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How we rated the Irons at the Bridge

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Hughie hands out his marks

Fabianski: No chance with any of the goals – couple of decent saves …not Fab’s night 6+

Couval: Always involved, always trying to make stuff happen – defended well and always getting forward.  Maybe not up to the 11/10 against Palace but certainly a 7+

Balbuena: Back from injury and did very little wrong 7

Ogbonna: Three goals against but once again he had a very decent game 7

Cresswell: Tried hard enough but his crossing was below par and may have been a tad responsible for not getting near the cross for the first goal 6

Rice: Outstanding performance as usual and sadly saw a brilliant finish ruled out for offside 8

Soucek: Loads to admire in the midfield, breaking stuff up and setting up forward movement – might have done better in front of goal from one set piece but given previous performances forgivable 7

Bowen: The usual wholehearted 100 per cent 7

Fornals: Anonymous for the most part and I’m still trying to work out what he is 5

Noble: Just did what Mark Noble does and added very little 5

Haller: Kept running offside, stumbled in front of goal and as frustrating as ever. Hurry back Mikey 4

Subs

Benrahma: Livened things up a little with some good  movement 6

Fredericks: Last minute sub presumably for a match fee No rating

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Hugh Southon is a lifelong Iron and the founding editor of ClaretandHugh. He is a national newspaper journalist of many years experience and was Bobby Moore's 'ghost' writer during the great man's lifetime. He describes ClaretandHugh as "the Hammers daily newspaper!"

Follow on Twitter @hughsouthon

9 comments

  • Dbon says:

    Could swear these are written before the game is even played and rolled out with minor amendments to suit hughs agenda. Cresswell was at fault for at least 2/3 goals and fabianski should have done better for the 3rd under pressure.
    Noble suckered all the life out of our midfield and it was Ogbonnas worst night for a while and yet on a night where we created next to nothing getting forward haller gets the worst mark… not saying he was great but thr occasional honest review wouldn’t hurt

  • rollercoasterhammer says:

    Fornals is a central attacking midfielder Hugh and that is where he should be imo. his short pasdinh game is good and Benrhama is a wide player, much quicker with silkier skills. Moyes erred today with team selection.

    bit rough on Haller i think. he was certainly better today than midweek or prior. he did more running up top to hassle the keeper, etc and held the ball up better today. i think some people have made up their mind about him and just won’t change it no matter what he does. 4 is unfair. he was neither better or worse than his team mates. 6

    also…Chelski were very good today but 1-0 would have looked right. COYI ⚒ back to winning ways against Brighton next….please 💪

  • GaryD says:

    I disagree. Bowen missed his mark on the first goal. Cressy responsible for the second but he isn’t good when 4 at the back. Noble was far better than you rated. Fournals was off but worked hard AND they had two further goals when he came off. Who was on?
    As for Haller…

  • JRS says:

    Shame Lanzini was out he was really looking good agaisnt Palace. I do like to ha e 9 subs now for your & teams but Noble isn’t a #10 or AM. I’d of had Fornals there & Benrahma on left but we put a shift in & Chelsea’s were better this game. Hopefully Lanzini isn’t out long & Antonio is back soon. And Moye sis backed with 1-2 good signings in January if we can get the one Moyes likes. Apparently leading the Race for Dia which realm like him & Sima a huge header & assist today again. Love eithrr of them. And Kasper Junker getting linked to Championship & West Brom he has been immense yes Swedish league but 26+ goals & 15 assists in 28 or so games.
    On to the next just hope the lads dont get to worn out over holidays ⚒

  • Hammers64 says:

    Sorry but we could have played till tomorrow and not scored.The goals have dried up alarmingly and sadly we all knew this would be the case with no Antonio.Noble ahead of Benrahma tells it’s own story.

  • Billy says:

    How do you solve a problem like Haller? So frustrating to watch, surely we have to invest in Jan, Antonio so injury prone, results like this inevitable unless we do

  • Steve says:

    Cresswell was terrible and at fault fr the lady 3 goals you just can’t bear to say it and not publishing this will prove your bias

    • Shut up twerp – are you ill? Oh it’s old Heighton again – gone in the morning . Can’t be bothered wasting any sleeping time on you now

      • Craig Rowlands says:

        Cresswell not suited to formation. Had a poor game and he negatively impacts Fornals who spends a lot of time covering for him. If Cresswell in the it is 3-5-2. Bowen does not need to support Coulfal as much so has more license to get forward.

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