Greetings!
So, it has begun, the Holiday crunch, thick and fast, no let up, the time of the season that tries even the deepest of clubs, and can leave the most cunning of managers looking puzzled, confused, and sometimes embarrassed (the last one is rare, however, for most pro managers have to be born without an “embarrassment chip”, and if they were, damned if they will show it). :-))
And, as we enter our first holiday season cycle post-COVID, when everything else is so weird, and in a lot of cases sad, those of us who support West Ham United have a bit of pre holiday cheer. We are currently enjoying some of the best football West Ham has played since the quick return to the top flight in 2012. This is bloody fantastic! These guys give it their all!
Now, to calm myself and keep perspective, for “the machine” is far from flawless, as our last match against Palace, who I’ve been calling a bogey club since way before Moyes said it!!! :-))
Just as importantly, they are buying into the gaffer and coaching staff, there’s a general air of “it’s us against the world”, which you can see manifests itself with Moyes, when he says that he’s not gonna let West Ham get pushed around, I believe him! (Speaking in the post match presser done by the official site, he [Moyes] sees what’s going on and he’s not gonna take it). I’d like to now add a link from the “Official West Ham website” (hey, I wrote this to be in before the Palace Match, some adjustment was definitely needed, but I like this interview):
https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2020/december/11-december/david-moyes-i-have-say-players-did-brilliant-job-leeds
This interview was the inspiration my original title, “Cant Push West Ham Around No More!” and, now, since this is being published “post Palace” this part the article is smaller, yet no less important, besides, its nice to know I’m not so mad that I’m making up these selective enforcement incidents in my warped brain to blunt cutting disappointments like the Man U match, plus countless others, especially coming from Moyes, who was once (in my estimation) a formidable foe as the gaffer for that bogiest of bogey clubs for WHUF.C. (it’s even their fault we didn’t win the top flight in ‘86 if I’m not mistaken), in Everton. It’s part of the reason why I wanted him as manager even before Bilic. Did they win anything? No, however, could they whoop anyone on any day and end up finishing no lower that 10th? Yes. That is the next step.
You see, I enjoy fluid football, however, as long as we are winning, it can be a bit “ugly”, as well, as matter of fact, it’s one sport when I want my team to have it done and dusted by HT, not cos I’m much more entertaining when I was drunk and HAPPY, (not that I’m a violent drunk, or even need to be drunk), but, either sober or soaked, I’ve been so angry without saying anything that I can change the mood in a room from “festive” to “funeral” quicker than putting on “The Ballad of the Edmund Fitzgerald” can kill the groove of a good, old fashioned “hip-hop” house party! A close match is much better when the point or points are saved or protected, (or, your a neutral watching two other clubs that you don’t have any skin in) but when it goes the other way, that’s when I think stuff like (gee whiz, I would much rather have seen West Ham up 5-0 by halftime…..) And as far as “attractive” football goes….. attractive to me is a score “Win” for West Ham, I understand, however, I reserve words like “attractive” and “sexy” for another topic. ;) I like exciting matches, like the Championship Playoff from 2012 was GREAT! (Because RVT just about put the ball through the roof of the onion sack at 89’ and held on from there, or Winston Reid, heading home the winner against the “Satan Worshipers”…… on that most bittersweet night of nights, forget it, that’s what I’m calling Manchester United anymore……they are just about…..) This all being said, isn’t this “attractive” football in it own way? (Abstract thought, at the very least……..),
In my revised version of this, we have since played Palace in a pretty flat performance in the first, lucky to not be down 0-3, Haller at 58’ odd mins finally scored that spectacular goal, after a Lanzini substitution for Fornals brought some limited industry to the #10 area, and sparked a better second half, as one of the two major issues that happens when you put out basically the same XI since Sept, the wear is beginning to show, our own turf may have claimed our remaining bone fide 1st Team LB in Cresswell, the other is, other clubs figure you out.
I know, I’m regressing in subject matter a bit, and to some it may sound silly, however, quite frankly, I am delighted to see that a manager is calling the establishment out for all its little “faux pas” with the calls and the VAR, selective enforcement, and their little “opps, guess we forgot to look at that, cos the ‘Amazing’ Pogba scores a good lookin’ goal”, off another case of bad officiating, ( meanwhile, here’s a guy in Pogba, who is verbally trashing Manchester United, while happily cashing those checks they are writing him). They (the law) can’t see a ball go out of bounds 6 feet in the air on a curl back, but they take time out of the match to notice that on a penalty, where the keeper, who is already at every disadvantage, his heal is one inch off the goal line? Really? Super Slav did it as well, along with Pards, as a matter of fact, they all do to a degree, (except Grant…. Tbh, I don’t remember him saying too much of anything…..perhaps I stopped listening at some point out of self preservation) However Moyes seems to actually be seeing it though the same “lense” so to speak, as we (the support) are seeing the way this group of clowns use VAR to not level the field, but as another tool to aid the big clubs in red and blue, And like him, (Moyes) or it or not, we ARE playing “good looking” football, and are top 6 at the moment. As far as football in England for me? All is well.
Embed from Getty ImagesThis will bring me to Haller, who, I guarantee won’t take up too much of our time, cos everyone has their minds made up (for the most part).
Just keep tryin’ big guy, hopefully, with a few needed changes just for fitness and endurance sake, this is the beginning of SEB’S run of 4 goals in 5 matches or just being integral in the 7 pts I HOPE we can pull out of the next 3, Chelsea, Away- B&HA, Home,-and Southampton, Away, as this is a POSSIBLE, feat…. however, it’s gonna be a tough one, (as it has been all season) with Chelsea, Away, being Chelsea Away…. B&HA a top bogey club since they have been up….. and Southampton, who, we’ve been a bogey to, however, are as good, of not better, overall as us this season, I don’t expect to pull another double over them, I hope I’m wrong.
As I see our current XI that has brought us this far, start to fall to knocks, niggles, and fatigue, Moyes might want to think about some contingencies with the talent that is on the bench, perhaps it’s time for another pair of fresh legs in Lanzini as a starter? IDK, I’m prepared just by nature to brace for a poor form of run right about now……….
We should be ok, This is a whole different squad, with a whole different mission, and a whole different mindset, who are capable of beating anyone on any day, anywhere. However, as Hodge and Palace showed us, can be slowed by a solid defense, and potent attackers, All I can say at this point, is long may this overall form for West Ham United F.C. continue, cos the cold days are coming back, were all fighting to keep it together in this mad world getting madder, and West Ham in the top 4 the first week of 2021 could help with the whole “hope” thing……
Love You All
COYI!!! ‘><’
Jimmy