West Ham United have had a strange start to life in the Premier League this season. After being rooted at the bottom of the table after four straight losses, Manuel Pellegrini has finally got them playing and they’re now up to 13th, and their recent 4-2 win against Burnley saw a first league goal of the season for Javier Hernandez, the striker who’s been somewhat exiled under Pellegrini.
Chicha doing what Chicha does best! pic.twitter.com/kpja7XHiK4
— West Ham United (@WestHamUtd) 6 November 2018
At the age of 30, Javier Hernandez can still cut it in the Premier League and his return of eight goals in the division was healthy for the Mexican who was used in a supporting role for the more prolific Marko Arnautovic. This season, though, has been very different. pellegrini left Chicharito out of four consecutive matchday squads in September and October and has only started him twice, leaving the striker playing little over a quarter of West Ham’s minutes.
Whether it be an attitude problem or a fitness issue, it just seems like the ex-Manchester United and Real Madrid man is out of favour at The London Stadium, especially seeing as during the summer the club opted to bring in attacking options in the form of Felipe Anderson, Lucas Perez and Andriy Yarmolenko. The opportunities won’t be coming thick or fast for Hernandez at West Ham but after his well-taken goal against Burnley, he may have just given himself a lifeline.
You can read The Hammers’ verdict on Chicharito here:
Not his biggest fan. But a very well taken goal. Basic issue is we only play 1 up front, and that is not a role he is well suited to. Not unusual for Bilic to buy a player, and then struggle to fit them in to the way he set up his team. Snograss was another case in point.
— Paul Anderson (@PaulAndersonNE6) November 6, 2018
Let’s stop getting on his back now. Well happy for him, hope he bags a load more and shuts everyone up
— Stephen Barrows (@StephenBarrows) November 6, 2018
That touch to drag it out of his feet and away from the defender is class!!
— AndyWHU1987 (@AndyWHU1987) 6 November 2018
Chicha is a natural finisher, but his scoring capacity depends a lot of the way West Ham plays when attack
— Jo (@TioWences) November 6, 2018
The fox in the box strikes for West Ham
— Peter Crowe (@petercrowe511) November 6, 2018
Checks his run to stay on side, whilst his doing it has a glance to see where keeper is and great finish when he actually gets it…. if other way round Antonio is 10yds offside – tbf Great assist by him off the chest COYI
— Rossi Benayoun (@rossco_9) November 6, 2018
https://twitter.com/TheToviyyah/status/1059876483521490945
great assist from @Michailantonio but he won't get the credit he deserves for that. Has @CH14_ injured his hand or is he wearing a bandage like @PapiCheikhou used to because of superstition.
— Helen Ludlow (@Ludders59) November 6, 2018
The Irons will be keen to see more of this from Hernandez and will hope he can inspire the side to a top ten finish this season.
