West Ham have now lost both post-Europa League games to late goals. Is there a pattern forming here?
Our smallish squad and Moyes’ aversion to making substitutions could become a problem as the season goes on.
Despite seven changes to the team that beat Rapid Vienna, West Ham looked leggy and tired in the first half with Declan Rice suffering from cramp in added time.
West Ham beat Dinamo Zagreb 2-0 way but lost to Manchester four days later after Hammer Jesse Linhard the 89th-minute winner.
Again the Hammers won last Thursday beating Rapid Vienna 2-0 at the London Stadium to top group H of the Europa League.
Again West Ham lost 2-1 four days after a Europa League win, this time conceding to Brentford in the 94th minute after a late strike by Yoane Wissa.
It might just be a coincidence but hard not to accept that European games are having an effect on the squad.
David Moyes has rejected the idea, telling reporters who quizzed on the pattern post-match “The answer is no, no, there’s no [concern], because we’re going to get used to it.
“I want us to be used to it, I hope we’re getting used to again next season playing in European football again so you know I’m not gonna say, how good an achievement, it was and then bemoan that we’ve got Thursday/Sunday far from it, it will be the opposite. I’m saying bring it on, and I’ll have more of it.
If you look at the fine margins of the two games you would have to start saying there were very close calls. One is a penalty and one is a 93rd-minute goal.
But we have to get used to it, we need to win because I want to be successful in the Premier League. I think we had seven or eight players who were not playing the other night so I don’t think it can be anything to do with any other reason than we just didn’t score the goals today and take our opportunities which for me was the biggest problem today. Not much else.
Got to agree with Moyes’ assessment, very fine margins in both of the games post EL.
Could easily have been a couple of points gained.