Irons v Karlsruher: THE VERDICT!

Irons 3 Karlsruher 0

We’ve heard it a million times or more of course, that pre-season is all about getting fit and worrying about results is daft.

Frankie McAvennie told us so in an insightful  ClaretandHugh blog yesterday admitting that in his time at the club his Hammers had  been absolutely hopeless.

Never was the fitness thing more ably proved than this afternoon when goals from Andy Carroll, Sofiane Feghouli and highly exciting young prospect Ashley Fletcher gave the Irons their first win of pre-season.

The manager had been putting them through double training regimes each day, strengthening and fitness followed by work with the football.

The difference in their performance level to the matches earlier in the week was about 200 per cent better. We look ready and to be honest if we can land that big striker we will be looking a right handful.

There was a worrying moment near the end when Cressie went down under a wicked two footed studs up lunge and we await news from the medics but he looked reasonably okay.

From front to back this was a mich better performance athough we have to put things in perspective and understand that this was a 2. Bundesliga team who whilst they had plenty of determination and effort, weren’t really that good.

From the start the tempo was up and over the 90 minutes we saw impressive performances from the likes of Feghouli , Kouyate, Antonio , Cressie, Reid  and Noble.

It’s clear now that although Antonio is playing on the right side behind Feghouli, Slav is not restricting him to a traditional right back role, instead letting him push way forard but wanting him to get back and defend when required.

It was Frankie Mc who first mentioned this yesterday in an insightful blog and it’s clear that whilst he may not be the greatest defender in the world he’s good enough and in a side containing perhaps Feghouli, Tore, Payet and Lanzini there’s ging to be plenty of excitement from these Irons.

Winston looked imperious, Kouyate is starting to return to his all action self, Feghouli looks a real handful and there’s more to come from Tore who at times looked excellent.

Nordveidt? Not sure – we’ll need to see more of him. Up front AC opened his account with a nice header from a ball stood up for him at the far post by Valencia who himself looked better but still can’t stay on side when he needs to!

Then of course there’s this kid Fletcher who scored his second goal of the tour when he popped up to stab home a decent Cresswell cross after arriving as a late second half sub.

I like this kid a lot. There’s nothing flash afer he does what he’s paid to do despite the tender years. They will be saying he’s one for the future but he’s 20, looks very composed and who knows where and when this career is going to take off.

This was better, much better and if we can grab a top top striker we are going to be a good team this season. The win was very heartening and we can all feel a little relieved and look forward with confidence.

COYI