September 21st 2024.
West Ham recently made a major move by signing Aaron Wan-Bissaka from Manchester United for a hefty £15 million. However, this decision has been heavily criticized by football legend Michael Owen, following their 3-0 defeat to Chelsea. The match, which took place at the London Stadium in an early kick-off on Saturday, saw Chelsea take a comfortable lead with two goals from Nicolas Jackson and a stunning finish from Cole Palmer in the first half.
This defeat marks West Ham's third consecutive loss at home this season under the management of Julen Lopetegui. While Wan-Bissaka's arrival was expected to bolster the team's defense, Owen believes that the 26-year-old is not suited to Lopetegui's current tactics. In an interview with Premier League Productions, Owen shared his thoughts on the matter, saying, "If you're at West Ham, whether you're the manager, the recruitment officer, or anyone else, and you're looking for a full-back to play in this system, the last person you should go for is Wan-Bissaka."
He went on to explain, "Don't get me wrong, I think he's brilliant and probably the best defensive right-back in the Premier League. But if you want someone who can push up wide and play centrally, Wan-Bissaka is not your guy. That's not his game. He excels at plugging gaps and not letting anything pass him, but he's not known for his attacking abilities."
Owen further criticized West Ham's use of Wan-Bissaka, stating that it was a strange decision to buy him if they were going to utilize him in such a way. He said, "They're using him in a completely wrong way. It's baffling." Former West Ham striker Jermain Defoe also weighed in on the matter, stating that he had never seen Wan-Bissaka play in such an advanced position before. "I can't remember the last time he had to run back towards his own goal so many times. It's not something he's used to," Defoe said.
Both Owen and Defoe pointed out that Wan-Bissaka's strength lies in one-on-one defending and that he should have been positioned in a way that made it difficult for Chelsea's forward players to run into open spaces. However, during the match, Wan-Bissaka was often seen playing in an inverted position, which was unusual for him.
It is clear that the signing of Wan-Bissaka has not worked out as expected for West Ham. This decision has raised questions about the team's recruitment process and their understanding of the player's strengths and weaknesses. As for Wan-Bissaka, it remains to be seen how he will adapt to Lopetegui's tactics and if he will be able to prove his critics wrong. Only time will tell.
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