My heart went out a bit to Aaron Cresswell this afternoon as he made his comeback for the Irons.
I hadn’t expected it believing that Arthur would be a certainty to hold onto the shirt for a game which demanded we attack the opposition as we went for our first win.
But the manager had other ideas and brought in Cressie who didn’t do badly on his return but had scant reward when he got forward and crossed into the box.
Trouble was he was made to look a bad player because we seemed entirely incapable of getting players into the area to receive from the supply line he was providing.
We are now playing to feet it seems which is fine but if we are also going to try providing an aerial threat it is rather important that people push up to get on the end of things. Today it happened once when Balbuena produced a downward header which was cleared when all he needed to do was get it on target.
Cressie was a particular sufferer all afternoon and that was a real shame on his return.
Snodgrass tried the same tactic with the same result and was hooked at half time for Yarmolenko who certainly made a difference with quick feet and clever back heels.
But I do find it quite extraordinary that all those decent crosses into the box – which are always going to be a part of any team’s game – were a total waste of everybody’s time and effort given that there was never a Hammer in sight when it mattered.
Sadly Arnie is not a traditional striker and this is an issue the manager will need to work through I reckon.
COYI
Good post hugh. We haven’t got numbers into the box as a good team should do since 15/16 at Upton Park.
I don’t get it. Why cross when there is no one around the box for miles?
you cross it because it’s your job to cross it. just like it’s a striker and centre forwards job to be in the box. when nobody is in the box, it’s not mostly the crosser’s fault.
What the heck is Pelligrini up to ? . This is supposed to be the new look Attacking West Ham team on which to build our future . Not so many shouts of “ in Pelligrini we trust “ just lately . Well we can’t go and unsell the nine players we brought in no matter how good they supposedly are . It’s not as if another manager change would help because there is no base or platform to work from . Getting rid of Moyes Must now surely look like a hasty decision that is costing us dear . Fan pressure pushed him out because of his style of football . You can’t have your cake and eat it . Would rather see points on the board than a nothing style under Pelligrini . Maybe it will come good in the end . The problem is will it come good soon enough . Remember that Man City went off the boil under Pelligrini .