By Hughie Southon
There’s only three words to describe that result : Only West Ham!
It’s been the same for as long as I can remember over 58 years of supporting this club – just when everything is going totally wrong, it suddenly goes super RIGHT.
It’s why I’m still here – as roller coaster rides go in this game West Ham United is the only place to be”
And tonight was one of the very best with the two signings we brought in during the winter window and Declan probably just the stars of the show in a fabulous performance.
In reality that’s unfair – every one of them out there gave it their all at the end of a terrible week when they could have been forgiven for feeling as dispirited as the fans.
But from back to front – with the manager and Issa Diop in self isolation – Covid was forgotten, daft interviews too and players lauded showing again this game is only really ever about results.
When they come in the shape of a 4-0 win against a team we haven’t scored against in four meetings and been beaten by on each occasion, you know that you support a football club with a constant surprise or ten in the locker.
Arthur Masuaku embodies all of that. Who would have ever believed that he would become a key player and tonight I found myself wondering whether the much discussed Diang would have forced his way past the bloke in his current form.
The answer is NO! His cross for Haller’s goal was exquisite – his feet are a joy to watch when he’s in flight. Like a few out there, Wolves simply had no answer to him.
After all the dramas of the last few days, which has seen some very silly and unnecessary activity off the pitch, the team spoke and we now sit in 10th place with both Manchester City y and Manchester United amusingly beneath us in 13th and 14th spots.
Lovely evening – great result.
COYI
I echo your comments, Hugh. It is what has been happening throughout my 22 years of supporting West Ham. However, as nice as these sort of results are, they never add up to anything in the final analysis , & are always outnumbered by the disappointing performances & results. The big question is, how can we get the team to win games more consistently ?
Apologies; that should be “my 62 years of supporting the club”.
Good to see Masuaku do well once in the right position. I remember Ogbonna being knocked by fans, now he is the rock at the back, Antonio people said should have been sold 2 seasons ago, then he saved us. Players have ability and it is a matter of getting it out of them by giving them the right opportunity and confidence to do their thing. I think Haller and Anderson could shine if given the same and suddenly we would be looking up instead of down. Fans are very fickle with players but when you know a player has the ability it is how to draw it out of them, not knock them and hope we can sell them. I also think the board did the right thing selling Diang, good young player but we don’t need another wide player and we needed cash to get a defender.
Fornals was brilliant too. His two assists for Bowen were key. His work rate all over the pitch is phenomenal, as is Bowen’s, as is Soucheks. There is a reason moyes keeps playing these players and a lot of it is to do with work rate in attack and in defence. These are players that can do both jobs.
Completely agree! The best players have that work rate ingrained, these are the players Moyes likes and I’m happy about that.
Nice article Hugh and great game last night – I could even relax 20 minutes before the end as I could not see a way back for Wolves. Great credit to the players, the manager and the coaches. It felt great again to be a Hammer
My only disagreement with the artticle concerns Diang – he may well not have played last night – but I felt that the way that he was sold – which seems to have been over Moyes’ head and the subsequent fallout is what really set us back at the start of the season – certainly for the Bournemouth friendly and the Newcastle disaster.
My feeling was that Moyes had said that he would like a few more defenders, but if it was not possible then he would work with what he had
Anyway that is done and the lads have now responded brilliantly but IMHO it will always remain a bad decision by the board
Let me not spoil our great night
COYI
Tremendous! Terrific performances by everyone. I’ll be glad when the window closes if we keep Declan, with or without new blood. Alesi, Longlelo and Browne can step up. So pleased to see Arthur getting some overdue plaudits and he even got Haller to smile. COYI.