On the face of it, West Ham United’s 2-2 draw away at Turf Moor should not surprise anyone who took a good, critical look at the squad before hand.
For most fans, me included, the temptation was to allow the ‘new dawn’ optimism to take over when the reality is that the Hammers started this season with a weaker defence than the one which which they started last season.
A West Ham with a back five of Wan Bissaka, Todibo,Kilman, Aguerd and Diouf lost 3-0 on the opening day at Sunderland and couldn’t stop fourteen goals being shipped in the first four games.
According to the whufc.com web site match report on that day, one year ago:“West Ham’s inability to take chances, especially in the first half, and to defend balls into their penalty area, ultimately cost them.” Progress, eh?
However: The whole purpose of these ‘morning after’ articles is to reflect on the positives once the emotion has cooled.
Manor Solomon looks an excellent addition. If he can stay fit, he’s already shown he has an eye for goal and balances far better West Ham’s preseason attack without Summerville.
Crashing in that second goal looked simple but I know of many West Ham players from recent years who would have pumped that chance straight into row z.
Solomon was one of the few attacking highlights
The new found alliance between Kante and Orford shows great promise, bearing in mind they were chucked in the deep end by Nuno and coped admirably for that first ’45. Kante was the more flamboyant with another assist, but Lewis Orford, on debut, looked quietly accomplished and unfazed.
Adding Engels into that midfield could be an excellent foundation to a more secure style of play than was provided by Ward Prowse’s arrival yesterday. Please Nuno, send him back to Siberia again.
And lastly ? The transfer window still has two weeks to run. Another centre back, and another attacker plus, yes, I’ll say it, Jamie Vardy on a ‘free’ would give Nuno the bench options which were so lacking yesterday. Vardy on in place of Pablo ( a calf issue, apparently, forced the Brazilian off at half time) .. would have maintained the threat which the Hammers offered in that first half.
However, it’s all well and good adding players to the squad.
West Ham’s manager still has to learn the lesson that sitting back and defending a lead – badly – cost us our Premier League status in the first place: It sure won’t help get it back again.
Not sure why you think we’d have settled for a point in advance Martin? A half decent performance was all that was needed to secure all 3, but once again we come up short. The lack of investment in the squad by Kretinsky is there for all to see. We need BOTH Piroe and Parrott and we will end up loaning one and walking away from the other over £5m whilst banking £20m+ for AWB and probably £45m+ for Diouf. He is hanging us out to dry. Still a fullback and a centreback short as well. Think we will need to get ready for more disappointment whilst the board continue to clear debt with sales and keep their hands firmly in our pockets. I’m in the minority but I hope Staveley shakes the tree big time. Eddie Howe, money for players and move out of the LS. Nice.
No one mentions how poor Scarles was. Should never have dived in for the penalty and runs all the way up the pitch gets the ball but never takes the full back on always passes back. Need a strong striker with pace not more slow coaches.
Scarles will improve with much better coaching, Willsy.
We have the skills but lack any direction.
Is what it is. I think most would’ve taken a point before the game. Yes very disappointing to be 2 up and then concede 2 in the last ten mins but some positives to take.
Charlton at home will be the interesting fixture with hopefully Engels and a striker in by then.
Not sure why so many fans are slating Piroe already given he’s prolific at this level. Tbh I think we need Parrott and Piroe given the lack of options and only having 1.5 strikers.
As for Nuno he won’t change so we have to cross our fingers. They won’t sack him unless he goes on a bad run of games so certainly don’t want that to happen just to force him out. We need to get out of this league and first time.
Don’t understand why when you choose to defend a lead in say last 15-20mins of a game do not switch to 4-4-2, with fresh legs in attack, while knowing we have good midfielders who can break forward and press the opposition as well as defend. Two blocks of 4 while maintaining a threat up front (Solomon + Ajala/Cornet/Vardy/Bamba Dieng) and in midfield Alvarez/Orford to screen the defence, Magassa & Kante given a bit more licence. Also have Earthy as an option, to press high & create chances.
All this is possible against what was a weak Burnley team – they just did not give up though, then manager and WHU panicked.
The whole game changed when Pablo came off. Burnley came back out with purpose for sure, but suddenly they were free to build up from the back, to start attacking and keeping the ball. Not a fan, but it is not JWP’s fault that manager did not assign anybody to take on Pablo’s role as a roaming, high pressing No. 10, with fresh legs in attack (Cornet).
Otherwise, same problem as last season when no alternative setup which works and plays to our strengths, defends well and threatens more goals at the same time.
With Engels, hope to see 3 in midfield, because this enables Kante to make assists (2nd match in a row but only once there are 3 in midfield). With 3 in midfield, obviously each player has a bit more time and Kante’s natural game is running forwards with the ball (from his U21 days), while Orford is more a passer of the ball. All this is possible, because Burnley were not causing too many difficulties.
We miss the influence of someone like Paco on our style of play (but would NES have listened? Answer: No).
Crucially, it proved that the squad is bereft of talent and pace to sustain a challenge this season. With few injuries, a weak starting lineup without pace or presence in midfield were shadowed by a bench of not so promising U21s. Apart from Veltman and Diouf to the defensive positions, there was nothing to affect our midfield or forward areas. That is on the club, as always dithering, promising and failing to deliver on the transfer front. Witness a few panic buys and a few want away players lost, there won’t be enough in this squad to get promoted.
We had the game won but we blew it, two points s@@@@d. That is not what teams that gain promotion do, they need to do better than that.
Disappointing result after being 2 up but away to Burnley was always going to be one of the more challenging games of the season. Not a bad thing that the team is shown to be a bit patchy while the window is still open, reinforces the urgency to get the right quality in.
Engels, Kante, Orford is a midfield of great potential but do we need a proper dm in there at times to do the dirty work? From the bench it look like we won’t be going down that route which means we are reliant on a rock solid cb partnership, so getting Disasi back may be crucial. Piroe would give us a bigger physical presence up front and gives us the option of playing Taty in his preferred role of just off a front man, but that may leave us a bit exposed through the middle. Solomon (and in time Engels) looks like a great bit of business and we still have opportunity to get more in.
You sound very anti Nuno already Martin, blaming him yesterday and still having a moan today. Defending a 2-0 lead, with minutes to go is a no brainer. Unfortunately we couldn’t do what was asked.
The negative approach by the manager is the issue.
if he could play 10 centre backs he would.