Occasionally it’s difficult to see the wood from the trees. Things just aren’t going your way, and haven’t been for a long time, you’re finding it tough going and feel that you’re on a slippery downwards slope. These challenging times are often when we learn and grow most.
Since his arrival at the club Sebastien Haller has spent most of his time in a place somewhere similar to that described above. He was part of one of the most successful front threes in world football, with strike partners Rebic and Jovic, at Eintracht Frankfurt. The chemistry, understanding and movement between those front three was like a well oiled machine. Frankfurt subsequently cashed in on their prized assets with Seb joining us, Serb Luka Jovic going to Real Madrid and Croatian forward Ante Rebic ending up at Milan following a year to them on loan.
The Frenchman, full name Sabastien Romain Teddy Haller, made an impressive impact when first arriving at West Ham. Showing great strength, a striker’s awareness and superb technique throughout the match and for his tap in and overhead strike, in the away win at Watford, he bagged his first two goals for the Hammers. In the next game, at home to Norwich, he scored his third in four games in a 2-0 win when the team played extremely well and all was sweetness and light during the early season. Whether it was quite sweet enough, having spent £155M in transfer fees, was debatable however the optimism, following the previous season’s tenth placed finish and the record signing of the illusive top striker, was flowing at that point.
Shortly following that honeymoon period, however, there came a time when the mutterings and grumblings from the West Ham faithful began. We all love a player who puts in 100% effort so when we see a, shall we say, slightly less mobile striker they’re likely court criticism when they’re not scoring.
Since those early games Seb’s confidence seems to have ebbed away. He’s cut and increasingly isolated figure on the pitch and seldom looks happy.
I’ve been a fan of Haller’s since his arrival. I, genuinely, believe we have a top striker on our hands. He reminds me a lot of Deano in his ability, playing style, presence and finishing. That’s high praise as I am of the opinion that Ashton was one of the best strikers we’ve ever had at the club and was top quality. He’s they type who’s able to score all kinds of goals, is physically imposing and is clever in his movement. The most disappointing thing is that he appears to have made very little progress in adapting to the demands of the Premier League. That said I don’t think we have played to his strengths to date.
In the game against Fulham, however, I saw some encouraging signs. He must be working with Kevin Nolan in training. If there was every a player with knowledge of how to meet the demands of top flight English football, and coach that to a striker, surely it Nolan. I saw an increased work-rate from Haller on Saturday night which, to my eyes, looked more like hunger than I’ve seen from him since those early games last season.
Haller must recognise this period of his career for what it is. A great chance to become a better, more complete striker. If he’s going to leave West Ham, at whatever point in time that turns out to be, at the top of his game then he’s got to adopt a growth mindset. I don’t expect him to become the engine room of the team. That’s never going to be his MO. What I’d love to see is for him to continue to show improvement and development…starting at Bramhall Lane on Sunday week.
Will he get sufficient time to adapt and turn things around. Time pressure being what it is in the Premier League it’s unlikely that there will be an abundant amount of it. The improvement must continue. Should it do so I’ll be over the moon as we’ll, potentially, have that twenty goal a season player we’ve been longing for.
Great performance from the ladies away to Birmingham on Saturday. Two goals from headers off balls in to the box, one of which albeit an own goal, saw off the Blues. Despite going down to another poor one to concede, with Mackenzie Arnold seeming to dive in instalments with the ball going underneath her, the team defended much better than in recent weeks to secure the victory.
On twenty two minutes Birmingham missed the chance to double their lead when a shot from a tight angle hit the far post and fell to Jamie-Lee Napier only for her to drag her shot wide of the upright. For the leveller the West Ham ladies worked a free kick smartly before the diagonal ball from Leon to the far post. Martha Thomas flicked on to a dangerous position from which the Birmingham defender headed in to her own net.
The, well deserved, winner came from open play which produced another good diagonal ball in to the box for loan signing Emily van Egmond to head home. Next up is a home game against Brighton which kicks off at 12.30 on Sunday.
In Premier League Two the Under twenty threes went down 4-2 at Liverpool. After going 2-1 up in the first half the Liverpool team drew level on 49’ before Joseph Anang was. Harshly, sent off on 56’ for a penalty which Liverpool put past substitute keeper Daniel Jiandu. The extra man counted as the game progressed, despite some excellent play and chances created, and Liverpool made sure of the points in the ninety third minute.
Have a good week all.
COYI!