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Lily Hammer 9:26 Fri Oct 16
Benrahma Signed

https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2020/october/16-october/profile-said-benrahma



Saïd Benrahma is a footballer fit for the grandest of stages.

Over the course of just two seasons in English football with Brentford, the 25-year-old has established himself as both an entertainer and a difference-maker at Championship level, possessing an influence on matches which West Ham United will now hope to harness in the Premier League.

Across 81 league appearances for the Bees, the Algerian has recorded 27 goals and 24 assists, helping them to a ninth-place finish in 2018/19 before shining throughout Thomas Frank’s side’s run to the 2019/20 Championship Play-Off final.

Over the last season, Benrahma was the highest-rated Championship player on respected football analytics website WhoScored.com (rated 7.51 out of 10), ranking first in total dribbles (238), dribbles per game (5.5) and shots per game (3.9), while ranking second in total successful dribbles (132), fifth in key passes (91) and joint-second in short key passes (77).

Consistency was at the heart of his performances, with Benrahma missing just three games during the Bees’ final campaign at Griffin Park, all-the-while ranking fifth in Championship goals scored (17) and joint-eighth in assists (8).

Benrahma's presence on the international stage is also burgeoning; having debuted for Algeria as a 20-year-old against Senegal in October 2015, his Brentford form led to him being named in the squad for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, only to miss out through injury. He has since totaled five caps, most recently against Mexico in a friendly in the Netherlands on Tuesday.





The winger has also received the accolades his impressive performances warranted – the EFL Championship Player of the Month award for July, the Brentford Supporters’ Player of the Year, and an inclusion in the Championship PFA Team of the Year for 2019/20.

He also has a penchant for the spectacular, with WhoScored listing one of his strengths as ‘Likes to shoot from distance’ – a sentiment attested to by Fulham, whom the Algerian scored an EFL Cup Goal of the Round against: a fine turn and strike in Brentford’s fourth-round victory last month.

The numbers paint a picture of a man integral to the Championship’s highest-scoring outfit last season; during his time at Brentford, Benrahma supplied a goal or assist on average every 119 minutes.

It is the kind of form which forces the very top clubs to sit up and take notice.

And with West Ham manager David Moyes’ track record of bringing through talent from the Football League, it is also the kind of form seemingly certain to lend even greater potency to an already-firing Claret and Blue side.


Benrahma scores the EFL Cup Goal of the Round against Fulham
Benrahma scores the EFL Cup Goal of the Round against Fulham

While it is out wide on the left where Benrahma has come by most of his plaudits at Brentford, the naturally right-footed attacker is capable of playing across the forward line.

Having previously enjoyed loan spells at Ligue 1 Angers and Ligue 2 sides Gazelec Ajaccio and Chateauroux, excelling for the latter in 2017/18, Benrahma was assigned the No10 shirt upon signing from Ligue 1 side Nice in July 2018.

Wherever he plays, Benrahma’s spatial awareness, quick feet and eye for a killer ball proved influential, with the Algerian able to claim involvement in 62% of his side’s moves which ended in a successful shot, according to analytics website Smarter Scout.

Even more remarkably, the Algerian was involved in 86% of the moves which led to Brentford’s 73 goals in the 2018/19 season, including nine non-penalty goals of his own.

With Pablo Fornals, Michail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen having started each of the Irons’ opening four Premier League games of the season, such versatility means manager Moyes has an array of interchangeable and instinctively creative options at his disposal.

When you consider that West Ham United have scored 22 times in their last eleven Premier League outings alone - or 31 in their last 14 games, including Carabao Cup fixtures - the addition of Benrahma's mercurial talents presents a very exciting prospect for West Ham fans indeed.

Fifth Column 10:37 Mon Mar 14
Re: Benrahma Signed

He's been in poor form lately. Seems to be a confidence player.

He does offer pace and the willingness to try something though his decision making is often poor.

I think if we had a bigger squad and with that there was more thought put into selection so he played in the "right" games then he'd be effective. I also think he can improve.

I can't see Vlasic ever improving.

Mex Martillo 8:03 Mon Mar 14
Re: Benrahma Signed

Maybe it was a coincidence, but when Benrahma was subbed and we lost that target for breaks we virtually stopped making breaks, our possession went right down and we were suddenly defending continually and it didn't look like the defense was much better with Diop. We conceded a goal and it was a scary last few minutes.
You do wonder how it would have been if Benrahma had stayed on as we were looking so comfortable when he came off. Not sure if that defensive substitution was one of Moyes best. Possession is better than defending to keep your lead.

Darby_ 7:24 Mon Mar 14
Re: Benrahma Signed

He also provided a good target for fast breaks. Someone pings it up to him on the wing and he has the pace and trickery to hold off the fullback while the rest of the side transitions to attack.

We sort of played against Villa the way that Sevilla played it against us. Pinging balls up to the wingers for the fast break.

Darby_ 7:17 Mon Mar 14
Re: Benrahma Signed

I assume that Pee Wee is being a wag about Benrahma's pass to Yarmo being unintentional. It was fairly obviously meant for Yarmo.

https://youtu.be/nYbUwBgDpOk?t=78

Said is a bit frustrating, but I don't mind him, because he's always trying stuff rather than hiding. Sometimes it doesn't come off and he looks silly, but sometimes it does come off and he gets a couple of assists.

He's currently tenth in Premier League assists this season, above some more famous names, so he's obviously making a contribution.

https://www.premierleague.com/stats/top/players/goal_assist?se=418

Nutsin 5:54 Mon Mar 14
Re: Benrahma Signed

When is Bowen expected back?

Alfs 5:25 Mon Mar 14
Re: Benrahma Signed

I agree Manuel. Though I think his confidence is low, so tends to panic. He could do with putting on a couple of stone of muscle.

There's definitely a player within him.

Manuel 3:20 Mon Mar 14
Re: Benrahma Signed

He can obviously play, most likely one of these players that looks really good in training. He's just scatty, doesn't have the composure and correct decision making. But as said, still better than Vlasic.

He doesn't have much of a future here, as you can't see him getting any better than what he already is.

Capitol Man 1:00 Mon Mar 14
Re: Benrahma Signed

He’s one of the few we have who can create a bit of room. Seems to have almost no power in his shot though.

Pee Wee 12:57 Mon Mar 14
Re: Benrahma Signed

Oh the ‘assist’ for Yarmolenko was laughable. It’ll go down as a stat against his name but shows that you need to watch games to hain an opinion on a player not just look at stats

bell 12:20 Mon Mar 14
Re: Benrahma Signed

I'm not convinced that pass was meant for Yarmo.

His overall play was awful again today. So many simple passes go astray and break down an attack or counter.

But, thanks to Moyes, he's what we've got.

I'll give him the assist for the second.

1964 12:07 Mon Mar 14
Re: Benrahma Signed

Without his contribution we would not have won today.

Eerie Descent 11:53 Sun Mar 13
Re: Benrahma Signed

Pagey 11:48 Sun Mar 13

Pagey 11:48 Sun Mar 13
Re: Benrahma Signed

He’s obviously a good footballer. That’s ridiculous.

Pee Wee 10:55 Sun Mar 13
Re: Benrahma Signed

He’s not a good footballer. His decision making is as bad as I’ve seen.

He had a decent return today albeit still wasn’t very good.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see him leave in summer to a lower prem club. But seeing as we have a big shake up coming he’ll probably stay but hopefully not play much next season

gph 10:52 Sun Mar 13
Re: Benrahma Signed

He's a forward, not everything he tries has to come off.

That said, not a high enough percentage over the past few games has worked.

Taken in isolation, today he was well worth his place. May it continue.

Full Claret Jacket 10:51 Sun Mar 13
Re: Benrahma Signed

Can't complain at two assists but it still masks the weaknesses in his game displayed today.
I was pleased to see him take on a shot or two. We almost overplay at times in the final third and get in each others way or provide too much time for the opposition to stifle us and win it back.
The simplicity of that counter attack sprung by Rice means it was easier for him to make better decisions. Good vision to know Fornals was coming into the space vacated by Mings who was tracking Yarma.

Like to see him work on his left foot. Always wants a touch to get it on his right. He was looking a lot physically stronger at the beginning of the season but seems to be being bumped off the ball a little easily again.

He has potential but without electric pace or being particularly difficult to push off the ball as Payet was, he is struggling a bit at this level. I want him to prove he is more than a sub to use when we are losing a match.
With our lack of fit bodies, he has a great opportunity to make the most of it and stake a claim for a regular starter.

Mad Dog 10:31 Sun Mar 13
Re: Benrahma Signed

He might lose the ball and fuck up, but at least he tries to make things happen.

2 out of 10 might come off, but those often lead to real chances or goals.

That's the big difference between him and vlasic

Mex Martillo 10:12 Sun Mar 13
Re: Benrahma Signed

2 assists!
Hope Benrahma is back on form just when we really need him!

fraser 9:25 Sun Jan 31
Re: Benrahma Signed

FCJ - but all that didn't make him the weak link tonight did it as claimed below.

Full Claret Jacket 9:21 Sun Jan 31
Re: Benrahma Signed

fraser 8:58 Sun Jan 31
It's because people keep bigging him up when he is unproven at this level and from what I've seen has some way to go. He has great control and cheap tricks and flicks at this level might look exciting but will rarely come off. I want players positive and comfortable on the ball but physically this league will show you up. He's very lightweight.
He seems a very expensive buy for what he currently offers - perhaps that is not his fault but with so many recognised weaknesses in our squad it was still odd to not buy someone for one of those.

swindon hammer 8:58 Sun Jan 31
Re: Benrahma Signed

We spent 40 million on Benrahma & Bowen to score goals and neither have done that on a regular basis thus far or at all in Benrahma’s case.

I don’t really watch a lot of championship football but what positions and formations did they play for Brentford & Hull?

I appreciate it’s a Jump from the Championship to the Premiership but are we playing to their strengths?

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