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J.Riddle 6:31 Wed Aug 30
Snotgrass West Ham nightmare
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Says a lot of dishonesty and certain things about the club that are not right that he can't talk about. Lack of communication with Bilic.
IF anything sums up the extraordinary existence of the modern day Barclays Premier League footballer it is the strange case of Robert Snodgrass. This gallus Glaswegian’s career appeared to have moved to another level when he agreed a three-and-a-half year deal with ambitious West Ham as the January deadline day approached, the Londoners apparently selecting him to compensate for the departure of the talented but troublesome Dmitri Payet when the Frenchman moved to Marseille and finding £10.2m from down the back of the couch to lure him from Hull City.
After such an investment, you might have thought club and manager Slaven Bilic would be personally invested in the success of the deal. But it didn’t take long for Snodgrass to suspect something wasn’t quite right. Even before he had taken to the field for the first time, as substitute during a 4-0 home defeat to Manchester City, he had an inkling that his dream move was about to become a nightmare.
“I realised from the off that it wasn’t going to happen,” said Snodgrass. “I was coming on against Manchester City and he [Bilic] said ‘where do you want to play, on the left or right?’ I thought ‘You’ve just signed me and I’ve played on the right or behind the striker at Hull City all season’.
“I found it very strange,” he added. “That was my debut. And every time I played I was on the left. Alarm bells were ringing right away. I don’t know why he did it. I came in just as Payet left and maybe it was a case of ‘you can play there’ but I’d only filled in on the left on a couple of times.
“He probably thought he was onto a winner but I hate that position. When you’re Scottish you’re brought up to play anywhere and it’s fine to play for one or two games but you need to play in your right position, especially on the back of scoring nine goals for Hull City. At that stage nobody had scored more goals for Hull, or for West Ham.”
Lines of communication weren’t exactly great. “The manager was under a lot of pressure and I later said that out of respect I didn’t want to go in and see him during that period, “ Snodgrass said. “But when I eventually did speak to him I said I thought he’d have known I wasn’t a left midfielder and that he must have watched me after signing me for that type of money. His answer was basically that when people are confident they can play anywhere.”
Whatever West Ham’s motivation for it all, Snodgrass played 15 matches without scoring last season and may feel he was rather hung out to dry when told he was surplus to requirements this summer. Their loss has been Aston Villa’s gain. He only recently completed the purchase of a house in London and made schooling arrangements for his children, but his day job is now in Birmingham, having agreed a loan deal to hook up with his former Hull City gaffer Steve Bruce at Aston Villa. Things haven’t been plain sailing at the London Stadium in his absence - Bilic’s job is on the line with the club sitting rock bottom after three defeats to date - but that doesn’t mean Snodgrass secretly wishes the club where he is still under contract any ill will.
“I enjoyed every second at West Ham with the lads and the staff,” he said. “It’s a club that is well run but there were certain things behind the scenes that weren’t right. There are certain things that I can’t really say here, but you look at it and you end up getting a lot of stick for something when you came in probably at the wrong time. There was a lot of broken promises, a lot of dishonesty and I thought ‘this is not what I am about’. I want to wear my heart on my sleeve and be loyal. What you see is what you get. If that isn’t the same the other way then I don’t want to be part of it.”
At least Snodgrass doesn’t have all this hanging over him as he reports for Scotland duty, Gordon Strachan having kept faith with him despite a lack of matches so far this season. “I’ve had about one hour at Aston Villa,” he said. “I did my medical, signed some papers and away I went. It was a relief to get it sorted before joining up with the Scotland squad. I asked the manager for some advice and told him I didn’t want to disrupt his plans.
“I’m glad not to be going into a crazy, manic week with things up in the air,” he added. “It’s hard because I just got my kids into school in London and then had to move. It took me four or five months to get the school lined up and then before you know it I’m an Aston Villa player. It’s difficult and that’s the side of things a lot of people don’t see but that’s modern day football.
“My kids are just starting school on Thursday but we’ll work something out. I won’t be travelling down every day - maybe two days in London and five in Birmingham. Football brings changes and different direction in your life. It’s about how you adapt to it and move on.”
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Replies - Newest Posts First ( Show In Chronological Order)
ATHammer
10:24 Wed Aug 30
Re: Snotgrass West Ham nightmare
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Bloke is a prat. Whether he was a Bilic choice we'll never know. What we do know is that he would not break into the team ahead of Lanzini or Antonio, whoever was the manager. A panic buy who could not take the pressure and did not live up to billing. Simple as that. Nothing to see here.
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bigfrank
9:55 Wed Aug 30
Re: Snotgrass West Ham nightmare
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Snodgrass wanted to play Right Midfield or number 10. No chance as.antonio and lanzini are ahead of him.
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HairyHammer
7:42 Wed Aug 30
Re: Snotgrass West Ham nightmare
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The only thing I have to say on this matter is that I hate players being played out of their natural position and it is quite obvious that Bilic does not in fact I would say he is quite kinky about it.
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ornchurch ammer
6:06 Wed Aug 30
Re: Snotgrass West Ham nightmare
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If Bilic really did ask him where he wanted to play then why did he not say on the right ?
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,
5:01 Wed Aug 30
Re: Snotgrass West Ham nightmare
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Just heard an interview with someone close to the Ox. Reckons that he"ll choose Liverpool over Chelsea because the likes of Hazard, Pedro and Willian could limit his regular first team start chances.
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Shinguard
4:54 Wed Aug 30
Re: Snotgrass West Ham nightmare
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Both Snodgrass and Fonte were bought when the team were struggling last season and both have not found the form they had with their last clubs, make of that what you will. the team just looks at sixes and sevens at the moment and desparately needs a win to steady the ship.
Bilic does look to be struggling tactically at the moment but if ever a lesson needs to be learned how to turn things around then Newcastle provided it on Saturday, Sheer workrate and will to win.
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Gavros
3:54 Wed Aug 30
Re: Snotgrass West Ham nightmare
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some players have done well. however shipping an average of two goals a game isnt going to get you far. Its like the Spurs side of the min 90s, but without Klinsmann to knock in an equal amount at the other end.
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Norflundon
3:50 Wed Aug 30
Re: Snotgrass West Ham nightmare
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Gavros
I totally agree he's made some shocking decisions like playing Antonio at fullback ...just playing Fernandez at all should be a sackable offence!!!!
But it's also bollox to then ignore when we play well and claimplayers turn to shit under him although plenty of players have played shit under bilic but not claim it's luck when players play well, Adrian Lanzini Antonio payet kouyate Noble Reid just off the top of my head have all arguably had the best seasons of their careers....certainly the fat French snake did
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Gavros
3:44 Wed Aug 30
Re: Snotgrass West Ham nightmare
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Robert CHODgrss
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Chigwell
3:42 Wed Aug 30
Re: Snotgrass West Ham nightmare
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" When you’re Scottish you’re brought up to play anywhere...."
If that was so how come he never learnt to use his right foot? His whole theory about being best in one position is just an excuse because he never took the time or trouble to overcome his major weakness.
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stewie griffin
3:24 Wed Aug 30
Re: Snotgrass West Ham nightmare
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Alex V 3:21 Wed Aug 30
Re: Snotgrass West Ham nightmare
Given that he's lied through his teeth about exclusively playing on the left, I don't believe that happened either. Its a pathetic face saving attempt from a shit footballer who bloew his opportunity at a decent club. He's now at the level he's excelled at.
If it's all the same to you, I'll file this one alongside 'Bilic blew a Champions League spot in his first season because we feel away'. We lost 3 of our last 16 games ffs.
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greenie1
3:21 Wed Aug 30
Re: Snotgrass West Ham nightmare
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Can anyone tell me who was it that wanted Snodgrass in the first place? Bilic? or the Davids?
I might be wrong, but weren't the Davids having a lot of input into who we should have in the team? Payet being one of them?
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Alex V
3:21 Wed Aug 30
Re: Snotgrass West Ham nightmare
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Discussing playing position with a potential signing, or in any tactical discussion, is a bit different from asking a sub what position they want to play during a match.
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Iron2010
3:21 Wed Aug 30
Re: Snotgrass West Ham nightmare
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Imagine asking Slav where he is going to play you !
It genuinely could be anywhere. Hernadez rocked up on the right wing in the first half of the Southampton game. Lanzini plays the first half of most games on the left before moving into the middle for the second half. Antonio is seen as a better all rounder than Ben Stokes !
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stewie griffin
3:17 Wed Aug 30
Re: Snotgrass West Ham nightmare
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"I can't believe that a manager in the premiership in this age would ask a player "where he wants to play" "
I can. Alex OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN has just turned down Chelsea because they wanted to use him as a wing back, and prefers a move to Liverpool because Jurgen KLOPP has said he'll play him in a central midfield role.
It isn't in the least bit uncommon for managers to discuss playing positions with their players, and it also isn't the least bit uncommon in the modern game for players in a 4-2-3-1 to be exected to rotate and fill any one of the 3 attacking positions, and sometimes even 4
It also isn't uncommon to find a bitter Scotsman who is fucking shit at football.
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alfie romeo
3:11 Wed Aug 30
Re: Snotgrass West Ham nightmare
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zico 2:52 Wed Aug 30
Re: Snotgrass West Ham nightmare
I find it quite fascinating that from what I have read the late John Lyall used to perform background checks on players to suss out personality traits and the like and visited players personally sometimes in their homes and discussed in detail what role Lyall wanted them for and how he saw them fitting into the team.
I think this is common practice and all teams did this. watching the latest Hard Knocks, the Bucaneers coaches were commenting about all the background interviews and research before picking jameis winston to make sure he was right for them. It's called doing your homework and is portable across all sports. I can't believe that a manager in the premiership in this age would ask a player "where he wants to play" but performances suggest there's some truth in it. if that's true, he should be sacked for that alone because that's no way to be going about things.
I don't know whether Bilic is a decent (nice) bloke or whatever. i remember him as a player here then remember that he fucked off to Everton when given a chance. we probably can all remember the differences between a good teacher and bad one we had at school and he seems to be the latter. He's just not the one to take us forward.
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Thames Ironworks
2:59 Wed Aug 30
Re: Snotgrass West Ham nightmare
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The whole issue with last season is the stadium. The owners promised a better club and being able to attract better players. They realised quickly they could not attract the marquee players they wanted, Bacca, Bathsy...whatever, Lacazette and instead got Calleri, Zaza, Tore who really weren't up to anything.
The season goes on and it looks a disaster, the Payet affair proved it as the glory promised wasn't there. It is crumbling.
Knee jerk reaction to get Snodgrass and hope he will deliver as he did for Hull. Didn't happen.
Now we are left with no real glory that was promised from the new stadium attraction that the owners felt would attract better quality.
The real truth is the money to buy the quality isn't there and money talks not a great stadium.
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Gavros
2:53 Wed Aug 30
Re: Snotgrass West Ham nightmare
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I like Bilic but i dont think anyone can deny that his strategic and tactical choices have consistently proven to be misjudged.
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zico
2:52 Wed Aug 30
Re: Snotgrass West Ham nightmare
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I find it quite fascinating that from what I have read the late John Lyall used to perform background checks on players to suss out personality traits and the like and visited players personally sometimes in their homes and discussed in detail what role Lyall wanted them for and how he saw them fitting into the team.
Fast forward to 2017 and we have a manager who doesn't know where his players want to play!!!!
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Norflundon
2:49 Wed Aug 30
Re: Snotgrass West Ham nightmare
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Sixty
Not once have I said he's not responsible for results ,what I said is you have to take all the circumstances into account to judge whether it is solely down to him ....
In fact your the one that actually said results weren't down to him....but only when we played well
Bwhahahahahaha....honestly I stopped reading when you said Payet was the best attacking player in Europe.......JESUS FUCKING CHRIST
I think you need to get back to playing championship manager instead of discussin real life players
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