Very easy for anyone watching the highlights of yesterday’s game to blame the red card of Edson Alvarez for West Ham’s defeat. Lopetegui at least fell short of using that excuse. Of course it was another dumb, reckless challenge. No hiding from that. But it masks another issue which until fixed, will condemn West Ham to struggling in every game.
Without an effective midfield, West Ham could have world-beaters at the back and the team will still be under pressure. Yes, Jean-Clair Todibo’s cavalier chip-mistake for Forest’s third was that, a mistake. I’m sure he won’t do that again.
The statistics overall for another of West Ham’s midfielders need highlighting. Guido Rodriguez’ ineffectiveness as a central midfielder keeps getting ignored week after week.
Zero tackles. Yep, zero. Seven lost possessions. Three ‘duels’, none won. Zero key passes. Surely time to take urgent action. Any of the youngsters would have put in a better performance than that but the truth is, Lopetegui pencils in the ‘Rodriguez’ name for the team sheet based on what he used to do. Playing like this, he should be nowhere near this Hammers midfield.
Forget the striker search for January, (even though Antonio yesterday looked as if he couldn’t hit a dartboard with a hedgehog) I’d rather muddle through with our trio of misfits up front and sort out the midfield. It gets to a sorry state where we are all desperate to see Tornado Tom back but at least he battles away and neither gets sent off through recklessness or avoids committing to a tackle
Soucek at least battles away and isn’t scared of making a tackle
Until we stop the centre of our team looking as if they are cardboard cutouts, we’ll never take the pressure off the back four and hey, who knows, start to play some forward passes that actually reach the front three.
“Until we stop the centre of our team looking as if they are cardboard cutouts, we’ll never take the pressure off the back four and hey, who knows, start to play some forward passes that actually reach the front three.”
Ha ha, the trouble is that Loppy will have the front three playing out of position, probably in defence because our wing-backs are gallivanting about in the opposition’s penalty area!
Nobody seems to know where they or anybody else is playing. 🤣
The problem in midfield is a lack of pace. We just cannot compete at this level with central midfielders who lack any pace.
Not to mention the fact that they are not adept passers either.
Serious questions over our recruitment need to be asked. And that is on Tim. No dynamism or pace in midfield, no pace or cutting edge in the striker department.
Looking at the bench yesterday, who can we introduce to really impact the situation? For all the money invested in the squad, it is hugely worrying.
Pressure off the back four, perhaps if our fullbacks didn’t go walkabout up the pitch our back four wouldn’t be pressured , Alvarez was chasing back to tackle someone who was were Emerson should have been or am I missing something, we always blame the wrong people, what we lack is playing as a team with shared responsibility, anyway it looked to me that Alvarez got the ball?, at least he was trying , unlike the motionless back two, ?
Cardboard cutouts indeed. No direction and no directors. Defence and forward line need specialist coaching from experienced defenders and attackers. Not being told how to play, but being honed to make themselves more effective in their roles. Midfielders just need to be told what the game plan is and then given freedom to be positive, instinctive and take a chance. Midfielders should all have vision. They just need to use it more often. When they do that, within a playing structure, the rest of the team needs to play along, too. No ball watching. Have a good reason to be where you are and doing what you’re doing at all times. A great maxim and worth consideration.
COYI
where was the marking for Wood’s goal !! they just stood there watching him score. We were absolute trash. Bowen is not a captain he should have been shouting his head off. They may be alright with their nice earners but should think about the poor sods who spend good money travelling to see them. Even if the set up is all wrong they could at least put some effort in !!