By Hugh Southon
It’s been a great Sunday night and Monday morning.
Out of this world is a vastly over-used expression but there is no other at the moment.
Weeks of negativity, protest, moaning, social media vulgarity and obscenities get anyone down – even the most hardened fans of our still wonderful club.
They certainly did me and for a while, I had to pull back. Thank goodness for last night!
It may also have affected many working within the club but that doesn’t excuse any outburst from them and I hope it’s stopped for good from the powers that be and others. Nothing else will be good enough.
A 4-0 win over a team we hadn’t beaten in four games and failed to score against feels so very very good particularly given we were being told we may not pick up points until we meet Fulham in November.
Ok, it’s very early days but 10th place above the Manchester clubs is to be savoured and just look at last season’s high flying Sheffield United who appear to be suffering the second season syndrome very early.
And that Arthur Masuaku should be utterly central to everything that has been happening over the last couple of weeks is another example of David Moyes’ ability to spot things – as he did with Marko Arnautovic – which escape other often more esteemed managers.
I asked the question last night and repeat it now: Would Grady Diangana have been able to force his way into the team given what Moyes was obviously planning? Doubt it.
It’s fair to argue that wasn’t a reason to sell him which was the point obviously raised by Mark Noble and apparently backed by the team who later were reported as claiming that Arthur is one of the most talented players at the club. Scratches head!
Arthur is a star right now and a bloke who looks capable of causing issues to any side we meet.
It’s Leicester City away next and we couldn’t have had a better win ahead of that game – another against Everton on Wednesday and who knows. Is anyone going to rule out a result completely?
Happy days – let’s enjoy them while they last – we all deserve them!
COYI
I believe grady would force his way into the team. He is not the same type of player as Arthur.
Masuaku seems to shine as a left wing back, and last night provided the best crossing since joining the club. What he doesn’t do is score goals.
Diangana can play on either flank, in a front 3 or even front two. On the left id place him in front or fornals and Anderson, and given we have ONE dedicated striker at the club, hes would be one injury away from starting.
Wanna see it happen at West Brom b4 I agree Che. Not opposed just not suree of him
Agreed, Hugh. What we know so far is that Diang is a good Championship winger. Is he top-rated prem standard? Let’s see. Is he a wing back? Nobody has ever claimed that. So to Hughs point, he may have been the odd man out in a system that David Moyes obviously thinks suits our squad. Same problem for Anderson. Good player in the wrong team and system.
Arthur plays this style very well. Don’t try turning him into something else – we don’t need it.
Cresswell takes a mean corner, doesn’t he? We have it all in this team playing this pressing style – everyone trying and not afraid to give it a go. Just hope that Southgate’s England set-up doesn’t get into Declan Rice’s head – we can’t play that way. Thank goodness Arthur Masuaku is not English and affected by the National team’s malaise.
Antonio, Bowen, Soucek, Haller (cheer up, my old mate!), Snodgrass backed by the tireless efforts of the back-up boys equals a team worth watching, cheering, applauding and following. Give it a go, boys. Get stuck in and do all the things that Kevin and Stuart sing to you every day. Forget all that stuff from the classroom and play by instict. It will bear fruit and you’ll all enjoy the game and we’ll all enjoy cheering you on.
Grady Diangana is gone – we might never know if he would have fitted-in somewhere in the team on a regular basis. Nice performances for West Brom but I seem to remember Ravel Morrison having a few absolutely excellent moments, too. Pity it was 5 minutes for every 3 hours played. Not saying Grady will be similar, but I’m very happy with the players we have. Once again – what a great bench we had against Wolves.
COYI
Oh, and I forgot to mention ………… Absolutely delighted that we have some points before November. Having lost at home to Newcastle and noticing past results against Wolves, I was dreading this run of fixtures until November.
Now, renewed hope. Team looking good and playing well – not squeaking a lucky win against Wolves but an inspiring performance with a proper 4:0 scoreline. Long may it continue. I’m looking forward to November now!!
Ever the optimist.
COYI
Arthur is a terrific left wing back but Diangana was a goal scoring left winger. Two totally different types of player. Two totally different positions. Arthur can play as a winger, moyes has used him there before and he’s scored the odd goal but don’t think he will ever compete with a player like diangana. Moyes may well decide to play Arthur as a winger in future but at the latest count I think someone said we already have quite a few wingers in the squad already.
About Grady Diangana:
1. The owners said any transfer budget would have to be funded by sales.
2. We need money spent on defensive reinforcements (that’s still the case – we are one more injury or suspension away from a defensive crisis).
3. We have a lot of players who can play left sided midfield or attack.
4. That was the only offer we are told that came in for any of these left sided players
5. We don’t know if he (or his agent) asked for assurances about first team football – if that happened, it’s obviously not going to be given by the manager.
6. £18 million was a good deal for a relatively untested Prem player.
7. No West Ham fan would want a good young player who’s come up through the club to leave, but given 1-6 above I reluctantly agreed with the sale.
8. And no, I don’t think he gets into the current team playing our current formation (which has obviously been the way to go for years, given our squad). Good luck to Grady for the future.
Thanks for taking so much time to offer a considered response. That’s what we are about. Not a daft slogan site. never will be
Totally agree G.O.Daze. Everybody talking about Grady as if he was a world beater. Didn’t show us too much when playing just some promise. We still don’t know and wont until the end of a full season. I personally believe he will end up an average Prem player who gets quite a lot of injuries. I could end up looking completely stupid but that’s my opinion of the situation. COYI.
“I asked the question last night and repeat it now: Would Grady Diangana have been able to force his way into the team given what Moyes was obviously planning? Doubt it. It’s fair to argue that wasn’t a reason to sell him which was the point obviously raised by Mark Noble and apparently backed by the team”.
So why ask it again Hugh other than to rile people? It is the most disingenuous question imaginable to raise whether he wouldbe picked for one starting eleven in what is a 50 match season and a 23 man squad game. So again I do not see the point of asking it once let alone twice. Ngakia may not either have got into the starting XI but it still doesnt mean you sell your best young players juyst as they are starting to blossom as we are NOW seeing. Despite two MOTM performances against Everton & Chelsea you are still questioning his sale? Literally unbelievable!!
MOM against Chelsea was Mason Mount.
MOM against Everton was Calvert-Lewin.