West Ham boss David Moyes has called for Nayef Aguerd to up his game and has made a couple of astonishing claims.
When Nayef Aguerd cried off sick over Christmas before meeting up with Morocco for AFCON, it looked like he may have played his last game for West Ham.
But he remained at the club and was back in the Hammers starting XI at Old Trafford.
The centre-back possesses a wand of a left foot. But he also has the propensity to make very costly errors on a regular basis – as Morocco found out when they were dumped out of AFCON by South Africa last week.
There was so much hype around Aguerd when he arrived in a £30m deal from Rennes. But it is fair to say he has not really lived up to it.
Moyes calls for Aguerd to up his game
Speculation was rife that Aguerd wanted out of West Ham during the January window. And reports claimed David Moyes was happy to sell the inconsistent centre-back for the right money as he eyed moves for the likes of Max Kilman or Jonathan Tah.
Ahead of the game with Man United, there was no mention from the club or Moyes whether Aguerd would be back.
Now we know why.
He did return to the side in place of Konstantinos Mavropanos – one of the only players to emerge from the Bournemouth game with any credit.
But the defence looked weaker with Aguerd in it and he was partially at fault for two of the goals.
Now West Ham boss Moyes has called for Aguerd to up his game and he has made astonishing claims.
Aguerd still getting used to Prem – 19 months on
Speaking after the defeat to Man United, Moyes was asked directly about Aguerd’s performance.
The Scot said Aguerd – who turns 28 next month – must improve key aspects of his game.
Moyes then revealed the defender was unsure about playing against Man United.
And he claims he is still getting used to aspects of English football – NINETEEN MONTHS after arriving in east London.
“I thought he done a lot of things good, but there’s always small details I’ve got with Nayef that I want him to do better,” Moyes said in the wake of the Man United defeat.
Moyes took decision out of hesitant Aguerd’s hands
“I think he is a player who is still getting used to the Premier League, the intensity, what’s required as a centre half – certainly at our club where we might have more defending to do at times.
“I’m pleased that he played because he wasn’t sure if he was 100 per cent yesterday. But I made a decision to start him because he gives us that more natural left-footed balance on the left with Kurt (Zouma) on the right, or Dinos on the right. I just felt getting him back in the team was important.”
That is a staggering claim from Moyes.
If Aguerd, at 28 years of age and with nearly 40 international caps, is still not getting used to Premier League football after 19 months and over 50 games then you have to wonder whether he ever will?
Some players just aren’t suited to English football. We’ve seen countless come up short down the years.
He has all the makings of a cultured centre-back. But he is all too often weak, slow to react to situations or too easily beaten. And his rash decision making at times costs his side dear.
And you have to wonder about Aguerd’s mentality too after Moyes revealed the defender was unsure about playing before the Scot took the decision out of his hands.
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