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The Blind Hammer Column

Reflections on Brighton

Blind Hammer reflects on an important comeback.

Pellegrini has got so much right recently it seems impertinent, if not sacrilegious to question his judgements here.

Nevertheless I was concerned as soon as I heard the team against Brighton, in my case just as I was scrambling into my seat seconds before kick-off.

I was surprise that Carroll was partnering Arnautovic up front.

This was Carroll’s first start in a year. He last started against a controversially exhausted West Bromwich Albion, forced to play twice whilst West Ham had enjoyed time off.

Carroll’s crucial 2 goals then probably sealed Pardew’s fate and reinforced West Ham’s climb to relative safety.

Sadly Carroll’s performances this year are not yet reminiscent of his impact in his pomp. There is more of a lumbering John Carew in his latter days now.

Hopefully Carroll’s best days are not past. For now I am more concerned about his impact on the team’s structure.

. Playing as a pivot in front of Arnautovic who took up a number 10 role, he was rarely effective.
He was unable to exert pressure on two of Brighton’s most impressive performers, Duffy and Dunk. West Ham appeared then, geared to play to Brighton’s strengths rather than weaknesses.

More crucially this formation seemed to stifle Arnautovic. The plan was to use Felipe Anderson and Robert Snodgrass on the wings to support Arnautovic in a deeper role.

This not only withdrew Arnautovic from his most menacing role, it also allowed Brighton to unexpectedly dominate large parts of the first half as they outnumbered West Ham in midfield.

By half time I wanted Carroll off, and wanted Noble or possibly Antonio on to provide pressure on Brighton’s midfield dominance.

Whilst Carroll’s withdrawal surprised nobody, I was disappointed with the introduction of Perez.

Perez did nothing to redress our lack of competitiveness in midfield. I could detect no serious contribution from Perez throughout the second half. I felt that Antonio in particular would have relieved the pressure on Anderson much earlier.

Two things are becoming increasingly clear. The first is that Anderson and Rice, despite their encouraging fitness and robustness both now need a rest. If they are to perform against Arsenal they need time to recharge.

The second is that West Ham has an ongoing problem with crosses, both in open play and from set pieces. I have rarely felt more nervous when an opposition team won a corner against us as I did last night. My in stadium commentator predicted Brighton’s breaching of our defence via a corner long before they actually scored. It is a priority for Pellegrini to coach better defence from set pieces.

Pellegrini’s introduction of Noble and Antonio was in the event game transforming. Whilst I was instantly relieved that Antonio and Noble had finally entered the fray, I still felt that either should have replaced Carroll at half time.

Arnautovic, restored at the head of our attack showed how he can be a match saver. It is just a shame he could not be a match winner. Nevertheless Pellegrini deserves credit for reinstating Arnautovic to his most lethal role, and his introduction of Noble and Antonio definitely saved us from defeat.

My feeling though is that his reliance on Carroll in the first half, and Perez in the second half probably allowed Brighton to steal a point.

COYI
David Griffith

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