One of the best aspects of tonight’s game is that I didn’t think of Mikey Antonio once or come to that Oggy.
And frankly guys that really is saying something because until now they have been our two top men.
Instead, I was totally mesmerised by Jesse Lingard – a player I’ve always enjoyed watching and who I am delighted looks as though he will be making a huge difference to this West Ham team whether or not Mikey is available.
His effort, determination, energy and skill really is something to behold and in a private – now public conversation – our senior Hammers write Dave Langton said that the penalty was a compliment and tribute to him.
He was upended with the guilty defender admitting effectively that he had no idea how to handle him. Frankly, he was brilliant and ended once and for all those “we want a back up striker ” wails.
He’ll do for me as will Diop who was excellent in Oggy’s absence and of course Craig Dawon – my God, what a signing he will be.
Speaking afterwards the manager told www.whufc.com: “Michail Antonio is really important to us, but I thought Jarrod Bowen played really well tonight up front and supported Jesse Lingard, Manu Lanzini and Said Benrahma at times and caused problems in a different way and thankfully it worked.
It’s a really important three points for us and another really good home win.”
Played really well …and I’m happy to be proved wrong ,but i will save my judgement until we play a top 6/7 team with thin lineup like that ..if we can beat them without a proper no 9, and kids on the bench then I will gladly say I was wrong .. but a great win nonetheless..
Bowen was magnificent. Why on earth was yarmolenko ahead of him in the backup striker list.
Good performance cautious approach from Moyes has paid off again. As mentioned above we will only see by seasons end how much of striker would have made a difference, I’m sure there will be some games where it will show. Bowen did well though his movement and speed are much better than Yarmolenkos.
Personally think we should be looking for a main striker not a back up. Antonio should be a winger/back up striker.
Talk of us going back in for en nesryi what would be around 40m, maybe we could get Ivan toney and Adam Armstrong for that amount.
Good performance cautious approach from Moyes has paid off again. As mentioned above we will only see by seasons end how much of striker would have made a difference, I’m sure there will be some games where it will show. Bowen did well though his movement and speed are much better than Yarmolenkos.
Personally think we should be looking for a main striker not a back up. Antonio should be a winger/back up striker.
Talk of us going back in for en nesryi what would be around 40m, maybe we could get Ivan toney and Adam Armstrong for that amount.
Totally agree! I made a similar comment somewhere here about MA recently.
The point is well and truly made. This is the answer to ‘who in their right mind has no backup striker’. Quick mobile and clever players pose more of a problem than a battering ram. It may not work against a top side? Maybe not, but pre-judging failure is unhelpful, and a front man striker doesn’t always work either!! Seeing is believing!!
Really excited by our ability now to shift formation and attack fast across the width of the park. Fredericks playing and scoring from a no.8 position, who’d a’thought it? Brilliant. Loved Lingard hitting a belter from outside the box – real quality. COYI!
Moysie has found ‘another way’. I was despondent that we failed to sign a striker during the January window. But the performance v Sheffield United showed us there is an alternative.
It may or may not work against the ‘top teams’. Only time will tell. Let’s hope we’ve got enough in the tank to get us over the line for European qualification. COYI.