Author: Geoff Hopkins

Hammer House of Horror

Once again West Ham were accommodating hosts to a team looking to end of dismal sequence of results.  Leicester got their first away league win of the season and maintained their record of not losing points from a winning position; West Ham maintained their average 2 goals per home game against the Foxes.  The second half performance was possibly one of the best 45 minutes of the campaign.  Such a shame, then, that the first half was down there with one of the worst.  Has there been a consistent positive showing over a full 90 minutes this season; home or away?  The opening 10 minute period was abysmal.  Cresswell’s reluctance to stay close to Mahrez was negligent but Randolph’s attempt to save was awful.  Time to rotate the gloves again, I think, and give Adrian another run.  The defending for the second goal was collectively appalling; a total lack of organisation allowing Huth and a couple of his colleagues all the space they could ever want at the far post.

Is There Even a Plan A?

Many fans got the starting eleven that they wanted with Byram in at right back, Ayew in for Feghouli and Kouyate partnering Obiang in central midfield.  Unfortunately while introductions were still being made we were two goals down and Reid was lost to injury.  The relative roles of Lanzini, Antonio, Ayew (and later Snodgrass) was never really obvious to me.  Maybe Bilic has a vision somewhere in his head of a fluid retro ‘totaalvoetbal’ approach but the players either don’t understand it or are unable to execute it.  Antonio occasionally gave the impression of being the left sided midfield player but only for brief spells, otherwise it was a no-wide-man-zone.  Leicester had a shape and game plan which they stuck to throughout whereas West Ham’s organisation was close to anarchy, particularly in the first half.  Sometimes I wonder whether the team talk goes beyond fist bumping.  The thinness of our squad was also apparent by a comparison of the two benches.  Leicester had Slimani, Musa and Gray to call on as attacking options, West Ham had Snodgrass.

More Injuries

West Ham ended the day with injuries to Reid and Obiang both of which looked bad by anyone’s standards but judging by West Ham experience look like at least 6 weeks out .  Antonio also picked up an injury that will keep him out of the England squad and the opportunity of a first cap.  Reid and Obiang have been two of our best performers this season but neither had great games yesterday before going off.  Like most I expected Ginge to be the like-for-like replacement for Reid but moving Kouyate back was probably the right decision in the circumstances with Vardy’s pace to cope with.    No arguments either with Fernandes on for Obiang.  Although he is not a holding midfielder Fernandes give the impression of an accomplished and intelligent player always looking to do something meaningful with the ball rather than simply playing it to the nearest teammate.  His introduction did coincide with Leicester tiring but nonetheless was still an encouraging performance.

Holding on to The Jewel

Having gone two goals down we didn’t really threaten until Lanzini conjured up a little free-kick magic in the 20^th minute.  For a while it looked like a lifeline that we could turn to our advantage but hope was dashed by the third Leicester goal.  Carroll, normally one of our most reliable defenders at corners, completely missing the ball with is head and Vardy scoring a poachers goal in the ensuing scramble; something our own strikers were unable to emulate later in the game.  Lanzini has emerged from the shadows to become a quality creative force in midfield; always positive, looking to go in the right direction and posing problems for opposition defences.  Very quickly he has risen to the status of far too good for a team in lower-mid table and it would be no surprise if someone came in to steal The Jewel in the summer.

How did they do?

Ayew scored his 4^th goal in seven games when he nodded home West Ham’s second yesterday but his performance will be best remembered for the shocking miss late on from Antonio’s pass.  With the whole goal at his mercy and the keeper stranded he inexplicably went for power and blasted over the top.  I would have to think very hard to remember an easier chance being squandered; Carroll came close in added time but you have to give Schmeichel much of the credit to  for that one.  Despite the goals I am still to be convinced as to what Ayew brings to the team with his all round game.  He is another with the inclination to play one touch lay-offs/ passes much of the time rather than getting involved in build up play.  While Ayew, glaring miss apart, did OK, Snodgrass was a big disappointment.  Played on the right because he doesn’t have the pace to go round the full-back, he continually abdicated responsibility to Byram to get a cross in.  Byram himself had a decent game and must surely have warranted a run at right back to prove himself.  Fernandes should also be given more opportunity than the usual 5 minutes at the end to show what he can do.  There was also an encouraging cameo from Masuaku which could allow the under-performing Cresswell to pack his suitcase and join Noble at the seaside for a few weeks.

Ratings: Randolph (4), Byram (7), Reid (5), Fonte (5), Cresswell (5), Kouyate (5), Obiang (5), Ayew (6), Lanzini (8), Antonio (7), Carroll(6) Subs: Snodgrass (4), Fernandes (6), Masuaku (6)

Wish You Were Here

So that is 1 point out of a possible 9 since the warm weather jaunt to Dubai where the boys apparently worked on their defending as well as getting involved in a spot of team bonding.  The value of these trips in the past has always seemed rather dubious but this time around there should be some serious questions asked judging by the results, performances and defensive displays since the return.  An all-expenses paid holiday as a reward for getting knocked out of the cup early is a really strange one.

The Insanity of Slaven?

It is said that doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results is a sign of insanity.  If that is the case then perhaps our manager is a raving lunatic!  He may well be cool, know West Ham (whatever that means), have a good sense of humour and be the sort of bloke you could imagine going down the pub with but a deep thinking manager he is not.  Last season he introduced some much needed flair to the team; a refreshing change to Fat Sam’s attritional style  of play but which exploited Allardyce’s organisation legacy to secure some excellent results particularly against top 6 sides.  This year not only the swagger has gone and also the organisation.  I can understand how a side can be a work in progress but right now it is difficult to see which direction we are meant to be heading in.  Tactics, selection, recruitment and organisation are all over the place with no discernible style or strategy .  This is not he astute full of ideas younger manager that I thought we were getting.  The last time he did something innovative was to play Reece Oxford against Arsenal in the first game of last season.  Maybe he is an upgrade on Allardyce but he is no Pochettino or Koeman.  Sorry to say but we need better.  Early cup exits and a bottom half finish would be a relatively disastrous season.  Yesterday we were very lucky to come away without a substantial hammering.

Captain Mediocre

Mark Noble has served West Ham well in his 10 plus years at the club.  On MOTD yesterday Motty posed the question “what price loyalty?” when observing that Noble had made close to 400 appearances  for the club but had recently been criticised by fans on social media.  There is, of course, no connection between the two facts.  Noble like any other player should not be in the team if he is not performing well enough.  What he may or may not have done in the past is purely sentiment and not a justification for selection.  All careers come to an end.  Unfortunately Noble slows everything down due to both a lack of pace and slowness of thought.  His first instinct is to play a first time short pass backwards or sideways as if it were an extended game of one-touch.  The game is played at speed these days and you need to be an exceptional talent to survive without pace all around the pitch.  That we have several other plodders in the team only makes matters worse.  I admire loyalty up to a point but he has make a good living at West Ham and I doubt that any bigger club has ever come courting; Palace or Stoke perhaps.  Bilic says his role as captain is vital to the team and that he gees things up when things are not going well.  Is that really enough?  Perhaps he can come good again but right now I don’t understand how he keeps making the starting team-sheet.

Right Back Where We Started

The right back situation is a farce.  Who next after Antonio and Kouyate?  Why not give Adrian a try?  Or how about giving Sam Byram a decent run; an actual right back who defends at least as well as Cresswell and can also offer something going forward.  For reasons best known to the manager he would rather play others out of position than employ a specialist.  Is it to give his favourites a game or simply stubbornness because Byram was not his transfer pick?  Some say that Bilic will have better knowledge because he sees the players in training every day but this is the same manager who didn’t really fancy Antonio and Obiang; arguably our best two players now.  In his post match Bilic was suggesting that Byram was at fault for the third goal but in reality it was Ayew who screwed up.  A case of getting his justification for next week’s selection in early?

The Deadwood Stage

There is a cycle at West Ham.  The squad is littered with dead-wood, jobbing footballers.  Every now and then there is a clear out with cut-price transfers and contracts paid up only to fill the space created with more of the same bench warmers.  It is just like the process of clearing out your attic.  Look at the January transfer for example.  What was the point on spending the best part of £20 million on Fonte and Snodgrass when we could have made do until the summer with Collins and Feghouli/ Ayew?  Neither are bad players but both have their best days behind them.  The absence of a long term transfer strategy worries me.  The names that we are being linked with (while many may be pure rumours) make me shudder.  Players such as Sagna or Zabaletta at the end of their useful careers and looking for a final payday.  Or even worse the woeful Benteke.  Scouting needs to go up several notches to focus on hungry young talent.  It is no point pretending to compete for established players who will in all probability end up at Champion’s League clubs and then being forced to do your shopping from the bargain basement.

There Are No Easy Games?

Observers like to say that there are no easy games in the Premier League and, in fact, Slaven Bilic said exactly the same in the build up to the visit of Chelsea on Monday night.  Yet from Chelsea’s point of view this was much of a stroll in the Olympic Park.  Sit back and absorb the expected early pressure, do what you’re good at and hit on the break, once in front take the foot off the gas, give your best players a rest and coast to a comfortable victory.  In the record books the result will have the look of a closely contested game but in reality it was far from that; there was only going to be one winner the minute Eden Hazard tucked away the opener.  Of course, money plays a big part and Chelsea’s squad strength bears no relation to our ramshackle collection once you get past a competent dozen or so.  But what Chelsea have under Conte this season is remorseless organisation that allows flair players opportunity to flourish; something that had been lost under Mourinho.  Organisation, preparation and motivation are as important managerial attributes as are tactics and selection, and remain part of the reason that I continue to have reservations about our own manager.

Oh So Predictable!

It is true that the absence of Michail Antonio left few viable attacking options and it was a case of a return for a rusty Andy Carroll whether he was ready or not.  In the more recent games where Carroll has played with Antonio just behind we have been able to mix play up a little but on this occasion, particularly in the first half, we were back to the agricultural tactic of lumping long hopeful high balls into the area.  If we felt that this ploy would come as a surprise to Chelsea then we were sadly mistaken.  Space on the flanks was effectively kept to a minimum and wide players rarely got behind the defence into those areas where crosses are more difficult to defend.  As it was Chelsea’s central defenders were able to deal with the threat with ease and probably had enough time to send the odd tweet in the meantime if they really wanted to.  The game was effectively all over early in the second half and although, to the player’s credit, no-one gave up Chelsea rarely needed to get out of low gear.

Square Pegs and Round Holes Again.

Once again team selection has the look of choose the favourite available eleven players and then decide how to fit them in to some semblance of a formation.   The need for specialist full-backs has long been a West Ham blind spot and the current management appear to have the same blinkers.  It is a scenario that you might expect in Sunday morning park football but this is supposed to be the world’s elite league competition.  Is there any evidence to suggest that either Kouyate (or Antonio before him) were effective in this position?  I know some supporters don’t rate Byram but I would think, injuries permitting, he should be given a run in the side to prove himself or otherwise, there is not now much to lose.  He looks as capable a defender as Cresswell to me even if he hasn’t demonstrated too much going forward yet.  I can view the selection as putting off the difficult decision in central midfield now that Pedro Obiang has cemented his starting position.  One of Noble and Kouyate has to be benched (Noble in my opinion) although Slav may have a ‘get out of jail card’ with the injury to Winston Reid.

Ambre Solaire Time

I have already sensed an end of season unwinding feel in recent matches and my fear is that it will only go one way from here.  We do not look the fittest or most motivated of teams at the best of times and it would come as a surprise to me now if we ended the season in the top half.  Despite West Brom’s defeat at the weekend they are still some way clear and I reckon that both Stoke and Southampton will finish ahead of us.  A 7^th or 8^th place finish is a reasonable benchmark for a club of our size and so anything less looks like underachievement.  There have been some positives for the season but overall it has been disappointing and if the club wants fewer white seats to turn up to games next year they need to address the disjointed team issues as a matter of urgency.

Squad Renewal

In an after match interview David Sullivan was quoted as saying that ‘we are a few players short of a very, very good side’ or words to that effect.  I can only hope that he was either misquoted and purposelessly putting out misinformation.  You could argue that, in the unlikely circumstances of everyone being fit, we could field a decent starting eleven but after that it the squad has the familiar bare-bones look to it.  After the failings of the summer transfer window (and the gap-filling nature of the January one) the squad needs a major overhaul rather than a few tweaks if we are serious about challenging for greater things.  The squad lacks quality, depth and pace.  It would be comforting to think that we had a style of play in mind and recruited players to fit that style but I don’t see that.  Our approach appears to be an opportunist one that recruits players in isolation rather than considering how they are going to fit into a system.  Not everything is the fault of the manager and the lack of a longer term vision is worrying.  The reported new one year rolling contract for Bilic feels like a hedge play.  He is either the right man (not just a good enough one) for the job or he isn’t.

Ratings: Randolph (6), Kouyate (5), Reid (6), Fonte (5), Cresswell (5), Noble (5), Obiang (6), Feghouli (5), Lanzini (7), Snodgrass (6), Carroll (5) Subs: Byram (6), Ayew (6), Fernandes (5)

A Game That Lived up to its Billing

I wonder how many neutrals made it to the end of this televised game? It has always seemed an odd to time to show live football to me and whoever thought this game might turn out to be a spectacle has to be a seriously optimistic individual. I think even a re-run of Noel’s House Party would have been more entertaining.  It is still February and here were two clubs with almost nothing to play for, and it showed. As much as they talked up the ‘looking over their shoulder’ on the commentary it end of season fare being played out well before the clocks have changed.  Probably the early goal had an impact on the structure of the game but it was disappointing that the spot-kick was the only noteworthy action of a limp first 45 minutes. The second half was better, but only in comparison with the first, as West Ham upped the tempo in search of an equaliser (with Watford happy to defend their lead)  but once the Hammers had secured the deserved equaliser they gave the impression of job done.  In fact after the goal Watford showed a little adventure of their own and might have snatched a winner with the very last kick of the game.

Slaven Gets Animated

The one person who did seem to get worked up by events was manager Slaven Bilic whose remonstrations in the technical area resulted in several terse conversations with the fourth official.  If you had pressed me to describe Slaven’s normal match-day demeanour I would conjure up an image of a slightly stooped figure, hands resting on thighs and looking mostly impassive except where celebrating a goal.  Recently he has morphed into a character very much wearing his passion on his sleeve. Perhaps he has been taking animation lessons from Conte or Klopp.  Or maybe there is truth in the rumour that only a top eight finish qualifies for automatic contract renewal and that anything less requires entering the play-offs with Roberto Mancini. It could, of course, be that Bilic has guaranteed improved results after the warm weather break in Dubai or else he has to pick up the tab. I certainly didn’t spot the promised renewed vigour from watching yesterday’s performance but I may be expecting too much.

Refereeing Decisions

The subject of Slaven’s ire was mainly the refereeing decisions of Craig Pawson. I noticed some online concern with the announcement of Pawson as referee but I can’t say he has ever come onto my radar as particularly bad or with any previous as far as West Ham are concerned. By modern standards and interpretations it is difficult to argue against the penalty award where the mystifying criteria of ‘he’s entitled to go down there’ is known only to former players. Without a doubt players actively play for penalties and Zarate had only that in his mind when going down in the area from Kouyate clumsy attempt to track his run. Interestingly there was a very similar incident at the other end but with Antonio staying on his feet in an attempt to score no infringement was signalled. No wonder that players dive and I got the impression that all it would take was a stiff breeze for the Watford to go to ground, as befits a team with an Italian coach. Apart from the odd disputed corner or throw-in I can recall very few really contentious moments to consider.

The Strange Case of the Team Selection

They say that doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results is a sign of insanity. Naturally there are many variables in football but it is easy to wonder whether our management and coaching staff ever learn from past experiences. Once again there are so many questions about the selection decisions yesterday. Why stick with Kouyate as emergency right back when Byram was fit? Why put Lanzini out wide when the positive impact of moving him to a central role was so evident in the previous match? How did we get in a position where one of our most dangerous players (Antonio) is rarely played in his most effective position (wide right) and now plays as a lone striker after it was discovered that he wasn’t a right back? What is the point of bringing Fernandes on in the 89th minute every week; is that meant to be developing young players? What is the point of Jonathan Calleri?  To the outsider it appears that team selection is based on trying to keep a select group of players happy by giving them a game somewhere rather than taking the difficult decisions. It is still uncertain what style of play or consistent approach we are trying to create as a club and the team remains more a collection of individuals rather than a cohesive unit. Good enough to bob along in mid-table most probably but no better.

My Kingdom for a Striker

With Antonio’s red card making him unavailable for the next game at home to Chelsea it is even more crucial that Andy Carroll is fit if we have any hope of giving the league leaders a decent game – or did Antonio get himself banned on purpose to make sure his next employers maintain their runaway lead at the top? It was good to see Ayew get on the score-sheet (and no assist for this awarded to Antonio I believe) but do not see him as being able to offer much in the lone striker role. If the alternative is Calleri then we may as well not bother. It is bewildering that a club (and the 18th richest in world football at that) playing in the most elite league on the planet are so poorly prepared and equipped.

Ratings: Randolph (5), Kouyate (5), Reid (6), Fonte (7), Cresswell (7), Noble (5), Obiang (7), Feghouli (6), Snodgrass (4), Lanzini (6), Antonio (8) Subs: Ayew (6)