The quality of player at West Ham in the current squad is certainly impressive. However, the squad is an ageing one. Regardless of the obvious talent in the squad, the Hammers will soon have some replacing to do, and making the moves to take some of those older players out now could be key.
With that in mind, it must be said how strange of a decision it was for Manuel Pellegrini to start Pablo Zabaleta ahead of Ryan Fredericks in the Irons last two Premier League matches. The Argentine may be one of the best right-backs in the league over the last decade, but at 34-years-old, he’s not what he used to be.
However, waiting in the wings at the club is the man who really should be starting at right-back and making a name for himself, Ryan Fredericks. The 27-year-old former Fulham defender is a handful down the right flank with pace and ability to get forward, yet two games in a row he’s started on the bench.
In the first of those games, a 1-1 draw against Sheffield United, he failed to get any minutes under his belt, whilst against Newcastle over the weekend, the electric defender could only manage 18 minutes off the bench, which also coincided with the Irons grabbing both of their consolation goals in a 3-2 loss.
It’s hard to see why Pellegrini is sticking with Zabaleta in the way that he is. The veteran ex-Man City man will be on his way at the end of the season as his contract expires, and it’s clear that whilst he was never lightning-quick across the ground, any yard of pace he might have had is now long gone.
Who should be West Ham's first choice right back?
Ryan Fredericks, his pace is a game changer!
Pablo Zabaleta, experience is key!
Fredericks has pace to burn, though, and he clearly is the option for the future, or at least for the next three of four seasons, so using him more and in the games that matter seems key, and seeing as they had a chance to end their winless run on Saturday, West Ham’s recent loss was a big game, and one we think Fredericks should have played more of a part in.
