We all know that Sam Allardyce took a risk last season in bringing Ricardo Vaz Te to West Ham from Barnsley, but he turned into a bit of a talisman for the Hammers and helped ensure our promotion.
But will he be able to recreate his Npower Championship magic in the Premier League with the big boys? Big Sam has the same question for the man who fired us back into the big time.
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He told The Express: “At Bolton, he promised he would be an outstanding talent and then it faded and went into the wilderness.
“It was a case of being over confident in his ability. If you get over confident, you stop learning. That journey into the wilderness seems to have done him the world of good, it seems to have given him the desire to make sure he doesn’t waste his talent any more.
“He did a great job for Barnsley and we were very fortunate he hadn’t signed a new contract with them, otherwise it would have been millions to buy him rather than hundreds of thousands.
“Hopefully we will see his talent on a regular basis like we did when he arrived here. His goals were the reason we ended up in the play-offs, winning promotion.
“As soon as that consistency is hit at this level,we’d hopefully sit down and discuss a new contract with him.”
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But, I’m sadly unconvinced by his displays so far.What do you lot think? I just don’t think he seems to want to play for the team, seems like he’s more interested in trying (and missing) an ambitious shot than passing to a team mate.
Am I being too harsh on Vaz? Does he just need time to adjust to the change in pace that comes with the step up to the Premier League?
Let me know by leaving a comment or tweeting me at @alwaysintune.
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way to harsh in my eyes the win against fulham he was outstanding he had one off game against norwich and now hes a bad player??? that makes no sense what so ever, rooney has been really bad for united and england but everyone still loks at him as world class, vaz is an excellent player with an amzing ability to turn a game on its head when least expected, in the play off final he was quiet all through the game but kept his nerve and sent us to where we are now to not give him a chance after all he did for us would be harsh, leave the vaz alone
agree with scotty adams. vaz te can make a difference when he’s on form and when he’s not he still has the class to do something in a brief moment and make the differece. … his hollywood shots look terrible when they dont come off, but he’s a player who is able to pull them off every now and again. so sometimes worth a try. … i do think that he’s probably more dangerous coming in from the left onto his right foot than vice versa.
I don’t think its he’s not good enough. to me hes just been played out of position to suit the team, he needs a more central role but nolan playes were he should. Watching the game on the weekend he gets the ball. passes the defender down the wing. but he can’t cross so he looks like he cant finish, hes not a crossing winger he is a 2nd stricker partner or a central attacking player, any position he can use his killer shot.
Spot on
Vaz Te is played as essentially a very defensive winger, verging on right/left midfielder on occasions. When played out of position it is harder to produce the goalscoring form and great play that he did in a more attacking role last season. Against Fulham he was allowed to play as a more attacking entity and he was one of our best players. Against Norwich he was our only option wide as no one else was making space. I think it is very unfair to be harsh on the lad. Vaz has great potential for us in the PL especially when he is allowed to attack. Also he is not the best crosser of the ball but when playing on the left where he can cut in and create plays he is fantastic
Wonder how Hammers would go with Vaz Te partnering Carlton Cole up front while Carroll is out? Cole can hold the ball up & maybe with Vaz Te’s speed he could zip in quick (a la playoff final), maybe even faster than Nolan playing off Carroll. Of course Sam would have to play 4-4-2 however with Yossi in there carving out chances, could work.
Agree with most of the comments regarding Vaz Te. We’re far to harsh and impatient on our own, anybody would believe that Brooking, Bonds, Devonshire or Moore never had a poor game for the club?
Four games in?….Let’s all take a deep breath….
Aaaah, that’s better!
Saying that he doesn’t like to pass is stupid considering the fact that he has 2 assists already.