Not a Hammer in sight when it mattered

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