Once again ClaretandHugh’s ratings man Niall McDonald is on hand to bring you his comments and marks on the Hammers during the match against Burnley this evening.
Randolph: Nothing to do (for a change) in the first half. Several excellent saves (as usual) in the second 7
Cresswell: A great attacking option we could use more. Credit to him, he jogs back and goes again 7
Reid: Kept Vokes very quiet. Lots of rough and tumble at both ends. Bundled over and won the crucial pen 7
Ogbonna: Blamed the floodlights for an air shot in the first half. Couldn’t blame them for some other sloppy passes 6
Kouyate: Spent a fair bit of time in the warm-up practising passes to and from Noble but didn’t have much chance to apply that in the match. Comfortable return to the team 6
Noble: Scored our deserved goal at the second attempt from the spot. Could move the ball on a little quicker sometimes 6
Obiang: His usual mix of crisp passing and tactical fouls. Manages the game very professionally 7
Lanzini: Surprisingly subbed just as Manu was starting to find gaps in the Burnley defence 8
Payet: Seems to have added an appetite for closing down and tracking back to his attacking prowess. Did well in unexpected areas 7
Antonio: Wide right tonight and looked very weary. His efforts leading the line on Sunday taken their toll, perhaps 5
Carroll: AC and Mee launched themselves at each other for 81 minutes non stop. Match report might not mention him much but I thought Carroll did everything we could expect from him 7
Subs
Ayew: The first player to run in beyond Carroll on 77 mins. Looked sharp and nearly doubled the lead in stoppage time 7
Fletcher: Arrived as we moved to a flat back five to close out the game 5
Nordtveidt: No disasters this time, phew! No rating
Special mention: Burnley boss Sean Dyche who called his staff and subs out of the dug out to line up for the minutes applause in memory of Peter Brabrook. A classy gesture.
Carroll cannot play two games a week, especially after just coming back from injury. Therefore, Fletcher has to start for me against Hull. Antonio looked shattered tonight and he has put in some big shifts over the last few weeks. I would be tempted to go back to a flat back 4 for Hull and perhaps bring Fernandes into the side on the right of midfield.
Randolph was easily the MOTM. 8 out of 10 for him. If not for him we would have deservedly lost. (imho)
The rest were all 4, 5 and 6’s. (imho)
I would give Obiang an 8, Reid a 7 the rest of them 6’s apart from Lanzini who I would give 5 and Noble a 3. Slav gets a 6 for his energy he needs to sort these players out get them putting their foot in and pressing their opponents or it’s going to be a long season 🙂