With 'Murder Month' drawing to its conclusion, the fall out for ALL clubs large and small is plain to see with players dropping like flies due to the insane schedule forced upon them aided and abetted by the new surge of the Omicron Covid variant.
Unlike many teams, Hammers have only had ONE fixture postponed, despite having to play a cup semi final and an extra European fixture during the month as well! Inevitably something had to give and unfortunately it was the rock that David Moyes had based his team on, namely a superb resolute defence that was able too transition from defence to attack so swiftly that it caught out virtually EVERY team the club faced in the earlier part of the season.
The effect of injuries to Kurt Zouma and Angelo Ogbonna was compounded by the loss of Aaron Cresswell in addition to Ben Johnson AND Ryan Fredericks. Essentially an entire back line absent from the fray, it is therefore no surprise that Hammers have been leaking goals and that it has had an effect on team morale.
Wednesday's 4-1 win at Vicarage road went some way to compensating for the 2-3 defeat against Southampton, who proved they are no mugs by holding our for a draw against Tottingham, despite being down to ten men for the bulk of the game. The problem for West Ham is that Ben Johnson pulled up with what initially looked like a repeat of the injury he had just returned from, namely a low grade hamstring strain, however we have been told it is NOT the same injury, but the exact nature cannot be properly diagnosed until anxiously awaited scan results can be fully analysed.
The reason for the time lapse is that Johnson was experiencing muscle spasm during and after leaving the pitch, which means the 'traumatised' muscle area has to calmed down and recovered before it can be fully evaluated. Muscle spasm can be treated in the short term with copious amounts of Ibuprofin or its more hard core realtive Nepraxin.
The problem is that although Nepraxin numbs the troubled muscles, it can mask damage that could get even worse if not accurately noticed. For most non athletes, muscle spasm is generally treated by visits to an osteopath for those who can afford it. It is usually necessary to have a two or three week intensive course followed up by regular monthly visits in order to free up the muscles that are 'trained' to lock up by our bodies' evolved defensive system that is not aware of how much anti inflammatory drugs can help.
Hopefully Johnson will be able to get 'unlocked' soon, but even once relieved it can take some considerable time to get the confidence back in trusting that there will be no repeat of what is an unbelievably painful experience. This is written from personal knowledge of the procedure...ouch!
With Johnson suffering from spasm at the least and Cressie dealing with a chipped bone perhaps Moyes WILL have to bring a left back in during the January window, either that or throw young Alese in at the deep end, because it is now blatantly obvious that Authur Masuaku is a defensive pile up just waiting to happen and can ONLY be used as an out and out winger.
Players don't come cheap during the January window, but good ones can be attained, after all, Jarrod Bowen arrived during one such window in 2020. - LN
