Results aside, West Ham fans have been treated to two outstanding individual performances in the past week.
Thursday night’s 2-2 draw with Manchester United saw Soungoutou Magassa produce a man-of-the-match display that had supporters drooling over his potential. This time, it was the turn of another 21-year-old — Mateus Fernandes — who looked the best player on the Amex pitch with a superb all-round performance.
It’s remarkable to think that only three months ago we were discussing West Ham’s midfield as an area in urgent need of major surgery. Graham Potter’s penultimate game in charge was against Tottenham, where he decided to pair Tomáš Souček with James Ward-Prowse. Souček was dismissed that day, Potter’s midfield was torn apart by Thomas Frank’s Spurs side, and the Irons’ engine room looked in serious trouble.
Yet the fix was at the club all along. Fernandes, Potts and Magassa have all become starters under Nuno Espírito Santo, and they’ve transformed the heart of West Ham’s team. There’s little value now in revisiting what Potter was thinking with his midfield selections — the young trio are proving the former manager had the answers sitting under his nose.
Fernandes Steals the Show at the Amex
At the Amex yesterday, Fernandes delivered the sort of all-action performance that radiated quality in every department — dribbling, passing, tackling, and reading the game with real intelligence.
The young Portuguese midfielder cost £35m from Southampton, so you would expect a return — but at West Ham, nothing is ever guaranteed. What is clear, however, is that midfield is no longer the problem area many feared it would be.
And heading into the transfer window… that’s no bad thing.
He was excellent yesterday (Fernandes) was a shame he had to be pulled, would argue that Paqueta should have gone first, we lost control after he left play.
Hopefully against Villa all 3 start in a 4 3 3 formation it’s likely if Scarles isn’t fit Mayer’s may have to play left back so giving him defensive support against them as they are arguably the most in form team in the PL right now followed by the next opponent City.
By whatever god you believe in, or not (just hegde your bets and pick a good one of many) ask a favour of them that we stay in the EPL.
Passed over by Moyse*, Loppy and Potter, it seems we have a spark of something special.
This has the feel of excitement that I remember when Ferdinand, Cole, Lampard, Defoe, Carrick, were integrated into the first team.
We could do with a Di Canio, and probably a Ferdinand, but this has the feel of something good getting going. If we can survive this season, I look forward to the next.
*I’ll cut Moyse some slack as he sent some of these young fellas out on loan to get experience.