BBC pundit Garth Crooks has slammed West Ham duo Pablo Zabaleta and Fabian Balbuena for their performances in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth.
A fine individual goal from Callum Wilson and a Steve Cook header six minutes later gave Bournemouth the win after Marko Arnautovic’s penalty had put the hosts ahead in the first half at London Stadium.
Former Tottenham striker Crooks was hugely unimpressed by right-back Zabaleta and centre-back Balbuena as they struggled to stem the pace of the visiting attack.
“Callum Wilson has scored on five separate occasions against West Ham and, after his latest performance against the Hammers, I can see why,” Crooks told the BBC Sport website. “The way he breezed past Fabian Balbuena and Pablo Zabaleta was scary from a Hammers perspective.
“[Manuel] Pellegrini was so surprised, as he was disappointed, that West Ham fans left the stadium with 10 minutes to play. He does have a point. An awful lot can happen on a football field in 10 minutes – especially if the fans play their part.
“That said, this was a rocky Hammers horror show.”
OPINION
Pellegrini got it badly wrong with his defensive re-jig for the clash against Bournemouth. Right-back Ryan Fredericks and midfield anchorman Declan Rice paid the price for the 4-0 hammering at Liverpool on the opening day, as the manager stuck with the more experienced trio of Balbuena, centre-back partner Angelo Ogbonna and left-back Arthur Masuaku, and Jack Wilshere dropped back to partner Mark Noble in central midfield. Surely, Rice would be a more solid partner for Ogbonna than Balbuena, who lacks the recovery pace needed against the paciest Premier league forwards. Not that Wilson is a real speed machine, especially after all his injury troubles. One player who certainly is fleet of foot was the man axed from the squad after his mixed debut, Ryan Fredericks. He must be recalled for the weekend trip to Arsenal, as he is far better equipped to face Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alex Iwobi and company than the one-paced Zabaleta.