Difficult to avoid yelling ‘we told you so’ at the screen upon the final whistle: After the last two weeks of crackpot team selections more suited to Julen Lopetegui’s chaotic spell in charge, finally Nuno rolled the dice again and came up with the ‘right’ combination for his chosen eleven to start the game.
No more midfield misery from Andy Irving or Tomas Soucek trundling around and exposing the defence. Nuno got the call right and played Fernandes alongside Freddie Potts and the two looked huge. Strong and combative, it was hard to believe Fernandes is just 21 and Potts was on his full debut. The pair were everything that had been missing from West Ham since David Moyes’ era, performing impeccably against arguably the best midfield trio in the Premier League.
Playing a striker – who knew- gave the Hammers an outlet and a chance to work their way up the pitch. So for the starting XI Nuno has to get a 9. Limited options and he picked an eleven who came back from a goal down to win. Can’t ask more.
Everyone playing in their ‘right’ positions. No inverted wingers – a solid midfield and pace going forward. No ‘apparent’ weakness shown from set pieces.
Nuno’s first win and a Hammers home victory after being behind.
As Fans we’d forgotten what ‘winning’ feels like.
Tactically Nuno got it right. I must admit to being too involved and invested in the result to spend time studying the nuances.
However the substitutions worked well and kept Newcastle at bay. Soucek for Wilson – playing high up the pitch as a like – for like – front man was aimed at keeping an outlet rather than sitting deeper and deeper. Plus of course Soucek’s blood and guts defending and goal threat: Good call, Nuno.
Walker-Peters for Summerville looked inspired. Playing “KWP” as a fast, combative midfielder who knew how to time a tackle helped stop Newcastle advancing through the middle.
Igor Julio at the end for Fernandes kept the intensity high and helped keep the defence strong right to the end. Was slightly concerned to see Fernandes depart before the game was won, such was his influence.
‘9/10’ for the subs, then. The only negative I can add is that there was no striker named on the bench, just a phalanx of midfielders- No Callum Marshall or Josh Landers made no real sense. Had we have been chasing that game we could have been crying out for injection of pace.
However, all’s well that ends well. 18/20 for Nuno this week.
And don’t forget the noise coming from the faithful fans. That is something not heard at the London Stadium for a while. Great stuff. What a day.
Let’s go together. Onwards and upwards. All for one and one for all. Come On You Irons.
Let’s blow Bubbles. Pretty Bubbles. Well done everyone.
I wasn’t crazy about the subs, when Julio came on the team lost its shape, we looked more like a triangle, though very happy with the performance a step in the right direction, let’s do the same against Burnley, pressing high up the pitch and all over.
Agree as well about playing players in the right positions we look a lot better and am sure that helps all the players because there isn’t anything weird or confusing to think about.
Onwards and upwards COYI!!!
Yes indeed.Amazing the difference a functioning,mobile midfield makes.Less pressure on our defence,more chances created.It is the engine room that glues everything together.As you say we have been harping on about it for months and at long last it comes together.Now we need to build on this and keep a regular balanced unchanged team.