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Moyes was not given enough credit for draw

Blind Hammer argues that Moyes was not given enough credit for digging out a point against Everton.

West Ham supporters certainly like a moan. Moyes and his squad received wide criticism for failing to overturn Everton at the weekend. Of course, Moyes and the squad were excused by those who simply protest that it is, of course, all the Board’s fault anyway.

One of Moyes more appealing characteristics is his general refusal to make excuses. Yet even Moyes has, in the face of negativity, had to point out that there was  ‘not much behind him’

This quiet reference to the respective Bench strengths of Everton and West Ham was Moyes mildly pointing out the obvious. Whilst Everton and West Ham were both missing players, the Hammers were far harder hit. The bench West Ham fielded was one of the weakest and lopsided I have seen for many a year.

Let us briefly remember who was on the bench for West Ham Moyes was able to call upon Masuaku who came on after 60 minutes, and Ajeti who Moyes was only able to risk after 84 minutes. Neither are established game changers, and it is mute whether they actually improved the team. In the case of Ajeti there remains serious doubt as to whether he will have any future at West Ham at all.

Who else could Moyes have called upon? Apart from a third choice goalkeeper in David Martin Moyes would have had to choose between an odd collection of 3 reserve center backs in the shape of the still half fit Winston Reid, Balbuena, and the teenage Goncalo Cardoso. This less than famous group was completed by a 19 year old Academy right back, who I had never heard of before, who was almost certainly just there for the experience in the shape of Ngakia.

In contrast Ancelotti could deploy the talents of Gordon at half time, Sidibé after 57 minutes, , and Niasse after 74 minutes. Ancelotti is no fool and I predicted before the game that he would substitute early and frequently in the second half before West Ham to try and outrun us. This was the obvious tactic to expose the Hammer’s weaker bench and lack of pace. This was a major reason why West Ham’s midfield legs struggled to compete as the game wore on.

Ancelotti had the further luxury of unused international caliber strength on the bench in the shape of Baines, Schneiderlin, Stekelenburg, and Gibson all of whom would have represented an upgrade to the West Ham bench.

I am absolutely convinced that under Pellegrini’s management with his “big club” approach, we would have lost this game in the second half when Everton had more physical strength and fitness to call upon.

Yet in this difficult situation Moyes did what all good Managers do, he managed. He preserved the point when it could easily have slipped away.

If this meant that Ogbonna and Diop were not charging forward for all free kicks in a high risk strategy to win the game then so be it. Saturday was a game for realistic appraisal of the relative strengths available on the day.

Moyes dug out a point that almost certainly Pellegrini would have surrendered. he deserves credit for that.

COYI
David Griffith

 

About David Griffith

My Father, born in 1891 was brought up in the shadows of the Thames Ironworks Memorial Ground. I remember as a child jumping over the settee when Alan Sealy scored in our 1965 European Cup Winners triumph. My first game was against Leicester in 1968, when Martin Peters scored what was adjudged by ITV’s Big Match as the Goal of the Season. I became a season ticket holder in 1970. I was registered blind in 1986 and thought my West Ham supporting days were over. However in 2010 I learnt about the fantastic support West Ham offer to Blind and other Disabled Supporters. I now use the Insightful Irons in-stadium commentary service and West Ham provide space for my Guide Dog Nyle. I sit on the West Ham Disabled Supporters Board and the LLDC Built Environment Access Panel. David Griffith aka Blind Hammer

6 comments on “Moyes was not given enough credit for draw

  1. I agree totally Moyes doing well with what he has

  2. Fact of the matter is, we could and should have won the match – when’s the next win coming from? Brighton at home? Or will you accept a draw in that as well?

  3. Playing one up top at home and going back to the favoured Pelle formation which does not suit these players is enough for me. This article should have ready “Moyes was not given enough credit for dropping two points. Terrible formation and tactics.

  4. Well maybe Moyes was doing his best to protect the point, but I can’t understand why he took Fornals off first instead of Lanzini as I would have dragged him either at half time or very soon after.

    I’m not too sure why he waited so long to get Ajeti on too and I have to say he looked very lively and did more in 8 minutes than Lanzini had done all game and I’d be inclined to start Ajeti up alongside Haller for the game against Leicester and see what happens.

    Sometimes fortune favours the brave!!

  5. I’m sure we would have lost that under Pellegrini. We would have thrown everyone forward and then just watched why the pacy Everton players Counter attacked and cut through us like a hot knife through butter. What I like about Moyes is he knows how to respect the point in a Sam allardyce kind of way but he doesn’t need to say it. We just know it’s what he teaches his players. That defensive solidity is the base starting point. We can score goals but what’s the point if we’re slacker than a whores dressing gown at the back.

  6. Nice piece David – I agree – it is going to be a slow process to fix the mess left by Pellegrini. Every point counts

    What I like is that Moyes seems to analyse the opposition and set us up accordingly – very different to Pelle’s “big team” approach

    I believe that Haller will start scoring – it would be good not to get on his back in the mean time

    It looks like the main gripe of fans with teh Everton match is that Fornals was subbed off before Lanzini – it seems like a small point – perhaps because he wanted Arthur wide left and Lanzini was playing in a number 10 role

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