The over riding impression from that West Ham performance was that there – finally was a team that would run for their manager, for the team, for the crowd and for the shirt. Probably more noticeable only because it has been absent for months, the desire and determination to dig in and run to the end was back. And the crowd, and I, loved every minute of it.
Not a classic but a scrap. Without six first teamers it was never going to be a performance of classical beauty.
To see Alvarez closing down, Paquetá running and closing too, full of energy even in the 95th minute, was a breath of fresh air.
Mavropanous too, committed and fighting as did Kilman alongside him.
Finally there seems a spirit in the team that saw them through. A month ago, that same eleven would have folded and probably lost 3-2 instead of carving out a win and three points.
And that is the difference. The tactical changes can be picked apart in detail later, the altered deployment of Soucek, the late subs and reorganisation of the left sided defence to cope with the speed of Traore – well done indeed, head coach.
Potter has achieved something which David Moyes, Manuel Pellegrini and Julen Lopetegui could not, by winning his first Premier League fixture. The challenge is to make that amount of effort the norm.
Improvements will come, West Ham will play with greater skill and style. Players will come back from injury.
But the commitment is back. COYI!
Attack and defend as a team. Potters mantra.
You could see it to an extent with his “first day” video but also live at the end and that’s just simply the fact the players were smiling.
Well, Kudus wasn’t when he was subbed off but (like him no doubt) I was also thinking “…wtf…” on seeing him going off but it worked out fine in the end.
It was also tactical genius to bring Danny Ings on as a close up of his frightening combover hidden behind his quiff was clearly enough (along with the fact he actually moved a yard or two) to startle Bernd Leno into his error for the third goal…
I like your headline!
Apparently Soler was our 175th different scorer in the premier league, nobody else has had so many.
Interesting stat!
I wish we could get a 25/30 goals a season player. I suppose that will never happen again if the striker curse is to be believed. 😜
Nice to see the players working hard good team work and the players having the shackles taken off COYI
Biggest thing Potter has got through to them and I know he has because he’s said it in a tv interview after the game is it’s ok to make mistakes we’re all human but it’s how you react afterwards. I think that’s taken the pressure off them. I’ve seen us conceding goals the last six months where the team just loses the plot, heads go down. The game last night was different. We fought back and continued to work hard until the final whistle.
Yes, how often do you see player score an og, then redouble their efforts and get one back at the other end. Hope that’s the spirit we’ve got now.