Slaven Bilic had looked to me as if he’d been on hold for the first three games of the season.
Watching his dug-out body language against Arsenal, Leicester City and Bournemouth was telling. The full passion, fury, whatever you want to call it, looked to be held in check.
It was as though he hadn’t quite let his emotions and managerial position off the hook . There was almost – and it’s hard to find the right words – a slight nervousness, a realisation that certain things had to happen for him to be seen as Numero Uno.
It may simply have been that he was feeling his way into the job, determined not to impose himself too fast, that maybe there were some old school players who were still wrapped into a time warp of the last four years.
There were plenty pointing the finger and groaning about the striker position. Then came this afternoon!
We were sensational and as CandH’s associate editor Sean Whetstone wrote this morning this proved not to be a time to scream “We’re all doomed” and start panicking.
For on the touchline today was a boss who was finally showing his total authority – more and more passion was pouring from him.
He and captain Mark Noble stood discussing things , arms locked around each other, Matt Jarvis met him with a smile of pure affection as he waited to come on near the end.
Slav had finally emerged from what looked like a self imposed shell as his team followed his game plan to perfection, defending narrow and deep and pushing Liverpool ineffectively wide as they attempted shots from as far out as 30 yards.
The Hammers then broke with pace, purpose and pinpoint passing and we saw a manager at the end who had his fingerprints all over West Ham 2015/16 and for whom I reckon things are going to get considerably better.
This was great and it really is time for the small minority of moaners and groaners to shut up and give the man a break.
Actually though I don’t think he would care – this bloke is business.
Said and well said
The moaners and groaners will never go away Hugh,
Like Kevin they have not got the integrity to say I was wrong,
I was wrong today when I said I did not think Mark Noble should be on the pitch,
I put my hands up,
Mr Lawerson you could say the same as Kevin sitting next to Keown doing the same,
Certainly giving us a roller coaster ride so far this season is Mr.Bilic,two wins away we could have only dreamed about & two curious performances at home.It certainly aint boring thats for sure.I expected two wins from the first four games.Sod losing to Leicester & Bournemouth,i will take the two wins out of the four i expected being the ones at the arse & scousers every day of the year 😉
The win was great, totally unexpected due to our last 2 matches and that the last time we won there I was a wee boy. But other then how well the team played I loved the way Bilic was always on the edge of the box giving instructions showing emotion as things happened but also giving appreciation to players coming off and on the pitch. There also seemed to be a bond between the players and the boss, a smile a touch of hands. Maybe they like a gaffer who is involved rather then sitting back chewing gum.
I like what I see, long may it continue.
In Slaven we TRUST
Ha ha. His body language was better during a historic win over Liverpool at anfield than it was losing to Bournemouth and Leicester at home that’s for sure and if you can’t look happy and inspired beating Liverpool 3 nil at anfield theres not much hope for you. Ha ha ha ha
Off hold and into the fast lane in the team bus. After taking the handbrake off. Ha ha.
Was letting Nolan go more To do with severing any links still left to the old regime in the players eyes ?