West Ham travel to Hertfordshire tomorrow for another 3pm Saturday kick off against The Hornets, seeking to put right their previous week’s home loss agains a modest Charlton side.
Perhaps the expectation level will be better managed, perhaps West Ham’s players can use the ‘lock-down effect‘ to their advantage: Playing without the expectations their very critical, demanding 60,000 home supporters forcing ‘safe’ passing and no risk-taking, can often produce a more fluent, less error-strewn Hammers performance away from hime. As was the case on Tuesday.
Either way, the Irons need three points. No more post – game excuses from coach or manager. There’s a promotion campaign to be won and at present West Ham sit sixteenth.
Without yet having a full compliment of players, Nuno will again be calling on his youngsters who he says are ‘part of the squad’ but has, at the same time gone out of his way at this afternoons press conference to dampen down the expectation levels on his youngsters:
“Young players have got lots to offer:
They are part of the squad. They need time to build confidence, and we cannot expect them to be able to do everything immediately.
It’s a process, but we are behind them, and the senior players are very helpful for them as well. What better example for the young lads is there than having experienced and talented players working with you every day? They just need to look around and take advantage of it.” (whufc.com)
Expect Lewis Orford at just 20 to become pretty much the automatic starter for Nuno’s side after his three impressive appearances this season. Of the two, he looks the more solid, safe option – compared with youngster Mohamadou Kanté whose wayward passes were so evident last week: Leant has the assists but Orford seems to have the old head on young shoulders.
Youngsters will again play their part – there isn’t any option!
And don’t rule out a substitute appearance from Josh Ajala who scored twice against Southampton and could offer Nuno a welcome extra dimension from the left hand side.
As Nuno says, they do need time to build confidence but Ajala’s is likley to be sky high after a double at St Marys on Tuesday night and the side could again be lifted by the youngster’s talent and attacking flair – which was distinctly absent from the Charlton loss seven days ago.
I thought the Scottish lads in the u21s were great prospects but doesn’t seem to be getting an opportunity in the first team under Nuno.
Instead of praising the youths attitude he decides to throw a wet blanket on proceedings..hows that make you feel Lads/////real confidence boost or what…so expect the usual square pegs in round holes tomorrow and back to the slow square passing and sitting deep football that he loves so much….NEGATIVE NUNO get out of the club and go destroy someone elses dreams
I actually can’t believe that West Ham with 8 changes (you can debate whether some of the 8 should be regular starters) beat Southampton with 5 changes in the Mickey Mouse Cup and somehow the widespread speculation for Nuno to go has disappeared from the mainstream media. Hate to see us lose, but if it happens on Saturday it should finally get Nuno sacked