The ‘end of term’ feeling was palpable with both sides exhibiting little quality in the game. Without ever looking really worth their lead, West Ham came out three – one winners in an error-strewn game which -at least- had enough incident to avoid being classed as boring.
Quite why West Ham set up – and retained- three centre backs against a solitary defender isn’t clear: It did mean in the first half the Hammers were far too often giving away possession in midfield and playing deeper and as a result.
Jean Clair Todibo looked unconvincing and as if mentally he’d already departed Heathrow on his holidays. Poor lapses of concentration, adopting the more customary Mavropanos role of making poor mistakes. Conversely, ‘Mav’ looked rock solid by comparison and did well to hold off Liam Delap in a one-on-one chase back.
The pointless aimless tippy-tippy passing in the first half had me squirming in my seat: Huge numbers of passes as if the game could be won simply by totting up a point for each five-yard pass. Aimless and without anyone driving forward – if this is Potter’s possession it needs someone shouting ‘Attack’ from the sides.
On the positive side, three points took West Ham upto 14th position – back where Potter started and I guess that’s a fair summary of his tenure so far. And Jarrod Bowen – ‘too good for England’ roared the away fans as he scored a brilliant goal with a strike from outside the ‘box. West Ham are lucky to have him. He’s now 14 goals and ten assists and has been the difference between mid table and relegation for the Irons this season.
And -credit where it is due: Much more sensible substitutions from Potter this week: Retaining the attacking threat for the last ten minutes (rather than swapping attackers for defensive players) stopped an Ipswich revival and gave the Hammers a third goal. Good last minute call to bring Cresswell on – so the trio of leavers were on the pitch at the end: I cannot help thinking they’d all do as back-ups for another year.
‘ Without ever looking really worth their lead’? We score three, two of which were excellent, were never behind and yet we never looked worth our lead? Yes it was only Ipswich but an away win in the PL is never to be sniffed at. Unless there’s clickbait in it..
Bowen and Wan-Bissaka aside, West Ham are absolutely clueless, including Potter. They better find some money from somewhere during the summer or next season will be another tough one. Using Spurs and Utd as a measure of success is laughable and those that suggest Cresswell, Coufal and Fabianski are still good enough are just not paying attention. We have two PL players, the rest can go.
Potter got more right than wrong today , however it was against a very poor , disheartened and relegated team . It was great to see an attacking set up carried through to the end that largely avoided the recent end of match panic . There’s a good argument to keep Cresswell , Fabiansky and Coufal as they’re all useful and more importantly FREE . Sell Todibo to Man United because he isn’t interested in Westham at all .
Fab cress and couf don’t want to sit on the bench. Cress and couf want to be first choice somewhere. They still want to play.
Fabianski might have been offered a one year extension. He is still good enough. And anyway, if the 3 to depart are planning to continue playing elsewhere, they might as well have stayed here, with short extensions. As it is, money will have to go into replacing them (young guys like Scarles are great, but quite the finished end product). Kudus will be missed. The money he brings in will serve to get a better midfield. So next season we will see a better midfield and likely be short some first rate attackers.