Ryan Fredericks played a big role in the Hammers victory over Bournemouth and revealed afterwards how the words of new boss David Moyes had influenced his game.
He has had very little time to get his methods installed into the squad but on the strength of what we saw against the Cherries it’s not going to take very long.
He was part of a back four which – while under little threat – did what they had to do in restricting the opposition to just two shots on target throughout the entire game.
The former Fulham defender – who arrived on a free transfer from the Championship – is the type of player that Moyes tends to look at and looks set to become a much better player under his tutelage.
After the game Fredericks spoke on the performance to West Ham TV saying that Moyes’ training ground words were clear, direct and influential.
He said: “A good day – it doesn’t get much better. I’m buzzing for everyone. Obviously the gaffer’s not been here very long at all.
He hasn’t had much time with us on the training field, but what he has said to us stuck in our minds. Everything’s been short and direct.
“With the experience he’s got, when he says something, it sticks – we’ve taken it on board and put it into practice. That’s happened so we’re buzzing.”
“The boss said it’s not about going out and dominating every second of the game. That’s not what football’s about.
“I think unless you’re the top two teams in the world, you need to be solid, not concede goals, and then when you get your chances you need to take them, and fair play to the boys up front, they were clinical, really clinical.
“It was a pretty high-pressure situation that we were in… but I didn’t see an ounce of pressure or stress. Even before the game, we switched a few things up, and it really worked.
I think everyone on the pitch, even the players that came on to the pitch, looked free and looked like they enjoyed the game.”
Fredericks admitted he was buoyed by the words of Moyes beforehand.
He said: “The manager said before the game, you do what you’re good at. Don’t worry about anything else – get the ball in the box, run past people, use your energy, that’s the reason you’re at the Club.
It was nice hearing that and just going out and playing my own game, and hopefully I can carry on doing that.”
“The first thing he [Moyes] said to us after the game was ‘that’s the minimum.’ As long as we do that every game we’ll start soaring up the table, but we need to relax, stay focused.
“It’s not magic. Form’s not just going to kick in straight away. We’re not just going to win every game until the end of the season, it’s still going to be hard work, so we need to implement what he says every game, and we’ll be good.”
Which is why the players at Watford apparently pleaded for a British manager. And it’s why quite a few people, me included, expressed a preference for a British manager -& got called xenophobic on here as a result. I am not xenophobic. It is about communication. To give an example. I had a phone call today from the guy delivering my groceries who wanted to do his drop early. I had a struggle understanfding him, but it was all ok in the end. He was a great guy & I would be quite happy to have him to do the job again. But I don’t think I would want him teaching me to drive a car or repair my boiler.
The best players probably don’t need a lot of managing, but the second tier of PL players need simple instructions, explained clearly. You don’t have to be xenophobic to get the impression that Pellegrini would have difficulty explaining what he wanted. His pre match & post match interviews were painful to listen to. It probably didn’t matter at City, but he was dealing with a different situation here.
Really good point Hammer64, perhaps the FA should instigate a language test before foreign managers are allowed to work in our leagues, one which has them speaking to the press to see if they are understood, as in Pelle’s CAse I do not think anyone could hear what he said ,because he speaks so quietly, so could not have understood what he mean’t
Well I replayed them a couple of times. Trust me, hearing the words did not improve things much lol…
I think you have a good point here. The Premiership is a very exciting league and is why it is No1 around the World.
I think the real problem is the owners. Apart from a few exceptions Leicester City (excellent), Man City & Wolves the rest don’t really get it and that is why they bring in foreign managers…..some are good Clop, but for us Mr P demonstrated that he didn’t understand why we won and thetefore couldn’t fix why we lost. He & the Management were lost souls.
The British game, is about sweat, toil, hard work and talent and that is when football is at it’s best and that’s when it is exciting and magical.
So the blame is really is on the owners and the importance of getting a motivator, a passionate person who can inspire, create, tactical nouse and push. That person could be a Moyse, or a Clop but they need to understand OUR GAME,