OPINION
Javier Hernandez was supposed to signal huge West Ham’s ambitions when he joined in the summer, but instead he must be added to their lengthy list of flop striker signings.
The forward joined West Ham for £16million from Bayer Leverkusen and had fans rightly celebrating the club for signing him.
For the Hammers had not only signed Mexico’s all-time leading goalscorer but they had signed the forward with the fifth best goals to minute ratio in the Premier League.
Hernandez scored 37 goals in 103 league matches for Manchester United during his five-year spell at the club.
West Ham weren’t signing an over-the-hill version either with the attacker still the right-side of 30, at the age of 29.
The Mexican international along with goals brought a winning mentality to a side that hadn’t won a trophy since 1980, having two Premier League titles to his name.
All the signs were there, that Hernandez was an indication that success could come to the Hammers in the near future.
However, now in January, achieving success in the form of silverware, is the last thing on West Ham’s mind.
The club have seen Slaven Bilic depart and replaced by David Moyes as the Hammers find themselves in a heated relegation battle.
Hernandez has been a massive disappointment in this time with him not a guaranteed starter at the club. He has stunk the place out.
The 29-year-old has only scored four goals in 17 league appearances.
His Premier League goal scoring record for this season is only made worse, when you consider 50% of his goals came in the second game of the season against Southampton.
While some may believe it’s too early to deem the forward a flop at the club, all signs are pointing to the fact, things are not going to get better.
Moyes’ arrival was confirmation that the forward had made a huge mistake joining the club.
Under Moyes at Manchester United, Hernandez found himself frozen out and surplus to requirements.
The forward doesn’t suit the way Moyes’ sets his team up, especially this season as he aims to play a conservative style of football in order to secure vitals point to get West Ham safe from relegation.
Hernandez was used as a target man against Shrewsbury Town in the FA Cup with long balls booted up towards him.
This highlighted the fact that Moyes would rather have a player like Andy Carroll in his system, who could deal with that style, rather than the 29-year-old who didn’t make an impact against League One opposition because of it.
For this reason, while it may only be January, the Hammers can label Hernandez as a West Ham flop.