---
title: "Unsung Hero: West Ham’s Ryan Fredericks was influential despite being overshadowed"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/unsung-hero-west-hams-ryan-fredericks-was-influential-despite-being-overshadowed/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Danny Lewis"
section: "Features"
published: "2019-09-23T15:30:19Z"
modified: "2019-09-23T15:30:19Z"
---

# Unsung Hero: West Ham’s Ryan Fredericks was influential despite being overshadowed

**Of West Ham United’s defenders, it is understandable that Aaron Cresswell was the man to get the most attention following the victory over Manchester United.**

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Unsung-heros.png)

The 29-year-old scored a sublime free-kick that beat David de Gea despite the Spaniard getting his hand to it, having not played a single Premier League minute since the opening day of the season, as per [**WhoScored**](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/68049/MatchStatistics/Aaron-Cresswell).

However the full-back on the opposite side, Ryan Fredericks, also made an impact on the game before being replaced by Pablo Zabaleta in the [**80th minute**](https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1376008/Live/England-Premier-League-2019-2020-West-Ham-Manchester-United).

Fredericks worked well defensively, making [**1 tackle**](https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1376008/Live/England-Premier-League-2019-2020-West-Ham-Manchester-United), 2 interceptions and 2 clearances, as he came up directly against Daniel James for large parts of the game, with the Welshman having already scored [**3 goals**](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/302313/Show/Daniel-James) before this encounter.

It was important that the 26-year-old was defensively sound, as Issa Diop often struggled whenever he was pulled out into wide areas, as shown by the moment he toppled over James, having let the 21-year-old get in round him to nip the ball away – Fredericks’ impact ensured the Frenchman wasn’t put in this awkward situation too often.

He was also effective on the ball, completing [**1 dribble**](https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1376008/Live/England-Premier-League-2019-2020-West-Ham-Manchester-United) and 81% of the passes he attempted throughout the match, which included some good link-up play with Andriy Yarmolenko.

The Hammers put in a brilliant performance against Man United, so there were various unsung heroes in this match, with Fredericks certainly being among those.

***West Ham fans, how do you think Fredericks has started this season? Join the discussion by commenting below…***