If nothing else we learned something very important about Maniel Pellegrini before and during the game against Spurs – the man has absolutely no favourites and takes no prisoners!
And if we cast our minds back to the Sam Allardyce era (Kevin Nolan!) and forward through Bilic and Moyes that is very refreshing .
Two defeats aren’t easy to take but the manager’s determination to ensure that he continually rings the changes as we struggled for a way back against Spurs was good news.
There would be many manager who having spent £35 million or so on a player would have kept him on the pitch regardless of how poor his contribution.
Felipe Anderson was removed and not many would disagree that was the correct decision on a day when even the basics were missing from his game.
That he cost so much is no excuse for a manager to dilly dally and hope he will find a bit of form before the end of the 90 as many might have done is not on. Pellegrini didn’t hesitate.
That he was ready to hand Yarmolenko’s job to an untested Premier League youngster – Diangana – in such a high profile match also speaks volumes for a boss who certainly rejects any form of stereotypical thinking.
Many would just have thrown in Antonio.
Ahead of the match he stuck by a rule which seems to be his par for the course – one poor performance and out you go – as was the case with Masuaku with Aaron Cresswell recalled and looking the part.
The same fate was suffered by Carlos Sanchez and Declan Rice in the past and Pellegrini is still taking no prisoners.
There’s few positives to be taken from defeat against S…s. It’s a deeply disappointing and depressing experience but I do like Pellegrini’s approach and am convinced we’ll be just fine.
I agree with you entirely Hugh. When Yarmolenko went off, I expected to see Snodgrass pushed on and Masuaku into midfield, or like you mention, Antonio on. To put Diangana on was a breath of fresh air. I’m hoping he keeps his place. He’s an unknown quantity to defenders. On a different note, MOTD annoyed me and basically gave no credit to West Ham. If Lloris hadn’t have been playing, we would have had the 3 points. But instead they focus on a Snodgrass tackle.
Hugh, I agree with the article for the most part but I am still worried about Pelle. We have bought some awful players in the likes of Perez, Wilshere and Fredericks. I am yet to be convinced on players like Yarmo. Furthermore he consistently still picks Noble – for me he is a player who comes on with 15-20 mins to go. I thought Cresswell with Noble were by far our worse players yesterday. I know Arthur make a huge mistake against Brighton but to select Cresswell ahead of him was a poor call. Jury out for me still but there are some positives to take in the way we play. We need three top signings in the Jan transfer window a left back, centre midfielder and a top attacking player.
Disagree Anderson was by far the worst player yesterday. You say that John but noble was by far our best player against Man Utd..I like cresswell and he can I think defend better than ar fur. That said both of those players haent been as good week in week out since move to Stratford. That said not many have been. It seems one week we moan, and the next we rejoice. That was what the old West Ham was about. That doesn’t seem acceptable any more since we moved it seems.
buy why oh why did he bring on chicharito… Antonio should have come on at the point.
Ok , we lost a game that on another day we would have won . Outstanding goalkeeping mixed with missed chances saw us lose . But we didn’t get hammered and looked good .
I’m not one for picking out individual players normally . Having said that Pelligrini made the right call in taking off Anderson but it must be said he also made the wrong call by not bringing on Antonio . Hernandez needs playing time to get up to speed because you can’t deny his pedigree . However I do agree with Pardew in that we shall be alright this season .
The team is definitely starting to click and with a little more luck would have six more points than they currently have . We woke up too late against Brighton ( well done Brighton ) but should have scored and Spurs were fortunate to go home with all three points . Our record so far this season doesn’t make pretty reading but between the lines of our present story there are definite reasons to be optimistic . I think we are in a false position but only have ourselves to blame in reality . Time to stop talking a good game ( Zabaleta , Noble and co )
And show us a bit more than you are currently doing .
COYHAMMERS
Antonio is not the player he was and hasn’t been for some time now. When he was introduced yesterday he produced exactly nothing.
Funny, from my seat he blasted one that skimmed the cross bar, unstoppable if it had been a few inches lower
@johnham – you know nothing –
We’ve lost a couple of games 0-1 of which we should have got a point from. We are a work in progress with new players and a new manager, I don’t believe you can even begin to understand the meaning of the word “support”.
Look it up in the dictionary, it might surprise you of what’s required. Instead you prefer to slag off half the team. Noble has been widely praised by the pundits and more importantly the fans, you know those ones who support the team.
I suspect you’re a lazy sort – or perhaps someone who just doesn’t want to learn, so here’s the Oxford English diction definition of the word support.
Be actively interested in and concerned for the success of (a particular sports team)
‘fans should always support their team fully, no matter what’.
Ok look we have only won two games that is just not good enough. The team were trying to play as individuals again they need to fight for each other more. More passion is required and more effort I’m afraid.
I thought we played well yesterday against one of the top 4, they scored one great finish and Lloris made 4 great saves, we had a dubious goal disallowed, haven’t watched MOTD but I thought it was on… first half they were slightly better and second half we were far better than them. We do need to move the ball a lot quicker, I actually thought Antonio and Little Pea were very good but it’s all subjective right ?
The fact that Antonio blasted one over the bar (instead of scoring) doesn’t take away from the point I made earlier. He looks slow and over weight and doesn’t look interested in helping out his full back.
Sorry to be a pedant mooro66 but it hit the bar…. you’re right of course he doesn’t look his best