Like most West Ham fans, I was delighted to see Callum Marshall given a decent run-out at the Emirates this afternoon. No doubt we’ll be seeing a lot more of the Northern Ireland striker in the coming months — and he’ll find most defences easier to play against than Arsenal’s.
However, the joy of seeing another academy youngster get his chance can’t mask just how ineffective Niclas Fullkrug was against Mikel Arteta’s defence.
Unlike Marshall, Fullkrug has no excuse. He’s a German international who has played at the highest level in the Bundesliga and even featured in a Champions League final for Borussia Dortmund. Yet here we are, heading into the autumn internationals, and the big German striker looks no closer to scoring for West Ham.
Fullkrug rarely troubled the Arsenal defence
Fullkrug was next to useless against Arsenal and wasn’t much better against Everton either. Now in his second season at the London Stadium, as much as I’d like to say otherwise, he just isn’t the answer.
Nuno Likely to Target a Striker
There’s little doubt that Nuno Espirito Santo will be eyeing January reinforcements, and a striker must be near the top of his list. Fullkrug was neither physical nor quick enough to trouble Arsenal’s defenders — and while that’s no great shame given their quality, the real problem is that he hasn’t looked particularly threatening against any other Premier League backline either.
That’s why I think we’ll be seeing a bit more of Marshall before January. Hopefully, he can grab a few goals in the meantime — because West Ham are going to need them.
Agree completely the chance they showed on MOTD while the defenders arms were over him it still looks like he should have got the effort on target.
We need to move him on, Nuno’s system like Moyes needs a fast direct physical striker like an Antonio, Arnautovic or a Wood.
Defence looked sharper and they were attacking the ball more. I thought KWP had earned his starting spot in place of AWB. We have 2 good players at RB now – cool. Would have liked to see Scarles replace Diouf who was not having a particluarly good game in the 1st half.
Midfield lacked ingenuity though. Potts played neat 1-2s with Paqueta as soon as he came on against Everton, linking midfield players with each other. This time our starting 3 never combined together, 3 good players, but playing as separate individuals. I think Irvine also naturally ties a midfield together with short 1-2s.
Would have liked a change of structure/approach at half time. Also if you bring Marshall, ideally would need runners around him, or fresh legs to implement a high energetic press, because this is his natural game, but he kept closing down an Arsenal player on his own. That is where captain or midfielder urges others forward aware that this is Marshall’s approach – probably why he has been compared to the likes of Vardy.
As some have said, would have been nice to see us playing out better from the back as under Potter. I wish Potter had been a success, but I think he dug his own hole starting last season, then pre-season and so on. It was like watching somebody out on a lake making holes in his own boat. I never understood.
On the plus side, the team kept trying and playing, while up against a tough team. With newcomers and youngsters recently playing a decent part in matches, it will take some time for the team to come together too. Great to see Dinos, Areola and Kilman doing themselves justice, when they’ve really been under the cosh. That must take some doing.
coyi
We knew he was a lame duck when we signed him. How does a supposedly ‘recruitment’ team and coaches not see that?
We need to play Marshall every game, as we have over paid imposters as the other 2 strikers
Looking on the bright side the five teams we’ve lost against so far are all in the top seven teams in the table. Can only be easier from here on in right?
Can’t get on board with the Nuno love in unfortunately. Same people forced Moyes out are saying Nuno is the man yet football is more defensive than Moyes if anything. Not inspired by what I saw today against Arsenal. Diouf proved once again that he can’t defend for toffee. Fernandes and Mangassa offered little creativity or anything else in midfield. Think we were actually better with Souchek and JWP. Feels like we’re going backwards. Good to see Potts and Marshall involved but they need time. Difficult for the lads in such a defensive non pressing from the front set up. Were no longer keeping hold of the ball and playing our way out we are just lumping the ball up the pitch at the first opportunity and not to anyone in particular, more often than not to no one at all or someone from the other team. Nuno keeps saying there’s much to fix. He’s not wrong. Let’s hope he can.
So Potts and Marshall need time but Fernandes/Diouf/Mangassa do not? and Soucek and JWP need to come back? you are on a wind up mate
We havent got time unfortunately if we’re not getting results. We’ll get relegated mate.
Day started watching Kudus win a game for Spurs and moved on to watching Rice win a game for Arsenal. Couldn’t get much worse. Thanks Sullivan for selling two of our best players to two of our most hated rivals.
I’m sorry Gonzo but the whole team had a stinker not just the strikers. It was a boring defensive game of football with minimal possession. Counter attacks were ineffective. If you’ve got the big man Fulkrug upfront at least make some attempts to get the ball up to him and have some players around him he can lay it off to. At least get some crosses into him. No no service whatsoever. We were more interested in sitting back in a low block. I find it quite depressing to think this is what we have to look forward to for the rest of the season. At least Potter attempted to play an attractive passing game, he just didn’t have the right players in defence.