Sometimes the International break can be extremely unwelcome for clubs who are riding the crest, paradoxically it can come just at the right time for teams experiencing a poor run. For David Moyes and his West Ham team the break worked out to be an ideal opportunity to reset the season's early poor form, the players seem to have a renewed vigour, but more importantly they seem to have regained the confidence that they had lacked early on.
The expensively assembled new recruits will have an increasing influence as the season gets underway fully, they are being integrated at a speed that will frustrate fans but is probably as fast as can be realistically attained. The last thing the club need is for another 'marquee' signing to get crocked as a result of rushing them into the first team too quickly, after all it is not as if the club doesn't have history on this topic!
Although Wolves were there for the taking the game still needed putting to bed last weekend, Fulham will represent a totally different kettle of fish but do have injury concerns particularly with regards to the fitness of their star striker Alexander Mitrovic. If they play him they risk losing him for several weeks, but they can't afford NOT to play him. He will probably be on the bench and brought on for the closing stages of the game.
For Moyes he has a pleasant conundrum for once, that is who to leave OUT of his starting eleven. Moyes finally has a squad that while not being massive is a huge improvement on the paper thin squad he had last season, the five substitutes rule showing just how much talent the club has available and can now utilise. Today's game is crucial in that the positive inertia of the European campaign allied to last week's success could provide the launching pad to a a successful run that could see early qualification in the 'Con' Cup and the club having a crack at the top six of the Premier League.
We think David Moyes might start Flynn Downes ahead of Tomas Soucek as he has intimated in his recent 'pressers', defeat or a draw won't be the end of the world, but it might be the end of a new beginning, at least temporarily! - Ed
Comments
It’s funny Nev I said
It’s funny Nev I said something similar before the international break and got shot down. I think when we play football manager from afar there’s a danger we actually start believing that we know better, that we have the answers. There are some who have personal agendas, vindications of their opinions from years before and like every dog they have their day. What I find fascinating is how the mass sways between keep him and sack him (Moyes that is), almost from game to game. Lead by the now popular previously delusional and those that go against the mass are the unfavoured, being told to shut up etc…it.l be interesting to see how this season plays out not only on the pitch but on here…..
I think
People are surely allowed opinions on how the team,individual players & manager perform?Most people have gave moyes & the players credit for what he's done,in fact a few of us have said he did an amazing job,saving us from relegation,top 6 then top 7....but there is no hiding from the facts he played the same team for 20 games & most of the players were poor,isn't that allowed anymore??Its a sad day imo if we all start wearing claret & blue tinted glasses!
I think there’s a difference
I think there’s a difference between voicing an opinion based over say half a season or a season, than after a few games. He couldn’t change things at then end of last season as we didn’t get anyone in in January, which I think is a failing of him, then club whoever made that decision, but we still finished 7th and had a European semi final. So we could only really judge him from this season. He said openly these players take time to bed in, there’s language barriers, playing styles, fitness levels required for then prem etc…. For me the disappointment in the Moyes out brigade voices is more that it was knee jerk, and had we knee jerked throughout our history like that we’d have had about 200 mangers since the war and probably missed out on some of our greatest achievements. I’m definitely not a claret mad blue tinted glasses wearer, far be it and I also have issues around playing style and some selections, but this idea there are favourites and a man would jeopardise the club’s success because of personal relationships , for me is a bit childish and is beneath thinking too hard on it. Also likewise people are allowed to voice their opinions to the contrary of the mass, as much as you want to be heard others do too, and there’s almost a rapid desire to shoot people down, belittle them, question how old they are, “ Bet you haven’t supported West Ham for as long as me?” stuff. Debate on her has always been this site’s success, there’s no need to be personal, I think that shouldn’t be allowed. If you asked some of the leaders of the Moyes out Brigade they would find it funny that they are now flavour of the month, and have had loads of abuse thrown at them over the last few years, one springs to my mind especially. I’ve never agreed with his agenda on the whole but I still respect his opinion, I wouldn’t disrespect him as a person.
That's a great post Betty
Some really good points & I for one take on board what you're saying! This is the only site I've gone on as I don't do & never have done any other social media.Back in the old days of the org I used to read the comments & it did get really heated,I've been on here about 10 years & in general everyone gets on,agrees,disagrees but respect different opinions.Its like a virtual reality pub imo but there's always going to be a touch of 'say what I want' because it's not face to face in person....that's why I try not to take it too serious,on the other hand I don't like the new stadium ( respect to veryone that does)so dont attend any more & this place is the only chance I have to vent my opinions,agree or disagree it is what it is
Your dead right 65 theres
Your dead right 65 theres an old Irish saying " i disagree with everything you say ,but i would die for your right to say it "