Was it complacency or sheer blindness that led David Moyes to select Danny Ings as a starter against Olympiacos? Whatever the reasoning for the 'cunning' plan was, it failed miserably! Why on earth Moyes didn't hook the out of sorts Ings at half time is beyond most fans comprehension.
Having missed two clear cut chances and being ridiculously off the pace it is a wonder Moyes waited until near the bitter end to replace Ings with someone who could actually run! Villa must be laughing their heads off that Hammers actually PAID good money for Ings, instead of them paying West Ham to take him off their hands.
Possibly the worst signing the club has ever made, at least in recent years. Mind you, the rest of the starting line up hardly covered themselves in glory, as the wholesale changes made by Moyes were exposed cruelly by the home side. Angelo Ogbonna virtually guaranteed that he will NOT be offered another contract with the Irons because he was dreadful, an own goal to compound the awful error he made in the last round against Freiburg has surely sealed his fate, time and again we was left for dust by the Greek forwards who appeared to have the complete run of the pitch in the 1st half and most of the 2nd half.
Only when Moyes brought on the 'heavy guns' did Hammers look like getting anything at, but it was too late for Paqueta, Antonio and Bowen to really influence the game with the home side being 2-0 up and the crowd urging them on. A superb Pacman strike, a glorious volley gave Hammers a sniff, but the home side were well schooled in the dark arts of time wasting and saw the game out with a series of feigned injuries and other 'stuff'.
On the balance of it, Olympiacos fully deserved their victory and West Ham did too little too late, was it over confidence? Was Moyes trying to put 'Uncle Ingy' into the shop window to see if anyone is stupid enough to sign him? We will probably never know, but tonight was a shambles and the whole team knows it, so do the Management and staff.
It was a poor way to end a record breaking run in Europe, this Sunday's game will be key to showing how much 'get go' Hammers really have, 'Moysie' needs to take a deep breath and blame himself as much as his players because of his dreadfully cock eyed team selection for what could have been a confidence restoring performance, instead it bodes badly for the weekend when the visitors will be 'cranked up' to put on a real display in honour of Bill Kenwright. - Ed
Comments
written in the stars...
Toffees will put on a display for Bill Kenwright!
Agree about Ings, not sure that he is the worst signing we ever had in that position, John Radford, Sandy Clarke ... the list is endless!!!
He did put "in recent times"
He did put "in recent times" to try and distance himself from the truly awful pieces of shit players we've signed, but would definitely make the bottom 20-30 ever. The fact he's also on $115k pw is rubbing salt into gaping wounds
Good point M2C
Good point M2C
at least the past crap was on reasonable pay!
How are you? I'm feed up with Aussie infatuation of all things Ange... Spudz shirts as far as the eye can see! Its a rare wet day in Cronulla, expecting sun for the weekend :o)
Hi DB. I'm okay, shame about
Hi DB. I'm okay, shame about things on the sporting front though, England rugby, England cricket and West Ham.
Must say I was hoping for plenty of Ange press and media coverage at the start as their season fell to pieces, but the love-in instead is nauseating to say the least. Feels like it's inescapable. If WH were doing alright I could stomach it, but alas we're going in completely opposite directions. At least I've got a couple of camping weekends on the horizon so I won't have to endure the sports reports for a bit!!
Have a great week
Cheers buddy
Difficult times, I’m getting a lot of stick about the cricket and naturally everyone is a Spudz supporter now:o(
Have a good week, focus on the camping and forget the grief of West Ham. We have lots of friends and relatives visiting in the coming months, also off over the ditch in a few weeks, looking forward to seeing the North island!
The only saving grace about
The only saving grace about Sunday. If there is one at all. Is the fact we are at home.
I cant even imagine the pasting we'd get up at Goodison. Everton will be psyched up to the max for this game. With the passing of Bill Kenwright. Notwithstanding Dino Moyes affection for the man.
I cant see Moyes revving his team up for this one unfortunately. But he bloody well needs to pull his head out of his Dino arse and stop wallowing. Because you can bet your bollocks to a barn dance. Old "I've swallowed a lizard" Dyche certainly will!!!!
I actually
Can't see a win from our next five games. Ok, maybe the Olympiakos return but not holding my breath. Would that be Moyes death knell?
worried now DH!
If we cant get a win against some bang average teams we have no chance against the top teams!!
He does seem to vary play
He does seem to vary play according to the team he picks ,are wins this year have nearly all our wins have come from counter attacking and Ant has been significant ,we are good at that game but you need a good hold up player and Ings isn't that
as deluded
said what the hell has Mubama done .He surely could take Ings place ,He defo deserves a chance
Mubama
I worry (again) that we may see this lad through claret and blue tinted glasses or just desperate to see anyone other that Ings in that position?
I just feel that if he were really that good / exceptional, meaning he can hold a position in the PL, then surely the Moyesasaurus wouldnt hesitate to use him even as first pick over Antonio?
I think he could be just another "good footballer" that comes through the academy but just not got the Star Quality for the PL and we have seen many of these with great potential that never made the grade (or should that be GRADY) ... I do hope I'm wrong!!!
Never mind
Claret and Blue tinted glasses. I'd just like to see him given a game. Can't judge either way until he plays but it wouldn't surprise me in the least if Moyes gave him a game against one of the top teams just to prove himself right. Mubama should have started the games against Luton and Bournemouth at least,
The whole of the West Ham
The whole of the West Ham team were very slow to close down The Olympiacos attackers. When West Ham had the ball all the opposition had to do was to not give them any space, and then we saw the dreadful giveaways. Yes Ings was awful, and Benny looked like he was just not interested in getting anything right. But we are supposed to have the best set piece specialist in the Premier League. Not one good set-piece from JW Prowse from the corners including that opportunity to score just from outside the box. It was an embarrassing display. Even Paqueta was below par in the manner in which his passes were very sloppy at times. His redeeming feature was that cracker of the goal that gave the team some hope of getting undeservedly something out of this game!!
Its the same old story,that
Its the same old story,that we have been going on about for years now,but nothing changes,Antonio struggling to hit the target,now Ings is being used to sub,he is hopeless,i agree this Mubama should be given game time starting from now,no more pissing about,i think we have a decent team,its just the same old facking story of no fire power up front,if we can see it why cant those that should.