If you thought West Ham’s display against Arsenal at the Emirates yesterday looked slightly familiar, you’d be right.
Forget the new incarnation of David Moyes that many are currently witnessing at Everton. The 45 minutes I saw of the Toffees against Manchester United showcased a team playing on the front foot and pressing high in the opposition area. It was far more a game of high intensity than parking the bus and sitting back.
But what we saw from Graham Potter’s Hammers yesterday was very much the style of football we had grown used to watching under Moyes – and it worked a treat.
Perhaps injuries forced his hand, but the style of play and the formation had changed drastically from the Hammers’ 1-0 defeat to Brentford. The West Ham manager had his team sitting in, defending, and scrapping, allowing Aaron Wan-Bissaka to get the team up the pitch where possible, while Kudus took the battle to Arteta’s Arsenal.
Potter parked the bus at the Emirates
Pragmatic Potterball gets Hammers going
There didn’t seem to be a single player who wasn’t committed to the cause yesterday. And while the Hammers didn’t move up the Premier League table, there did seem to be something of a seismic shift. Sure, there were misplaced passes and moments where technique went missing, but nobody could be accused of not giving 100% as the Irons gaffer’s pre-match comments became reality.
I was impressed by Potter’s decision to go back to basics in North London. Playing this type of football was probably far from his ideology, but the former Brighton and Chelsea boss is savvy enough to know that he does not have the footballers at his disposal to play the way his old Seagulls team used to.
There’s nothing wrong with a bit of pragmatism. If truth be told, I didn’t mind it from Moyes when we played a low block against very good teams and even during many of our games in Europe.
The frustration with the former manager was that we would often play the same way against relegation strugglers, with last season’s game against Sheffield United being a prime example.
But if Potter has decided that the way forward for the remainder of the season is a bit more grit and determination ahead of flair, then I’m all for it.
Potter certainly deserves praise for adopting the low block yesterday resulting in just two efforts on goal from Arsenal and a fantastic performance. Ollie Scarles – what a full PL debut at just 19 years old was outstanding and has a big future under Potter’s guidance. Todibo finally showed his class and put in a great shift, and AWB that 1-2 with Bowen scoring his 50th Premier League goal was just fantastic.
From Cress rolling back the years to Kudus who fought for every ball that was a performance we can all be proud of. Roll on Leicester, we are starting to get our West Ham back!
It has been mentioned by a number of commentators that Forest have done amazingly this season by using a low block – we need to see how teams react next season if Citeh continue to self-destruct
Why is Moyes still being mentioned? It’s driving me fukin mad! His not our manager anymore I see YouTube channels talking about him etc he is a shocking manager and good riddance please drop the Moyes articles and comments. Potter is way out in front of Moyes as a manager we’d of got thumped yesterday under Moyes
Tom, I can’t edit the websites articles so as they’re just how you like them mate. It’s probably easier for you to submit an article about the game and I’ll post it.
Anyway, you shouldn’t be mad about anything West Ham related today, you could have replied about Potter, Scarles, Wan Bissaka, Bowen or anything that you liked about the game mate.
The ability to adapt for different challenges from different opposition is the hallmark of a good team. Potter deserves the plaudits for his approach against Arsenal.
The challenge now is to find the correct approach against Leicester. It can’t be a case of one step forward, two steps back.
Potter needs to find the right balance and bring the game to Leicester while keeping it tight at the back.
Absolutely right Jay. Leicester look absolutely useless at the moment so I’m sure he’ll open up a bit.
A low block is just another effective tactic, use it at times. It was ideal yesterday against an Arsenal team that was lacking a few offensive options.
But Arsenal are offensive… very offensive! 😄
😂