13 Comments

Stand by for a Moyes defensive shake-up

Angelo_Ogbonna_BGR-ITA_2012

David Moyes – like most decent managers – believes it all starts at the back and will surely realise there is a massive reorganisation needed in the Hammers defence.

Had we not seen Angelo Ogbonna “all over the place” as Gary Neville put it, for the Leicester goal last night, we could well have gone on to claim three points.

It wasn’t the first time the Italian has been responsible for a draw rather than a win this season – remember Palace and that awful penalty he gave away. There have been other examples of his uncertainties.

He wasn’t alone with Pablo Zabaleta being dragged out of position by fast moving attackers. It was no surprise to see the Foxes goal originate down his side as Vardy waltzed past to punt over what was no more than a hopeful cross.

We remain stretched in that position and I found myself ensuring I make a check on Sam Byram’s progress this weekend as when we saw him briefly earlier in the season he appeared stronger and less immature.

And I do believe that with Ogbonna in such unpredictable and indifferent form generally, Moysie will need to be telling Declan Rice:  “Your time has come son.”

That may need to happen quickly in order to ensure  that we don’t go wasting millions on a new central defender – Declan deserves the chance to prove he can become a long term solution because – for sure – Ogbonna isn’t.

We need youth and mobility at the back and I believe we may then see Winston Reid return to his best rather than have to cover the back of others.

Aaron Cresswell showed a marked improvement against the Foxes – a result probably of having Masuaku on hand to help him out on various occasions – although it was clear the visitors had targeted the right side of our defence.

Moyes is not a manager to watch those defensive errors and do nothing. It goes against his every instinct. He made some important moves last night – playing Masuaku in a winger role and pushing the record signing to the other side – not to mention dropping the skipper.

I expect further changes for the Everton match – a game of pride for Moysie – and will ne surprised if young Declan doesn’t make his return alongside Reid.

Things looked a better last night…they can get a lot better yet.

COYI

 

 

About Hugh5outhon1895

Hugh Southon is a lifelong Iron and the founding editor of ClaretandHugh. He is a national newspaper journalist of many years experience and was Bobby Moore's 'ghost' writer during the great man's lifetime. He describes ClaretandHugh as "the Hammers daily newspaper!" Follow on Twitter @hughsouthon

13 comments on “Stand by for a Moyes defensive shake-up

  1. So Ogbonna was responsible for us only drawing at Palace are we? We’re just ignoring Antonio’s screw up with 30 seconds left? Thanks, I now have an excellent definition of bias. Laughable.

  2. Starting to feel better this season. The atmosphere and noise we created was great. Moyse will not be afraid of saying to the players like Carroll, “You’re not good enough”. Arnie is stepping up and responded to what Moyse said. He also said on Sky “Lets not praise him for tracking back, it is expected”. I liked that alot. The future is bright. Finally seeing my club play better in the last 2 games than all season.

  3. Right about Ogbonna. He is likely to be replaced either by a new CB in the window or by Rice. His mistakes have become a habit. As for the Palace game, his mistake changed the game, which we were in control of. From that moment we were on the back foot. Thats why it was a bigger mistake than the one in the last minute.
    Moyes won’t stand for it because he did not buy these players, so he doesn’t have to be specially loyal.
    Against Everton it should be Rice ( despite his age ) alongside Reid.

  4. What a difference a day makes, it was much better with more energy and seemingly more effort all through the Team, Masuaku on the left and Lanzini in the middle is a much better and energetic option. I like Zabaletta, he seems a wholehearted player with a great attitude and thankfully he won’t come up against such a nimble and fast attack as Leicester’s.
    I think it might be an idea to go to a three at the back with Zabaletta being on the right of the three – or definitely a three at the back when Collins gets himself fit.

    It doesn’t look good for Mark Noble, the only player who played at Watford to miss out against Leicester – the Team had a lot more energy and speed and looked to have a more attacking attitude. This doesn’t bode well for Noble – sad to say but that’s the facts.

    The other talking point for me is Andy Carroll’s position in the Team, I thought he was lively and surprisingly played for the whole game – I only wish Sackho could get himself fully fit. Carroll is not good enough and the Team are forced to play to his strengths which is not attractive football.

    Finally, I was expecting a bit of grumbling and moaning from the crowd but surprisingly the atmosphere was really good, with the punters really getting into it. The only negative thing was a group of half a dozen guys behind us who obviously had been ‘partying’ all afternoon and were particularly obnoxious – the big problem with night games.

  5. Not sure why Zab and Oggy are being picked on after a very good team performance, both Zab and Oggy made a lot of very good interceptions, Zab is ageing he is not as fast as he was but his reading of the game and in general timing of his tackles is exceptional, Ogbonna’s control of the ball in tight areas was also excellent as was his distribution, I would like to see Rice with a run as right CB leaving Reid to fight it out with Oggy for the left sided position and I think Adrian deserves a run in goal, he is after all our player and not a loanee. We are making less mistakes defensively less than a handful last night which was refreshing and if that continues we will be much harder to beat for the better teams. I don’t think dropping players when their performances are improving is the way forward and I doubt Moyes will do that, the ship is steadying so no point in rocking the boat too much imho.

    • I completely agree… you have to play a team which is unchanged to actually get an understanding, if you keep swapping and changing all the time how is anyone going to get any consistency.
      Ogbonna does make mistakes, granted. But isn’t moyes going to help him cut those mistakes out rather than butcher him for it?
      I think for morale, you keep the team as it is.. and hope that they gain more confidence and consistency, if the problem still persists, then you have a shake up and change it around.

  6. Yes 32 ogbonna played well in my eyes , its cresswell and zabba that need replacing , cresswell constantly out of position as he was too far up the field , do that against a descent team in ones coming up and we get annihilated, fact , he is not good enough , his crossing was terrrible , his passing was awfull? Zabba similar but experience can’t hide his lack of pace and being done with either balls over the top or slipped through ! Its not surprising the goal came from down his side , we were lucky we didn’t conceded down the other side ! Both our central defenders are getting dragged out of position because of these two ! Can’t fault them for effort but we need two full backs to come in , byrum makes similar mistakes as well ! Maybe Moyes can mould him into a Coleman !! That would be nice !!!! We just need a baines then ! Very nice !!! Creative m/f player needed along with a d/m/f player who can play ! Carvhalo please ! Rice will become a regular its just when , Carroll did nothing for me he was never in the centre forward position when he should have been ! Poor l sakho is fit and he needs a run of games , just what is going on there who knows lol. Adrian saves the first goal and cresswell should have been closer to player who scored ! As said still a long way to go but 3 points was needed , we could be in big trouble by the time Xmas comes ! Was it a penalty , I haven’t seen any replays ??
    Marked improvement but? 😕

  7. Ogbonna made one bad mistake but was decent thereafter.

    Reid didn’t get close enough to vary to stop the cross. On top of that he thinks he is some kind of ball playing cb, when he is nothing of the sort. He shouldn’t be chesting it down in the centre circle, he should be heading it away. He shouldn’t be dribbling it out of defense and losing it and then getting injured trying to tackle (or sent off). Just stick to the basics lad.

    Similarly, Obiang’s ability to do the defensive midfielder role isn’t great. He is weak in the upper body and easily pushed off, and doesn’t seem to tackle with much aggression. Always seems to be trying to win the ball rather than stop an attack (which includes winning the ball but also simply stopping the man with the ball sometimes).

  8. I think we all have our views and valid IMO but the wolf makes a good point!
    Let’s see if Moyes can make a difference , only time will tell , but do we have it ?😉

  9. Fact … Much more solid and 100% more mobile without Noble . Hope we have seen last of him . We badly need a solid midfielder in January . We were much quicker in closing down and recovering when ball lost and we actually played the ball forwards . The defence needs a shake up. Ogbonna makes too many mistakes and Zab’s is not really the answer defensively . Rice and Byram deserve a go ( if fit ) because those doing the job now are not performing . Adrian in goal needs a run in the team . Up front Carroll is not the answer . We need a fully fit and motivated Sakho to play with Hernandez or Martinez .

  10. Atomsphere was buzzing, team was trying Arnie was running back making tackles. Not the best on crossing & Og made an error would have liked the win but it is a sign things are changing when Antonio comes back Arnie on LW if if we can play on the ground more which have to learn to do w AC if he continues start.
    I would say bring on the Sub’s earlier give Sahko some time to score not 3 minutes if not going to start him.
    Agree about Adrian & have wanted him at #1 for a while never got the Hart deal & just doesn’t make sense.
    Hart scares me every time u see him going left.
    He is very slow reaction time & off the line.
    Adrian to me is better shot stopper faster & has great attitude as well might not punch as much but I think change him now stick w him bc our CBs already know him & are comfortable w him.
    But we wanted effort & we saw it. I hope Ant & Collins will be good for next game

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