---
title: "West Ham: Paul Brown surprised by Said Benrahma’s recent omissions"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/west-ham-united-said-benrahma-news-latest-transfers-rumours-moyes/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Will Seager"
section: "Follow up"
published: "2022-09-12T12:10:21Z"
modified: "2022-09-12T12:10:21Z"
---

# West Ham: Paul Brown surprised by Said Benrahma’s recent omissions

**Journalist Paul Brown has admitted his surprise that [West Ham United](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/west-ham-news/) manager David Moyes is choosing to ignore the likes of Said Benrahma, considering his form at the start of the season.**

### **The Lowdown: Benrahma’s game-time**

Having not quite managed to [establish himself](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/137021/History/Sa%C3%AFd-Benrahma) as a core member of the 59-year-old’s favoured starting XI, rumours circulated this summer [claiming](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-11097965/West-Ham-manager-David-Moyes-willing-listen-offers-Said-Benrahma.html) that the Irons were willing to let the Algeria international leave.

However, with a move away failing to materialise despite [interest from Nottingham Forest](https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/football-news/said-benrahma-nottingham-forest-transfer-7438975), the winger remained in east London.

The 27-year-old has [played in all six](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/said-benrahma/leistungsdaten/spieler/290532) of West Ham’s [Premier League](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league-news/) fixtures so far this season, but contrary to the surface-level perception that he has now won Moyes over, Benrahma has [come off the bench](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/said-benrahma/leistungsdaten/spieler/290532) in half of those.

He has also been dropped from the starting XI on [two separate occasions](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/137021/MatchStatistics/Sa%C3%AFd-Benrahma) in recent weeks, a sign that his manager isn’t wholly convinced by him.

### **The Latest: Brown’s claim**

Having played the [full 90 minutes](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/said-benrahma/leistungsdaten/spieler/290532) just once as a starter so far in 2022/23, Brown is surprised that Benrahma has been utilised so little this season, deeming him a bright spark in a disappointing West Ham side who have only [won once](https://www.skysports.com/premier-league-table) in the current top-flight campaign.

Speaking with [GiveMeSport](https://www.givemesport.com/88057855-west-ham-moyes-surprisingly-excluding-30m-star-at-london-stadium), the journalist claimed: “Benrahma did start the season like he was going to tear it up pretty quickly.

“So, it is a little surprising that he hasn’t played more because I think the manager should be relying on players who look like they’re in form and at the top of their game.”

[West Ham latest updates!](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/west-ham-latest-updates-2/)

### **The Verdict: Talented winger**

Having earned stylistic comparisons to the likes of Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha, Aston Villa’s Philippe Coutinho and AC Milan’s Brahim Diaz (via [FBRef](https://fbref.com/en/players/5a04fd92/Said-Benrahma)), Benrahma certainly seems to have the raw talent to perform at the top level.

As per [WhoScored](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/29/Show/England-West-Ham), the Algerian has averaged 1.5 shots, 1.5 key passes and 1.3 dribbles per game in the Premier League so far this season, ranking him third or higher for each metric in Moyes’ squad, illustrating his plentiful ability to operate as an attacking playmaker.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”375613″\]

Hailed as [‘unplayable’](https://readwestham.com/2021/11/05/joe-cole-showers-praise-on-unplayable-said-benrahma/) by former Irons favourite Joe Cole following one performance in the Europa League last year, it remains a mystery as to why Moyes won’t give Benrahma an extended period in the side’s starting XI, especially when the team as a whole are struggling for form right now.