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
Comments
Louis
How many times have we the fans said play the Kids give them a chance and maybe Nunos hand was forced but surely he can see the foundations of a new team developing now.
Potts Fernandes Magassa Earthy Kante...the legs in midfield we have been crying out for for so long has finally arrived and playing as a team not an individual shows that petulant its all about me Paqueta should be sent off into the sunset and let these young men get on with it.
We now need a striker and a centre back to replace Kilman i mean he nearly cost us the game and he'd barely been on the pitch for five minutes! with AWB and Diouf soon to be gone things are only going to get tougher in the next 8/9 weeks but the effort put in last night shows there maybe light at the end of the tunnel but we now need to put in the same kind of performance in another tough away fixture at Brighton.
Perfectly phrased
Exactly Bikey! We’ve been calling out for this for ages and finally a midfield that looked glued together last night. Kante came on and I was convinced he was about 6’5, no chance! He’s 5’10 but stands like an Oak Tree. There is light in the tunnel, we just need it to keep getting brighter
Magassa
Was superb.
Magassa was a star, but I'd
Magassa was a star, but I'd like to single out Fernandes, he covered every blade of grass 6 times over. Never stopped running, carrying the ball and finding space, tackling what a player. Potts again excellent and Kante looked a real presence. This is the shape of things to come. Earthy must get a chance soon too..
Couldn't agree more ,
Couldn't agree more , specially Earthy ,the new Noble
Fair points
About the kids and Magassa. Trouble is, none of them are capable of delivering that killer pass that Paqueta gives.
And while we're patting players on the back, I thought Todibo and One Biscuit played a blinder as well.
How
Bout areolas classy tip over the bar?
For every Killer pass he plays Deluded
He spend ten more times on the ground whinging or holding onto a ball in a dangerous area and getting caught when he tries some absurd trick when it is not called for....if he was bothered i hoped he watched the game and thought i am going to have trouble getting back into this team but i think we all know he just wants a move back to Brazil so it will not of bothered him at all.
We
Miss summer ville way more than paqueta
Todibo is coming into his own
Todibo is coming into his own now it seems. He's a very good player, that's clear to see. I think something has clicked for him and Nuno now. Maybe Nuno has made him believe in himself and cut out all the silly indiscipline on and off the field?
yes agree
gr8 result didn't expect that but agree with all the above we played as a team even bowen looked back to is hungry self long may it continue