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Mario’s every move on Irons debut

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West Ham United Unveil New Signing Joao MarioDannyC

CandH PlayerWatch reporter Daniel Danielli Leach put the spotlight on tracked on debut Joao Mario during his full debut for the Irons.

1 – Wins the ball in the midfield and dribbles before shortly being fouled by Milivojević
2 – Chicharito heads the ball to him on the edge of the area but a shot with his left foot is scuffed and goes wide
10 – Cresswell plays a short corner to him but his cross is cleared by the first man
11 – A cross on the left hand side fails to reach Chicharito and is cleared
13 – When our corner comes to nothing Mario sprints back to cover Collins
21 – Controls the ball well in midfield under pressure and passes the ball across the pitch to Byram
26 – Plays a corner to the back post but Ogbonna’s header goes just over
29 – Receives the ball from Byram on the touch line but as he tries to skill his way out of pressure puts the ball out for a throw in
31 – Cruyff turns Fosu-Mensah on the left hand side and crosses the ball to Chicharito who misses the goal
35 – Receives the ball from Zabaleta and dribbles the ball for 20 yards and then passes to Cresswell
35 – He is jostled off the ball as he tries to cross it in on the left hand side
41 – Holds the ball really well under pressure in the edge of the area before setting it to Chicharito who wins us a penalty which Noble scores
45+2 – Controls the ball well from Kouyaté’s pass and dribbles before being fouled
45+5 – Byram loses the ball up field and he intervenes the ball preventing the counter attack by Crystal Palace
48 – Cresswell heads the ball to him on the edge of the area with a lot of power and he loses the ball
49 – Noble passes the ball to him on the edge of our area and he dribbles all the way up field and passing the ball out wide to Byram and Chicharito heads Byram’s cross to the keeper
53 – Cuts in on the left hand side and passes the ball brilliantly to the other side of the pitch to Byram
58 – Picks up the ball on the edge of our area and dribbles up field doing a step over beating a man in his run and then he passes the ball out wide to Chicharito
69 – Starts a counter attack and it leads to Chicharito winning a foul
71 – Dinks the ball from the left hand side into the box but no one is there for is
75 – Controls Adrian’s goal kick well with his chest before setting the ball to Chicharito
82 – He whips in a very good corner but it is cleared away
88 – Controls the ball on the touchline and dribbles but is fouled shortly after
Verdict – 7.5His PL debut was impressive and there are encouraging signs from him. He roamed around the pitch with elegance and class in the centre forward position behind Chicharito demonstrating his high technical ability with good passing, dribbling and positioning even though he seemed slightly nervous at the start. He looks like he will be a crucial player for the rest of the season with performances like this.

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Hugh Southon is a lifelong Iron and the founding editor of ClaretandHugh. He is a national newspaper journalist of many years experience and was Bobby Moore's 'ghost' writer during the great man's lifetime. He describes ClaretandHugh as "the Hammers daily newspaper!"

Follow on Twitter @hughsouthon

0 comments

  • Mary Millingtons Ghost says:

    You need to have a word with Stevie Wonder handing out the ratings Daniel.

  • mooro66uk says:

    Was very impressed by him and could be just what we need. Can’t wait to see him link with Lanzini. O/T what a despicable little snide Cabaye is. Running around the ref trying to get fellow pros booked or sent off. Slimeball!

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