A section of West Ham fans have taken to Twitter to tear into left-back Arthur Masuaku for his inability to defend after the club tweeted out about him.
The Hammers posted on their official Twitter account an image of Masuaku, asking fans to respond with what they thought was on the 24-year-old senior player’s phone.
What's on @ArthurMasuaku's phone… ??
??https://t.co/5Ay9asnrxG pic.twitter.com/LfpgTC0Uop
— West Ham United (@WestHam) October 10, 2018
However the West Ham social media did not really get the replies they wanted as some supporters took it as a chance to rip into the ex-Olympiakos ace for his poor defending against Brighton last week.
This is Futbol has rounded up some of the best tweets below:
I hope it’s a video of his appalling marking at the Brighton game
— sw (@stclerk1) October 10, 2018
https://twitter.com/BeatTheBatak/status/1050317331220623360
How to defend?
— Mark Le Masurier (@MarkWHUFC88) October 10, 2018
He's more funcky chicken than headless chicken.
— Eddie Fensome (@EddieFensome) October 10, 2018
Is it the clip of him jogging back, giving up then moaning when Glen Murray scored
— Mark (@Stanwhu1) October 11, 2018
It certainly isnt an art of defending tutorial.
— Eddie Fensome (@EddieFensome) October 10, 2018
https://twitter.com/devine_decIan/status/1050087611769999363
https://twitter.com/Hammersfanno/status/1050125922559582208
OPINION
Masuaku has not had a good season for West Ham so far and the reaction from some of these fans is quite humorous, but also very true. The DR Congo ace clearly is not a defensive-minded player and when he is called upon to track back when the opposing team has the ball, he is basically a liability as the Hammers look as though they are playing with a man down. Masuaku is definitely better attacking, as are most modern full-backs, but in the Premier League, full-backs need to be all-rounders who can do the dirty defensive work as well. The 24-year-old has made eight appearances across all competitions this season for the Irons, but he won’t get many chances to add to that tally if he keeps playing like he did against Brighton. Manuel Pellegrini may look to replace him and Aaron Cresswell in January because the left-back slot is becoming an obvious issue in this side.