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.
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.
The negative approach by the manager is the issue.
if he could play 10 centre backs he would.