Noble's Human-Moyes Has 'Southgate' Moment
This game at the London 'Bowl' had everything, played out in front of an enthusiastic crowd the visitors emerged as 2-1 victors. Realistically most home fans feared the worst from a Manchester United team featuring their talisman Cristiano Ronaldo, Hammers obviously were without theirs, Michail Antonio.
David Moyes set his team up to block United's forward line and after a very nervy first 15 minutes began to make a go of the game, West Ham's pace began causing the visitors defence a lot of consternation ultimately ending up with a goal for Said Benrahma, albeit via a massive deflection.
Unfortunately, as if it had been written as a script up stepped the 'preening one' and managed to squeeze the ball past a previously superb Fabianski at the 2nd attempt, IF only the ball hadn't fallen to the £500,000 per week forward things might have had a different outcome, Aaron Cresswell was slightly culpable for assuming there was going to be an offside decision that never came.
In what was an enthralling game, several West Ham players clearly showed signs of their midweek exersions in the Europa Cup win in Zagreb. Tomas Soucek looked a yard off his usual impressive pace and Said Benrahma looked dead on his feet before being replaced by Manuel Lanzini towards the end.
The game looked to be heading for a creditable draw when the 2nd part of the script unfolded, Jesse Lingard who had come on to a 'heroes' reception from the home fans, jinked and jived himself past Kurt Zouma and curled in a blinder past the despairing Fabianski, it was the ONLY mistake Zouma made in the entire game!
IF only Hammers had been able to sign Lingard in the window, it might have been the home fans leaving the Stadium joyously. Hammers pushed and ran themselves ragged to try and salvage at least the point that was deserved, Dcelan Rice played like a man possessed in his bid to get HIS team back on track.
The third and most painful part of the script came when Hammers were awarded a penalty for a Luke Shaw handball in injury time, at this moment in time 60,000 people and millions watching held their breath as David Moyes inexplicably had his 'Gareth Southgate' moment by electing to brng on unwarmed up 'Mr West Ham' Mark Noble to take the pen, the outcome was SO West Ham!
PS: A vast majoriy of fans at the game seemed to want Noble brought on to take the penalty. Ed
Noble's impeccable penalty stats meant nought as David De Gea suddenly remembered that he was a goalkeeper earning over £300,000 per week and made what was a fine save, which sent the gloating Mancs into cloud nine! IF only Moyes had been less cautious, it is his achilles heel, why oh why would he N)T have learned from Engand's experience in the Euro Cup final?
The only answer there can possibly be is that he is Scottish, either that or he was hit on the head by one of the numerous water bottles that appeared to fly by. What was the manager thinking of? IF Mark Noble 'chirped' so much that he got sent on by Moyes then they are BOTH at fault, Noble for wanting to come on and Moyes for caving in, paradoxically IF it was Moyes's decision, then Noble should have refused the go on, citing the fact that he wasn't in anyway prepared.
At the end of the day the visitors did create more chances, hit the post and WERE denied one penalty, that was the only justice the gods decided to hand down today courtesy of Ronaldo 'diving' on THREE previous occasions. With hindsight would Moyes had made the same decision? We doubt it, unfortunately the game turned out to be a very IF'Fy, IF only Antonio had been available he would have ripped Man Utd to shreds, IF the club hadn't played on Thursday as opposed to Utd's Tuesday the players would have looked less leggy and finally IF Mark Noble hadn't had such a great previous record of scoring ten out of ten David Moyes would have let Declan Rice take the kick, he would have WILLED the ball over the line!
In one way, being severely disappointed that a tired team missing their main striker went down by a goal to a team that has spent wildly and will more than likely be challenging for top spot in the Barclays Premier League, isn't a bad thing, it is just the nature of the defeat, IF you play with the big boys you have to accept a punch on the nose sometimes, and this one hurt! - Ed
