The morning after West Ham’s 4-1 win at Southampton and, strangely enough, progressing in the cup is probably not the most important thing to come out of the game.
Nuno Espírito Santo took a massive risk by selecting such a young and inexperienced team, but I actually thought it gave him something of a free hit.
We knew beforehand that Nuno was planning to make major changes and give the youngsters their chance, but even I wasn’t expecting quite what followed.
Once the team sheet came out, much of the pressure disappeared. Had a team full of youngsters lost at Southampton, I think most West Ham fans would have been reasonably forgiving to the players at least.
Instead, the kids won 4-1 and Nuno has created something of a conundrum for himself.
The Kids Gave Nuno A Problem
What impressed me most was how the youngsters grew into the game.
Southampton were the better team early on and deservedly took the lead, but West Ham didn’t wilt. In fact, the longer the game went on, the more confident and expressive the young players became.
By the end, Ezra Mayers and Airidas Golambeckis had become very steady. Golambeckis in particular reached the point where he was so relaxed that he started expressing himself, striding forward from defence and overlapping Jarrod Bowen.
But the two who really stood out were Lewis Orford and Divin Mukasa.
Both were outstanding and they’re going to be very, very difficult to drop now.
I’m not going to get too far into the Watford team because there’s plenty of time for that over the next few days, but Nuno has given himself a very nice problem.
Josh Ajala has done himself no harm either.
Two goals away at Southampton is a pretty decent way of announcing yourself. I think he’s now made himself a viable option from the bench whenever West Ham need a goal and, perhaps just as importantly, he’s probably stopped any talk of him going out on loan.
Ajala had a night he’ll never forget
Piroe Showed There Is Another Way
Joel Piroe’s performance was significant too.
He started slowly and he’s clearly not somebody who is going to press relentlessly from the front. But as the game progressed, his influence grew and his link-up play became increasingly important.
The pass for Ajala’s second goal was outstanding.
It’s also worth remembering that Piroe was one of only three senior players in the starting XI alongside Max Kilman and Joël Veltman. I thought he showed some leadership in a team packed with youngsters.
Perhaps there was a lesson in there for Nuno too.
West Ham appeared to play something much closer to a 4-3-3 rather than the 4-4-2 we’ve seen him persist with recently, and I thought it worked.
That’s particularly interesting because Nuno’s use of Piroe against Charlton looked completely wrong. West Ham had bought a proven Championship goalscorer and then asked him to spend much of the game operating behind Taty Castellanos.
Piroe dropping off and linking the play at Southampton gave West Ham something different.
He played so well that Taty Castellanos had little choice but to come on and make an impression himself, which he duly did by scoring.
Kieber Lamadrid did okay and showed plenty of energy, but the difference when Jarrod Bowen came on was obvious. The captain added another level of quality and finished the game with probably the most Jarrod Bowen-like goal you’re ever likely to see.
Southampton Win Could Change The Mood
For me, though, the biggest benefit from Southampton wasn’t reaching the next round.
It was the confidence the result will have given the youngsters, the senior players, the squad and probably the whole club.
That matters enormously after the dreadful 2-1 defeat against Charlton and such a disappointing start to the Championship campaign.
There were plenty of reasons to be pessimistic beforehand. In fact, I predicted a 2-1 Southampton victory in my match preview and wasn’t particularly confident Nuno’s team would progress.
Instead, his youngsters have provided him with some answers.
Now he has to decide whether he’s brave enough to use them against Watford.
Nuno took a gamble.
It paid off so well that he’s now got some difficult decisions to make.
Ajala 3 goals in 2 games started and some brilliant goals last sesaon! Pablo 19 games 0 goals! If he was a new signing everyone would be raving! Instead he wlll go back on the bench no doubt
Great to see Orford doing well especially as, oddly, he could not even get a run in the Stevenage side last season. It gives encouragement to those who have also struggled when loaned out (Casey and Robinson come to mind) that all is not lost within West Ham establishment.
Does anyone know anything about Ghandall who seems to be playing in the U-21’s side? He does not appear on the official list of youth players.
Praises all round and very deserved.
Nuno wants to Look, Listen and Learn.
He needs to take his stubborn head off talk to players and stay away from parking the bus.
Excellent win but that doesn’t eliminate need for signings.
Philosophy of signing correct players (ready for premiership) needs to be dismissed immediate problem is getting promoted.
With this win Nuno has made a rod for his back any losses will immediately be related to this match.
Rightly so.
Great article, spot on and upbeat, very refreshing.
Great performance and agree it was nice to keep attacking right to the end.
The whole team showed togetherness and hunger to win the game. They were given the chance to impress, and boy did they do that in style. Every players was superb. I have got to mention Kilman because he gets a lots of stick, but he played well and gelled well with the youngsters. As for Veltman first name on sheet at week-end.I would star this team at the week-end, no one deserves to be dropped. When the substitutions weee made we kept attacking, which was great to see.The display ignited Bowen and Taty and they showed they do care a lot about this club. If we play like this, Taty will be happy to be part of this team.His goal celebration showed this, he wants to be a winner.
So come on boys let’s keep this going.
Looking forward to the weekend
Loved the game last night and went to bed so happy
COYI
Real shame Marshall not involved after creating it up with those boys in the youth team. Marshall has already scored for Luton. Good goal. Jack Wilshire knew exactly what he was getting.
Congratulations to whoever, Mark Robson (?), applied this style of football in the academy. The lads can play it blindfold and it suits newcomers Engels, Mukasa who play it just as naturally – good recruitment.
It must be difficult to get the right mix of youth & experience except in midfield, where you have Kante, Engels, Orford & Mukasa who are ahead of Alvarez & JWP who do not play the same style of football, but are very experienced backup which will always be needed.
Can’t go on and on, so many good individual performances as mentioned in the article.
Now I hope that the manager adopts the academy style of football with a blend of youth and experience. If he does, I like the fact there will be room for improvement all season long as it is so dynamic. Also, it galvanised everyone, including 1st team regulars who came springing on in the 2nd half, as if they were late to a party.😊 His usual 4-2-1-3 setup (that is how I see it) is still a useful tactical switch, but does not have the scope for improvement through practice, that this style has. Plus this is great to watch!
Think it was a lucky accident for NES – but that works, at least he gave it a go. Hope he has a new found appreciation of the mix of real ability & skill at the club.
Also like Lamadrid and his bustling, slightly different style of play – he fits in nicely too and adds a different element to the team’s play. He is already improving – well done to him, can’t be easy..
A great team performance last night, the youngsters showed some of the older players what energy and passion we require on a game to game basis. The biggest positive for me though, in a night of many positives, was the fact that Nuno didnt replace attackers with defenders and try to hold on to a lead. Like for like changes kept our foot on the gas and the pressure on. Lets hope he takes the lesson o. Moving forward. Well done to the whole team on a great performance.
“If you are good enough you are old enough is the old maxim”. Just like Paul Allen years back they are all good enough. So Hammers, Hammers play the lads, Hammers play the lads”.
Orford has impressed me. The kid reminds me of a young Trevor Brooking and if he goes on to do half as well as Trevor he’d have done all right in my book.
This is our level now. Southgate are in the same division with similar ambitions. This is exactly to sort of team, formation and bold approach that will get us out of the Championship. It’s not a gamble to play young, athletic, keen and skilful players.
It’s worth starting the same team Bowen and Mavropanos excepted against Watford, these first team players need a kick up the backside. We should do it before the window shuts to give us time to sell the ones that think they are too good.
Confidence is high and if it works we’ll make similar subs to see if they can have the same impact.
Agree with Custom House comment regarding Taty, he looked like he wants to be at the club. Could Veltman play right back and walker peters play left back ? Great performance from youngsters trying to impress,more of the same please .
The most important lesson learned is don’t try to sit on leads.
Great result, & good to see our youngsters shine. Good, too, to see Nuno take a risk & abandon his negative tactics; but what really matters is the Watford performance. This one has lifted us all & given us some hope. Let’s hope that it is the start of the revival & of a promotion campaign. Well done, all.
It’s great to see the youngsters doing well , definitely nice to get a win. There was more energy than I have seen so far it’s good to see. Bowen and Taty getting a goal each bodes well. Ajala took the goals well definitely a talent to watch . Now let’s do it in the league.
Great result, & good to see our youngsters shine. Good, too, to see Nuno take a risk & abandon his negative tactics; but what really matters is the Watford performance. This one has lifted us all & given us some hope. Let’s hope that it is the start of the revival & of a promotion campaign. Well done, all.
A good win against a strong saints team that hasn’t lost at home since January. Instead of sitting back & making defensive substitutions after taking the lead Nuno took the handbrake off so instead of being under the cosh we actually went on to score more goals, who’d have thought it Nuno?!
Great to see the youngsters performing so well & Tatys goal celebration with the fans did NOT look like a player pushing for a move. ⚒⚒⚒