Photo by Christopher Lee/Getty Images

News

HomeNewsEnglish Premier LeagueWest Ham United

Garth Crooks compares West Ham star Sebastien Haller to legendary striker David Cross

Lee Clarke

Tue 27 August 2019 13:45, UK

pundit Garth Crooks has compared West Ham United striker Sebastien Haller to legendary hitman David Cross.

The target man announced his arrival in London with a well-taken brace in a 3-1 victory over Watford on Saturday.

Haller signed from Eintracht Frankfurt during the summer for a fee in the region of £45 million, becoming the club’s record signing in the process.

Crooks named Haller in his Team of the Week on the BBC website and believes Haller could be a really good signing for the Hammers.

“Haller is not what I would call a West Ham player in the traditional sense. There is nothing of the Bryan ‘Pop’ Robson or the Frank McAvennie about him but more of the David Cross.

“Haller will know little or nothing about those former West Ham goalscoring giants, but trust me, if he does half as well as any of those he will be an enormous hit with the fans.”

West Ham have earned four points from their first three games this season. A 5-0 drubbing from Manchester City was followed up with a point at Brighton before Saturday’s first win.

Boss Manuel Pellegrini will hope that Haller can propel his side into the top half of the Premier League this season and possibly even beyond.

TBR Verdict – Haller can be the 15-20 goal striker that West Ham have craved

When you spend such an astronomical sum of money on a player it is natural to expect a certain level of return.

Haller will have delighted the Hammers’ faithful by opening his account early in the 2019/20 campaign.

More will be expected but Haller displayed all the qualities to become the striker that has been craved by the club for several years.

Not for several seasons have West Ham had an out-and-out striker who can edge towards 20 goals, but Haller might just break the mould in that sense.