Felipe Anderson’s imperfect performance against Everton in the Carabao Cup highlighted all the flaws of the once-adored West Ham United man’s game, as much as the Brazilian teased the reasons why supporters once lauded his capture.
The 27-year-old is now in his third season in east London after the Irons failed to find any suitors willing to purchase his services in the summer, having touted Anderson on the transfer market in the hopes of raising vital funds needed to strengthen David Moyes’ squad.
It was only a year prior that supporters were hailing Anderson as being ‘incredible’ and ‘terrific to watch’ 12-months on from his then club-record £36million move, but they are now using terms like ‘bottle job’ and calling the former SS Lazio forward ‘lazy, inconsistent and a coward’.
Supporters’ perception of Anderson clearly drastically changed during the 2019/20 campaign and the Brazilian has a lot of work in store if he’s to repair his reputation, after leaving it in relative tatters after hitting just one goal and penning five assists across 27 outings in all competitions.
The new season had started more promisingly with a goal and an assist in the Carabao Cup, but creating Robert Snodgrass’ initial equaliser at Everton failed to paint over the cracks his performance otherwise created.
The first-half offered much promise from Anderson as he attempted to make things click in attack and was clearly the busiest of the Irons’ front three, only to be without much luck and for the tide to turn after the interval when he became a shadow of himself.
Misplaced touches and poor decision making became the theme of his game as he fell from the frontline, ultimately resulting in Anderson’s name being scrubbed from match reports to the point his only mention in The Guardian was for his assist and inclusion in the teamsheet.
Had more words been written on Anderson they would have focused on a player appearing devoid of all confidence and unable to beat his man, having lost six of his 15 ground duels, delivered one accurate cross from three attempts, played no long passes and lost possession 19 times – only Ben Johnson lost possession as much of the outfield West Ham players who started, per SofaScore.
When the Irons are next in Premier League action away to Leicester City on Sunday, it would be a more surprising turn of events should Anderson feature in his first starting line-up of the top-flight campaign than were his name among the substitutes once more.
AND in other news, West Ham have submitted an offer to sign David Moyes’ top striker target.