West Ham United: Journalist shares Aaron Cresswell team of the season so far theory
The Athletic journalist John Muller has named Aaron Cresswell in his Premier League team of the season so far, giving a surprising nod to West Ham United in the process.
It’s obviously not been a great campaign so far for the Hammers if the league table is anything to go by but this is something Muller has brushed off.
The journalist shared that West Ham United have been “secretly decent” this season and Cresswell’s progressive and healthy play has been part of this.
“Aaron Cresswell leads West Ham in progressive passing by a healthy margin,” as quoted by The Athletic. (4 February)
“And he’s doing it as part of a back line that allows the league’s fourth-fewest expected goals per game. That’s right: West Ham are secretly decent.”
Interesting.
Many would claim that Cresswell has regressed this campaign rather than moved forward from his solid outings over the course of last season.
And despite the Hammers spending £160m in the summer, no long-term successor to Cresswell has been found by Moyes and the West Ham United hierarchy.
Two options Moyes had in his left-back ranks have since left the squad, Arthur Masuaku went to Besiktas on a season-long loan and youngster Emmanuel Longelo was sent to Birmingham City until the summer.
Emerson Palmieri was brought in to provide some competition for Cresswell but it seems Moyes still favours his tried and trusted left-back.
Thilo Kehrer and Ben Johnson have also failed to capture the heart of Moyes in Cresswell’s position and it seems he will be the go-to man still moving forward.
Maybe for good reason too, if the statistics above are anything to go by, it seems like the Englishman is still flourishing in this underperforming side.