The Nigerian forward both secured a move away from Stamford Bridge on
Tuesday, and opted to extend his stay with Jose Mourinho's side
Life throws a lot of twists and turns at you. Victor Moses
thrived when he was a big fish in a small pond, but has struggled to
find the limelight since becoming a small fish in a big pond.
That has been the case ever since his move to Chelsea from Wigan Athletic in 2012.
His performances for Wigan especially during the 2011-2012 season
were nothing but top notch, as he featured in all 38 games of the
campaign, coming off the bench just twice, scoring six goals.
Moses’s superb performances would obviously draw attention from other
clubs and Chelsea came knocking. The 24-time capped Nigerian winger
would be joining compatriots Celestine Babayaro and John Obi Mikel in
wearing the famous royal blue.
When Jose Mourinho arrived in 2013, little did Moses know that he won’t be featuring in the ‘Only One’s’ plans.
Subsequently, he has been shipped to Liverpool and Stoke City over
the past two seasons and has presently joined West Ham United, again on a
temporary deal.
Victor Moses at Liverpool | Things surely can't get this bad again!
The Nigerian forward both secured a move away from Stamford Bridge on
Tuesday, and opted to extend his stay with Jose Mourinho's side
Moses’s only appearance under Mourinho came at the Community Shield
loss to Arsenal back in August, replacing John Terry with just eight
minutes of play left.
The Kaduna-born winger signed a new four-year contract before moving
to Upton Park and Moses said he was delighted to sign a new deal with
the Blues while looking forward to having a good season with the
Hammers.
While the day was perceived as one of double celebration by many
Nigeria fans on social media, as Moses both paradoxically leaves Chelsea
and extends his stay, is this veil obstructing the true errors of the
forward’s ways.
Will deadline day be remembered as a pyrrhic victory for the Super Eagle?
Wouldn’t it be best if Moses left Stamford Bridge for good?
Mourinho | A habit for leaving players in the shadows...
Mourinho had claimed before this season started that Moses would fit
into the team as he is strong, experienced and knows the Premier League
well. Such words might be enough to give confidence for Moses to stay,
but it’s not new that Mourinho is never true to his words.
The former Real Madrid boss made similar remarks about Kevin De
Bruyne in 2013 after the Belgian had completed a successful loan spell
at Werder Bremen.
De Bruyne only featured thrice in the first half of the 2013/14
campaign and was permanently sold to Wolfsburg in the second half.
Moses should not have extended his Chelsea contract.
Having the chance to play for a prestigious club like Chelsea is no
mean feat. It comes through merit and hard work. Moses of course is
hard-working, as Mourinho said, but a player should consider his playing
prospects before making a move.
Arguably, Moses didn’t do this when be first plumped for Chelsea.
For a fee of just £9 million, Moses wasn’t really expected to be a
regular and it showed as he came off the bench in the league 11 times,
starting just 12 in his debut season at Stamford Bridge. That in
comparison to Juan Mata, Eden Hazard and Ramires who came off the bench a
combined 14 times. Moses obviously wasn’t going to bounce an offensive
line that collectively cost over £80 million.
Can Moses ever really hope to emulate teammates such as Eden Hazard?
He also doesn’t look to set climb up the pecking order at Stamford
Bridge today, with the arrival of Pedro pushing him down the pecking
order, and should Mourinho decide to sign another wide player in the
course of the season, it places further obstacles in Moses’s path.
At just 24 years of age, the player still has a lot to offer.
He is certain to play a key role in the Hammers quest to finish in
the top half of the table. Moses’ presence in the Super Eagles camp has
been immense since he made his debut in 2013. The uncertainty over his
Chelsea future could have played a part in Sunday Oliseh’s decision to
overlook him for the 2017 Afcon Qualifier against Tanzania.
With the prospect of featuring regularly for West Ham, Oliseh must
not overlook the former Crystal Palace man in subsequent squad
selections.
Moses must move away from Chelsea permanently so his career won’t be
like that of his former team mate Ryan Bertrand who spent nine years
trotting around top and lower English clubs till he sealed a permanent
move to Southampton in February 2015.
Bertrand had seven loan spells while this is Moses’ third.
The Nigerian’s case doesn’t need to be like Bertrand’s before he
realises that there isn’t any future for him at Stamford Bridge.
Celebrate Moses’s move to West Ham, by all means, but think twice about celebrating his contract extension in West London.
Victor Moses: Celebrate West Ham move, not new Chelsea contract
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Oleh
healthandwealth
