Far too frequently in recent years, West Ham have taken a gamble on players who have poor injury records. Players spending long stints on the treatment table has been a persistent issue at the London Stadium. Still, it appeared the Hammers’ hierarchy might be learning for their mistakes when they decided not to award Andy Carroll a new deal after he missed 151 matches during his time with the Irons.
However, Andriy Yarmolenko has suffered similar persistent injury issues, missing 45 matches over the last two seasons. The Ukrainian international has at least provided a telling contribution when he has been fit, scoring seven goals in 32 appearances for West Ham.
Meanwhile, Jack Wilshere has contributed next to nothing and made just two starts last term. His three-year contract has been a disastrous decision, and Frank McAvennie did not hold back when analysing how costly the mistake has been.
What did he say?
Speaking to Football Insider, the West Ham icon said: “I cannot believe the situation with Wilshere. He is a really talented boy, but he is not playing. It is like Andy Carroll. You are just paying somebody money and not getting any off him.”
“You cannot blame the player. It is the board of directors’ fault. They should not have signed him. He has not played, and he is past his best. A wonderful player and a wonderful talent and the injuries are not his fault, but it is one of them,” added McAvennie.
Giving more then you get
Wilshere is thought to be one of the highest earners at the London Stadium, taking home £85k a week, yet he has started just six matches over the last two seasons in East London. Furthermore, the only tangible contribution he has made is a single assist in his first season with the club.
The warning signs were there when West Ham came in for Wilshere, he had an appalling injury record, despite possessing bags of talent, as McAvennie suggested. While the Irons may not have had to pay to sign him, it now seems like a one, or even two-year deal would have been considerably more sensible, given how he has mustered just 601 minutes of action in the Premier League.
The Hammers board have paid the price for ignoring the injury warning signs with Wilshere, and they have failed to learn their lesson from Carroll’s stint in East London.
