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The GoatyGav Column

View now the dust has settled - They'll be a while

A 4-0 defeat is tough to take at any time. When excitement and expectation ahead of the first kick of the season is still at play it’s even more of a let down. That said did any of us really expect to go up there and win? After a few days of reflection, and with emotions running at a far lower level, it’s good to have a more detached ‘hindsight’ view.

The tactics were quite plain to see. Try and contain by sitting deep and protecting the defence. The sight of Chicharito completely isolated in his ‘lone furrow’ role in the first half was frustrating watching but there was a plan. Not necessarily the right one IMHO – but a plan nonetheless.

So half time arrived and we were getting battered but still only one goal down.

For me the second half was better viewing. Yes – we were still being outplayed in the most part but there were occasions where we started to move the ball quickly with some incisive, one touch stuff, that was better viewing for sure. Problem with that was the defence became more exposed and it lead to 3 more goals. Lukaku loves playing on the break. He loves playing on the break even more against us. I know his second goal didn’t come by this route but, let’s face it, he could have got 5 on Sunday afternoon. So would it have been better to continue to sit rigidly and keep the score down? Not for this Hammer. It’s not ‘The West Ham Way’ but, more importantly, it wouldn’t have been the right approach for that particular situation. Hindsight is a wonderful thing and as I sit here typing it’s clear, to my mind, that we should have ‘had a go’ from the first whistle. Lessons to learn there by my reckoning. By having a go I really don’t mean in an Ossie Ardiles or Kevin Keegan ‘completely abandon defence’ way – just don’t sit so deep your’re practically on your own goal line. There were some positives to take out of the game btw but more of that later on.

Last season we saw the addition of squad players in the transfer window. For the right, or wrong, reasons it was a case of quantity not quality. I fully understood those reasons. A bigger squad of players was considered a key requirement but then we got drawn against our bogey European part time team again and that was that. So many squad additions became more of a burden than a boon.

This time around it is a completely different story. Player positions that needed strengthening were recognised and the club worked hard to bring in the right quality to improve, not simply grow, the squad. On that score the club has certainly delivered.

So, with all four new signings taking the field at Old Stretford, the appetite was well and truly whetted. Let’s consider that for a second. Four completely new players to the team all thrown in at once. “Ah yes but they played together pre-season,” I hear some mutter. Doesn’t count for me. Pre season is about fitness and the intensity of a game with points at stake cannot be replicated. Results and performances have little relevance before the first official whistle of the season. So numerically not on the same scale as 2016-17 but four from eleven is a big percentage of the team all the same. Here’s the rub. A team with so many new additions really needs time to gel. I’m constantly hearing, from virtually every football pundit, that time is not a luxury afforded you in the Premier League. Be that as it may you can’t ‘demand’ understanding and confidence amongst, and with, team-mates. It takes time and, for me, Sunday was more about players looking like strangers than it was individual poor performances. Don’t get me wrong, there were some howlers with the defence leading the hit-list of culprits (Masuaku looks like the man who started last season again, not the one who finished it, and Reid clearly hates playing Lukaku), but it’s going to take a few games before the team starts to buzz again IMHO.

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“The bite and fight in this lad is on a Mike Tyson level”

On to those positives I mentioned earlier. If you were to list those positives Declan Rice’s performance would have to be right at the top. Frankly the academy product showed other players the desire and hunger that they should have been displaying. The bite and fight in this lad is on a Mike Tyson level. And not without quality either. You only have to compare Obiang’s passing to his and you can rest your case. Young players not getting played because they make costly mistakes? Yeah – right. Go compare in this game Mr Wenger? This was a Premier League game not a Sunday afternoon stroll and Declan Rice seemed to be one of the few that understood that. Of the others who ‘put in a shift’ Chicha stood out. We’re going to love this player. The only thing that’s a little frustrating is his passing, and speaking to a Manchester United mate of mine it’s clearly a common theme amongst fans of clubs he’s played for, but his crossing certainly is not . If he could have only been on the other end of his own sublime ball from out wide in the second half we’d have halved the deficit and, perhaps, played with a bit more confidence in the last quarter of the game. My advice – work harder to get there Chicha ;) .

“Young players not getting played because they make costly mistakes? Yeah – right. Go compare Mr Wenger?”

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“If he could have only been on the other end of his own sublime ball”

I’ve not even mentioned the players we were missing. For me the most creative, most powerful and most combative weren’t able to take the field and that was a huge contributor. But that’s not the point I’m trying to illustrate here. A good cake depends on quality ingredients and this group are going to improve us from a flat Victoria Sponge to a ‘Great Bake Off’ contender. It’s just going to take some patience and careful, expert, mixing, rolling and baking (not sure the analogy carried through there but you know what I mean ;) ). I have a strong belief that all four additions this Summer are going to be great. In contrast to 2016-17, come May, we’re going to be gutted to see the end of the season.

Lastly a big thanks to Iain for the opportunity to contribute here. Looking forward to ‘chatting’ and exchanging views with some of the ‘blast from the past’ names I recognise and others I’ve yet to ‘meet’ on WHTID.

West Ham 4 The Cup – COYI!

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