It's been a barren run for West Ham compared to last year. Despite not having a real hitman up front, we were one of the attacking forces in the league. This year, we’re still to have a striker involved in a goal, and it’s hurting. Can Ayew save us?
Andre Ayew
West Ham need a boost. The media are on their backs for their new stadium not getting off to a super start and the obvious difference between this season's form and last season’s. I think Ayew can be that difference.
When we bought him from Swansea many questioned the logic of such a decision. Here is someone that plays mostly in attacking midfield, when that’s a position we already have covered. But there was method in the supposed madness.
He had scored goals in the Premier League, and it seems that Bilic wanted variation up front. In Carroll he has one of the best target men in European football, and whilst Sakho is a good mobile forward he has had fallings out with the hierarchy and needed to be replaced. Enter Andre Ayew.
With Ayew upfront West Ham have a strong, fast striker who can drop out onto the wings if the situation arises. It gives us a fluid attack and that difference in one player is what Bilic is after. He doesn’t want like for like replacements and moving forward with Ayew up top could be a masterstroke.
Is He Better than Zaza?
In a word, yes. He offers more in the way of goal threat than Zaza, and has proven he can be lethal in the Premier League as well. Considering he played most of last season on the wing for Swansea, his stats are much better than Zaza’s.
Ayew managed around a goal every 3 games last season. For a mid table side and from the wing that’s impressive. I don’t need to remind you that Zaza has some of the most creative players in the league behind him and is still yet to score. He even takes more shots per 90 minutes than Ayew did last year, coming at around 3 to 2.
Zaza is a more creative force, with over 3 chances created every 2 games and Ayew averaging less than one chance created per game. That could be due to Zaza’s target man role, or it could be that Swansea we’re as attacking as we are. Either way, Ayew is likely to grab you more goals.
Ayew could be out striker solution. But he needs to be given a chance at the top of the attack.