OPINION
West Ham fans had many reasons to be happy after watching their side beat Cardiff City 3-1 on Tuesday and there were plenty of players who warrant their praise.
However there were two players who featured against Neil Warnock’s side that have both been surprise packages this season and they continued to delight on Tuesday.
The two players in question are 31-year-old Hammers winger Robert Snodgrass and 20-year-old Grady Diangana.
Snodgrass put in a masterclass of a performance against the Bluebirds by racking up two assists to greatly aid his side’s victory.
The veteran, who was previously deemed so surplus to requirements that he spent last season on loan at Aston Villa, has surprised everyone by forcing his way into Manuel Pellegrini’s plans in order to make 17 appearances this season.
Then there is fellow winger Diangana who has equally surprised as many people by seizing his opportunity to be given first-team chances by not looking out of place in his seven Premier League appearances.
While Diangana only played 16 minutes of the Hammers’ clash with Cardiff as soon as he entered the game, he entertained the fans and looked a real handful for Warnock’s team.
The 20-year-old looked like the ideal player to be first-choice for either flank, as he can dabble on both, as a result and showed that Pellegrini need not take a risk on signing Samri Nasri in January.
With Felipe Anderson, Robert Snodgrass and Grady Diangana available, plus the likes of Xande Silva and Nathan Holland lurking in the club’s academy then Pellegrini has enough depth on the flanks.
Especially with Snodgrass and Diangana continuing to be surprise packages for the season.
Pellegrini previously confirmed that 31-year-old Nasri was working with the Hammers in a bid to win a contract with the club, but the manager’s must not snub him regardless of he gets fit.
“We will see about Nasri. He is working with us after a long time with his ban. We are giving him a hand to return to football. I hope he will be fit between now and the end of the year and if he is we will try to sign him,” the Hammers said, as quoted by BBC Sport.
This is because Diangana and Snodgrass show no signs of letting their form dip and this means Nasri who would likely get an £80,000-a-week deal if snapped up (Source: Mirror), would just be an expensive bench warmer.
