Greetings all;
Well, I hope everyone had/is having a great holiday/s. And, as they continue, I must admit, It’s definitely been a strange one, for all, I’m sure. Due to having to keep gatherings small, I suppose the season has been stretched out for all, like it has me, having to come and go various places, but, mostly not going anywhere at all. It’s been either an old fashioned phone call, or now, video chats connecting us to our loved ones over one of the strangest periods I’ve seen in almost a half century of being “somewhat sentient” However, I hope we all took in something new, or maybe you rediscovered an old hobby that you enjoyed, and it’s not over yet! New Years Eve! I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to see the ass end of 2020. However, if you gather, do so safely, and enjoy, I’ve been done with New Years Eve since the end of 2001, I was running around the streets of Dublin a year earlier for the Millennium, and site that as my last “good” wild NYE, the rest, you can read in my biography one day ;)) I still had a lot of hope back in 2000………
As different as it all has been, that had not changed also a very busy time for our beloved Hammers, where the lack of depth, and long term effects of the matches being played are no doubt taking their toll, (I’m finally starting to notice my own sanity slipping a bit, and I was never on firm ground to begin with) :)) however, it would be hard to “critique” the manager or squad any further than the match report by David have already pointed out, for, there truly is only the “grind” to moan about, the injuries and fatigue are a drag, and all in all, David Moyes’ Claret & Blue Army is weathering the cold and the crunch, “very acceptably”. These guys are knackered and still doin ok.
I gotta be honest, I got the hump after Brighton. I’d REALLY would have liked to have shaken that bloody Top Flight bogey that B&HA got dancin’ on our heads so long, busted, but, once again they came out looking pretty good for a club that are 2pts off the drop, I wouldn’t say they looked like League beaters, but the “pack a lunch” when they see us on their fixture list….. OR like last year, up 3-1,with less that 15 plus stoppage to go and we dropped 2pts!!!
O.k., now that being said, I shall say again that in August, I’d have snapped a hand and a big toe off to be where we are now, and we are not losing matches, we even came back to take 2 and save a point from the Gulls’ dirty beaks with the thanks to a homegrown youngster in Ben Johnson, and once thing’s level off, we still have strong enough players in Snodgrass, Yarmo, and Lanzini to grind out wins, perhaps from the bench.
Benny and Mikey made an immediate impact, during Southampton, and where Moyes went too conservative against the Gulls, he went after this after a tepid first half, of which both clubs were due their 0-0 status.
Fornals, Bowen, and Benrahma WILL be rewarded for all their hard work………once a fully fit Mikey Antonio gets back to full stride, I can’t WAIT to see what those 4 can put together, while you still have the “Hackney Heavies” carrying a good share of the of the goals!
I suppose this is one of the things I like about Moyes, he’s gonna speak his mind, but he’s going to do it with a level of maturity, which comes of more “matter of fact” than protest. (The man is not an idiot), he handles the media pretty savvy like, gotta say, and he’s killing my predictor!
Moyes is tinkering a little bit, but he has to, an I think he’s got the picture of who needs to go stay maybe accept bench roles, y’all got the picture, I got the picture……
I will totally admit, for my more curmudgeonly fans, the ball has been BRUTAL to watch, especially most of the first halves, and until about 70’ when the changes are made. It’s been ugly, but this is rotation time, it has to be done, and so far, we are ok.
Another issue may be one that the “footie God’s” control, and that’s the “Rub o’ the Green” that we were getting early on, one must admit, it was a earned over a few years of unbalanced law and order, but we were getting out due, also the “Bounce” that was taking to our favor, within a few mins, its on Rice’s foot and Antonio is already getting in behind with Masu and Cresswell whipping in great crosses.However, just but a month ago, that rub or bounce has seemed not to have shifted the opposite way, per se, but it’s definitely went neutral, we were dripping in chances for a moderately sweet spell, now are coming few and far between, the build up play is less fluid than up to say, Villa, where, was one of those nights where it seemed some karma was coming back around for things from last season, VAR actually going out way for a spell, well, we’ve entered a tough spell, where things aren’t bouncing into the goal, not getting as many 50/50’s and without turning this into a Haller “boot party” my goodness…..the giveaways, man….However everyone seems to have their chins up and any anger or discontent is with the forces outside the club that are not having an impact on this very tight squad.
However, I’m not complaining. Really, Southampton had an off nite offensively, but they were top notch defensively, I’m pointing out facts, that, to be quite honest, I don’t need to explain, I know who I agree with, mostly have already discussed them, and once again, aside from keeping a chin up when its not all that easy, and always trying to keep a winning attitude, I think that overall, I tend to agree with the truly knowledgeable here who are, for the the most part, the majority of regular members here. The top boys and girls are the most loyal and educated football supporters possibly in the the world, probably in England, and most definitely in London.
Embed from Getty ImagesThat’s why, I’m gonna change it around and talk about my HOTY so far this season, (and unless our offense gets a rejump, and one of our attacking players ends up with more than 15 League goals), he will remain my HOTY, and that is Angelo Ogbonna.
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Embed from Getty Images
I think even then, he may get my vote. Defense is not appreciated nearly enough anymore, one thing that even I know and understand! ;)
The man is holding together the central, (and whole defense, if you ask me). He and Rice whipped Dawson into shape today (29/12/2020 Saints 0, West Ham United 0,) who twice could have been the goat of the game, (Dawson, that is), his one goof definitely shoulda been a goal, however a touch of the “rub”, returned for a moment, and Dawson grew into a solid second half performance, (just don’t let him [Dawson] on the ball all that long….) :)) seriously, he appears to still be great at defending, and attacking set pieces, and isn’t afraid to get his body in, perhaps not as much a folly as some thought…..although, on one performance does not make a season, and this talk of selling Diop for new striker money just seems a bit excessive, sorry, I now I’m gonna hear it from some mates but there are ways around it, and sell Haller in the summer (cos he apparently won’t move in the winter) anyways, a topic for another day, that will probably be today, but that’s o.k.! Until then, I will rave about Oggy here!!!
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Embed from Getty Images
(Mitrovic foolishly trying to get a reaction out of a cool headed, and wise CB who, would have made short, short work of that mug)
Oggy has been stalwart, and aside from a few small mental errors, the fatigue, and wear doesn’t seem to be getting to Ogbonna as much as it has some of the other players.
Oggy is in on almost every block, keeps that 4 man cage in form, and is never one to pull out of a tackle, he’s strong, smart, and as I’ve said, is bossing the backfield in most situations. When everyone else seems to look around and find that the shape looks like an amoeba, he flies into the gap first.
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Embed from Getty Images
Now before I go, and start preparing for Everton, away (Oi Gevalt). One more honorable mention, and bit of advice for Pablo Fornals, he is non stop, he is box to box still and aside from maybe trying to being a bit more selfish (today was not the first match were had he struck it first time, he coulda scored, or been on target at least), the second time, he had viable options to try to cross into Bowen, but today, we weren’t getting too much mustard on the ball, but I see nothing but improvement over the long haul.
Well, need not say too much more, were already talking about who should start at Goodison, which, hasn’t been super happy fun hunting, but two large wins in the last 5 years there, if the last 3 fixtures were adjustment, I could see Moyes going for this one, then again, personally, I’d not mind him playing it safe, and making sure we field a winner for Stockport…..cos, c’mon, now, y’all remember the “Banana Splits”? :))
For real, We can make a Cup run and finish top 10,
Having seen Iain and Russel’s latest updates, I know that the format is going to change (I’m not sure how much), so I really don’t know anything other than they are working hard to get it done, and of course, I’d like to keep my column, but completely understand if a whole new direction is being taken, of course which sounds like a different column and comment format will be implemented, at least, and if this happens to be my last column, I just want to say it’s been an honor and privilege, and honestly, I believe along with the anxiety and not always really feel like rehashing stuff like “Pogbas bad goal”, its actually been a important learning experience for me, and for all those who have encouraged me, and had my back, I am much obliged :-)
Love You All
COYI
Jimmy