BT Sport pundit Peter Crouch has praised West Ham foursome Declan Rice, Said Benrahma, Aaron Cresswell and Michail Antonio for some of their performances so far this season.
Rice, who has been heavily linked with Chelsea, was in top form against Leeds on Friday night and Crouch says he has taken note of the 21-year-old’s displays in the middle of the park:
“Declan Rice has really impressed me this season, to the point I would call him one of the best holding midfielders in Europe. I often wondered about the hype around him but watch him closely, how he carries the ball out of defence and the work he puts in. He is looking like the real deal.”
Crouch did not stop there with his praise of the Hammers squad, though. Despite making only a few appearances so far, he also singled out summer signing Benrahma, as well as two old-timers Cresswell and Antonio:
“It is not just about him. Said Benrahma looks an excellent signing and could become the maverick West Ham fans love. He reminds me a bit of Dmitri Payet. Aaron Cresswell is coming on in leaps and bounds, Michail Antonio has been a revelation. They look more credible for Europe now than Wolves, who are always talked up.”
While Antonio’s injury problems this season mean he deserves slightly less credit for recent results, the other three players mentioned by Crouch have certainly contributed to West Ham’s excellent start to the campaign.
Cresswell has looked like a different player as one of the centre-backs, with his delivery from set-pieces a vital asset for manager David Moyes. Rice has been consistently excellent as a defensive midfielder while Benrahma looks like he will be a major threat coming in off the flank.
