West Ham boss David Moyes says Gianluca Scamacca’s “physical data” is not up to the required level after the Italian striker was left on the bench for the fourth successive game in a 1-1 draw with Aston Villa.
- Gianluca Scamacca has been an unused substitute in the last four league games
- Danny Ings started in a draw with Villa before being replaced by Maxwel Cornet
- David Moyes says Scamacca has an application but needs to improve his production
David Moyes’ refusal to use Gianluca Scamacca baffles West Ham supporters, but the manager says the £35.5m striker’s “physicals” are not up to his standards.
Scamacca has been an unused substitute in West Ham’s last four Premier League games. He was seen kitted out on the bench during Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Aston Villa at the London Stadium, but when Danny Ings was knocked out in the 86th minute, Moyes brought in Maxwel Cornet in his place.
When asked why he is looking down on Scamacca, Moyes said his best team does not include the 24-year-old Italian at the moment. “We know that the physical data on him has to be much better than it is,” Moyes said.
‘The idea was that Maxi Cornet could come in behind them. We saw Maxi doing that more than Gianluca. Gianluca has to recover.
‘No coach wants to take out a bad team. You want to take out the players that you think are going to win for you, so you always look to take out your best team.
David Moyes’ refusal to use Gianluca Scamacca baffles West Ham fans
The Italian striker has been an unused substitute in the last four Premier League games
Danny Ings was chosen to start against Villa before being replaced by Maxwel Cornet (above)
Asked if it’s a lack of effort, Moyes said: ‘I think your application is there. We just want the output to be bigger and more. That’s one of the things we’re looking for more of. The general part of his game, his heist game, we like it for that. We haven’t seen it as much in the work we’ve been doing.
Meanwhile, Moyes felt yesterday that the West Ham players deserved praise. Instead, they were booed at full time, despite coming out of the bottom three of the Premier League.
“I thought the performance deserved some really good support,” Moyes said. ‘The players returned on Thursday night, on a long flight back from Cyprus, and they performed well. I didn’t think we deserved to lose a goal. But the players showed character, they pushed themselves, they all ran and were committed throughout the game. They deserve praise for what they have done.
Villa manager Unai Emery said the penalty awarded to West Ham, scored by Said Benrahma, was harsh. “I respect the referees one hundred percent,” Emery said. But my opinion is that it was very smooth.
‘The result is positive. We keep our distance from West Ham.