To enter the Everton Predictor League, click HERE. Entries can be made until 3.30pm on Friday. The Southampton scores were the lowest of the season. View them HERE. Well done Hammer63 for toppong the league wit 53 points.
I normally watch matches with few if any distractions, which allows me to pay close attention. But when you sell a product that people want….maybe need….this time of year, that kind of time is not available. So sitting in front of my computer with my IPad and IPhone open and buzzing incessantly, I chose to do the best I could with what little concentration I could afford.
The most valuable person for West Ham in the opening 25 minutes was the linesman, whose flag saved us from an early Ings goal. The best contact a West Ham boot made with anything was Dawson’s right foot on the shoulder and head of Che Adams (thanks to Nigel for catching my earlier mistake on this, saying it was Walker-Peters).
Welcome to the club, Craig. Try not to get sent off.
Despite going with a more attacking lineup, West Ham had a very hard time retaining possession in the opening minutes. It was hard watching Haller go down easily from a running into the shoulder of Bednarek. Ice Hockey would definitely not suit the lanky Frenchman. Sorry, Ivorian.
In the 35th minute Walcott and Ings combined to get a low shot off, but again the linesman raised his flag. Seconds later it was Ings on the right, clearly the side they decided to attack, but Ogbonna knocked the cross out for Southampton’s third corner of the match. The threat as it was ended with a Bertrand blast into the empty stands.
West Ham had a decent chance in the 41st minute when Yarmolenko chased a ball on the right and lobbed a ball into the box. Haller headed to Fredericks near the right post, but his header had very little oomph and landed in the arms of McCarthy. Seconds later Dawson gave up a free kick near the top of the West Ham eighteen yard box, and with Ward-Prowse there it could have ended badly for the men in Claret & Blue. Over the bar it went, exhale went West Ham supporters.
The last kick of the half could have been a great moment for the visitors, but as the ball dropped in between Lanzini and Rice it was Lanzini, whose back was to goal, who attempted the shot to no avail.
Halftime
Southampton 0
West Ham 0
West Ham started the second half a bit better than they started the first, and if the ball had taken a different bounce anyone from Yarmolenko to Fornals could have had a good look at goal. But despite the higher energy and pretty even statistics the finished product didn’t exist, and it was hard to look past the center forward spot as the reason why things broke down for West Ham.
Southampton asked some questions in the 57th minute when Djenepo won the ball from Yarmolenko inside the West Ham box. He found Walcott on the right who rolled a pass Romeu near the top of the box, but his shot flew over the bar. Five minutes later Walcott decided to have a go from thirty yards, and it forced a far better save from Fabianski than one might have expected when the ball took flight.
In the past 24 hours, there was some muttering about Benrahma’s place at West Ham. Did Moyes want him in the first place? Was it a DS Special? The Algerian came on for Lanzini with about half an hour left. His first time on the ball presented him a chance to show what he is capable of. But with space to run into, he chose an early pass to Haller that actually stopped the play as opposed to advancing it. Maybe more match time will do the trick. Question is will he get it? Moments later, after a superb tackle by Rice on Walcott in the box, Walker-Peters let go a low shot that Fabianski smothered.
After Djenepo was shown a yellow card for a foul on Dawson, the ensuing free kick found Soucek in the box, but he didn’t make good contact. Seconds later West Ham won a corner, but Southampton cleared. It was better from West Ham, with Bowen adding pace and energy after he came on for Yarmolenko. The sight of Antonio warming up, unfortunately, filled me with dread. Every time he returns from a hamstring injury early history repeats itself. I know I’m stating the obvious.
West Ham won another free kick in the 76th minute, and before it could be taken Antonio came on for Haller. Pleeeeease, Lord. Protect those Hammies. The delivery from Cresswell was good, but Southampton held their line and the flag went up.
West Ham had the best chance of the day in the 85th minute when Bowen ran down a ball in the box and squared it for Benrahma right in front of McCarthy. But the Southampton keeper made himself big and stopped Benrahma from opening his West Ham account.
Final Score
Southampton 0
West Ham 0
Perspective. Sometimes I need to be reminded of it. While it’s a bit cliche to ask the question, I’m doing it anyway. If someone offered us 10th place on 23 points after 16 games would we have taken it? Don’t bother answering because it’s so clear it’s virtually transparent. While 4 points from these last two would have been more appropriate, we still got something from both matches. Today in particular had what I thought were a few unexpected bright spots. Dawson had a perfectly acceptable game, as did Fredericks. While Southampton had some decent looks and a few good attempts to go with their offside plays, we held our shape and looked solid.
I’m OK with that.
Happy New Year.