If I could turn back time, I might choose to spend the evening listening to a 1970s supermarket music playlist on Spotify rather than watching West Ham take on Olympiacos in the Europa League. Even allowing for the low expectations set for a good many of the European group games, this was especially dire. Ninety minutes of forgettable mediocrity.
The post-match baloney from David Moyes featured his greatest hits of well-worn, trite excuses. “We didn’t play as well as we had hoped”. “The opposition have years of European experience”. “Coming away with the three points was the most important thing”. “They were defensively well organised and stopped us getting our crosses in” – if only there were alternative routes to goal, David.
There is a generally accepted rule that all successful sides will need to win ugly from time to time, but lately West Ham know no other way. Supporters should always want their team to win but don’t we also want to be entertained while they’re at it? Is there any lasting pride or pleasure to be had when resilience and organisation are valued above everything else?
In the end the Hammers wreaked their much-wanted revenge over their Greek opponents who had ended their unbeaten streak two weeks earlier. But it came from the game’s single moment of genuine quality rather than as the result of sustained assault. The presence of a simple yet beautifully crafted goal was incongruous in such a drab match. A sumptuous, chipped pass by James Ward-Prowse perfectly placed for Lucas Paqueta well-timed run into the box to volley home. The on-field decision to flag for offside was representative of the shocking officiating on show all night. Replays clearly showing that Paqueta’s faultless calculation of the angles would have made even Pythagoras proud. Good old VAR!
In one of those quirks of the fixture list, West Ham now find themselves facing two teams owned by the same shady Greek mogul, Evangelos Marinakis, within the space of three days. Despite serial accusations of match fixing and other nefarious activities, Marinakis was considered fit and proper enough to become the majority shareholder of Nottingham Forest in 2017. His tenure has seen the former European champions return to the top tier of English football following promotion to the Premier League in May 2022.
Forest have made an acceptable start to the new season having accumulated one less point than the Hammers from their opening 11 games. They were very poor travellers throughout last season, and although their struggles on the road have largely persisted they have tasted victory at Chelsea and secured a goalless draw at Palace, where they were easily the better team. Should they win today they would leapfrog West Ham and potentially enter the international break sitting in the top half. The same outcome could see ourselves, the one-time league leaders, drop down into the bottom six.
Today’s game is the last of seven played by West Ham since the last blank international weekend. In that time, there have been two cup wins but not a single league point – having lost all three games to Aston Villa, Everton, and Brentford. It is a tough schedule but still a terribly poor return for a team that sets up not to lose. Since the start of last season, Moyes team have lost 25 and won just 15 of 49 games. This leaves a triple whammy where the club has spent bags of money on transfers, where the football remains tedious, and is not yielding results.
During his time as West Ham boss, Moyes has spoken about instilling a big club, winning mentality to the club. Just as he has talked about Red Bull models. Recently, he has again claimed to have made changes in approach to make us more expansive. This has completely passed me by. As they used to say in banking: “the words and numbers do not match!”
The squad may now contain additional flair players, but the underlying fundamentals have not changed. The overwhelming focus on compact defence and denying space to opponents means that when we eventually win the ball there are too few passing options available. Players are bunched together, are not able to create space and switch play, and become easy prey to the opposition press. Or else it results in hopeful blind first-time flicks to no-one in particular. I have to believe it is coaching rather than individual technical ability that is causing the problem, otherwise a change of manager would make no difference. Sure, upgrades are needed in certain positions, but we have seen how progressive managers have breathed new life into previously dispirited squads.
West Ham will need to up their game from midweek if they are to win today. Forest are one of a small group of teams who boast less possession than the Hammers and they will be happy to sit back and play on the break. They will have done their homework and be fully aware of the Hammer’s creative limitations when allowed the lion’s share of the ball. A ponderous build up ending with hopeful crosses into the box. Or is today the day that Moyes finally reveals a cunning new plan from his dusty box of managerial tricks? Probably not!
Kurt Zouma continues to struggle with his various injuries so it will be as you are at the back except for a return between the sticks for Alphonse Areola. There was a pyrrhic victory for Areola in the week when he picked up the Premier League save of the month award – a shame it came in a 4-1 defeat at Aston Villa.
If Moyes is considering changes it will be possible recalls for stalwarts Michail Antonio and Thomas Soucek. The unintended consequence of leaving Soucek on the bench is that Ward-Prowse is consigned to a far deeper defensive position where he is way less effective. He started his West Ham career at a blistering pace in a more advanced role but perhaps this was creating to much excitement. In midweek he was deployed even deeper than Edson Alvarez. The sublime assist apart, his contribution was mainly backwards and sideways passing reminiscent of a late career Mark Noble tribute act.
I pray to the footballing gods that Moyes again leaves Michail Antonio on the bench and sticks with Jarrod Bowen up top. But equally he needs to realise that Bowen isn’t a straight replacement for Antonio. Other changes to shape are necessary to provide the support required to make this work effectively. Bowen offers greater control and finesse plus the opportunity for interplay and darting runs that can be key in unlocking packed defences. Bowen is not the long term answer to the Hammer’s striking woes but he is the best we have for now.
A memory will have popped up on Danny Ings Facebook page during the week to remind him of his solitary West Ham league goals in this corresponding fixture last season. Ings scoring twice in an unusually comfortable 4-0 win. Divin Mubama, on the other hand, will need a rest following his midweek run-out – the one-minute manager having chosen to bring him on in the 89th minute to show what he can do.
Quite what has become of Said Benrahma in his three years at the London Stadium is beyond all comprehension. His confidence levels appear to have been shattered to the point where every move he attempts is the wrong one. If footballing decisions were a multiple-choice paper, he would regularly be scoring 0%.
I long for the days when I looked forward to West Ham games with anticipation. I find myself conflicted between wanting the team to win against the desire for much-needed change in the way they are managed. Unless Moyes pulls off a shock cup-winning treble, there can be no way he will get a new contract in the summer. With the board reluctant to act before that I fear we will limp along as we are until May. Seeing out the season will be like watching a goldfish that has jumped out of its bowl and is flapping around on the carpet until it slowly dies – and being unable to do anything about it.
We might possibly win today. But it’s not going to be pretty. If West Ham are winning at the break can we ask Kevin Nolan to lock Moyes in the toilet and prevent him sucking all the energy out of the half-time dressing room? COYI!
Under The Hammers 
Hi Geoff, here’s a 1970 hit for you: Just Give Me A Little More Time (Chairman of the Board)…
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Ha ha. I checked the lyrics.
Life’s too short to make a mistake
Let’s think of each other and hesitate
Young and impatient we may be
There’s no need to act foolishly
If we part our hearts won’t forget it
Years from now we’ll surely regret it
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Here’s another “ I should be so lucky, Lucky, lucky, lucky”
At least we had a go, but only when we had to. When we went ahead after about three minutes we dropped deep, presumably planning to defend 1 – 0 for the rest of the game. Thank God Forest scored two and we were forced into having a go. Pacqueta took his early chance so well, but he has to stop giving the ball away so often. Likewise Kudus, who seems determined to take on at least two or three people before passing the ball.
Our progress up the field is often hideously slow, with players looking up after receiving the ball to assess their options. Good sides don’t do this.
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It was a poor first half and yes, it was the usual retreat after scoring an early goal. I did think we came out in the second half more positively even before Forest went ahead, but even then there was little end product that didn’t come from a set piece or a defender’s mistake.
I have commented before about our team waiting for the ball to arrive before thinking about what to do with it next. Playing on their toes and third man runs were features West Ham football in the past but have become lost to shape and organisation. Players like Zouma and Soucek take an age to get the ball under control and whatever other strengths they may have they are out of place in a side that wants to move the ball quickly.
I didn’t see the problem with Kudus was wanting to beat too many people but making strange decisions on when to pass backwards and when to run with the ball. I would expect him to offer more goal threat cutting in on his stronger left foot.
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We don’t seem to have worked out a role for Kudus. A fairly typical WH failing. He is predictable on the right because, like Bowen , and Yarmalenko before him, he doesn’t seem to have a right foot. So it’s always ‘ cut back and cross or cut back, cut in and shoot. Way too easy for good defenders to deal with. If we were to get a real CF, Bowen would surely go back onto the right, where he has done so well, forcing Kudus into Pacqueta territory in the centre or Benrahma – land on the left. In short, we have one more good player than we can really accommodate in one team, and not one that will settle for being an impact sub. Where we needed another good player was CF and LB and we got neither.
I watched the Forest game with my other neighbours, the Palace fans, and Dan commented to me that Zouma looks almost crippled. I watched him carefully after that comment and he really does look awkward, and slow, most of the time. He seems to take an age ( in Premiership terms ) to get the ball where he wants it,and has a most peculiar way of passing the ball. He seems to use his whole body to shift the ball forward, and I wonder if this stems from knee issues? He was very slow to get back for Forests’ second goal too. I’m wondering how long before something serious goes wrong with his knee/s and how long he will be out for? At least in Mavropanos we have some cover.
Another break and then Burnley and Palace. Moyse must have kissed theBlarney stone or something, he certainly has some luck. Once again on the edge of the sack and we scrape two wins in a week, with two winnable games to follow.
COYI Mike.
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Playing left-footed players on the right wing is all the rage these day though isn’t it – Salah, Saka, Mbeumo to name just a few. Perhaps some have a better right foot but it is still obvious what they want to do and opponents struggle to handle it. What Kudus hasn’t yet demonstrated is making space for himself often enough when he cuts in to get a shot in.
Neither Zouma nor Soucek are capable of taking the ball in their stride – so there is always too big a delay at this level to keep the ball moving. But they are two players Moyes loves because of their aerial ability. Although Soucek is scoring again his lack of involvement in open play is not suited to a side wanting to pass and move quickly.
There is no question that we need to sign a striker in the January window. After that though I would prioritise a new right back over a left back – although more options in both positions would be a bonus. Personally, I think Emerson has been one of the best and most consistent players so far this season.
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Emerson is certainly playing better this season than last, and going forward he can be quite incisive. Where I get twitchy though is the space he gives opposing wingers and wing- backs, allowing them room and time to get in crosses or, as last week, hit passes to the edge of the box- an area we defend really poorly. Coufal is going to need replacing, and it’s a pity Moyse seems to have no time for Kehrer. I know the guy has made mistakes, but I think with a run of games he could be ok in that position. What price a striker in January? I’m thinking perhaps not. It’s notoriously difficult time to get either the right player or value for money. Need I mention Danny Ings? Are you still monitoring Embolo!!
Best regards. Mike.
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I was reading earlier today about Bayer Leverkusen – Steidten’s former club – who currently top the Bundesliga and have been described as the most exciting team in Europe. He brought a host of talented but unknown players to the club – although they were floundering until they appointed Xabi Alonso as manager. I’m hoping for a similar revolution at West Ham and that he can unearth a striker I’ve never heard of, like Victor Boniface at Leverkusen who ripped the Hammers apart pre-season. All we would need then is manger who knows how to use them.
In my opinion it is a Moyes tactic to keep the full-backs tucked in and not mark wingers closely. The theory is to defend the crosses in numbers rather than get stretched. It’s why he likes players like Zouma and would love to sign Maguire
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I guess you saw the piece about Bonifsce the other day? The gist of it was that we are way too late and if he goes anywhere it will be Real Madrid or PSG. We might get Abraham or Iheanacho( ?) The problem with allowing wingers to cross is that too often we don’t deal well with the result. Mike
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Sure, no chance of Boniface now. The type of player we need to sign while still playing in the smaller European leagues. Abraham and Ihaneacho would be typical Moyes signings. Wouldn’t imagine Steidten being keen on either
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That was my point really. We might end up with a Moyse selection, when what we want is Steidten to unearth another gem. Boniface cost them two tenths of bugger-all from a club I hadn’t even heard of.
But then we could have had Watkins or Toney for peanuts back in the bad old days.
COYI.
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Have to agree with Mike on all points. It was a cold, damp miserable day at LS and our play did little to lift the mood. You often get the feeling they just haven’t trained together. We won because of Ward Prouse’s phenomenal delivery at set pieces. Better than nothing, but what dreadful watch this team is, despite having some potentially highly entertaining players.
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I did find the second half quite entertaining despite lacking intensity. There was a lopsided feel to the team. Accommodating Soucek did allow JWP to spend more time further forward but it also meant Paqueta being pushed out wide on the left when he needs to be playing centrally. Unfortunately, you can’t involve Soucek in any slick passing movements which probably cancels out his aerial threat. I was quite surprised when Moyes took off Alvarez rather than Soucek but I suppose it sort of worked out. I’m not convinced Moyes has a plan as to how to play his more creative players (Bowen, Paqueta, Kudus, JWP) in the same team, especially if we did eventually sign a striker. There’s not really anyone suited to filling the wide left role.
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I think you’re right about the lack of a plan to integrate the more creative players, though things should become clearer when Paqueta goes and Kudus assumes his position. Bowen plays better on the right, thought’s making a decent stab of playing central. I’d like to see us sign a mobile, effective striker in January who can hold the ball up, but after Hugill, Haller and Scamacca have no confidence in DM’s ability to find one. Maybe Tim Steidten will soon play his masterstroke?…January should be interesting. I’d like, by the way, to see more of Aguerd and Mavropanos playing together – gives us more going forward.
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I’m sure the club will want to sign a striker in January. It will almost certainly be someone who Steidten has identified as I can’t see Moyes being trusted in the circumstances. The dilemma then is whether Moyes will choose to play someone who was not his pick.
It makes sense to see more of Aguerd and Dinos as a partnership. I’ve no idea on the extent of Zouma’s injuries but he looks like he could do with a good rest.
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