David Moyes has handed down a brutal verdict on Sebasian Haller .
The Frenchman was once again back to his worst against Chelsea – adding a new element to his game when running regularly into offside positions when a real threat was on.
And it appears from the words issued by Moyes after the game that he has now had enough – ok we can misread things but his declaration on his problems up front seem more than explicit.
He didn’t name Haller but then there was no real need to – the condemnation was clear and quite how he solves it still remains a mystery to both us and him.
Commenting on the issue he declared: “I hope I get Micky back soon,” (Evening Standard).
“If we don’t then we need to think what else we can do, how else we can do it. We need alternatives and options, we’re a little bit limited with that.
“If not then I’m going to have to start looking in my own group to find another Marko Arnautović or Micky Antonio. That’s what I’m going to have to try to do.
“We did a lot of good things but not enough good things in either box where it mattered.”
Like every manager Moyes is always protective of his players until no further reasons and it really does look as though he has reached the point of no return.
All that remains perhaps is to see how big a loss the club take on the Frenchman.
Surely we must have some young talent we can blood
He certainly does not suit the way we or most Premier League teams play now. Not enough pace to get behind defenders and not physical enough to hold it up and bring others in. His demeanour doesn’t help either. We probably do need to invest but given cut in income streams I cannot see how that’s going to happen. A loan may be our best chance at the moment. Might be worth giving Yarmalenko a chance up there too.
Blindingly obvious that Haller isn’t suited to the pace or the physicality of premier football
. He has great technical skills but needs time and space to use them. A replacement must be found in the next window.
Werner’s comments about having to adapt to the physical demands of the Premiership are pertinent. Like Werner, Haller was effective in German football, but struggles with the pace and physicality of our league. Drogba, he ain’t. I still cling to the hope that he can score a few when Antonio is out but, like Anderson, Haller just doesn’t seem a good fit.
Well, I’ve had plenty of moans on here about Haller recently, so there’s nothing else to add about him, except please please can somebody from a European League come in and buy him. He might prosper there. You never know, he might even smile.
I thought that we looked dreadfully tired last night, with only Bowen showing energy. As usual. It really does look like Mark Noble should only be sent on in desperation now, and that’s speaking as someone that is well aware of what he’s given the club. Surely better to go out on a high, no Mark?
I fear also that we need a new No 1 goalkeeper in addition to the other positions we are short in.
Got to feel for David Moyes. He’s been landed with three sub standard expensive players in Haller, Anderson and Yarmolenko. Been told there are limited funds and he has to work with what he’s inherited.
Haller looked wooden and remote. He has no natural movement, lacks control. He needs the ball in front of him or he can’t play. First half we lacked energy and quality in the final 3rd. Haller needs someone just off him all the time as he can’t pass and can’t tackle. The obvious visible conclusion is that he is not a lone striker. You might as well give Yarmalenko the job, at least he’s mobile.
One thing that Arnautovic and Micky have in common is pace – Haller lacks pace and unfortunately so does Yarmolenko
I read on some other site that Issa Diop had been playing as a striker in training?
On the other hand one shudders at the memories of Ian Pearce playing as a striker
Not Premier standard. Sorry mate. Aimless little shuffle runs when they have the ball. Terrible tackler even when he has the ball first. Not prolific. Doesn’t lead the line. Regularly offside. Stumbling and falling a lot shows he’s off the pace. Had a little run in the team but it ain’t happening.
Carroll would not be pushed around the way Haller is. Haller has scored the trick goal we need for highlights, nothing more to bring to the club.
Maybe Moyes is thinking of playing yarmolenko up top as a striker. Can’t think of any other player more like arnoutavic. Either that or this is a hint to the owners that he wants them to actually sign arnoutavic in January and bring him back from China.
Apart from bulk, Bowen has all the energy, craft and balls to play centrally with Yarmelenko on the right wing; at least while Mikey’s out. I don’t think Yarmelenko’s being given enough credit – he’s a star Ukrainian international for goodness sake. However, I’ve never liked one up front. Benrahma and Bowen as 10 and 9 would be something to watch.
Sorry but the Moyes quote was not aimed at Haller but was a response to a question about lack of strikers on the bench – hence his answer about hoping Antonio back on bench for Brighton game and if not trying to convert someone. Not suggesting that Haller played well but unlike last two games when he had some support in form of Benrahma he spent most of the first half doing Nobles closing down as all Mark did was point for others to track his man. No wonder Bowen, Fornals and Haller looked exhausted. Haller was really isolated. When we then had the ball in second half we failed to cross with any quality- Cresswell, Coufal and Bowen particularly culpable. Twice Haller took up good positions for crosses and neither occasion did we pick him out. This article offers no solutions and simply brings out the Haller haters again. He is our only fit striker – let’s at least try and support him.
So why would he be saying such things if the Haller thing was working. Allopinions entitled but his point is patently obvious in my view
Because he was asked by the journalist what he was going to do about having no strikers on his bench. I don’t know if he rates Haller – but he rarely throws players under the bus – particularly as he knows there is no money and no prospect of imminent sales. The only point I made is he wasn’t answering a question about Haller.
Don’t u think the whole issue concerned the problem up front which effectively is Haller otherwise he wouldn’t have spoken like that. Journalist question or not that’s what he said. And well done to whoever asked it
Hugh, everything in the Ridders76 reply is 100% correct, and everyone does have an opinion but some opinions are going to be not correct. Last night’s failures had everything to do with Moyes and absolutely very little to do with Haller. I was watching the game and I felt so sorry for Haller, he had nobody running off him. Moyes had to start Behramha last night in the 10 when he decided to play 4 at the back.Haller’s strength is playing with a 10 or another forward. The dog on the street knows this never mind a PL manager so the decision to play Noble was one of the worst decisions I have seen this season. Last night was a huge opportunity missed and the true Moyes appeared last night. An awful night put down solely to poor management.
Sorry, can’t accept that his inability to score simple goals is down to the fault of others – talking players and Moyes. You are right about some being correct but there will be various opinions on which 🙂
Hugh if you don’t give a fisherman bait, he wont catch fish. Need I say anymore. I would love to see how many times has Moyes played Haller in a 2 up top. The only game I remember was Southampton away and we were brilliant. Leeds away we played Benrahma in the 10 and we were brillaint. Football is not rocket science, no blame should in any way be apportioned to Haller last night.
Strange analogy. However, he didn’t appear to have too many troubles scoring four goals against Hull and Charlton without a partner. Perhaps that tells us more than we wanna know. It’s a well discussed excuse/reason. Pellegrini bought him and presumably knew his game and didn’t give him a partner. I think he’s wrong for the West ham team but all opinions valued
Didn’t have probs without a partner scoring four against Hull and Charlton.Perhaps that tells me more than I anna know. Pelle bougt him and didn’t give him a partner and who do you believe the partner should be . He’s not for us under Moyes
I see a lot of opinions on Yarmalenko playing up top but what about Bowen? He played as a number 10 for Hull a few times and is a natural scorer, has pace and will press too. Yarmalenko will be another Haller; slow on the ball, only one foot and no pace to press.
I must say last night’s game was the first time i have ever switched off a West Ham game. As soon as Chelsea scored a second i couldn’t watch anymore. Chelsea were shockingly bad last night and there for the taking and yet we lost 3-0 for, how i see it, 3 reasons. Haller, Noble and, unfortunately, Moyes. I thought the tactics were woeful. Aside from a good first half against United, our last 6 games against them, Fulham, Sheffield United, Villa, Leeds and Chelsea have produced very little in the way of entertaining play (although Leeds’ open style did give us a little more space to play). I feel that we are a long ball team, even with Antonio in the team. Look at the quality we have. How can lumping the ball up to a striker who has no first touch be a tactic? And how can putting one of the Premier League’s slowest players in midfield against a team as pacey as Chelsea be a good tactic? I love Mark Noble but as a player he is not Premier League standard. Couple that with Haller, with his limitations, and i fail to see what our manager saw in that tactic aside from scoring from set pieces. Reminds me a little of the Allardyce days.
I remember Moyes saying last season how football tactics constantly evolve and right now there are a few teams seeing the benefit of the long ball game. He referenced Liverpool and the way they go from back to front very quickly by using the long ball over the top. The difference is they have a front three, all of whom are World class in their own ways. We have a front one of Haller who has no pace and no first touch. It’s different with Micky, the ball sticks to him and he has the strength and pace to get around defenders. So what is Moyes seeing in this tactic? In my eyes he has the tools at his disposal to play a different game and i know i’ll be one of very few who has this opinion but i think this shows his limitations as a manager. Fantastic at organising a defence, making teams solid and tough to beat, not so good at the creative side and rather negative in his tactics.
I’d love to hear others’ opinions on our recent poor performances. Is it a lack of options on the pitch or a lack of expansive thinking on the part of Moyes? Or am i just having a Christmas moan?!
Can’t win them all. Chelsea did us a favour at the end of last season. We did not need to beat them last night. We can’t play our first eleven (whoever) every minute of every game. We need to give the fringe a chance now and again. Chelsea away at the moment was one of those opportunities to go through the motions. Might have been something sensational – but not on this occasion. On to the next one.
COYI
Chelsea haven’t been that good of late though, Taffy. It was an eminently winnable game. We’re only a dozen or so games in, players shouldn’t need tests. Look at Wolves last season, they played 50 or more games with very little change in personnel.
To say we didn’t need to beat Chelsea is outside of my remit as a fan I’m afraid and just points to an acceptance of mediocrity. Winning is everything in professional sport
Rests, not tests!! Players DEFINITELY need tests!!
We have lost a bit of forward creativity without Arthur Masuaka. Going with a back four has removed our ability to counter attack at pace as we were. It’s well documented how inadequate Haller is at holding the ball up to bring other players in, so we’re not getting players into the box in numbers. DM has inherited a pretty average array of talent brought into the club by Pellegrini, Haller, Anderson and sorry to say it Fornals. So attacking options are very limited without Antonio ( who was turned into a Centre Forward by Moyse remember). Bowen is a revelation, Benhrama will be a big asset when he gets a definite roll. However, money has to be spent, on a poacher that’s going to get 15 goals a season. A ball winning holding midfielder to compliment Rice and Soucek going forward.
Chicharito was an accomplished goal poacher. We persisted playing him up front on his own in the unaided Andy Carroll role. We need everyone to be poaching. Most of all we need the ball in the opponents box then toes on the end of it.
COYI