Harry Redknapp names Angelo Ogbonna in Premier League team of the week after West Ham United 1-0 win v Fulham
Harry Redknapp has named Angelo Ogbonna in his Premier League team of the week after West Ham claimed a vital 1-0 win over Fulham on Saturday (8 April).
The Hammers kept a clean sheet after making three changes to their back four following a 5-1 thrashing at the hands of Newcastle just days prior, leaving David Moyes fighting for his job at Craven Cottage.
But after a big win and a big performance from the experienced Italian, former manager Redknapp told BetVictor (10 April) that Ogbonna is someone Moyes can rely on to fight for him and the team in a relegation battle.
“Next up, I’m picking Angelo Ogbonna,” he said.
“This lad has been a great servant for West Ham for years and he was outstanding at Craven Cottage at the weekend.
“David Moyes needs players he can rely on and Ogbonna is definitely that. He’s got bags of experience and a real love for the club, the sort of player you need in a relegation fight.”
Experience
West Ham fans all feared the worst when Craig Dawson left in the January window and wasn’t replaced, leaving us with just three recognised first-team central defenders for the rest of the season.
Nayef Aguerd has been pretty good since his move to the club last summer although he has struggled with injuries, while Zouma is still far and away our best defender but his fitness problems have been a common problem too.
So having a mid-30’s defender who has struggled with a serious injury in recent times was a big risk, but he stepped up excellently and has shown Moyes that he can be relied upon.
With not long to go in the season, Ogbonna is not only fighting for the future of the club in the Premier League but also his own future because his contract is set to expire at the end of the season.
Performances like this will do him absolutely no harm whatsoever, but we need him now to be consistent with it too to help us stay in the Premier League beyond the end of the campaign.