Edson Alvarez did something remarkable during West Ham United’s 1-1 draw with Fulham on Saturday.
West Ham midfielder Edson Alvarez only recently returned from injury, and he showed once again on Saturday just how important he is to this team.
Julen Lopetegui made it very clear back in the summer just how vital he thinks the Mexican is to his plans, when he admitted that losing him to a hamstring injury for six weeks was ‘really bad news’.
The 26-year-old was actually heavily linked with a move away from the London Stadium back in the summer, but thankfully that didn’t happen.
Alvarez’s tenacious tackling, never say die attitude and coolness and composure when in possession is crucial to the way that Lopetegui wants his team to play.
And the West Ham head coach would have been mightily impressed with something truly outstanding the former Ajax man did on Saturday at Craven Cottage.
What Edson Alvarez did vs Fulham will stun West Ham fans
The Hammers were lucky to escape from Fulham with a point in the end.
However, I have a feeling that it could end up being a crucial point for West Ham.
Alvarez played a key role in the way that we built up our play from the back on Saturday afternoon.
And one thing he did in particular was truly jaw-dropping.
It was real-time evidence for me of what Lopetegui-ball actually is. Rather than just lump the ball forward when the ball bounced to the Mexico international inside his own penalty box, he produced something very special indeed:
(Video credit @ReelHammerz):
That’s light and day from what you would have seen our players do with David Moyes in charge.
The rest of the Hammers players need to follow Alvarez’s example and show some real bravery when in possession of the football if we are to make some genuine progress as a team.
The confidence needed to pull off something like that in your own 18-yard box is off the scale.
Also the ability to think with such clarity in a moment where a mistake could prove costly was hugely impressive.
Edson Alvarez one of West Ham’s most important players
Watching him flying into tackles during the three Premier League games he’s played this season has been a real joy.
As far as I’m concerned, he is the glue that holds this West Ham team together.
His ability to receive the ball from his defenders in tight areas, and not panic in possession is crucial to our hopes of playing out from the back.
With Lopetegui clearly desperate to implement a new playing style, Alvarez will be vital to the Spaniard’s hopes of implementing his system successfully.
West Ham need Edson Alvarez to be firing on all cylinders this season – he is an absolutely vital player for us.
And he proved that in abundance during our clash with Fulham on Saturday.
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