Many West Ham fans took to social media to heap praise on West Ham defender Ryan Fredericks after they witnessed his performance against Preston North End on Saturday.
The 5ft 9in tall right-back (Transfermarkt) starred for the Hammers against the Championship club in their latest pre-season friendly which ended as a 2-2 draw at Deepdale.
One Hammers fan tweeted that Fredericks looked a real weapon during the game, while several took the time to tweet about the defender’s blistering pace.
Forever West Ham has rounded up a selection of tweets by Hammers supporters about the performance of Fredericks against PNE:
That pace from fredericks
Sweet and I love the pace of Fredericks…..he was a steal.
— George Savva (@georgesavvaWHU) July 21, 2018
Can see Yarmolenko and Fredericks forming quiet a dangerous partnership down that right flank! Some serious pace between those two.
— ⚒⚒Tony_COYI⚒⚒ (@Anthony_coyi) July 21, 2018
Fredericks looked great as well today ⚒️ https://t.co/TQkh0teKBC
— Jamie Whiteaker (@whiteakerjamie) July 21, 2018
Fredericks already looks like a great signing. His pace is frightening which is something we’ve lacked for ages.
— Marko_Lanzini (@Marko_Lanzini) July 21, 2018
Fredericks is going to be a gem in his first season much like Cresswell
— Allan Smith (@Allan22_WHU) July 21, 2018
Really excited about Fredericks/Wilshere. Fredericks has that raw pace we’ve been missing at right wing back and Wilsh is a natural ball carrying center mid who can unlock a defense! Buzzing for the season to start ⚒
— TogetherWestHam (@WHUTogether) July 21, 2018
From what I seen of the 2nd half Fredericks looks a real weapon down that right side
— TheWestHamWayCoUk (@WestHamWaycouk) July 21, 2018
OPINION
While Fredericks is a defender first and foremost it seems a lot of Hammers fans were blown away by his potential as an attacking outlet for the club. Several fans were wowed by how fast the defender was and it’s hard to argue with one supporter who believes that it’s what the Hammers have been lacking for ages. The 25-year-old ended his 2017/18 campaign having registered nine assists in 48 games for Fulham and based on their reactions following his display against Preston, Hammers fans will be expecting him to be just as involved with creating chances for his latest club. Even though the defender has never featured in a Premier League game before, it’s easy to imagine that his pace will help him take England’s top-flight by storm.