David Moyes has admitted that Edson Alvarez has received too many bookings this season following his move to West Ham United, according to the Daily Mail.
Following the departure of Declan Rice in the summer, the Hammers were in need of a replacement option from the market.
Alvarez was brought in from Ajax in a deal worth £35.4m [Sky Sports] and has proved to be a useful addition at the base of midfield.
This was the topic of conversation for Moyes who told the Daily Mail Online about the problems this ill-discipline has had on his side.
On that, he said: “We’ve missed his presence, he’s been a big influence on us since we signed him at the start of the season. He’s been hugely important. Unfortunately, he’s had a couple of suspensions this year that haven’t helped us.”
Although it has been of disappointment to the West Ham boss, he understood he needs time to acclimatise to the league.
Given the struggle that Kalvin Phillips has encountered since a move to the London Stadium, Alvarez has settled in well.
According to Fbref, he ranks very highly in his defensive attributes when compared to other midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues.
The Mexican, on average, registers 2.11 blocks and 2.94 clearances which puts him in the top 2% of players in those statistics.
With him playing alongside more attacking midfielders like James Ward Prowse and Lucas Paqueta, he is a useful safety blanket for the Hammers. Even comparing him to Tomas Soucek makes the Czech international look like a more offensive midfielder.
There is no doubt that Alvarez has been a positive signing for West Ham and if he can stay on the pitch he is an important player. He just needs to improve his disciplinary record.
