Superb Hammers win…but worries linger on
From back to front – as the ClaretandHugh ratings from over 400 of you show – everybody, with the exception of the two late subs – was way up there.
Defensively superb and outstanding in midfield with Mickey Antonio proving himself to be one of the best strikers around, we looked great.
Now on a night like this nobody needs a downer but it would be remiss not to mention it given all that has gone before on the recruitment and tactical formation front.
Our first team is clearly a real handful to any opposition but were there to be a couple of injuries or suspensions we would struggle.
Should either of Rice or Soucek be unavailable for example where do we go for a replacement – Wilshire, Noble?
What makes that situation more unacceptable is that many of us were calling for a defensive midfielder as cover for Declan during Pelllegrini’s days given that Noble as a replacement is like putting an Elastoplast on an open wound.
The situation is even worse a year on as we saw in the last five minutes against Leicester City.
At the back it’s clear we need defensive reinforcements but the same is true in every other area of the squad – a point proven by the inability of any of those involved against Everton in midweek to make any impact at Goodison or on today’s squad.
We have Monday and a couple of weeks beyond to bring in one of two of quality but I have the distinct impression we are likely to gamble on everybody staying fit and move in the winter market.
I love what I saw today. It was superb but the worries will go on until we develop a squad of real depth.