Whilst I don’t agree with some of the cataclysmic appraisals of West Ham’s performance against Queens Park Rangers on Friday, there are obvious areas of concern. The Hammers appear to be doing a bit better than okay in the Championship, but we’re certainly not sweeping all before us.
The lack of intensity and front-foot football displayed at the London Stadium in the 1-1 draw against QPR was not an isolated incident. In fact, this is quite frequently how we play, and it’s something Nuno Espírito Santo needs to address if West Ham are to guarantee automatic promotion.
Therefore, whilst trying to improve the defence, it’s important that West Ham get very much on the front foot. And one of the ways that could be achieved is by playing an actual left-back in the position rather than continuing with Morato, who, for all his qualities, is not naturally an attacking-minded full-back.
Whoa are ya? Adama Boiro joined West Ham on a season-long loan but didn’t make the bench against QPR
Morato Is Doing a Job, But Is It Enough?
Now don’t get me wrong, I think Morato has been an astute signing, but I do believe he was signed as cover for Max Kilman after the club missed out on Axel Disasi.
The Brazilian now finds himself as the regular starter at left-back, and for all his qualities, he is not an attacking-minded full-back.
Not that he did a bad job against QPR. In fact, Morato played Manor Solomon in on a couple of occasions and produced a good cross. It could also be argued that he had a much better game than Kyle Walker-Peters.
All that said, he doesn’t add the attacking thrust needed in a team that is going to have the majority of possession.
Time to Give Adama Boiro a Chance?
For that reason, I’d very much like to see Adama Boiro given a go sooner rather than later.
Not that I know too much about the defender. The truth is, I haven’t really seen him play, and that’s really the point, isn’t it?
Recruitment director Nils Koppen brought him in on transfer deadline day and, whilst I appreciate he was probably nobody’s first choice, it still might be an idea to see whether or not he can do a job.
Because West Ham are unlikely to play it safe to automatic promotion in this division.
I’m quite certain that if we stay as we are, we’ll comfortably make the play-offs. But the difference between that and automatic promotion is probably down to fine margins.
And given the amount of attacking talent the Hammers possess, it’s probably about time we start building a team to get the best out of it.
Boiro brought in to cover loss of Diouf speed_let him do it.
Well documented Morato is not a left back as he’s to slow.
At Wolves Nuno used him as a late sub centre back a blocker to suppress attacks.
Nailed it!
It’s virtually a given that to nullify Hammers, opponents are playing a low/medium block and then exploit spaces in behind on transition.
Hammers are going to have majority ball possession in virtually every game.
Therefore we require player’s moving off of the ball to break through stubborn defences.
Inverted wingers are pointless versus a back five as they just run into congested areas.
Better to swap the wingers now and again during the match and have full backs overlap to get to the line.
Old fashioned, yes. Effective, yes!
This ex-reserve ‘keeper multiple-sacked clueless cautious loser manager has no idea what he’s doing.
He’s been living off relative success at Wolves, albeit heavily bankrolled, for years and the wheels had started to come off at Forest too after a purple patch there.
We won’t be getting promoted with this plum, I’m hoping the penny drops soon and he’s replaced by a gutsy manager with passion and charisma that plays front-foot football before it’s too late.