Former West Ham United defender Danny Gabbidon has some interesting views on his old club’s 4-0 humbling to Manchester United.
The Hammers got the new Premier League season off to the worst possible start at Old Trafford, putting in a timid performance in a resounding defeat at the hands of the title hopefuls.
A brace from Romelu Lukaku and goals from Anthony Martial and Paul Pogba brought Slaven Bilic’s side crashing down to earth after what seemed a successful summer of recruitment.
The likes of Joe Hart, Pablo Zabaleta, Marko Arnautovic and Javier Hernandez could do little to prevent the kind of scoreline Hammers fans have long been accustomed to on visits to Old Trafford over the years.
But the player who was on the receiving end of the most criticism from not only Hammers fans but pundits and supporters of other clubs too, was left-back Arthur Masuaku.
Arthur Masuaku in action against Manchester United
West Ham fans have never taken to Masuaku. Castigated last season for one horror showing after another despite initially impressing on his debut against Chelsea, Masuaku started against Jose Mourinho’s side with Aaron Cresswell not 100% fit.
The defender is careless, at times lazy and often caught out at the back while very rarely getting beyond his man to deliver a telling pass or cross in attack.
So it didn’t go down well with supporters or pundit Gary Neville when he was caught on camera laughing and joking while marking Lukaku on a set piece before fiddling with his shin pads just as the cross came in for the Red Devil’s second goal – as reported by Sky Sports.
But with Masuaku taking the brunt of West Ham fans’ fury, former Hammer of the Year Danny Gabbidon has spoken out in defence of the Congo international, and blames Winston Reid instead.
“(Winston) Reid’s the leader in that back line he needs to take charge of it and know Masuaku can’t be trusted to mark a player of that size/strength,” Gabbidon said on Twitter.
Danny Gabbidon blames Winston Reid for West Ham mistake
Many West Ham fans feel the club has neglected to address real issues in their defence over the summer.
Bilic’s side were awful at the back last season but have only brought in ageing right back Pablo Zabaleta and handed a new deal to Angelo Ogbonna.
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