Hughie hands out his marks
Randolph: Must take some responsibility for the Albion goal direct from a corner but not helped by Soucek’s attempted headed clearance. After that a couple of quality saves in a largely decent performance 7
Couval: Maybe starting to show a bit of tiredness after a brilliant season but once again more than competent generally at the back 7
Dawson: Tough, uncompromising and ready to take a yellow towards the end for the cause as the Irons held on after taking the lead 8
Oggy: He’s probably not back to his very best but good enough to hold his own as Albion continued to look dangerous throughout and gets an extra point for a goal 7
Cresswell: Hit the post with a tremendous free kick, not too many great crosses and stretched defensively 6
Rice: Often the driving force behind our attacks and right back to his best breaking stuff up in midfield. 8+
Soucek: Unlucky in getting a headed touch for the Albion goal, made up for it with the equaliser and generally his commanding self in the middle of the park 7+
Fornals: Pundit Alan Smith summed it up. A proper workhorse but he really needs to add goals to his game 6
Benrahma: At last he is looking the part – fabulous assist for Tomas’ goal and always tricky and threatening. 8
Lingard: He’s faded over recent games but played an invaluable role in Mikey’s goal. United will be basing a £30 million valuation on his early performances but he’s not been at that level of late 6
Antonio: Nice final goal and worked really hard throughout 7
Sub
Bowen: Set up a couple of chances and genuinely lively when on for Benrahma 7
Great stuff Hughie. Just one thing for Declan though.
Declan. You are not yet the finished article. Don’t believe what the England people tell you. Nod your head and show a little willing, but don’t believe them. Your future is with West Ham. The West Ham way is the style that counts. That needs working at to be successful. That means work. Not hard work but dedicated work to make yourself and everyone else around you into memorable, noteworthy players. So to the penalty. Serious practice can only help. Maybe the pathetic effort of hitting the post will cost us very dearly one day. Luckily it wasn’t today. Nothing difficult about a strong kick from 12 yards. Keep it under the bar and between the posts. Well placed but going at pace will make your penalties unstoppable. Practice until you can be confident you will score. And encourage everyone else to do the same. Lead by example. Great season, by the way – thanks.
COYI
Dawson was brilliant and agreed on Fornals, he’s a very good player but today was not a very good performance from him, redeemed himself for the third which meant not one player had a bad day at the office. Just what you need when chasing Europe. What a feeling. COYI.
Well played Dec. Your return to the team has certainly made a huge difference and I am sure you will go on to be a very good international player.
Even the best miss spot kicks. Unsure what Taffy was going on about, calling it pathetic. Clearly he hasn’t played the game at your level.
COYI
Think you’ll find that Declan rates that effort as pathetic. Yes, even the best miss spot kicks. Declan is the best and Taffyhammer is encouraging Declan to keep practising so that he can stay the best for many years to come. Clearly it is easier to control the direction of the ball, if right footed, to the right hand post. Extra effort kicking the ball harder is more likely to hook it slightly more left. Going for the right hand post would still leave the ball in the back of the net. Going for left hand corner risks hitting the post or narrowly missing. Clearly never played the game at PL level or anywhere near. However, at any level, a penalty kick is something that can be improved with practice.
COYI
Generous. Felt WBA were the better team. Playing a 4-2-3-1? Looked like a 4-2-0-1/2 for most of the match. A pathetic team performance.
What is it with Moyes and Lingard? I know he had an unbelievable start with us, but the last few games he has been very average and last night was probably our worst player! Always Benrhama/Bowen the ones to be substituted. Surely it should be based on performance.
He did assist with the killer third goal, but I think I could have done that!
Here’s hoping for a point, or three on Sunday. COYI
I also get a little frustrated with the Bowen/Benrahma subbing. Why not sub Forrnals off for Bowen? Better in front of goal. Why not sub Lingard if he looks tired? The options are there. But overall, really pleased and proud of them.
Is there some sort of agreement in the loan deal that Lingard (if fit) must play? I have been banging on about DM’s ‘favouritism for Lingard over Benrahma or Bowen for a while, and even the commentary team remarked on Libgard’s ‘tailing off’in performance so it is there for all to see. Said was having a better game and yet he still gets hooked. How is he to fully integrate if he doesn’t get the game time that day Fornals gets and Moyes never publicly lays into him for poor choices or erratic shots.
We need the best performing team on show at all times