Jose Fonte is a good player but hasn't reached anything like the form he's capable of since arriving at West Ham. In his six games so far West Ham have conceded 11 goals, four against Man City, one against Southampton, two against West Brom, one at Watford, two against Chelsea and three at Bournemouth. He didn't have a great game at Dean Court; he could have been a bit quicker for King's opener, though it was a great flick from the striker, and clipped Pugh's shin to concede a penalty. We also thought he might be more of an organiser at the back.
It would be unfair to be too critical of Fonte though. It will take time to establish a partnership with Winston Reid and bed into a new defence. Some of his problems have been caused by the lack of an established right back, with Kouyate being played out of position and Byram looking good going forward but vulnerable at the back.
Southampton fans rate their former captain very highly and he's been up through the top three divisions with them. Fonte played in a team that finished sixth last season and was a European Championship winner, so has to be a very good player. But while he's settling in might he benefit from playing in a back five alongside Reid and Kouyate or Collins with Byram and Cresswell as attacking wing backs? Hopefuly the best of Fonte is yet to come.
2 comments:
Good post.
Cheers Tony.
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