Four results in five games, it’s a glass half full or half empty situation as the draw against Manchester United means we’ve achieved half our points in the last 5 matches, potentially showing the turn in form that Nuno’s managed to pull out of thin air, but other teams around us are forcing us to continuously climb what feels like an infinite mountain.
Nuno made one of his bigger statement with the lineups by dropping three big names in Igor Piggle, the Kraut as well as Guil-slot machine-herme. The depth within the squad is dire and miracles are needed to squeeze juice out of this side, the Amorim at Manchester United looked to his bench and substituted on £110,000,000 worth of players with two changes, whilst we made our two changes in Andy Irving and Mohamadou Kante for a staggering £2,000,000 total fee, a telling yet damning fact.
Same old singalong trajectory as the game kicked off, control for 25 minutes and spent the other 20 inviting pressure and fending them off. Second half, attempted to get back involved but our death defying taps placed on Manchester United backs saw them clatter to the floor which prevented any momentum to be built up, but through fortunes of a limping Jarrod and the hero of the hour in Soungoutou Magassa, a well deserved point was earned for the Hammers in what many labelled as a write off.
Before tonight the Hammers hadn’t drawn with Manchester United in the last 14 times the pair faced each other, but the fighting spirit as well as the fortunate substitutes not costing the Hammers, it’s a point earned and one loss in five matches.
Max Kilman’s only touch since coming on the pitch was a loose ball to Bruno who blazed it over, and perhaps Kermit’s mind might’ve been slightly boggled after being told “you look like a rat” for 90 minutes at Old Trafford by the traveling Hammers fans.
Mohamadou Kante also had an impressive short cameo coming on for his debut but the star of the show was the MOTM award winner in Songatou Magassa. It’s evident as to why Nuno was eager to sign the tricky Frenchman at Forest, but despite joining West Ham in the summer, Nuno’s still managed to end up using him and after some learning time he might just now be getting up to speed to what we all hoped he could possibly be. - LN
