07 Dec 2020 11:21:39
Calmed down after the weekend now.
Saw a comment from TKHammer that i completely agree with, IMO it was our fault we lost dispite battering Man Utd, albeit with a HUGE help from shocking officiating.
I said a while back that we lack ruthlessness and end product in final 3rd, and the Bowen miss, Fornals miss and Haller slip showed that once AGAIN. Bowen and Fornals have been incredible for us, but they cannot be shoe-ins if they miss these opportunities, and Lanzini and Benrahma should be starting games. Competition sets a higher bar, and we need to raise that bar.
The first UTD goal was shocking and certainly changed the body language of both sides and subsequently the whole game. How does a linesman miss that! And as for VAR, i get that they do not have the tech to SHOW it verbatim and therefore couldn't weigh in, but WHY don't THEY! You just need to look at the angle it comes back on the pitch and draw an arc!
What was dissapointing though was the drop in our players after that goal, and most importantly tactically why we kept a high line when Rashford came on for Cavani. It was CLEAR what they wanted to do and Moyes didn't adapt the defensive line, and subsequently let them do it.
Positive in that we bettered utd, and our players on the whole were very good, but some small improvements could make us so much better.


1.) 07 Dec 2020
07 Dec 2020 21:07:29
I think Benhrama and Lanzini are less strong defensively and Moyes likes players who can defend before all else. Not saying he is wrong as we definitely look more solid and should win more than we did before, but players will need to accept it and work hard in defence and is why Haller is struggling I think as the setup doesn’t suit him.


2.) 07 Dec 2020
07 Dec 2020 21:59:22
Sdl, I think you must be related to Haller or are you his agent😂🤣⚒⚒⚒.


3.) 08 Dec 2020
08 Dec 2020 03:31:22
Chelmsford you caught me out, he is my much younger brother 😂😂😂

In truth I’m coming around to the fact he might not ever work at West Ham but I still know how good he is and we would really lose a talented player but if we are never going to play to his strengths then so be it. As I said before we were after an out and out striker and then last minute bought a player that doesn’t play that role and can’t and then criticise him for it.


4.) 08 Dec 2020
08 Dec 2020 08:31:28
🤣🤣Sdl, that’s a a fair comment, my last word is, unfortunately for me, he has no strengths to play to!
Work rate and basic skills are awful for a Premiership player, players should adapt or at least try.


5.) 08 Dec 2020
08 Dec 2020 09:45:46
Thanks Nick - i'm glad somebody agrees with me!

I still think Haller is a good player, I just think, with the system we're playing at the moment he needs to drop deeper. Instead of trying to flick the ball on he needs to come deeper, hold the ball up and bring Bowen, Fornals and Arthur into the game. He has good close control and can hold players off.

There is no sense in him standing up top and challenging for headers which land at the feet of defenders. If he comes short, and gets involved in the play slightly deeper, you'll see a completely different player.


6.) 08 Dec 2020
08 Dec 2020 11:54:38
I agree that Lanzini and Benrahma are less adept defensively, and Moyes prefers to be cautious (not to the extent of Allardyce though), but what i hope is that we can still achieve balance by changing just one of them maybe. I think dropping fornals would spur him on a bit more, and i still think his BEST position is central opposed to wide. Age old problem on whether to change something that is working. What we have is working good but a change could make us even better, or potentially worse. For me, change just one and see what happens.
Personally, i would LOVE to see Antonio, Haller and one of Fornals, Bowen, Benrahma or Lanzini supporting behind. Give it a go for 4 matches and if that doesn't work then Haller is a no go, but the times Antonio and Haller have played together we have been very good. I'd also encourage Bowen to go higher up in support of Haller and use Fornals's work rate in a central position more.
I also completely agree with Sdl, Haller must go if Moyes does not want to play that formation. Not Moyes fault or Hallers, just the product of changing managers and systems.
Just a though, does anyone thing Snodgrass would do a good job as LWB to compete with Masuaku? I feel Arthur is taking his position for granted as we have no natural left footed competition there.


7.) 08 Dec 2020
08 Dec 2020 16:23:41
Snoddy at LWB? Not for me. He lacks the pace to play there and has even less defensive nous than Masuaku does! We do have an option for competition at LWB in the shape of Manny Longelo.

From what I've seen of him - and I'll admit it's not an awful lot, he looks a really promising prospect and seems like he can maraud up and down the left all day long. He can play LB, LM and LW so LWB shouldn't faze him in the slightest. I really hope he gets a crack at the 1st team squad like Ben Johnson has.