---
title: "Cresswell fit but dropped against Brighton – should fans be so pleased?"
canonical: "https://readwestham.com/2019/08/20/cresswell-fit-but-dropped-against-brighton-should-fans-be-so-pleased/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Alex Turk"
section: "Feature Writers"
published: "2019-08-20T07:30:46Z"
modified: "2019-08-20T07:30:46Z"
---

# Cresswell fit but dropped against Brighton – should fans be so pleased?

There was an array of questions regarding the West Ham United squad that travelled to the south coast to face Brighton & Hove Albion at the weekend.

Manuel Pellegrini made five changes to the starting line-up that were thumped 5-0 by Manchester City on the opening day of the season ahead of the 1-1 draw at the AMEX Stadium.

However, a player who started that match, Aaron Cresswell, wasn’t anywhere to be seen in the 18-man squad – much to the approval of many.

Cresswell has come under mass criticism from the West Ham fan base over pre-season and how he performed against Man City.

Despite his poor form, it was widely presumed he was Pellegrini’s first-choice left-back. Well, according to [football.london](https://www.football.london/west-ham-united-fc/players/west-ham-news-masuaku-cresswell-16771974), that isn’t the case – not anymore, anyway.

Cresswell was reportedly fully fit on Saturday and in fact completely dropped from the squad, as his replacement Arthur Masuaku was as the reigning champions.

![Mike Hewitt/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readwestham.com/readwestham/2019/08/1168639218.jpg)

### READ WEST HAM’S VERDICT

This news will likely be celebrated by plenty of Hammers fans, and rightly so. It’s been common knowledge for more than the last few months that Cresswell isn’t good enough to start.

The 29-year-old has actually been acting as captain whilst Mark Noble recovers from injury, but whilst Angelo Ogbonna taking the armband has been warmly received by the majority, there have been no complaints about his absence.

Cresswell deserves respect as one of the more experienced stars in Pellegrini’s squad, but it’s now clear he can’t play more than a bit-part role this term.

Masuaku didn’t let himself down at Brighton either, completing five tackles, two interceptions and making the clearance that ultimately led to Javier Hernandez’s opener.

Fabian Balbuena is likely to return to the defence for the trip to Watford on Saturday, and you’d expect Ryan Fredericks, Issa Diop and the DR Congo international to join him.