OPINION
Throughout all of this season left back has been a problem position for West Ham United manager Manuel Pellegrini.
He chopped and changed between Aaron Cresswell and Arthur Masuaku, but it seemed clear that the position would need to be upgraded this summer.
However, that is no longer the view of the Hammers boss. Football London reported on Wednesday that Pellegrini has put a move for a left back on the back-burner due to the fantastic form of Masuaku down the stretch this campaign.
Sorry, what? The Chilean has seemingly forgotten about months and months of inconsistent play from both Masuaku and Cresswell, simply because the DR Congo international had a few good games down the back end. That just seems a bit bizarre, doesn’t it?
By not strengthening the position this summer, Pellegrini is leaving his team open to the same problems that plagued them on the left hand side of the defence all season, bar a few good games from Masuaku in the last couple of months.
You really do get the sense that he’s on the brink of a big error, here. Fine, he’s been convinced by Masuaku’s recent form. But that’s no reason not to bring someone in to compete with him, is it? Besides, history tells us that the 25-year-old won’t be able to maintain his sterling play for long.
With that said, is the former Manchester City boss really planning on heading into the 2019/20 campaign with the same motley crew of left backs who struggled throughout this season?
Surely the supporters agree: Pellegrini needs to reconsider here. His decision reeks of recency bias and appears destined to end in disaster.
