Upon re-signing for the Hammers on loan once again last summer, many West Ham fans were initially disappointed in the fact that Carl Jenkinson would officially still go down as an Arsenal player for the 2015/16 campaign.
The England U21 international had been one of the most consistent performers among Sam Allardyce’s squad at Upton Park last term, and although the often forgotten full-back slot isn’t exactly the most illustrious position in any starting XI with all things considered, the 23-year-old still held a relatively positive relationship with the Upton Park faithful.
However, after a series of calamitous defensive mishaps from the current Gunners loanee at the Boleyn Ground this term, certain justifiable question marks have nonetheless been raised regarding Jenkinson this season, and whether or not West Ham should actually sign the defender upon the culmination of the current campaign.
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At this stage in the proceedings, the future doesn’t look too promising for the Arsenal loanne at Upton Park beyond the current season.
In fact, Carl Jenkinson should arguably be dropped from Slaven Bilic’s starting XI altogether this term – based on what the right-back has so far offered under his new Croatian boss.
When the Hammers were forced to play James Tomkins at right-back against Arsenal – due to Jenkinson’s pre-determined ineligibility – and also away at Anfield – thanks to the 23-year-old getting himself sent-off against AFC Bournemouth at Upton Park earlier on this campaign – West Ham actually looked a great deal more solid and compact as a result.
The back-four didn’t look distinctly unbalanced as many initially expected, and Tomkins himself actually thrived out of position and rarely looked out of place on the flanks. Now that both Winston Reid and Angelo Ogbonna have returned to the first team fold after their respective spells spent injured on the side-lines, Slaven Bilic could potentially switch Tomkins back out wide, with Carl Jenkinson being sacrificed to the subs-bench.
Despite admittedly impressing rather consistently last season, the quick-footed right-back has ultimately been somewhat of a disaster for the Hammers in 2015/16. His positional awareness at the back has often left a great deal to be desired, the lack of technical ability he displays when bringing the ball forward has been shocking at times this season – and as West Ham have constantly been punished for the defender’s own individual shortcomings – surely Carl Jenkinson will require a good talking to sooner rather than later?
At times his head just hasn’t been in the game, and his crossing in the final third – well perhaps the least said about that, the better. Obviously Jenkinson doesn’t arrive completely without merit, for he does in fact put in a great shift for his boss with every passing match and never quite seems willing to back down in terms of effort and determination. Yet as the 23-year-old is supposed to be a solid defender for the Hammers first and foremost, the 2015/16 campaign simply must go down as one to forget for the current Arsenal loanee so far.
Perhaps when working under a manager like Sam Allardyce – where the need to play the ball out calmly from the back rarely becomes a priority – players likes Jenkinson can admittedly thrive. His counter-part on the left hand side of the Hammers defence, Aaron Cresswell, has also somewhat struggled with the more attractive tactics employed by Slaven Bilic this term, but the former Ipswich Town man has nonetheless made up for his shortcomings at the back with several impressive displays in the final third in all fairness.
Had Arsenal not been supposedly touting a ridiculous £12million price-tag for the defender’s services last season, perhaps the permanent signing of Jenkinson could have been viewed in a different light at Upton Park. But as things currently stand nonetheless, the full-back has signed a new long-term deal at the Emirates that will surely affect his future transfer fee – and as the 23-year-old just isn’t worth close to his reported price-tag – Arsenal are simply kidding themselves if they think Jenksinon will be good enough for their starting XI next season.
So then, whilst the right-sided defender has certainly proven an honest and hard-working servant for the Hammers during his brief spell at the club, West Ham should ultimately steer well clear of Carl Jenkinson this summer in order to improve the overall quality available to Bilic next term at the Olympic Stadium.
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