HE’LL WEAR CLARET and blue this season but that of Aston Villa, this after his West Ham dream quickly became a nightmare.
Robert Snodgrass’ £10.2m move from Hull to the Hammers in January was designed to take the edge off losing escapee Dimitri Payet; the attacking midfielder has scored seven goals in 20 league games for the ailing Hull, and his set-piece ability was deemed capable of filling the void left behind by the talismanic Frenchman.
But after 15 games under Slaven Bilic, Snodgrass was told he was free to leave West Ham having flattered to deceive as they battled to 11th place in a disappointing campaign.
Speaking to the Scottish Herald while on international duty, the Glaswegian admitted he knew from day one that his West Ham move was destined for failure, and how his first conversation with Bilic on game day was cause for alarm.
“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. 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.
The 29-year-old added: “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.”
Snodgrass failed to score for West Ham and joined Aston Villa on loan last week, having only recently completed the purchase of a house in London and schooling arrangements for his children.
His full interview with the Scottish Herald can be read here.
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Dead right. hopefully a win today now to give him and the players a little boost.
Looking forward to seeing what he does with the team over the next few transfer windows. It’s obvious he takes no sh!t from anyone, players or owners. Hoping he gets rid of the rot in the club asap.
He’ll need about €350 million if he gets rid of all the rot in that squad
The owners gave so much to Rodgers and his transfer committee, and they squandered the lot, apart from a handful of players who have either made a positive impact or look like they have a bit of potential. Can’t see why Klopp won’t be given the same financial support. If he’s allowed buy the players he wants, that will buy into his philosophy, I can see Liverpool improving vastly. First thing though is to sell those who either won’t or can’t play his kind of football.
Considering the players he lost Rodgers was given peanuts. He was only given 17 milion on top of what they got for Suarez after he left. You can’t compete for the league I’d your net spend is just 17 million.
@Ron, he still nearly spent £300 million over three years. Three years with not one trophy to show for it all. Rodgers came out and said that Spurs should be challenging for the title after spending £100 million. Most of that £100 million came from the sale of Bale. I’m a Liverpool fan like yourself, but that is embarrassing.
philosophy score more than the opposition.
ah come on ron stop that oul guff he spent a couple of hundred million.
Cutting the waste is more important than bringing in new players right now. Liverpool will go backwards before going forward.
I have to admit I like this bainisteoirs philosophy and the sort of staccato German-English soundbites are altogether more succinct than the usual waffle
First job is to buy a brand new back 4 and goalie
@Beano I don’t think Mignolet has been that bad lately. His distribution is poor but he’s made a few quality saves. Back four is the problem. A centre back should be his first purchase.
He will need time and can’t be judged until we see what moves are made in and out of the club in the transfer market. Problem is there are a lot of average players there now and to get the quality needed to attract better players champions league football is needed. So then he could be relying on the current squad to get into the top four or three as it might be. Some of Rodgers players like firminho, origi, lallana etc. etc needed to deliver something and really he needs to pray that sturridge gets fit again otherwise he is a luxury that the club can’t afford.
I actually think that Sturridge won’t be able to cope with Klopp’s demands. He’s made out of glass, every time he comes back from an injury, he immediately is ruled out again. I’m beginning to wonder if he’ll be able to keep up the tempo and the pressure. Hope he proves me wrong but if he can’t, I don’t think Klopp will stick with him.
It’s clear looking at that Liverpool squad how bad it is. Much work for Jurgen to do
thats Baloteli gone for good so