You’ve Scored Three Goals and No Passes
OK, so it wasn’t no passes but a total of 170 or so completed passes over the course of 90 minutes (plus added time) is hardly impressive. However, just as Woody Allen once claimed that: “there’s no such things as a bad orgasm”, then we can add that there’s no such thing as a bad win against Chelsea – especially when you have to play for over 20 minutes with ten men. It was a dream debut for James Ward-Prowse who ended the day with two assists chalked up against his name. The first (of many hopefully) was a teasingly flighted corner kick. The second, one of those technical assists where he was the penultimate player to touch the ball before it hit the net. It was a very nice pass, but it was really Michail Antonio who assisted the creation of his own opportunity – topped it off with a stunning strike which was possibly the best of his 62 Premier League goals for West Ham. For once, David Moyes made good decisions with his substitutions that saw productive cameos from Pablo Fornals and Edson Alvarez.
The Game of Two Halves Masterclass
If West Ham were a rock band, their set would open with one of their best-known songs before boring everyone silly for an hour with a medley of obscure songs from the latest album. Only towards the end would the energy levels rise again with a rousing encore of greatest hits. So, it was yesterday. A strong opening and well worked goal prompted the usual retreat, allowing the Chelsea front line to repeatedly cut through the defensive line time and time again. Had Alphonse Areola not unexpectedly saved the spot kick just before half-time; the Hammers may have been dead and buried. It would have taken a brave man to place a bet on a West Ham win at the interval. Yet, the second half played out as if it were two different teams on the pitch. West Ham defended narrower, pressed in front of the back four and shut down the spaces Chelsea’s forwards had previously exploited. The visitors were invited to put crosses into the box at will, but their delivery was woeful. Even with a one man advantage they rarely threatened after the break.
The Chelsea Red Card Menace
As well as expecting a sound thrashing, my half-time prediction was that one of Nayef Aguerd, Emerson Palmieri or Lucas Paqueta would pick up a second yellow card in the second period. And that’s just what happened. Having gone through the whole of last season without a single sending off, West Ham had fallen foul of officialdom in only their second outing. I’d like to claim a biased refereeing conspiracy but Aguerd was bang to rights on both occasions. The second yellow being both a reckless and unnecessary lunge that hard little chance of ending in success. The sending off prevented a double substitution that would have seen Fornals and Alvarez replace Said Benrahma and Tomas Soucek but Angelo Ogbonna stepped in to replace Aguerd instead. It was the Hammers first Premier League red card since Craig Dawson was dismissed also against Chelsea in April 2022.
Pleased To Meet You Hope You Guess My Name
Early season games can be unpredictable with teams sometimes making wholesale changes to their squads and switching managers. Indeed, it may have been fortunate to be playing Chelsea so early in the season given their vast turnover of personnel. Pochettino will eventually manage to get a tune out of his side even if they looked like a bunch of individuals – and a few duds – put together for big money without any particular plan. At least Raheem Sterling looked to be rejuvenated under the new regime. Although West Ham haven’t experienced the same disruption, they did lose that Declan Whatshisname fella who used to play here, and his absence will take some getting used to. The hope is that more signings will arrive at the London Stadium before the end of the transfer window, although past performance makes no guarantees. Whether that will herald an improvement is less certain. It is all very well the team being praised for their resilience, discipline, and determination – and they are great attributes – but most fans want to see a lot more than that. West Ham are not a newly promoted club whose only aspiration is to consolidate its position in the top flight. The outlook needs to change
Out Of Left Field
The immediate future of the Paqman will keep us guessing during the early part of the season. Will he be transferred, will he be banned? Yesterday’s eclectic performance embodied theatrics, panache, pomp, and passion. He was as pumped to have won a throw-in as he was when scoring from the spot. In open play, he is partial to drifting out to the left where Emerson (and Fornals, if he is on the pitch) seem to be the players able to operate on a similar wavelength. Emerson continues to be an enigma. Looking highly capable as a wing-back but struggling when asked to operate as a conventional full-back. If the plan is to play mostly with a back four, other options are required at left back. If a three/ five at the back is preferred then someone who can play right wing-back is badly needed.
Under The Hammers 
Hi Geoff, I think you’re right to highlight the Areola penalty save as vital. His distribution was also excellent. The floodgates threatened to open for a while as they have such gifted players, but the victory in the end felt comfortable as we were better organised and more clinical. I’m wondering if this is the way Moyes/ the club has decided to go in general, given that the top clubs have such vast spending power. In which case we need more speed going forward. Antonio is hit and miss and Bowen can’t do it all on his own. It looks as if smash and grab will be with us this season too. Let’s hope it starts to work better again. One thing is for sure: JWP has transformed our corner taking overnight. No more the usual wasted short, or overhit, corners. This guy takes the best I’ve ever seen.
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The front players (antonio, Bowen and Benrahma) had so few touches yesterday, especially in the first half. The service to them was not good because we as more focused on making clearances than in playing between the lines. At least, that’s how I see it. I was waiting for a free kick to be awarded in JWP range but unfortunately it didn’t happen. Excellent victory though
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Yes, we were well organised in the centre of defence and the rest of the team rallied round. But we need more pace up front and more creativity from midfield, especially if Paqueta goes – though Betway are proving most helpful in delaying this 😉
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And an injection of pace wouldn’t go amiss
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Well no one saw that coming, and I’m happy to include myself in that. There are though some long- standing issues that really need sorting. Emerson is not a bad player going forward, but error prone and inclined to panic a little. Coufal is no longer the player he was when he arrived, wholehearted though he is. A pair of really good fullbacks would , alongside the purchases already made, transform our defence. If we are going to continue to play Moyseball, and it seems we are, then we must tighten up on the flanks.
I agree with you Geoff that Mickey’s goal may well have been the best he has ever scored for us, but if he hadn’t reappeared for the second half I wouldn’t have been surprised, he was that bad early on. His absolute pearler later on shouldn’t obscure the need or a top class CF with pace and with real ability in the air to optimise the JWP influence.
COYI.
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I read that Antonio only had 5 touches in the first half on Sunday. Not all his fault. I have a feeling that Moyes now has the idea fixed in his head that Bowen will be his next striker – that he will focus his attention on recruiting wide players on either side. Perhaps, I’m wrong.
I still think we need 4 or 5 new players. A centre back (probably the Greek, a right wing back, left back, and two attack minded players.
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