Phil Parkes may just know what’s required at the back of a team and he believes we started to sort it against Everton.
Yes, there’s a growing relationship between centre backs Balbuena and Diop which he likes but that wasn’t the main aspect of the performance as far as he was concerned.
He reserves that place for Declan Rice who he believes is the finest prospect he’s seen anywhere in many many years.
Parkesy is a ‘no fear or favour’ man as he demonstrated when declaring the Joe Hart mess a total disaster but in the 19 year old he sees the entire Hammers future.
He explained: “Listen, this boy has absolutely everything. I’ve said it before and I have no fear saying it again – he’s the closest I’ve seen to Bobby Moore since Bobby Moore!
To perform as he did against Everton with the international situation swirling around him along with contract talks was incredible for one so young but the composure he showed was remarkable.
In my mind the manager should start building the team around him because he was central to all the good things that were going on and it was his protection of the back four which was central to the victory.
Balbuena and Diop are beginning to look good but they will want Declan in front of them – that’s a certainty.
It was clear that with so many players coming into the club things were going to take time to develop and that’s happened.
I see things starting to work, relationships forming such as the pair I’ve mentioned plus Arnautovic and Yarmolenko but you Declan is the man – he really is.”
I think the ‘ honey monster ‘ has hit the nail on the head. It is these vital relationships all over the pitch which are beginning to take shape.
I think the most vital is the Balbuena / Diop pairing which is beginning to give us the stability to push on and attack. The Arnie / Yarmolenko pairing need that to attack without fear.
The vital link that glues it together is Rice as a midfield ball-winner, to protect the back four and provide the launch pad for attacks.
His mistakes will fade into history very soon, and he will be one of our best products ever.
Moore was also excellent in midfield, where he began as a half-back, and in fact Clough wanted to sign him for his Derby midfield, so that Colin Todd could play behind him and learn the game.