The Forrest Gump quotation suitably amended comes into play once again – “West Ham are like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get.” The debacle at Fulham last weekend was a shocker wasn’t it? A 5-0 drubbing and a terrible performance. Some fans writing on social media reckoned it was our worst ever. As a supporter for 65 years I would say that I’ve seen a few games like that over the years, but yes it was certainly near the top of the league of poor efforts by our team. A few excuses were trotted out regarding illness etc. but really there was little excuse for the shambles that we witnessed.
The following Thursday we had an important Europa League game against a German side higher in the Bundesliga than we are in the Premier League. They came into the game in good form with wins under their belt and as the top scorers in Group A, quite probably the top scorers in the competition as a whole. It was a one match shootout where we held the advantage (following our win in Germany) that a win or draw would see us top the group and go straight through to the round of 16 avoiding a potentially tricky two-legged play-off tie.
The West Ham team was changed a little in personnel from the weekend but totally unrecognisable in terms of performance. After a slow opening few minutes we turned on the style and entertainment that have been so lacking for the past year or more in the league. Not in Europe of course where we have won more games than any other team in European competitions (other than perhaps Real Madrid?). We joined an exclusive club of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United, becoming the sixth English club to top their European league for three consecutive seasons. Does that mean we are now one of the elite big six?
Two superb goals came from Kudus and Alvarez who turned in a man of the match performance before being taken off when the job was done in the second half. I’m not a big fan of assist statistics but they do mean something when the assists are as good as they were in this game. Alvarez to Kudus and Bowen to Alvarez were both inch perfect and the goals themselves were a pleasure to watch. We came close other times too, Bowen a yard offside for one, the bar struck by Paqueta with a fierce right foot shot in the opening minutes, and an easy chance that Bowen should have buried. The whole side looked good before easing up in the second half with the game over and the introduction of the (mandatory) substitutes.
The TV commentator commented that Ings was very important in the dressing room at West Ham. Am I alone in thinking that perhaps he should stay there? The substitutions disrupted the rhythm and the entertainment ceased as the game headed towards its conclusion. Ings was a fine goalscorer before he joined West Ham. What has happened? Is it to do with him or the West Ham style of play? Answers on a postcard. At least Moyes got around the criticism of sending Ings on as a substitute before Mubama by sending them both on at the same time in this game. I can’t see that tactic being tried again.
On the whole a very pleasing and entertaining evening but what West Ham will we see when Wolves arrive on Sunday? Following Wolves promotion to the top flight five years ago they had the upper hand in encounters against us at first but in recent times we have come out on top winning the last three. There’s no way the game can end in a goalless draw that’s for sure. We haven’t had a clean sheet in the league since September; Wolves have only had one clean sheet in their last 24 away games.
The worrying statistics for this game include the fact that Wolves haven’t won a Sunday game in their past ten league games played on this day of the week and have lost their last six Sunday away games. Sunday certainly hasn’t been a day of rest for West Ham as this will be our 50th Premier League game on the day in not much more than two years! Apparently that is 13 more than any other club! And our record when playing Sunday games following a European match on a Thursday night isn’t the best is it? David Moyes also has a very positive record when it comes to home games against Wolves. His positive records often come a cropper though. Before last week’s game I wrote that Moyes hadn’t lost in the last 13 times he had faced Fulham. Oh dear!
I’ve absolutely no idea what to expect in this game. I just hope that we see the same West Ham that performed so stylishly and entertained us on Thursday night, particularly in the first half. Not a repeat of Fulham please. What are the chances?
Under The Hammers 
Well written, couldn’t have put it better myself. As a hammer for as many years as Richard, I think I’ve seen equally bad performances, but at my age I fortunately tend to forget them. Agree that Ings should be played in his best position, in the dressing room. I don’t think he’s a bad player, but he’s totally unsuited to be the target man in a Moyesball setup, whereas Mubama could be, if he ever gets the chance of a run in the side. Feel a bit sorry for Fornals. He seems to be a perfect professional, but his lack of match fitness and sharpness is so evident when he gets his few minutes. He’s not the player he was a couple of years ago when he was a regular. We need to keep Alvarez fit, and avoiding bookings.
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So true Len, you forget the details of the poor performances but you remember that they happened!
I always had high hopes for Fornals but he’s never quite done it consistently has he?
Will we ever know re Mubama? We seem to produce fine academy players but how many break through or even get the chance to?
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Surprised to read a while ago that Tony Carr was sacked for not producing enough players to make it into the first team, but I can’t think of one that’s made it since Moyes took over. Rice was started off under Pallegrini, and none since. Not knocking Moyes as I think he has stabalised us as a premiership side, but concerned that we are not taking the next step like Villa, Newcastle and Brighton all seem to have managed.
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Spot on Len. Stabilised yes, but we always want more don’t we? The next step like Brighton, Villa and Newcastle as you say. Moyes supporters will always point to the European trophy, his win ratio etc. but with the resources and support at West Ham are we being greedy in expecting more entertainment and less predictably especially with some of the talent that we now have?
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Ings? Left back. Left back in the dressing room.
It’s amazing isn’t it that we STILL don’t know what sort of performance we are going to get from our team. Consistency never was the West Ham way, and probably never will be,but what a joy to see the boys come out and play with some freedom. They actually looked to get the ball forward so much more than they have been , supported the attacks much better and got back to defend when they had to. It was as though they had agreed amongst themselves to go out and atone for the performance vFulham. I can’t believe Moyse told them to play like that,or,if he did,he should tell them every game .
Mubama doesn’t look a Premiership player to me yet. A very poor first touch way to often to operate at this level.
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Both Mubama and Ings failed to have any impact on the game, giving the ball away frequently. Who knows if Mubama will make it?
As you say Mike we’ve always been the same re lack of consistency- that’s why so many teams of the past never quite achieved what we might have done.
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