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One Point Gained Or Two Points Lost? In Home Draw To Chelsea

nevillenixon's picture
Submitted by nevillenixon on Sun, 23/09/2018 - 21:35

Whirling rain and gale force winds had been predicted ahead of Hammers home tie against table toppers Chelsea at the London Stadium, the clouds looked even darker when the news that talisman Marko Arnoutovic wasn't even if the match day squad was announced! All conquering Chelsea with 15 points from their previous five games turned up having rested their three main players from the exertions of their Thursday night Europa League match, and from the off they had the home team on the back foot.

On final analysis statistically the visitors 'monstered' possesion by a percentage, but the stats don't tell the whole story at all. Those who questioned whether Manuel Pellegrini was capable of adapting his tactics were proved indefatigabley incorrect as West Ham United set out their stall perefectly in order to deal withe the 'Hazard' of the Chelsea front line, it wasn't parking the bus, it was more manoeuvering the Lambreta as the defence and midfield stood firm against all the visitors could throw at them. This is not to say Hammers were just there to make up the numbers, far from it, in fact had it not been for the profligacy of Michail Antonio, who by his own admission should have scored a brace, and Yarmolenko in the latter stages of the game who spurned a 'couldn't miss' opportunity to give his team the three points that by and large they deserved.

The importance of last weekends' victory over Everton cannot be more clearly manifested than by the fact that Chelsea had to play a TEAM that had discoverd it's identity, personel will come and go and formations might change but the team ethos has been born, it took four games for the team to gell, and gell they have. Part of the new found identity is the trust placed on Declan Rice's young shoulders, a burden he carries with aplomb, he was aided and abetted in midfield by Pedro Obiang and Mark Noble who must have changed his Duracells.

The whole team performed with confidence despite ceeding so much of the ball, the point is Chelsea were playing in areas that they were allowed to, on more than one occasion they were forced in to mistakes that made them look second rate whereas it was actually the never say die attitude of the home team that made them look that way. There are many who will rue the absence of Marko Arnoutovic in this match as he would more than likely have buried one if not two of the chances presented to Antonio, but Arnie has a chance to recover from his knock and the team got a very valuable big point, big because not only was it attained against the league leaders, but it maintained the positive momentum from the victory over Everton.

Pellegrini's post match comments included “They had a lot of possession because we allowed them to have the ball, we forced them to play most of the game from the right side, not the left side where Marcos Alonso and Hazard are so dangerous. The first half was very clear the way I wanted to play, the second we maybe lost too many balls but against these teams, a draw is not a bad point.”

Most fans would have been happy if offered a point before the game even if Arnoutovic had been pronounced fit, but most of them will be feeling a little disappointed after the match that there was only one point gained instead of three, was it one point gained or two points lost? Maybe ask a Chelsea fan, Oh and the sun eventually shone brightly on a day of predicted darkness! - Ed

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It really didn't feel like they had 70 per cent procession to me. Pellegrini summed it up for. We allowed them to have a lot of procession. For me that meant it was the plan. So much of their procession wasn't in areas that mattered or caused danger to us. Apart from a five minute spell after Perez comes on I never really felt they were gona score. Shape was good and we had belief in what we were doing. I don't remember any panic, odd lapse in concentration maybe. For me a draw was the right result. I don't care if they have 90 per cent procession if it's in areas that mean nothing to them. Defence looked better because fabianski was assured (immaculate handling) and they got plenty of protection from the rice, obiang and noble threesome.

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74 users have voted.

What a performance ,and how unlucky not to get maximum points ,Yarmo will learn from that and go on to be a firm favorite ,just imagine next Saturday lunch time when Manua come calling and find Arnie in the line up ,I am in no doubt if he was playing today we would have won ,once again Rice was brilliant ,Zab was too and as for Fab ,the buy of the year ,well done to every one

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73 users have voted.

Burkie 1

I thought Mark Noble was brilliant first half especially, and our best player. Mind you I may be a little biased. I only hope we can hang on to Declan Rice and we can fight off the inevitable interest from the 'monied' others. Really enjoyed the Chelsea game and only hope that we can keep it going. Chelsea must hate playing us.

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60 users have voted.
hammergirl's picture

And chelskis start to the season I see this as a very important point gained of course we could of won it and but for Fabs mush we could of lost it and for all there superstars and possession they looked very one dimensional and clearly not in the mood for the game.We do look short when Arnie is not playing he clearly adds that xfactor to our team and the way we muzzled Hazard yesterday when he gave up the ghost chelski looked average at best The only strange thing about yesterday for me was Antonio starting upfront when clearly he is a wide midfielder/winger and Perez a striker was on the bench still the team played well these pass couple of weeks so things are looking up and you can bet your bottom dollar that the Spuds are already thinking FFS we got them in a couple of weeks time!

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82 users have voted.
asheshammer's picture

two golden chances, one for each side. Yarmo and the one Fab saved with his face. All in all, VERY happy with a point, and especially with how the team played. Much more confident now about the end of season.

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58 users have voted.

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