A solid performance but one that’s shadowed over by the abysmal refereeing performance tonight.
As soon as the officials were announced for the match, you just knew it’d be a Premier League game full of cards, chaotic decisions and utter carnage in general.
The game kicked off and started sorely for the Hammers, first 10 minutes had the look of a Lopetegui rec team, conceding two in eight. Fortunately, the second goal was ruled out for offside.
But the 80 other minutes of the match is what we’d all been hoping for; we FINALLY saw a West Ham side who wanted to fight for the ball, who tried to chase the defenders and one that saw us fight for the badge.
After an end-to-end first half, chaos erupted just before the break when Lucas Paqueta went down after receiving a ‘love-tap’ elbow to the stomach. The decision went to VAR for Violent Conduct and ended in no Red Card.
General fans of the wonderful game may come to the conclusion that it was incredibly light and had nothing in it, but Hammers fans’ memories would’ve peeled back to the incident of Tomas Soucek being sent off away to Fulham for the same thing!
Thank you for your consistency VAR!
After the red card denial, Matty Cash decided to play some games and complained to the Ref after a push from Soucek, second later followed up by Digne tumbling after he mounted Alvarez.
Not to mention that when Mings received his unfortunate injury, he picked up the ball in the air to stop and walk off the pitch! How is that not a card PGMOL? I’ll be awaiting our inevitable apology on Monday morning.
The second half was fantastic for the Irons, with a great display of football and chances created, just the finishing was lacklustre which is to be expected with four attacking players out.
A great ball in by Alvarez and a simple but delightful header from Emerson saw us make it 1-1. We were oh so close to nicking it at the end with Soucek taking it around the keeper and Paqueta slotting it in an open net but all for it to be disallowed due to Soucek being offside.
A game that ended with each team getting a point, but a game that felt like we fought and won on paper, a rare statement to make as of late, but today we were the better team.
As Potter said, “It was a performance that was full of personality.”
Let’s hope we aren’t met with the disappointing news of another injury tomorrow morning, as towards the end of the match, Paqman pulled up clutching his thigh after attempting to chase the ball.
It’s hard to give an Org MOTM, Paqueta, Wan-Bissaka and Kilman all looked on top of their game today, and so did Ollie Scarles from when he was substituted on.
Summerville and Bowen are expected to make a return for the next match against Chelsea; hopefully, this will enlighten our attacking woes and get rid of some of that pressure on precious Uncle Ingy.
Comments
When you consider Kilmans performances of late
He looked comfortable and in control playing as the central figure in defence AWB was my man of the match but all the players deserved the applause for not folding and putting in a gritty display after going a goal down and then controlling the second half..... Scarles when he came on well this Lad has got a great future ahead of him and a positive manager who will teach him much.
The players are playing for the manager Kudus chasing back and closing down Paqueta starting to show the skills we have missed just the play acting needs to be cut out....the only blip in the entire performance was Soucek missing that header i mean he buries those sort of chances its what he does but thats how it goes.
As for the Ref what can you say but seeing as he missed sending Alverez off i will go easy on him.
Agreed!
We should have had a penalty when Paq was hauled down, poss pen for hand ball, Digne and Cash had they been playing against a top for would have seen red as would Mings. VAR very lenient and ref abysmal. Paq needs to cut out the theatrics but when he puts his mind to it is unplayable.
on another note
No trains in and out of Tottenham this evening apparently there has been a points failure up the Lane
So good to see us fight tooth
So good to see us fight tooth and nail for a well deserved point. Especially when Spurs go down again and languish in 15th place.
Potters main aim I think was to improve the fitness of the squad. Swiftly followed by drilling in his tactics. How he sees the game and implanting his vision.
Clearly the players are all on board. They relish the prospect of getting better as a unit. Finding their individual mojos and most of all enjoying going out there and putting on a show.
This is something we as a club have missed for many years. Potter is not stupid. He's a disciple of the modern game. Everything it encompasses. Mental strength, phycology, sports science. His tactics are already there for us to see. Whether home or away. It's truly refreshing.
With Bowen, Jimmy, et al returning, there has to be a good feel about the squad now. He will already be identifying who he doesn't fancy as a player, but needs must at present. With such a painfully thin squad.
Thing is, like Guardiola does, he will improve players development. Make them better than before. Not many Coaches can do that. His focus on the youth is a fundamental element to his make up and long term strategy.
There will be off days, hiccups and bad fortune, however it will be great to see where we go from here.
Forward is where we will go
Forward is where we will go Boogers,Potter is focused,level headed,will keep us stable,why we didnt get him before Loopy i dont know.
i know it's
early days but there seems to be that feel good factor again not only in the team but on this site and long may it continue as it has been missed C.O.Y.I
Proud to say .. I was there!
Really nice summary Louis! That cheating trick of Mings was lost on ref and Motd muppets, I was spitting feathers that this guy could get away with that.
I sat with the Villa fans, half way line in the Doug Ellis stand, top notch proper footie stadium. My wife said I needed to sit on my hands, I said It’s West Ham.. that won’t be necessary :o). Turns out it was, certainly in the second half.
Great all round performance, want to mention two stand outs:
1) Alverez, been a critic in the past but sooo impressed with him yesterday and the Fulham game, not shown on highlights but one point he got the traveling fans geed up.. great moment!
2) our 12th man.. traveling support, unbelievable, constant signing, encouraging all (including Ings), made me proud to be a Hammer!!! COYIs!!!
Have to say Dartford, Ings is
Have to say Dartford, Ings is always sung about on away days. I've experienced this myself. Along with all the old songs, from Christian Dailly to Ludo and my favourite. Blue Flag - glad you enjoyed it...
Cheers Boogers
Really enjoyable evening.
Cant beat a bit of Oh Christian Dailly... I first heard at Chesterfield when they beat us in the League Cup :o(
If only we had been given
If only we had been given Potter after Moyes instead of Lop. Loved the fighting spirit second half.