When Tim Sherwood criticises a centre-forward – as he did Taty Castellanos before West Ham United’s trip to Liverpool on Saturday – you can expect to see said centre-forward find the target soon after.
The ex-Tottenham manager ‘does not see the merit’ in Castellanos. Fortunately for the Argentina international, Nuno Espirito Santo does not share Sherwood’s reservations.
Ok, yes, Nuno talked up Castellanos’ defensive work rate before mentioning his end-product. Still, he feels West Ham United are ‘lucky’ to have a centre-forward willing to expel so much sweat and tears in pursuit of three invaluable points, even if his eventual consolation at Anfield was only a second in eight Premier League appearances.
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A graphic showing Tim Sherwood's quotes on West Ham United forward Taty Castellanos. It reads: "I don't see the merit in him."
Credit: Getty Images/Dan Mullan
Still, finding a way past Alisson Becker with Sherwood’s criticism ringing in his ears, Taty Castellanos need look no further than Manchester United whizzkid Benjamin Sesko if he wants to silence Mark E. Smith’s rent-a-quote lookalike for good.
West Ham United striker Taty Castellanos will be desperate to prove Tim Sherwood wrong
Much to the delight of Red Devils supporters everywhere, Sherwood is now being forced into a rather embarrassing climbdown on his anti-Sesko stance.
It is hard to find a piece of punditry which has aged worse than Sherwood’s one the Slovenian hitman during Man United’s 2-2 draw with Burnley in January. A game in which Sesko scored twice. Not that you’d have guessed it, given the stinging assessment put forward by the former Blackburn captain.
Benjamin Sesko celebrates during Manchester United v Crystal Palace - Premier League
Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
“I had him off the pitch at half-time, never to wear a Man United shirt again,” Sherwood told Sky Sports.
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“I stand by what I said [despite the two goals]. He’s not good enough to play for Man United. He’s turned up for one game against Burnley who are going to get relegated.”
It just so happens, Tim, that Sesko has now ‘turned up’ in far more than one midweek evening at Turf Moor.
The big-money signing from RB Leipzig has scored in three successive Premier League matches. Including his Burnley brace, he’s on a run of seven in eight across all competitions.
Sherwood, to his credit, acknowledges that the sacking of Ruben Amorim and the arrival of Michael Carrick, with a helping hand from Darren Fletcher, has ignited this sudden scoring streak. Man United are now providing their striker with consistent, high-quality service these days; Bruno Fernandes assisting his latest effort with a sumptuous cross in Sunday’s 2-1 win over Crystal Palace.
Still, writing off a centre-forward new to the league – going as far as to say he should never wear the shirt again – was a claim just begging for riposte.
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Castellanos needs another goal as Hammers face Fulham
There were similarities between Fernandes’ assist and the one El Hadji Malick Diouf provided for Castellanos as he opened his Premier League account – ironically – away to Burnley.
Castellanos pounced upon a trademark Diouf delivery from the left-hand side, flashing his header past a helpless Martin Dubravka. More of the same please. West Ham face Fulham in another must-win clash on Wednesday night.
A month after Sesko broke Marco Silva’s heart with a stoppage time screamer – one in the eye for you, Timmy – what West Ham would give to see Castellanos do the same.
“Castellanos, I don’t really like,” Sherwood told Premier League Productions. “I don’t see the merit in him.
“He’s done OK. I just think Callum Wilson’s a better striker than him in my opinion.”
Now, Wilson is certainly the better finisher. But in terms of their all-round game? Well, the captain summed it up best. Jarrod Bowen feels Castellanos gives West Ham the ‘platform’ to build upon going forward, as well as leading the press out of possession.
Nuno’s teams have often played their best football with a striker capable of bringing others into play, dropping deep and allowing the wingers to run in behind.
See Chris Wood at Nottingham Forest. Raul Jimenez – now Fulham’s number seven – at Wolves.
It is no coincidence that Crysencio Summerville has been in ‘almost unstoppable’ form when partnered with a selfless striker whose intelligence, physicality and fancy flick-ons enable his teammates to thrive.
A few more goals here and there, though, and Sesko will not be the only in-form frontman serving up Sherwood a slice of humble pie with a side of ‘told you so’ ice cream.
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