One victory against Manchester United does not prove a cure-all for the poor form demonstrated this season. Just like the Ipswich Town performance, it would be easy to take false hope from a victory against very shaky opposition. Tougher tests will come, starting next week travelling away against Nottingham Forest. Julen Lopetegui must, you’d think, have an idea now of his best starting eleven.
West Ham need to produce 90 minutes’ plus of decent football, not just the halves we’ve seen on display so far. Captain Jarrod Bowen has used Crysencio Summerville’s exemplary attitude to set out what he expects of the whole squad going forward. On whufc.com:
“I spoke in the dressing room about having a successful squad and wanting to win, and that requires everyone – not just the eleven starters. It requires everyone, including those guys on the bench, and those who are injured or suspended.
“We all want the same thing – we all want to win. Crysencio is one example – I’m sure he’s been frustrated at times with his playing time, but he trains well and he’s one of the nicest people I’ve met, and now he’s got his reward.
“We need everyone, and now it’s up to us to build on this positive result. We’ve been in this position before and not backed it up, but we showed a really good mindset today and we need to do what we can to pick up positive results in the two games we’ve got left before the next international break.”
Bowen leading by example, scoring from the spot
A pointed remark aimed, perhaps, at Niclas Fullkrug –injured– and Mohammed Kudus – suspended – and the part they have to play in helping to build success for this squad. If Bowen can bring the squad together and overcome the perceptions of division that have been aired in the last couple of weeks then that can only be a good thing.
Yes, one swallow doesn’t make a summer!
But isn’t it ironic that Lopetegui praises Summerville now but never explained why he has continued to leave him on the bench almost every game and only bring him on some time in the second half, when every man and his dog could tell him that Summerville is an actual left winger and deserves to be starting every game!
Loopy, or what?