David Moyes has gone on record and said that he’d like to change things about West Ham’s traditional inconsistency. Beating teams that, on paper, we really shouldn’t and losing to teams that we should be winning against is a longstanding tradition. Historically these feats have often been achieved during the same playing week. I’m sure the losses to the more beatable sides is one of the aspects that DM was referring to changing about the club. If so he certainly has this Hammer’s full support. It’s been one of the most frustrating aspects of being a supporter for as long as I can remember.
Another of the maddening West Ham customs has been the traditional post-Christmas drop off in performances. For years it seemed to plague our teams to the point where the title of this article would often be used by rival fans to taunt us with. Whether you believe it’s an urban myth or not there tends not to be smoke without fire as the demands of the festive fixture lists negatively affected the Happy Hammers.
Looking ahead to the post-holiday fixtures January involves the following: -
02/01/21 Everton Away
09/01/21 Stockport Away
12/01/21 West Brom Home
16/01/21 Burnley Home
26/01/21 Palace Away
30/01/21 Liverpool Home
Progression to the fourth round of the Cup is an absolute must. No matter which team gets fielded we should not be losing to non-league opposition. The Everton and Liverpool games will be tough. Palace are about as predictable as a Brexit trade deal outcome and, with Burnley and West Brom both having to come to us, I’m hopeful that we can put some points on the board from the five Premier League games. I would expect between seven and ten points in those. Bearing that in mind I’d be interested to hear how far our expectation levels have come.
There’s no doubt in my mind that there’s a new found work ethic, resilience and organisation about the team that , when added to the talent in the squad, could drive us to a top half finish this season. The one area that stuck out, to me, on Saturday evening’s game was the stark difference between Manyoo’s and our finishing. All three of their goals were pure quality. That’s one of the big differences between £500M+ squads and those at our level, with the exceptions being those with the likes of Jamie Vardy, so a lot of work needs to go in to that side of our team’s training. When you look at the chances created there was nothing to separate the two sides at the Bowl this weekend. In fact, if anything, we shaded it overall and the game should have been out of sight by half time. Had we been able to be more clinical that would have come to pass. Comparing the season’s conversion rates of the two teams our top hitman is Seb Haller with thirty two percent with Manyoo have five players with better ratios. It could just be that we do have the players but our front line is just lacking confidence. Maybe a bit of both? Either way I feel it’s certainly one to be working on improving.
Unfortunately a plucky performance by the Women this weekend left us without anything from the game. A 3-2 scoreline against a very strong Chelsea team is certainly respectable but won’t get the ladies charging up the league. That said I think it’s fair to say, like the men’s team, there have been a number of tough fixtures at the start of the campaign. With Bristol City and Aston Villa, the two teams below West Ham at the bottom of the division, up in the next two fixtures there’s a great opportunity to put points on the board and ease away from the relegation zone. Best of luck to them away at Twerton Park next Saturday.
Tonight sees the under twenty ones away to Peterborough in the EFL Trophy. This competition is of great benefit to all parties in my opinion. Brilliant that the youngsters get to pit themselves against experienced and full grown men to help get them accustomed to the physical demands of professional football whilst for the teams from the lower divisions it’s an opportunity to win a trophy while having a good look at some of the best talent coming through the ranks of the Premier League’s academies. Best of luck to the boys tonight.
Have a great week all.
COYI!