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Did Slow Joe Get A Bit Of Mo Jo Back During Hammers Defeat?

nevillenixon's picture
Submitted by nevillenixon on Wed, 20/12/2017 - 09:56

Joe Hart desperately needed a good performance for West Ham in the cup game against Arsenal at the Emirates last night in order to keep alive his chance of being England's goal keeper at this year's FIFA World Cup finals in Russia. In a drab game that saw West Ham register NO shots on target despite having Hernandez, Ayew, Carroll, 'Elbows' and Sakho on at various points in the 1 - 0 defeat by Arsenal.

Both managers shuffled their team selection as neither Hart who had replaced current first choice keeper Adrian nor Arsenal's second choice goalkeeper David Ospina were forced into much action. West Ham had been content to sit back and try to catch Arsenal on the counter during a low quality first half, but could not even get one single shot on target.

Hammers made six changes from the win at Stoke, but the midfield featuring 18 year old Declan Rice and fellow teenager Domingos Quina struggled to keep the ball only having 1/3 of the possession.
David Moyes' overriding aim at West Ham is to keep the club in the Premier League, with seven points from a possible nine in recent weeks things have been looking up, however many will see this result as a missed opportunity against a gunners side there for the taking, being just three games away from possible silverware fans would have hoped for more but as it was the Hammers sat deep, leaving lone striker Hernandez to feed off scraps.

Unfortunately the 'romance' of Cup ties has nearly completely evaporated from the modern game, after all this was a quarter final! However such is the massive emphasis placed on the Premier League that both clubs were perfectly willing to change what had been relatively successful line ups in order to preserve their players for the ludicrous schedules they now have to face. Ten games in 36 days is a Physio's nightmare to contend with but such is the never ending desire for more and more televised football that these schedules have to be accepted and incorporated in to the planning that has to go on.

Did Joe Hart do enough to keep his place for the forthcoming game against Newcastle this weekend? Well it was difficult to judge given the 'low key' stakes of the match but it is the general consensus that Adrian would not have been beaten at the post in the way that Hart was and that England's current number one keeper will find himself on the bench yet again come the weekend. West Ham did 'give it a bit of a go' towards the end with the introduction of Marco Arnoutovic, but even his presence was not enough to turn things around!

On a lighter note Captain Mark Noble, Michail Antonio and Aaron Cresswell were all involved in Betway's super market sweep which involves them answering questions, trying to build up time for their team partners (West Ham fans) to run around the store, collecting items worth points. The team with the most points enters the Super Spree to try and win the star prize of a West Ham season ticket,now that would be a decent present for someone and worth giving it a go.

A seven point return for the last three Premier League games, four of which points were gained against the so called bigger clubs, has been just what the doctor ordered for most fans but the momentum has been lost because of the Cup game. In addition Manu Lanzini will be unavailable for the visit of the 'Toon' due to his two match ban for simulation during the victory over Stoke City, there are also doubts over the fitness of several key players which was inevitable given the amount of games that have to be played in the run up to Christmas and the New Year.

Worryingly there are all sorts of rumours developing about players admired by David Moyes who might arrive during the January transfer window, it should be remembered that there are very few bargains around at this time of year with clubs looking for top dollar for their players and buying clubs panicking in order to avoid relegation from the promised land that is the Barclays Premier League. West Ham United's business during the last January window was disastrous seeing the arrival of Jose Font, now a long term injured player, and Robert Snodgrass now on loan at Aston Villa. The combined purchase price of in excess of £20 Million was eye watering, it is to be hoped that the club do not repeat last year's mistakes when it comes to recruitment, on the other hand there should and may well be certain departures, principally among the current forward line up.

Diafra Sakho has made it very clear that he wishes to leave the club, his ill timed and ultimately unsuccessful attempt to force a move to Nantes during the summer is testament as to how keen the Senegalese forward is to leave the London Stadium, Swansea may try to lure Andre Ayew back to the Liberty in order to help them stave of relegation and finally Big Andy Carroll may return to the fold if Mike Ashley finally sells the club to new investors as is expected. Whether Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez is interested in bringing Carroll 'back home' is another thing, the move would be welcomed by the Toon Army but could turn out to be a massive mistake given the player's appalling injury record during his time at West Ham United and during his difficult time at Liverpool Football Club. The Big Geordie is no longer required in the East End, Hammers' have Toni Martinez waiting in the wings for those occasions when the team needs a 'battering ram' and Martinez is a hell of a lot less injury prone!

Which brings us back to Joe, could Hart return to Manchester City his parent club who still pay over £50,000 per week of his wages? Well he is unable to join another club on loan unless it is as an 'emergency' keeper, Premier League rules prevent a player being on loan at more than one club per season, his only option is if another club want to buy him. Obviously Hart's wages are the biggest problem and it is unlikely that there is a another club that can match them even if they wanted Hart who's only options appear to be returning to City or to warm the bench at West Ham. Quite a fall from grace for England's number one over the last decade, he's just got slower, no MoJo for this Slow Joe. - Ed

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Agree hart is well past his sell by date,ill pay for his taxi back to manchester myself!!

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plaistow-man's picture

Joe Hart could have done better with the goal I think but Welbeck waltzed through 3 centre backs to get there so the defence has to take some responsibility.

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216 users have voted.

It was shocking,the arse were there for the taking,the cups dont mean anything!!

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