There was a moment in the second half when all of the disappointments, the boredom and the frustration of the last nine months simply fell away. The breathtaking pace of West Ham’s counter attack, the unbelievable pace of Diouf and the cross after the lung-busting sprint and the inevitability of Jarrod Bowen firing home to equalise for the Hammers had me unashamedly dancing round my living room.
The first goal under Nuno Espírito Santo was a classic smash and grab counter attack of rapier like sharpness. Something that West Ham fans have been starved of for ‘the grey months’ of endless passing under Graham Potter. To see the leaping around on the sidelines, it clearly meant a lot to the new Hammers coach too.
The game had started poorly for West Ham with the now customary headed goal conceded from a set piece. However the Irons grew into the game and there was no sign of a repeat of the capitulations of recent weeks. Crysencio Summerville first, then Diouf, showed threatening pace and the ability to beat players at will which was a joy to watch.
Credit to Magassa for not playing like James Ward Prowse: Kyle Walker Peters managed to balance a yellow card with competent defending throughout the second half. Suddenly The Hammers were threatening through Diouf and Summerville. A more energetic second half thanks to the introduction of Potts and later Guilherme meaning no thirty – something midfield plodders in sight. The substitutes kept up the intensity of the players they replaced.
The longer the game went on, the more West Ham threatened. But then Everton’s 90th minute set-piece threatened to undo all that hard work: Blocks, saves, chasing – everything that was absent from Potter’s limp defeats. West Ham survived the set piece with a more resolute defence. Late substitutes with a debut for Igor and Irving for Paqueta meant West Ham moved to a back five for the last seconds. Classic Nuno.
Bubbles ringing out over Everton’s stadium and a hard won point, Brilliant. Back bone at last.
Sic transit Gloria Monday.
An encouraging start from a team that looked motivated and confident under Nuno. Thought the younger players all did well, especially Rodrigues. Summerville was brilliant and Diouf will terrify defences. We need a striker to complete their good work.
Enjoyed that! Disappointing to give away a goal easily, but we were competitive for most of the game and looked more likely to win it second half. Played with intensity and passion, something I think came from the manager. Would’ve liked to have seen Marshall come on and Summerville stay on (he didn’t look happy coming off although accept he was probably taken off to preserve him). Thought Magassa got better as game went on, Potts did well keeping Grealish at bay. Those breaks down the left with Diouf and Summerville, rapid! Things are looking up, COYI!!
Yeah it’s a bit of an odd situation – this could well have been the first time Potter got his proper team out and obviously Potter was going to have the 3 academy players there…
… but it was quite good at times. The last year of Moyes was so painful because the block was so low. Only so much time you can watch your team desperately defending. But they blocked quite high and no problem moving the ball fast in attack. Indeed it’s more exciting really.
Freddie Potts sped things up in midfield and Magassa looked a bit raw but still positive and good.
You need to remember Graham Potter brought in Diouf and it was he who had been preparing the team for this game tonight.
It was clear for all to see that the hand brake had been released by Nuno. Keeping things simple too by allowing players to break lines with direct running and not laborious and tenuous passing that ends up actuality going backwards and not breaking any lines at all. Tbh Nuno has come in on short notice and just instructed the team to do exactly what any normal person could see was needed. Football ain’t rocket science but what Potter and Lopetegui were trying to do was overly complex but most importantly dull and didn’t really offer any threat .
Impressed with Nuno! First great decision, no Ward-Prowse. Could not do any defensive coaching in 2 days, but now he knows. Meantime, clearly a good half time chat, then we competed, and his subs were great. All the young players stepped up, coolest of all, Freddie Potts. At last a little rainbow in the sky maybe?
The most I’ve enjoyed a game for a while.
Diouf has a great left foot and some pace too. Bowens left footer in the back of the net was good too.
Gone is the stodgy midfield. Fernandes and Magassa, then Potts added energy and zip, that was quite simply missing before.
First visiting team to score at the new stadium as well evidently
Agree with all that, Martin. But, this defence worries the hell out of me. It is fragile & ALWAYS under threat. Unless it improves, we are going to lose a lot more matches. Which is a pity, because the rest of the team is starting to shape up well.
Irons were not perfect, but in the end they worked very hard as a team and got an excellent point. Congratulations! Nuno has had an encouraging start and hopefully keeps going this way.
Much more lively with our pedestrians playing no part. Nuno far happier than Moyes at the end says it all. That’s a point Potter wouldn’t have got, it was just far more with it than for a long time. The season has started.
Spot on Martin. Was also jumping round my living room with my Mum! As stated above the season starts here and a lot of positives to draw on, especially Diouf, Summerville and Potts. Given that Nuno is all about defending I think he will sort us out at the back and we’ll only be looking up from here on in. So good to have a man in the dug out with common sense and making decisions we have all been crying out for. Players will play for him so as not to incur his wrath which is the last thing you could say about nice guy Potter. Onwards & Upwards… ⚒️⚒️⚒️