Having been one of his biggest critics for the best part of a year, it would seem only fair to bang the drum for one West Ham player in particular whose entry after an hour helped transform an abject capitulation into a rearguard action that earned point when none was deserved after one of the worst first halves in memory.
Pablo, Austvø and Mohamadou Kanté arrived with West Ham a mess. The only saving grace form that abject first ’45 was that the Hammers were just two goals down when it could easily have been game over, so poor was their level of competitiveness or willingness to respond to Millwall’s bullying, swarming tactics – it wasn’t as if our opponents coming out of the trap like a train should have been any surprise, after all.
Pablo, fresh from his goal midweek, looked a different player: So much so I almost did a double take when the Brazilian completed a driving run on goal, coming within a whisker of scoring, being denied only at the post and winning a corner along with a bucket load of kudos.
Pablo scored last week and it seems to have transformed him
Confidence is an amazing thing but the running was there, the touch looked better (unbelievably) and the desire to compete that was lacking in his team mates showed the bearded one head and shoulders above some of his more meek colleagues.
As Geo on Hammers chat put it, “West Ham’s best player” and nobody will argue with that.
West Ham’s strength from the bench saved them this afternoon: Austbø’s running set up the first, Kante scored the second and Pablo provided the cojones that few had shown before.
And a word of encouragement for the red-carded Kanté. The young French midfielder whose brilliant goal started the fight back took responsibility after his own terrible touch gifted possession, and an almost certain goal. He took the red card on the chin to save a point – and pride- for his side. Not often I’ll congratulate a player for a professional foul but against this opponent – well done, young man.
Why does kante not get praised on here? The boy reminds me of a young yaya you’re and when he came on the effort, desire and forward running were superb. Error in possession was his only downfall and the foul definitely saved us from sitting here feeling sick that the scum won in the last minute of the game. He’s going to be a big player for us, I really believe it.
Pablo if your reading this keep it up. You were unlucky not to score and your yellow card should have been given to the ref.
Hard work does beat talent sometimes,
He reminds me of Steve Lomas.
Pundits at the time Lomas played at West Ham were quick to criticise he’s footballing credentials, but that man played his heart out for the hammers and Pablo is the same.
For me both those players deserve recognition for their never say die attitude
I’m old school and this is what we expected from all of our players back in the day.
Social Media cannot bamboozle me, it should be clear to most by now, that Pablo has plenty of heart and he is going to play a massive part for us this season, I believe that the goals will also come too. I hope that he remains fit for the rest of the season as we need him.
As for Kante, he is a beast with a fantastic temperament as well as an eye for goal. We will need to update his contract soon enough, as the big boys will soon come calling.
Hopefully people will just get off his back! He will have bad games for us but he tries his heart out, he’s like a poor man’s Carlos Tevez.
And while I’m at it, Kilman needs to be given a break too; he came to Mavropanos rescue at least twice today and all around me in the ground I can hear our fans calling him a “C”. He’s probably going to have to be replaced if we go up, but he’s doing just fine atm (he’s certainly not our worst defender!) so give him a break!
Pablo & Kante each awarded Man of the Match for being the ones to take the game to Millwall and shaking them like rag dolls. Pablo comes in 1st by a whisker, naturally.
Pablo
One word
Fantastic
No transformation just because he scored a goal. That was the same Pablo that’s played all year, constantly striving. The lads a grafter and you know what they say about hard work beating talent when talent doesn’t work hard. I’d have a character like Pablo all day every day over a player with all the talent but no work ethic.
Absolutely Harry
Top Comment, it should be pinned for everyone to see. ⚒️⚒️