I watched the early match between Sunderland and Manchester United with a deep sense of conflict. On the obvious hand, I wanted Manchester United to lose because it would open the door to 5th place for us. On the more emotional, and more than a little bitter hand, I was willing to sacrifice that for the enjoyment of watching you know who feel like you know what. In the end, rational thinking took the upper hand and I was pleased. But history was not on our side. The away side had not won in the previous 13 meetings between West Ham and Norwich, and the Hammers hadn’t won at Carrow Road since I think 1973. We didn’t win today, nor did we lose. But while an exciting final 20 minutes were more than most of us expected, it felt more like the latter than the former.
Norwich came out with a high tempo and looked more up for it than West Ham, possibly understandable if not expected after the drama of Tuesday evening. In the opening minute Naismith sent a through ball intended for Jerome but it deflected out to Martin who shot high. Martin came back moments later and attempted a cross from the edge of the West Ham area that was put out for a corner by Ogbanna. The set piece was handled easily by Adrian, but Norwich were trying to set the tone to their frequency.
Now that Zarate has decided cappuccino is more to his liking than a good lager, West Ham need a replacement for the Most Frustrating Player award. The guy who you know is equally capable of greatness and “OH, COME ON!!!!!” And the winner is?
Valencia.
I still love the guy, but in the 11th minute he made me throw my pen at the television. Noble connected with a superb long pass on the left side of the Norwich area. But Valencia stumbled on the first touch and what should have been a clear-cut chance on goal turned into absolutely nothing. Minutes later he had a chance to redeem himself when he got on the end of a pass from Payet inside the box. Cresswell ran down the left, overlapping with Valencia and it seemed to confuse Klose who backed off just enough to allow Valencia to cut to his left and try a shot from a tough angle that Ruddy put out for a corner.
West Ham started to take control of the match, with good play Song, Payet and Obiang in particular. The movement was better, the passing crispier if not completely crunchy. But Norwich played a very high line, and time after time West Ham were flagged for offside. In a span of a few seconds around the 28th minute, Valencia was called offside multiple times on passes from Song, Noble, and Cresswell.
Norwich started to regain their confidence later in the half, and in the 32nd minute were awarded a free kick on a foul by Obiang. Sam Byram played the set piece well, sending the ball out for a corner. While the Hammers set themselves up to defend the set piece, Norwich took it early and rolled the ball to an onrushing Howson at the edge of the box but his shot sailed high over the bar. Minutes later, Brady sent a through ball to Naismith but his low shot was very poor and rolled harmlessly wide of Adrian and the West Ham goal.
In first half added time, Jerome made an impressive run down the left and crossed the ball for Redmond. The player I look at as their most dangerous offensive threat totally mistimed his attempt and barely made contact. However, the ball came back out to Martin who fired a long-range shot that sailed over the bar.
Halftime. Norwich 0, West Ham 0.
Norwich had the first opportunity to break the deadlock in the 49th minute when Jerome was sent in down the right on an impressive and powerful run. His cross into the box eluded everyone. I mean everyone. It went through Collins, Naismith, and Byram and rolled through the West Ham penalty area.
Mistakes are a part of every job. Some are more problematic than others. Say, for example, someone that handles enriched uranium for a living. A big mistake there would be bad for pretty much everyone within a few hundred miles. A mistake on the football pitch can also be bad, and because of global media outlets the reach of that mistake is even greater. In the 53rd minute, Collins thought he was being cute when he ran down a ball at the sideline near the center circle. When he turned around to admire his work and continue the play he was dispossessed by Naismith who promptly passed to Hoolahan streaking inside the box. But Ogbanna did a very fine job to get back and break up the attack.
Disaster averted?
No.
That’s because you cannot make that level of mistake at this level of play minutes apart and keep expecting to be handed a Get Out Of Jail Free card. Two minutes later, Noble was able to work the ball out of the West Ham penalty area and send a pass to Antonio 25 yards out from goal. In what was probably his first really bad move since coming to East London, Antonio got too comfy on the ball and allowed Brady to swipe it from him. A few steps in and Brady fired it past Adrian with his right foot.
Norwich 1, West Ham 0.
Bilic made two changes in the 62nd minute, bringing Carroll and Moses on for Valencia and Song. Both of which would turn out to be valuable moves as the game progressed. But not before Norwich doubled their lead in the 65th minute when Redmond sent a back-heel pass that eventually landed at the foot of Naismith. His shot inside the area deflected off Collins, but right into the path of Hoolahan who slammed it past Adrian from close range.
Norwich 2, West Ham 0.
It has felt at times this season that our new and improved version of West Ham United needs a good kick up the you know what to get the engine going full blast. It felt that way again. In the 69th minute, the Hammers should have pulled one back when Noble found Antonio breaking into the box. Klose pressured him, but he should have done better than the low and slow attempt he fired directly at Ruddy. Two minutes later Moses and Cresswell combined on a give and go, sending Moses into the box but he couldn’t control and Norwich were able to clear.
Finally, in the 74th minute, Moses was again at the forefront of the attack when he embarked on a long run down the center of the pitch. Into the box he went, West Ham fortunes looked up. He lost control. Fortunes looked to fade and die. He regained control, shot, and forced a good save from Ruddy but the rebound went straight to Payet who placed it into the back of the net.
Norwich 2, West Ham 1.
West Ham’s traveling support barely had time to compose themselves before Moses was at it again down the left. He passed to Carroll, who one timed it back into the Norwich penalty area to Payet. The man who just signed the richest contract in the clubs history saw Noble running into the top of the 18 yard box and slid a pass to him that the captain slotted home brilliantly with his right foot.
Norwich 2, West Ham 2.
West Ham looked like they were more than good enough to find a third, starting in the 86th minute when Payet, Noble, Carroll and Byram worked the ball around the right side of the Norwich box. We all probably were waiting for that final pass, or a cheeky shot. But neither came, and the ball was cleared. In the 89th minute, Carroll found Emineke inside the box and headed him the ball. The loanee from Turkey controlled the ball, and when he turned to shoot I honestly thought he would score. It went high over the bar. A minute later, Emineke was handed another glorious chance to be the hero when a West Ham throw was headed by Carroll to a spot right in front of Ruddy. Emineke was there. He was the only one there. But he couldn’t control the ball and Ruddy pounced on it as if it were a grenade and he was saving the battalion.
West Ham kept pressing, and in the 92nd minute Noble did brilliantly to work the ball out of danger in the West Ham area and send Moses on a long powerful run that was only stopped by a foul from Howson. Payet’s free kick went right to Ruddy, who tried to launch a Norwich break but his throw was read perfectly and intercepted by Moses to force another clearance for a corner.
Norwich tried to steal a winner in the dying moments of the match when Redmond tried a low shot that went out for a goal kick.
Final Score. Norwich 2, West Ham 2.
I have been given an early warning signal of an attack. That attack has been planned by my best mate, Jon. He called me to discuss the match, which he couldn’t watch due to an earlier commitment with his youngest son. I told him I was disappointed with the effort, the mistakes, and the inability to capitalize on both our momentum and a very weak Norwich defense. He said all of that was expected after the thriller against Liverpool and the comeback for the draw alone made the day successful. He has some valid points. Moses had his best game in quite a long time, even before he got hurt. Carroll was effective as well when he came on. But if we had played even remotely like we did the final 20 minutes of the match from the opening whistle I’m pretty sure it would have been three points in the bag and a week in 5th place. Maybe it’s similar to the Manchester United, Man City, and Liverpool draws. We are disappointed in those. We wanted more, and should have had more. That’s progress for sure.
So if he does pummel me in the comments section like he has said he would, could some of you jump into the breach with me?
Thanks.