WHZ View: Fredericks future at West Ham seems bleak after being dropped from squad v Fulham
Ryan Fredericks was missing once again for West Ham this weekend as youngster Ben Johnson was promoted to the bench instead.
The 28-year-old hasn’t featured for the Hammers since the 4-0 win over Wolves in late September.
Vladimir Coufal has been selected by Moyes instead and after not even making the bench against Sheffield United this weekend it looks like the former Fulham defender’s West Ham career may be over.
Fredericks hardly impressed in his first two league outings of the season as he was part of a defence that conceded four goals in losses to Newcastle and Arsenal. Against the Gunners, stats by WyScout show that Fredericks lost possession more [12] than he managed to recover it [6].
After suffering an injury in the second half of the Wolves game Fredericks was replaced by Johnson and Irons fans haven’t seen him since.
He made the bench in the subsequent games but this weekend he was dropped from the squad completely which suggests Moyes would prefer to give a chance to youngster Johnston if Coufal picks up a knock.
This makes sense. Coufal has been very impressive in his few outings for the Hammers and it has been a long time since Fredericks made a string of good performances.
As per stats by WyScout, you can see in the graph below how Coufal has done better this season than Fredericks did last term.
After being given a chance by Moyes earlier in this season Fredericks failed to take it and it is very hard to see a way back into the West Ham squad unless there is suddenly an injury crisis.
With a year and a half remaining on his contract, the Hammers should sell the defender in January or in the summer at the very latest so they can at least get some money for a player who may sit on the sidelines for the rest of the season.
In other West Ham news, here are our picks for the best signings the Hammers have made in the January transfer window.