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Alan Shearer slams Nayef Aguerd as MOTD footage emerges of West Ham United ace in defeat v Manchester City
Nayef Aguerd was “poor” in the build-up to Manchester City’s second goal in West Ham United’s 3-1 defeat to the Premier League champions on Saturday, according to Alan Shearer.
Speaking on Match Of The Day (16 September), Shearer admitted that the Hammers needed to be “at it every single time” against Pep Guardiola’s side at the London Stadium, but the Morrocan’s weak attempt at a clearance was not enough to prevent City from taking the lead.
At 1-1, Bernardo Silva latched onto a Julian Alvarez pass into the box as Aguerd’s header just missed the ball, leaving Silva free to slot it past Alphonse Areola in the six-yard box.
Shearer said: “In the way that they defend, you have to be at it every single time. That is difficult in any game, let alone in a game when you’re playing against some top, top-class players.
“Just enough is not enough against this [Manchester City] team. Poor clearance [by Aguerd], didn’t time his header at all.”
Tough
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Aguerd will be disappointed. If he had timed his header with more accuracy, he would have easily dealt with the danger and given West Ham a fighting chance of taking something from the clash.
Silva was making a nuisance of himself all game and is adept at making and taking chances in tight areas, but West Ham dealt with tougher chances throughout the game, so to concede this goal would have been frustrating for David Moyes.
However, Shearer is correct. To defeat the likes of City, the defence has to be on top form throughout the 90 minutes, and the Hammers were admirable in their efforts. It proved too much in the end, with City peppering the Hammers goal with 29 shots compared to West Ham’s six.
Few expected West Ham to get anything from this game, even at home. City, the only side to earn maximum points so far this season, have continued their excellent form from last season and look in no rush to slow down. Having earned 10 points already this season, including victories over Brighton and Chelsea, Moyes will not be worried based on this result alone.
On another day, the Hammers could have taken something from the clash, but against “top, top-class players”, there’s often only so much you can do.
In other West Ham news, a journalist has claimed that David Moyes is aiming to make the Hammers less reliant in a key area.