After the Newcastle game I have to admit that I was among those thinking we’d be at this stage without a single point and rooted to the foot of the table. I’m very glad to be eating a little humble pie right now as the season so far can only be qualified as a success.
Something has definitely changed. When you look at every match since the opener the team have played with confidence in the system. Angelo Ogbonna has commanded the back line which has looked far more solid in it’s current configuration. Declan and Tomas Soucek have regularly broken up the opposition, bossed the midfield and turned defence in to attack.
The wingbacks have caused the opposition huge problems and have also defended well. Vladimir Coufal looks like the right back we’ve needed, pretty much, ever since Lucas Neill left. Artur has carried a menacing threat to the opposition going forward but has improved the defensive side of his game hugely. He’s still not the finished article in this department however it’s clear the coaching team are helping him make great strides towards becoming a more complete player.
When it comes to the forwards there’s a newfound balance to the team. Antonio has led the line brilliantly and, like Mas, has improved his game notably this season. Such a shame he’s suffering from the hamstring again.
Bowen and Fornals are providing chances as well as getting their shots away themselves. There’s work-rate and dynamism up front. If there’s one obvious area that could improve, in my opinion, it’s decision making for that telling final ball. Against Liverpool there as a great opportunity to get the second but Fornals went for a shot when an easy ball to Bowen would have provided a great opportunity to score. This is just one example of many and it wouldn’t surprise me if some discussion, and work on the practice pitches, ensues in training this week.
When you look
Above all, for me, it’s the work-rate that’s doing the damage. When you look at the movement off the ball, both out of possession and by other for our players on the ball, it’s reaching new levels. There are technical improvements being made however the single ingredient making the biggest difference is the running. New players have joined the club and have brought a strong ethic with them. Their energy is rubbing off on many of the others.
With all this in mind I’m beginning to wonder if Seb Haller is at the right club. It’s clear that the way forward for players under David Moyes is for grafters who ‘put it in’. I’ve been one of Haller’s biggest supporters to date but I’m starting to wonder if it’s ever going to happen for him. Don’t get me wrong I’m definitely not writing the lad off but Saturday evening was another case of him looking out of sorts with the overall MO that the team are adopting. It’s quite clear, despite his transfer fee, that Antonio is currently ahead of Sebastien when it comes to naming the team-sheet on game day. With a fit Michail I think it’s going to be pretty tough for the Frenchman to break back in to the first eleven unless he really grabs hold of his chance in the next three to four weeks. I know that he’s top scorer however that’s not the case for Premier League games as four of his five goals have come in the League Cup.
When you look at the bench there’s some serious talent. West Ham may not have two top class players for each position on the pitch however there are some very good options to affect matches with the substitutes available. The Tottenham game showed that David Moyes is capable of changing it up to good effect. That said I’d have liked to have seen the changes made against Liverpool happen earlier on however I really can’t criticise as I’m really enjoying watching the lads at the moment.
Fulham at home up next where I hope to see another high energy, high tempo performance from the team. We have to start favourites but, as all us Hammers know only so well, when we’re expected to win we, so often, come-a-cropper. Fulham have shown, this evening, that they’re upping their game and I expect to see Super Scotty Parker, who I’d have loved to welcome back, have his team well prepared and bang up for creating an upset.
Looks very much like professional football will be the only matches played during the next four weeks. While I’ve not been able to watch West Ham live I’ve visited a local side from a lower tier a couple of times, to compliment the games my youngest has played in the JPL, for my live football fix. High flying, and undefeated, Risborough Rangers, from the Hellenic League Div One East (tier 10), were close to making it in to this weekend’s first round of the F.A. Cup. As far as I know they were the last surviving team from that level remaining in the competition when they narrowly lost to Chichester City, two tiers above them, 2-1. I know there are some who don’t feel the lower levels of the game entertaining to watch however I love all football and am glad to have been able to watch in the flesh since the re-start.
Nothing to report from the women’s team since the last post. Despite watching lower level games I didn’t get the chance to watch the U23’s earlier today. Sadly the lads went down 3-2 to, top of the league, Derby County despite a fantastic comeback from going three behind to a penalty on seventy seven minutes. Unfortunately a Tottenham style comeback wasn’t quite completed, though, following goals from Coventry and Afolayan on seventy nine and eighty six minutes respectively. A couple of free kicks late on might have produced the equaliser but came to nothing despite Baptiste connecting with the second one from Coventry. It doesn’t get any easier with third placed Liverpool next up this Friday (should it be deemed ‘Elite Football’, under the latest lockdown conditions, by the F.A.).
‘Til next time…COYI!