to the bemusement of the travelling fans.
Fornals improved ever so slightly at the start of the second half, improving his pass success to 69 per cent.
In his defence his game time has been limited this season and last. But he has done nothing to suggest Moyes has made a mistake on that front.
The midfielder will always be a much-loved fan favourite for the part he has played in West Ham’s resurgence and European triumph over the last few years.
But on this performance he will do well to find pastures new this month to ensure it stays that way.
For his own good as much as anything else.
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