Winston Reid has put in some decent performances for West Ham this season in the Championship. However, is he a player that West Ham can rely on if the club gets
promoted back to the Premier League?
In the summer of 2010, the West Ham owners told the West Ham supporters that the club are trying to sign a player that performed exceptionally well in the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Many West Ham fans believed that the club were trying to sign a player from the teams that performed well during the tournament for example, Spanish, Dutch, Uruguayan or a German player. When the club revealed they are trying to sign an unknown New Zealand international defender Winston Reid, many West Ham fans questioned the deal because they were unaware of his qualities.
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Reid performed for New Zealand in the World Cup, scoring one goal and helped the All Whites remain the only team in the tournament that did not lose a single match, despite failing to qualify past the Group Stages. His first appearance for the Hammers was a forgettable one. West Ham lost 3-0 to Aston Villa and Reid, who was playing right back, had a horrid time dealing with the pace of the game. His failure to deal with the pace of the Premier League led to him being dropped. He was not the same player that performed extremely well for New Zealand in the World Cup and he only
made twelve appearances in a season when the Hammers got relegated.
Reid remained with the club following their relegation to the Championship. He has been a constant figure in the team, making twenty-three appearances in all competitions scoring two goals, including the winning goal against arch-rivals Millwall. His contributions in defence have helped the team achieve thirteen clean sheets as the Hammers seek to regain their Premier League status. However, questions remain whether Reid can continue this form in the Premier League, if the club get promoted.
One of the main criticisms of Reid is his failure to deal with pace. On the weekend, Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha caused Reid problems the entire match. Reid’s lack of concentration could have cost West Ham dearly in the first ten minutes. Reid was too often dragged out position by the Palace attackers and keeper Robert Green once again saved the Hammers with a string of fine saves. Moments like these raise the question whether the club can rely on Reid if they get promoted back to the Premier League.
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Whether he can continue his fine form in the Premier League remains to be seen. What we do know is that he has struggled with the pace and intensity of the game in the Premier League. However, since then he has become a better player and has improved his game since his move to England. One thing for sure is that Reid deserves his chance in the team if the Hammers get promoted. He has put in decent performances in the Championship and has helped the team to reach the top of the table. If he continues to struggle in the Premier League then the manager must consider replacing him if the club wants to remain in the Premier League.
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