HE’LL WEAR CLARET and blue this season but that of Aston Villa, this after his West Ham dream quickly became a nightmare.
Robert Snodgrass’ £10.2m move from Hull to the Hammers in January was designed to take the edge off losing escapee Dimitri Payet; the attacking midfielder has scored seven goals in 20 league games for the ailing Hull, and his set-piece ability was deemed capable of filling the void left behind by the talismanic Frenchman.
But after 15 games under Slaven Bilic, Snodgrass was told he was free to leave West Ham having flattered to deceive as they battled to 11th place in a disappointing campaign.
Speaking to the Scottish Herald while on international duty, the Glaswegian admitted he knew from day one that his West Ham move was destined for failure, and how his first conversation with Bilic on game day was cause for alarm.
“I realised from the off that it wasn’t going to happen,” said Snodgrass. “I was coming on against Manchester City and he [Bilic] said, ‘Where do you want to play, on the left or right?’ I thought ‘You’ve just signed me and I’ve played on the right or behind the striker at Hull City all season’.
I found it very strange. That was my debut. And every time I played I was on the left. Alarm bells were ringing right away. I don’t know why he did it. I came in just as Payet left and maybe it was a case of, ‘You can play there,’ but I’d only filled in on the left on a couple of times.
The 29-year-old added: “He probably thought he was onto a winner but I hate that position. When you’re Scottish you’re brought up to play anywhere and it’s fine to play for one or two games but you need to play in your right position, especially on the back of scoring nine goals for Hull City. At that stage nobody had scored more goals for Hull, or for West Ham.”
Snodgrass failed to score for West Ham and joined Aston Villa on loan last week, having only recently completed the purchase of a house in London and schooling arrangements for his children.
His full interview with the Scottish Herald can be read here.
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