West Ham United have secured their third victory in the space of just seven days with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Bolton, a side the Hammers haven’t beaten away from home since 1995! And don’t you worry, there’ll be plenty more of these ‘records’ as the season goes on.
Jarrod Bowen converted early on to give us the lead but only momentarily until an unlucky deflection off Mavropanos went in and Kyle Walker-Peters rather clumsily clipped the Bolton man, after which they converted a penalty.
Konstantinos Mavropanos would make up for his effort as he quite literally tapped the ball home with his head! A free-kick of the highest order by Arne Engels meant Mavropanos didn’t even have to jump to convert.
Jarrod Bowen then did Bowen things, and his persistence secured the Hammers another three points, with an honourable mention to Veltman, who played a sublime ball to Bowen for the third.
Before discussing Nuno, a mention to the defence needs to be made, bar an unfortunate deflection, Mavropanos and Kilman were excellent last night, the pair worked well with one another and looked controlled and collected in the tactic.
Goals are great, but anyone can watch the highlights, but the victory against Bolton demonstrated something more, it allowed us to ask, “Has Nuno broken the fourth wall”?
The Portuguese manager has been under persistent scrutiny, with people querying whether he can in fact be the one to take us forward…
Before the match he opted to change formations with his staff, adapting to play a midfield three over two starting strikers, which proved to be perfect. Well-timed, thought-out substitutions throughout the game helped the Hammers massively, and the players weren’t defending or clinging to the lead; they persistently attacked, with a ruthless mentality and a desire to win at all costs.
The victory over Wolves started the cycle, against Derby it was a demonstration of growth and against Bolton it’s the beginning of a confident starting side, as well as a confident Nuno.
There are three matches before the international break, an important tie against Wrexham followed by a cup draw against Fulham and then the obvious, 12:30 kick-off at The Den against Millwall.
Three victories in a row, there’s nothing not to smile about.
Comments
All positive stuff!
We are not the finished article yet but are still for the time being top of the league.
Its true we have defensive issues but we have scored 14 goals in 6 games and says to me we are in good shape. In fact... Its Old West Ham, trying to entertain and win games.
It will only get better. I like the look of the midfield and dont want Alverez, Maggasa or SlowCzech getting involved. The youthful bouncy look at the moment is the future, dont slow it down with those with little or no future. Impact off the bench at best and no more!
We are scoring plenty of
We are scoring plenty of goals and in the last three games, scored 3 then 4 and another 3 last night. But I disagree about Soucek. He will give a real box to box combative energy. Doing all the ugly stuff and putting his body in where it hurts. Scores a good few goals too. A real Championship player. The one thing we're currently lacking.
It's a long season, he will be invaluable as it progresses. Agree about Alvarez and Magassa. Exciting times..
Lets see Boogers
I think we have a number of young guns jockeying for position and will make those positions their own taking them back to the Prem with a future.
I dont see Slowczech as the future but will concede that you make good points about box to box, ugly stuff etc etc and maybe brought on with 20 minutes to see out or nail a given match but not an the expense of stifling the growth of the current crop.
Agree Boogers
Big Tom is going to be a nightmare for defenders but i see him more of an impact sub for now but it is a long season and many tough challenges ahead and use of the squad is going to be vital.
Nuno decided to change Louis?
Not so sure about that myself as no Taty and with Piroe blowing out his backside Saturday afternoon i think he had little choice in not playing two up front as he would never of dared pair Pablo and Ajala together.....Pablo Nuno loves for the donkey work he does and never having used him as an out an out striker before his play showed he was not certain what he should be doing.....and though he was in their for the first goal that Bowen put away his game faded.
Playing Kante for me was a mistake and as a result we saw little if anything of Mukasa as an attacking force in the match...Engels for me is getting better with each game and his work rate for me is phenomenal and again i will say it Asbo reminds me of Mark Ward.
We won and happy for it...are their aspects of the team play that needs improvement of course and again for me we do look vulnerable down the Flanks.....KWP had a mare anyone can but his form has not been that great Scarles did well after that early yellow who knows what the new LB is like we may find out Friday but it is the one area of the team that does concern me somewhat.
KWP
Not his best night Mc but that lad Dong is some player and would give most full backs a torrid time.
Agree with that Dartford
And although it is only one game we have seen that player he did look very Dangerous...Bolton got him on Loan from Augsburg with an option to buy...his price according to Transfer market is 900 thousand euros so just over £750thousand as with the Watford winger we struggled to cope with i hope that we keep an eye on them see how they go the rest of the season and with both playing in struggling sides they could very well be worth a punt to fill the squad further next summer.
That
Dong is the bollocks