Life as a West Ham fan has been pretty miserable for some time now, with the side plodding along in the Premier League. The raucous atmosphere of Upton Park has gone, the fans have turned on the board and we don’t have the finances to compete with most mid-table teams in the Premier League – never mind the top six.
However, whilst the anger towards the owners won’t disappear, there are finally reasons for positivity on the pitch, with things finally coming together under David Moyes.
Rodgers on West Ham: “The focus is on West Ham, it was a great win [vs Man City] but we have to move on quickly. I’m confident the longer David Moyes is there, the more they will grow”
The 57-year-old’s return as boss of the Hammers was understandably underwhelming to the majority of the support. The Scotsman hasn’t done much in management since leaving Everton for Manchester United seven years ago and whilst he kept West Ham up in 2018, the football was uninspiring. Therefore, many saw this as an unambitious appointment for a club that supposedly has hopes of breaking into the top ten and then pushing on. The fact that the Londoners are still 4/1 in the latest football betting odds to get a top-half finish shows the scale of the task facing the team to do that this season and demonstrates how the club has drifted in recent years. Yet, the 3-4-3 formation that Moyes has settled on gives reason for optimism moving forward. Firstly, and most importantly, it seems to have eased any major concerns that the team had defensively. That extra body at the back has made the Hammers tough to beat and that defensive unit is superbly protected by the physical Tomas Soucek and the outstanding Declan Rice. Another way this formation change has helped is by getting the most out of Michail Antonio, who has quite simply been unplayable at times this season. His performances in the 4-0 thrashing of Wolves at the London Stadium and the dominant 3-0 success at Leicester highlighted exactly what he is all about.
The 30-year-old has pace, power and is a willing worker – exactly what you want from a lone striker and he also scores goals. Plus, his ability to bring others into play means Jarrod Bowen is excelling and even Pablo Fornals is starting to come good. Of course, that’s not to say the Hammers squad is complete and a failure to invest sufficiently this summer means there is a lack of depth in key areas. And, that may cost the team further down the line as injuries play a part and the fixtures pile up. But, for now, the team looks as though it has a plan. They are well organised, playing for the badge and showing the sort of togetherness that the fans demand. As well as that, each win is just going to bring more confidence. Given the negative mood that has engulfed the club for some time now, Moyes and the players deserve huge credit for what they’ve done. Even though it’s important to not get too carried away, the early season form suggests that this campaign may not be full of the doom and gloom that many had feared would come.
Comments
Well
said Nev,i wonder what would have happened if we had kept him on the first time round,who nows
Could have been pushing for
Could have been pushing for Europe with a lot more money available for 'astute' signings as well.
I agree,i felt Moyes was
I agree,i felt Moyes was treated badly first time around,we all thought something special was happening when Pellegrini arrived,but how wrong we were,we backed the wrong horse,and your right Nev we would have had more money for the right signings.
Agree if Moyes had of been kept on
Imagine the players Moyes had of got in for the ridiculous money spent on le sulk & Anderson.The writing was on the wall when that photo emerged of Sully & Pellegrini doing a plastic gangster handshake at dildo towers in Chigwell!!
It's almost as though Moyes
It's almost as though Moyes was "the fit birds ugly mate". So to speak. Pellegrini was was the sort, Moyes was the munter. Typical actions of the dildo mentality. We all know Lady Buttplug can't stand Moyes, so he had better not get too comfortable...
Hes staying boogers,she can
Hes staying boogers,she can piss off.
Two wins
does not make Moyes formula correct and I still expect him to fail miserably. His lack of a plan B means that he really doesn't have a clue with substitutions, assuming he even makes them. Interestingly the two great performances that has everyone in raptures coincide with the boss not even being there barking out his pass it back, pass it sideways orders. Nah. Scotty Parker aside, he'll be in the lead for first Prem manager for the sack
Your bang on deluded, get big
Your bang on deluded, get big Sam in again ,seriously though its not just moyes its the whole management team and the way they have west ham playin now,well it getting to the point that no team will want to play us ,granted a little short on certain positions
Sam
Had a great plan B from what I recall!!
Sam
Had more game plans than Moyes could even dream of playing. Unfortunately we never saw it as he had a job to do with a bunch of carthorses. The best of Sam was at Bolton. The best of Moyes was at Everton. I know who I preferred watching
Time will tell imo
After the disastrous Pellegrini tenure,we may have stumbled upon an unsung manager that may just be successful
Sam's plan B was hoofing it
Sam's plan B was hoofing it forward to no-one, after Plan A was hoofing it forward to Andy Carroll. Plan C was play all the kids together so we get tonked. Plan D was playing Antonio at right back. Which one has worked out best there? He was useless but just another in a long line of useless managers under GSB
Agree with that M2C
I must have missed the good times with Sam!!!
I beleive sam would always
I beleive sam would always keep us up,the football wasnt pretty,but i feel we are now playing better football,so lets bope it carrys on,the next game against spuds will reveal more,i think we will match them.