In recent years West Ham have been all too predictable. A couple of weeks ago I wrote a ‘best formation’ article which went in to a little detail about ‘Identity’. Whilst I wouldn’t say that West Ham have had any particularly identifiable style of play other than ‘direct’, I suppose, it appears to me that we’ve been pretty easy for opposition to, at least, suss out if not counter.
Whatever this one dimensional approach has been down to I genuinely believe that a key contributor has been a genuine lack ideas. The team simply hasn’t undergone any notable experimentation with systems. When substitutions have been made during games it’s generally been on a like for like basis. There has been a long period of time when West Ham United have been far too predictable and easily found out. So maybe there is some merit in the owners changing the manager every three years after all. Not that I agree, as the key to lasting success has been proven to be stability for mid-tier Premier League teams over the last few decades.
With all this in mind I found it incredibly refreshing, for a period of twenty five minutes, last time out against Bournemouth. For a period of time I wasn’t sure if I was really watching West Ham. After a pinch and and quick visual RGB check of known colours of recognisable objects I was reassured. Yes – this was our West Ham that was pressing high up the pitch and regaining possession quickly. It was the self same Hammers passing and moving with speed, intelligence and precision. I’m not sure if Eddie Howe and/or his players went through the same uncertainty as I did. Frankly I wouldn’t have blamed them for asking “Who are you and what have you done with the real West Ham?” Should they have done so they would have been reassured to see a return to type around about 3.30. Albeit a gradual transformation, or transmutation, by half time the team were more recognisable as the one we’ve come to know.
I really don’t want the above paragraph to come across too negatively as I’m of a firm belief we would have seen a continuation of the dominant and high tempo football should the team’s much warranted advantage been rewarded with a goal. Sadly the “what do we have to do to score?” and “can we keep this up without reward?” questions seemed to erode confidence. It certainly seemed that way as Bournemouth appeared to grow and we shrank back in to our shells.
Apart from the, Premier League point keeping us in eleventh place, outcome I wonder if there is now a belief that we can play a different way. Sports psychologists will tell you that fear is the biggest inhibitor of performance. Bravery in belief will get you a long way in life and I’d really like to see the team believe that they are capable of more exciting, attacking football like we saw last Saturday. I want opposition teams to be asking “Which West Ham team are we going to play today?” Ok – so I don’t expect us to out-pass Manchester City but there are plenty of potential victims in and around our league position that we could play that kind of game against.
So within a very short period of time we’re already seeing something from David Moyes that we didn’t really see from Slaven or Mr Allardyce. A tangible ‘Plan B’. A real alternative style. He’s only sixteen games in to his time at the tiller of the club so I’m hugely encouraged and, as I’ve alluded to above, surprised to see such a radically alternative approach to play on display so early on. How long might it be until we see a deliberate change of style mid game? The amount of points on the board, as well as this confident adoption of an alternative style, are contributing to DM being on the road to finding his mojo IMO. More work to do, for sure, when it comes to a defensively strong shape whilst closing opposition down high up, as the gaps that appeared would suggest, but encouraging signs all the same.
Looking forward I’m hopeful the run continues and the confidence keeps growing. Recent injuries are going to have an effect but I’m gaining faith in the gaffer’s ability to get the most out of players. It’s been a very long time since we can say we’ve seen a West Ham side playing with swagger. Are those days returning?
COYI! West Ham 4 The Cup!