Michail Antonio and Sebastian Haller ensured Southampton experienced Groundhig Day when they arrived at the London Stadium on Saturday to ensure they were hit by the Hammers double act just as they were at St Mary’s.
This time of course the team found the net three times rather than the once earlier in the season to complete a thoroughly deserved double over the south coast team.
The Saints had absolutely no answer to either of them with Antonio in particular terrorising the visitors back line with some penetrating running and brute force athleticism.
A”handful” hardly begins to describe Michail’s contribution to a game which again gives real hope, following a top performance against Liverpool that the Irons are ready to escape the relegation jaws.
But he was particularly sorry that he was unable to convert the rabona pass from his French strike partner which was as good as anything we saw on a top afternoon.
Commenting at https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2020/march/02-march/michail-antonio-key-was-playing-freely he said: “It was a massive win. Obviously we went seven games without winning.
“We played a good game on [the] Monday and basically brought the confidence from that game into this game.
“The key was keeping the tempo high, finishing the opportunities that we had and basically just pressing and playing free.
“It’s being able to put the ball in the back of the net, and try and stay solid and work together as a team. We pressed high and won the ball high, and I wouldn’t say we had as much possession as they did, but we took our opportunities when we did.
“Obviously the last few weeks we’ve been playing under pressure in the situation that we’re in, and we kind of just, off the performance we had on Monday, realised we can play, that we can do it – and we went out and did it.”
IMAGE VIA WWW.WHUFC.COM
“We’ve got to go out there, have a go, score goals, create goals, and defend and work as a team. Right now we need to have eleven men out there chasing, working hard and just showing what we can do.
“We need to play well and when we get on the ball, keep the ball and believe. When we keep the individual mistakes out, we perform well and we create.
“When he [manager David Moyes] came in, he said he believed we had a better a squad than when he came in the first time, so we’ve got the squad to do it, we just need to perform.”
“I’m devastated for him [Haller] to be fair!” he laughed. “That pass was unbelievable, literally right on my feet, but Alex McCarthy just managed to get his foot to it.
“I’m devastated myself – it would’ve been my third goal this season. I need more goals, to be fair!”
IF Antonio had been able to score from Haller’s unbelievable Rabona pass, that goal would’ve been up there with the Di Canio classic. What a fantastic pass from Haller, who I have to apologise to, for being a little harsh in recent weeks. When supported, his confidence (as seen with that pass) and goals will come flooding back and I believe that he will go on to justify his record transfer fee.
Both Soucek and Bowen have brought energy, enthusiasm and ability to the squad and this must have had an effect on the players around them. In fact, January was a very productive month in which I wish we had brought the personnel in a little earlier than we did (Soucek, Bowen, Nolan and Nevin), but being West Ham it’s always last minute.
Hopefully, this has shown what can be achieved when we ALL work together. But I’d also like to give Moyes massive credit because like anything else, the blueprint comes from the top. Initially, I had been a little critical of Moyes recently, until I figured out that he has been using a lot of Psychology and common-sense when putting out his teams. Unfortunately, being supporters we feel that as well as telling us EXACTLY what he is doing and WHY he is doing it…… he should tell the opposition too. Luckily Moyes is thick-skinned and will continue to do as he sees fit, unleashing players who have something to prove upon the opposition to gain the Best advantage and results possible.
Soucek when fit return for Noble would help immeasurably, as would Anderson return to fitness & form. But vital to keep calamity Masuaku out of the squad.
Well at least keep Arthur out of his own box!
Well the one thing we DO know is that Arse don’t respond well to the high press and agressive tackling……
Cresswell is the worst left back in my living memory to play for West ham,I watched him specifically Saturday,he was terrible in a team that were excellent(except noble)truly horrific needs help against traore soon!
Agree Creswell is a bad left back and Fredericks even worse time to get rid and play players who are good at what they do ⚒️⚒️⚒️⚒️
Yep.agreed Cressie was a bit off the mark on Saturday and will.need help against Arsenal as Pepe run him ragged in the game at the LS ..can’t see who unless Anderson comes in on the left and tracks back and move Fornals over but at who’s expense coz I think we may need Nobles enthusiastic approach for this derby..dilemmas! !
I can’t believe that after such a brilliant performance by EVERY player some people are still posting negative comments. Ffs when will the negativity stop and you idiots get behind the team. #COYI #IFBB #WHTID ⚒⚒⚒
Definitely Soucek in for Noble when he’s fit. Prefer Cresswell to Masuaku. Play like we did on Saturday and we’ll be fine COYI!!!