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Is West Ham's Aaron Cresswell really worth the hype?

Is West Ham’s Aaron Cresswell really worth the hype?

There’s no two ways about it – last time out – West Ham’s Aaron Cresswell simply had an afternoon to forget to say the very least. The attacking might of AFC Bournemouth somehow pressured the marauding full-back into making two key mistakes that inevitably saw the Hammers record a disappointing 4-2 home defeat to the Cherries.

 

For someone who was pretty much unanimously voted as West Ham’s standout player of the year last season, Cresswell’s latest performance has nonetheless damaged his so far flawless reputation among the English top-flight. Followers of the Premier League are certainly a fickle bunch in the cold light of day…

 

Before such a perilous turn of events for the Liverpool-born defender last time out, the 25-year-old former Ipswich Town man was largely considered one of the best English full-backs currently operating in the modern game, as well as a player more than worthy of a place in Roy Hodgson’s national squad in the not too distant future.

 

So then, in light of the latest discussion and speculation surrounding Slaven Bilic’s first choice left-back, is Aaron Cresswell simply going to bounce back from his poor display against Bournemouth, or has last season’s successful Hammers of the Year winner ultimately been the subject of too much hype since fist emerging within the English top-flight?

 

Whilst the up-and-coming regular in the West Ham starting XI must now dust himself off and forget about his calamitous debacle at the back, perhaps moving on from last week’s less than impressive display won’t prove such an easy task for the Upton Park faithful. Hammers fans have been watching Aaron Cresswell for over a year now, and maybe it’s fair to suggest that such a desperate offering was bound to emerge for the 25-year-old sooner rather than later.

 

Although Cresswell has a great deal to offer Slaven Bilic going into the new season, there are nevertheless a few important shortcomings to the defender’s overall game that have somewhat held him back in the Premier League so far. Whilst the player himself became the subject of some pretty serious hype throughout the 2014/15 campaign, the Hammers no.3 is so one footed, watching him switch the ball to his weaker right side really can be a major cause for concern among the Upton Park onlookers.

 

As is also the case with Carl Jenkinson in the right-back position for West Ham, Aaron Cresswell simply can’t rely on his weaker foot to get him out of trouble in the Premier League. Operating at the highest level with such a clear problem on board simply can’t end well, can it?

 

For all the good leg work he puts in on a week-to-week basis, Cresswell also falls short when it comes to doing the business with the ball at his feet. Defenders don’t have to be amazing technicians by any means to get by in the Premier League – but seeing as Slaven Bilic is currently trying to employ an improved footballing philosophy in and around Upton Park at the minute – the no.3’s lacking technical ability has nonetheless been exposed in the club’s recent home defeats.

 

However, whilst certain concerns understandably ring true around the Boleyn Ground in light of West Ham’s recent loss to AFC Bournemouth, such problems will likely be forgotten about almost immediately if Cresswell returns to his usually reliable form against Liverpool next time out. Because of all his achievements in the Hammers shirt last season, the Upton Park faithful still hold their first choice left-back in the highest regard.

 

What Aaron Cresswell lacks in technical prowess, he more than makes up for with his ability to aid his teammates in the attack, dependable fitness levels to make the first team with every passing week, as well as his impressive composure in crossing positions and on set-pieces in and around the opposition’s penalty box. His well taken free-kick against Stoke City last season still shines the 25-year-old Englishman in a particularly promising light to say the least.

 

The 2014/15 campaign also saw the former Portman Road favourite play every single available minute of Premier League football last term – making him a more than worthy winner of last year’s Hammer of the Year vote at the end of the day.

 

Therefore, whilst Aaron Cresswell might not quite be ready for England duty just yet in light of the clear shortcomings holding back his overall game, the rapidly emerging defender nevertheless provides West Ham with a very promising asset with all things considered.

 

Yes, his mistakes last time out certainly don’t need repeating any time soon – but as Hammers fans have certainly witnessed their fair share of defensive cock-ups throughout the years – don’t expect the Upton Park faithful to be turning on their favoured left-back any time soon this season.

Thatsagoal.com Team

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