OPINION
Jamie Redknapp has suggested that Jack Wilshere could be a maverick player capable of conjuring moments of magic for West Ham but the 26-year-old midfielder needs to improve his goal threat in order to live up to that billing.
The Sky Sports pundit in his Premier League preview (P28), which was included in the Daily Mail’s print edition (August 11) stated that Wilshere could be the maverick that lifts the mood at the London Stadium if it turns negative.
The Hammers recruit clearly has the ability to be a player capable of creating magic moments in games in order to take supporters breaths away but it’s hard to see him regularly lifting the mood unless he improves his end product.
Wilshere managed just 14 goals and 30 assists during his 198 appearances for the Gunners which is particularly a woeful return when you consider his impressive talents.
It’s gets worse when you consider that the very talented midfielder only managed two assists, no goals, in his 27 outings for Bournemouth when he was on loan with them in the 2016/17 season.
While Hammers supporters may ‘ooo’ and ‘ah’ over skills move as well as fancy tricks, they will only truly get excited at a player who helps the side win by being a threat on goal or a rock at the back
The 26-year-old doesn’t appear to be the most defensive minded so for him to become a player that fans love, he needs to start delivering goals one way or another to inspire fans.
Whether this be by creating more assists or honing his eye for goal, as long as he improves in one of of those aspects.
The former Gunners midfielder has to address this issues that is currently in his game in order to be the player that Redknapp describes him as potentially being.
Therefore while Redknapp may one day be right to label Wilshere a magic maverick capable of getting Hammers supporters to their feet when times are tough, he needs to improve his goal threat before he lives up to that billing.
