Keep this togetherness and what’s not to like?

By Rich Sprent

2017 has started off like a rollercoaster for West Ham.

The downs are all very obvious with Mike Dean, Dimi Payet, a 0-5 Cup reverse, the league position, yet another BBC programme about the London Stadium and inevitably winter transfer window.

The ups? There is some positivity about West Ham again – a new togetherness from the fans to the players. There’s nothing like an apparently petulant disloyal millionaire villain to build solidarity.

This is helped of course by a media-fuelled fervour stirring up the fans where to me it almost seems a case  of “Grab your flaming brand and burn the monster! There’s been little sympathy for the Frenchman.

Whether his homesickness should be viewed as an acceptable factor or not, he clearly hasn’t grasped the concept of PR. His decision making on the field of play maybe sublime, sadly it’s cost him his status in East London.

Was this new togetherness the catalyst for winning our last game? It was a substandard first half entertainment wise. It matched the muted atmosphere. The two teams ground out a turgid goalless first half. After Tomkins missed an absolute sitter we restricted the South Londoners to a single shot on target. And that was a hopeful swing of the leg from outside the box during the drab first half. Randolph happily clutched the ball to his chest.

 It changed at half time when a proper right back appeared, Antonio was released to do his thing in the opposition half. He collected a hat-trick of assists and we all fell in love with football again.

 I’ll mention a nice little partnership on the right: Sam Byram and Sofiane Feghouli. They put in a shift. Byram plays aggressively and perhaps needs to temper this some whilst adding a better positional sense. Feghouli wanted the ball; helped out his full back; looked to get forward often; and attacked the opposition’s box. Okay, it was Crystal Palace but it was good to see two players linking up so well.

On the other side, Cresswell has got a new best mate in Lanzini who was imperious and the goal was a work of art to cap off a lovely performance.

Carroll’s goal doesn’t need any words other than it was just awesome, Reid continued to throw himself in as if he finds the opposition being in possession a personal affront.

Noble scratched around and did a lot of ugly work as well as chipping in with a few sweet passes. Next to him, Pedro Obiang was simply king of the park. He owned the game.

And then there is the boss, Slaven Bilic. He has been praised everywhere for his handling of the Payet situation. He looks like he cares. The fans relate to him. And when he gets it right it all looks so, well, perfect.

The change in bringing on Byram forced a change in shape. Antonio was simply scarily good further forward in a sort of 4-4-2. We immediately looked more dangerous and opened up an ailing Palace side under the early Allardycian transition of ‘respecting the point’.

 It was a very good team performance and one with it’s hard to critical. Three goals, a clean sheet, fans singing. Team Bonding. Solidarity. An atmosphere. A job well done.

That I like Slaven Bilic is a given. He is engaging, passionate and appears to be very down to earth. He looks to love managing West Ham. I still have my doubts about his tactical awareness. Whether the change in bringing Byram on was brilliance or as a result of injury, it doesn’t matter. It worked. Three-nil wins are never to be sniffed at.

The team now has a fit right back and a fit centre forward. That the cover for both is currently the same man, Antonio, is more than a cause for concern.

Everyone is screaming for a right back and a striker. Our first signing looks to be a 33 year old centre back, Jose Fonte. That the fee is reportedly £8m with wages c£65k pw has risen more than a few eyebrows.

 When good players that can improve the team become available they shouldn’t be ignored.

 I’ll dismiss the James Tomkins comparisons, there really shouldn’t be any. He was fourth choice centre back. We got a nice wedge for him. I’d expect Fonte to be immediately starting next to Winston Reid. No comparison.

Jose Fonte is a leader and has consistently shown that he is a very good defender. He has marshalled Southampton’s defence wonderfully over the past few seasons.

If Slav is looking to tighten up the goals against column then I’m all for it. As a team we allow far too many passes into our penalty box. This leads to far too many shots at our goal. Stopping the opportunities has got to be the first step in slowing the goals against column from rising.

 There’s about ten days left in the window and the board appear willing to spend. Slav has half a season to roll those dice and give us all a run in that we can enjoy. If he can keep the togetherness and good feelings that come from winning football matches going then what’s not to like?

The views expressed here are solely those of the blogger and are not necessarily shared by ClaretandHugh