the polecat wrote:
But I think the overall contribution he has made to the team should afford him the right to be able to play without getting slagged off by his own fans.

It shouldn't be overlooked that he's often the West Ham player who has covered the most kilometres in a game.
Para 1 - I'm not slagging him off and certainly wouldn't were I at the game.  I am saying that it seems to me that BFS can elevate himself from doing a very good job to doing a great one if he changes things a bit.

If he covers the most KMs in a game then that goes some way to justifying his place - he certainly doesn't get in based on ability to control a ball and pass it on.