Sunday’s match up between Unai Emery’s somewhat jaded Aston Villa side and Nuno’s rested Hammers looks for all the world like a foregone conclusion according to the form book: The Villains are top of the Premier League form table just now with 5 wins out of their last 5 played.
West Ham’s modest recovery pales into insignificance alongside:
One loss, two wins and two draws suddenly looks fragile.
Football today.com believe Emery will simply exploit West Ham’s now familiar weakness of crumbling under sustained pressure, unable to keep a clean sheet:
“There is also the underlying issue that West Ham still regularly concede goals, particularly when forced to defend sustained pressure. That vulnerability plays directly into Villa’s strengths, with Emery’s side patient in possession and ruthless once spaces begin to open. Confidence is flowing through the Villa squad, fuelled by late goals, game management and a growing trust in the system.
They will view this trip as another opportunity to reinforce their title charge and apply further pressure on those above them.”
West Ham’s only option, surely, is to harness the Magassa – Potts- Fernandes trio in midfield: Last time out Nuno recalled Guido Rodriguez and left Magassa on the bench in a move that had thousands of Hammers fans scratching their heads.
The Portugese head coach must have realised by now that the best option to withstand sustained pressure is to field the best, most combative XI straight from the off, with no more Lopetegui-like experimentations.
“Ruthless” Aston Villa are tough enough to beat without playing into their hands with a sticking plaster starting eleven: No more experimenting, Nuno. Pick the best eleven and don’t try and park the bus for the last ten minutes.
If, indeed, West Ham are lucky enough to still be in the game for the closing stages.
“Football today’s” recognition in their article that Emery’s side is another who specialise in late goals provides an essential reminder that the Irons must keep their own goal threat, instead of the now familiar deeper and deeper defending as the final minutes tick by – along with the familiar, eventual capitulation.
My nerves won’t stand it again.