Over the years many observers from outside of the West Ham family have mocked or questioned the very existence of the 'West Ham Way', new signing Saïd Benrahma knows the West Ham Way before even kicking a ball for the club. Let's get straight to the point though, yesterdays 'match made in heaven' was not just one of the greatest come backs in Premier League history (no other team has come back from being 3-0 down with 10 minutes to go) it could also have been a defining moment not just for the season, but possibly for the club's future trajectory.
There are those who would rather disingenuously say that David Moyes' team shouldn't have been 3-0 down after 16 minutes, and they are correct, however it is what happened after going down by three goals so early in the match that was pivotal in the remarkable come back. Instead of heads dropping and players not wanting the ball, the opposite happened, the 'press' became more functional and the whole team harried and scurried for every ball.
At this point we should ask a question of viewers, 'how many of you turned off the channel broadcasting the game after Tottenham's third goal went in?' Honest answers only please, we can confess that at the Org we were all viewing the game on different screens, and SOMEONE who shall remain nameless, decided they had had enough and decided to drive over to see their girlfriend instead! Actually watching the game became less painful as it seemed that Sourpuss's men were taking their collective foot of the gas, although a lot of that was down to Hammers' players snapping at their heels.
Still, with 15 minutes to go things were grudgingly acceptable, the feared 6 or 7 nil drubbing having failed to materialise, and then David Moyes, he who is accused of never using his substitutes well, decided to take off Michail Antonio and Pablo Fornals bringing on Andrily Yarmolenko and Manuel Lanzini instead. The former was the provider for the eventual cross that was headed in to his own net by Sanchez, the latter scored a 'worldie' to bring the match to an unbelievable climax. Lanzini's 30 yard strike rolled back time, this was the player who used to light up the pitch once, and while it may turn out to be a needle in the haystack event, it will have done the diminutive Argentine a massive confidence boost.
The fact that Lanzini's strike was the last kick of the game made the draw attained seem much more like a victory, Son Heung-min was almost in tears as he tried to describe the shock being felt in the Tottenham quarter at their sides capitulation within the last 10 minutes, their manager Jose Mourinho was far more sanguine with his appraisal, citing West Ham's guille and determination to attain such a remarkable turn around as being key to why his team floundered at the closing stages of a game that they had done and dusted after just over 15 minutes!
Before signing off, we should also mention 'The General', Fabian Balbuena, he might have got skinned by Son Heung-min for Spurs' first goal, but it was Balbuena's 82nd minute bullet header that began the most unlikely of come backs, even then with just 7 minutes remaining hope of attaining a draw seemed non-existent, but when Davinson Sanchez headed in to his own net 3 minutes later a small glimmer of hope emerged, that glimmer was almost instantly extinguished by Harry Kane, but his shot ricocheted of the post. A minute or so later Tottenham's prodigal son, Gareth Bale' was put through on goal, did all the difficult stuff by bamboozling the defenders but then put his shot just wide.
It is worth noting that the Spurs boss took off Son Heung-Min and replaced him with Lucas Moura on the 80th minute, three minutes later Balbuena scored the goal that was either the beginning of the end, or the end of the beginning, depending on which view point you have. Either way, even the most stone hearted of observers would have found it difficult not to share the joy shown by Manu Lanzini and how his team mates celebrated with him, it is common knowledge that he has really struggled since the massive ACL injury he sustained while training with the Argentine national team.
So to those who ask, including an ex-Hammers manager, what is the West Ham way, and does one even exist? We would suggest watching the game before passing judgement, if after reviewing the match you cannot understand 'The West Ham Way', then you probably never will understand it! - Ed
