By CandH blogger Allen Cummings
I’m a David Moyes supporter!
I thought he did everything asked of him last time he was with us and I’m still confident he’ll do the business again. But one thing is baffling me and that is why Pablo Fornals seems to be struggling to get the Moyes seal of approval?
Granted Pablo’s arrival didn’t exactly set the pulses racing, despite his £24m fee and Pellegrini was quick to point out the 23 year old Spaniard might take a little time to settle in. He used him sparingly at first.
But the midfielder’s enthusiasm and work rate was already finding favour with the West Ham fans. If there is one thing we appreciate above everything else it’s a ‘worker’ and ‘trier,’ someone who cares – and shows it out there on the pitch.
Enter David Moyes, a manager with a reputation for demanding hard work and commitment from his players. Fornals looked to be the perfect fit for any Moyes team. But that simply hasn’t happened much to the frustration of the player no doubt and certainly to the annoyance of many of us watching from the side lines.
If the team had been flying (we wish) – and the players were proving difficult to drop – Fornals infrequent use would be understandable.
But as we all know that’s not been the case at all. Confidence has been low, performances have been poor and yet Pablo has still struggled to find a regular slot in the side. Obviously Moyes will have his reasons, but it’s hard to fathom when we seem to be crying out for exactly what Pablo Fornals has shown us he has to offer.
More ‘mature’ supporters like me who remember a certain Ronnie Boyce, will recall what ‘Ticker’ contributed to that great side of the 60’s. An unassuming man, an understated player, but a footballer who became the heartbeat of the team.
Boycie never stopped running and working from first whistle to last. Much of what I see in Fornals reminds me of Ticker – the problem at the moment is Moyes seems to see things differently.
I too am a fan of Moyes but can’t understand the benching of Fornals recently. Fornals seemingly has the qualities Moyes likes in that he is a grafter. He has a high work rate and that’s a must for Moyes. I am guessing that the reason is simply out of loyalty to Lanzini. He knows Lanzini should be one of our best players and thinks he can turn him around and get the best out of him if he shows faith in him. Some players need an arm putting round them and have their confidence boosted. I think Lanzini is one of those. However it’s not working. Lanzini is a shadow of his former self and now he should try benching Lanzini instead. See if that works instead.
Fornals is far from being the worst midfield player on recent performances . It goes beyond Lanzini . Noble is selected game after game and contributes absolutely nothing . On his day Lanzini could contribute greatly to the team . Noble is way past that day . We need leadership . Moyes is not motivating them and Noble does not command respect . Oh for a Billy Bonds figure to bully and encourage . At least we would go down fighting .
I cant believe that anyone who has watched West Ham this season believes that Mark Noble ‘contributes absolutely nothing’
If you seriously believe Noble has performed well this season, then that’s your problem more than anyone else’s – he’s been absolutely dreadful this season
No-one has tried harder than Noble. He is past it.
No-one has made an attempt to replace him. Fornals is a two way player and is learning EPL. Slow, but skilled.
Play him regularly and like Fred, he will grow.
Something is wrong with Fornals, just like it is wrong with Haller and Anderson. They have the ability to show us magic, yet they have slumped into a dark pit.
Looking at Fornals last two sub appearances I was shocked to see his absolute 0 contribution.
No this is not running a player down, but alarmed at his total form slump.
Can only hope and pray all of our strugglers coming out and shining again.
I don’t believe moves has a clue what he is doing he talks the talk but he has not done anything to improve the situation we find ourselves in he may not be the cause but he is sure as he’ll making things worse we have a quality player in formal but he’s to blind to see it I believe when he was here before it was more luck than his skils as a manager that things changed he will take us down he is not a top manager and never will be its almost as if the owners the 2David’s want us to go down and unless there is a massive change then it’s championship football next season and we can thank David moyes for that
I couldn’t agree more Allen.
Think nearly every fan feels the same Allen, Fornals was playing well, hopefully he will start getting games now, we certainly need his legs in midfield, he also has an eye for goal which is good for us.
As Pellegrini was blinkered to his way of playing, so Moyes is blinkered to the Lanzini he remembers from his last tenure.
How many more sub standard performances does he need to see to realise he doesn’t have the same player of old?
At the moment playing playing lanzini is a very great risk, as he shows no signs of wanting to perform, I hope Moyes is only giving Lanzini some game time hoping he will get better but at the present time we can not afford this luxury we must play players who we know will give 100%. So lanzini should be benched also Haller let him watch Bowen so he can see what is required of him
Must agree with Alun . I really cant fathom why Fornals is not being used more. Lanzini is currently a shadow of his former self & has been way below par of late. I guess when we are in the place we are its difficult to take a risk, but Moyes needs to ‘take the risk ‘