West Ham signing Robert Snodgrass will always make a contribution, says Danny Murphy

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Danny Murphy3 February 2017

If Robert Snodgrass had enjoyed better luck with injuries, he might have joined one of the top clubs earlier in his career.

As it is, he has done very well to get back to his current level and his signing represents a very clever piece of business by West Ham.

I am often frustrated by players who appear to do little of significance for their team. Are you scoring goals? Are you creating them? Are you stopping them?

The term ‘end product’ is probably used too much, but its importance cannot be underestimated.

When I was a young player learning the game at Crewe, I was always asked: “What are you doing for the team?”

Too many do not contribute enough to their sides – but Snodgrass certainly does.

He had seven goals and three assists in the league this season for Hull, a struggling side.

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He is such a good crosser that you could conceivably use him wide on the left to deliver balls for Andy Carroll, but perhaps he is best in the No.10 position.

If you play Snodgrass there, you can have two midfield players protecting him, because he is not the most athletic player, and move Manuel Lanzini to the left.

Another option would be to play him off the right and let him drift inside, ensuring he had an energetic full-back to support him.

The key with Snodgrass is to get him around the box, shooting, playing one-twos. If West Ham do that, he will repay them with more goals and more assists.

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