It’s one of those quirky facts of footballing life that in a season when the Irons have conceded 28 goals that central defender Angelo Ogbonna should be right up there in the running as Hammer of the Year.
Okay, it’s very early days but not many would question his displays during a season so far of little but despair and he now seems to have nailed down the No 1 job at the heart of the back four.
None of that matters to him right now as he and the rest of the defenders work their hardest to ensure that the avalanche of goals stops and six from the two north London clubs is just a bit too much to bear.
It’s just a question of whether The General continues to partner him at St Mary’s r whether Issa Diop will be brought in from the cold where he has been parked since suspension.
He admits, for all his own performance levels, he remains concerned and is determined to see the team turn things around.
He told https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2019/december/11-december/angelo-ogbonna-we-have-face-reality: “For us it is very disappointing because we’ve lost two derbies at home. We need to step up as that’s the only way to get away from this situation.
“It’s a difficult season because the Premier League this year is very balanced. It’s hard for us, as it is for all of them. We need to think about the next game.
We have conceded three goals in three home games in a row and I am worried about that, but all we can do is train and come back and do better in the next game.
“We need to focus game-by-game and put what has happened behind us. Southampton is a big game for us, but every game is a big game for us at this moment. We have to face the reality. We are looking forward to the next game and we are focused on that.”
Focus game by game !!!!! That’s the problem the players don’t get it either ….100% commitment, running for lost causes,tracking back and dare I say quick slick passing, getting from our box to the opposition’s in under 2 minutes the list could go on then focus …I DESPAIR …Someone save our Hammers if we get relegated I was gonna say we would lose the spine of the team but we ain’t got one any way. .and we will be a championship club for many many seasons
Hugh I know that you often comment on the cliches that players trot out after defeats – but to me this interview is different – while Pelle says he is not worried about relegation, Ogbonna seems to be saying that the threat is real and we need to wake up to the fact. Brave and true – I am with you in saying that he will be a contender for HOTY