Hammers put in a spirited performance in today's hard fought and ultimately successful game against visitors Wolves who had been on a roll and were one of the form teams in the Premier League. Nerves were definitely 'jangly' initially as Moyes's boys set about reversing their recent poor run of results that had seen the club drop way out of the race for a top four finish.
As the game progressed and the crowd started to believe in the team, performances became far better than in recent games and Hammers put Wolves under the cosh for much of the first half. West Ham could have gone in one or three up by the time the half time whistle blew, Skipper Declan Rice's glorious effort clipped the post with the goalkeeper clearly beaten.
Although pleased with what they had seen, many fans were worried that the team would rue ALL the missed opportunities from the first half, and so it seemed, as Wolves started the 2nd half on fire forcing Hammers to defend deeper and deeper.
Mikey Antonio pushed his troublesome Hammies to the absolute max, with many expecting to hear them 'twang' as he relentlessly chased lost causes while also terrorising the Wolves defenders. When he was eventually replaced in the dying minutes, he could barely jog off as he received a tremendous ovation from an appreciative Stratford Stadium crowd that finally had something to cheer about.
THis was not the slick powerful Irons team from the beginning of the season, but it was a very good step in the right direction, the walk back along the canal to Hackney Wick was a much more pleasant experience than the trudge back after last week's thoroughly disappointing draw against the Toon. - LN
Comments
after the last few weeks I
after the last few weeks I half expected a final nail on the coffin for our lofty ambitions but was happily surprised when I saw the result when I woke up.
Yes, this is the start of
Yes, this is the start of better things to come. Fornals playing at left back, could not believe it but it worked. Johnson looked a more mature right back and even saved Dawson's blushes with that howler of a header. More zip in Soucek's display. Lanzini had some magical moments. Rice was as usual the best player on the pitch. Zouma had his best match even to the chorus of boos, he was rock solid. Fabianski was really untested and deserved his clean sheet. That one effort that he saved was a routine one for him. Cresswell was far more reliable. Got to give Antonio credit and he deserved a goal for all his work rate and fantastic strike that brought an equally outstanding save from the Wolves keeper. The only two average players were unfortunately two of our outstanding players from previous games. Bowen and Dawson. But then this is football, and I expect them to pick up again in the upcoming fixtures.
Fornals
At left back??
Yes, that is precisely where
Yes, that is precisely where Fornals operated from. You could see him playing very deep in a Left back position and Cresswell moving into a more Central role. This was Moyes is change of tactics as he mentioned in his interview.
Fair enough Toronto
I didn't know that,thought cress was at left back & fornals left mid! He was back to his best forkhandles so happy days
Yes, that is precisely where
Yes, that is precisely where Fornals operated from. You could see him playing very deep in a Left back position and Cresswell moving into a more Central role. This was Moyes is change of tactics as he mentioned in his interview.
Revitalised
That's what I reckon anyways...we lacked confidence over the past 2-3 months and you could see it trickling back into the gameplay of most, if not every player. How good is Declan Rice ffs. He just keeps going like a Duracell bunny...and that shot...!
Zouma was class holding the defence together and was pleasantly surprised that Soucek seemed more like his old self.
Big fortnight of football coming up...COYI
Rice
Is there a better midfielder in world football at the moment,incredible player
To think the majority of fans
To think the majority of fans on here were calling for Antonio to be benched and Soucek to be dropped, that's why you're not managers and Moyes is. Unfortunately for some...
To be fair Boogers
Souschef has been off form for quite a while now & Ants looked knackered before yesterday,still did when he went off!! But personally I've never slagged off them i suggested maybe giving them a rest.there was talk before the game that the players & manager had a good talk about things,maybe some players had a rocket up the Jacksy,if so it worked!! Not playing Benny worked imo he had a strop & up you could see by moyes reaction that he wasn't going to get away with it!!
We wanted this game more
AS I said before the game this is the springboard we needed to do Southampton in the Cup and we could be right up there again Think we wanted this game more than Wolves and wer fighting for every ball Although the personal was thesame the fomation was completly different and I don't think wolves knew what was happening in the half. Couldn't understand what Bruno Large was doing with his team think he got his selection all wrong. Nice touch by West Ham to wear the Number 7 Yarmo shirts and showing their solidarity- don't know what Spartak Moscow are even doing in the draw for the Europa cup- and fair play to Poland for refusing to play Russia in the world cup
Im afraid i was one of the
Im afraid i was one of the aforementioned fans boogers and i stand by it ,sure Ant came came up with the pass that resulted in the goal but hes nowhere near back to his old form ,holding the ball up and distribution are still all lacking ,dont get me wrong ,im still a big fan and i feel deeply sorry for the guy ,it cant be easy loosing it like that ,especially a nice guy like him ,to me hes got to have more pow wows with Moyes to get to the bottom of it ,to me it started the minute he signed up to play for the Reggie boys ,as for souchec no one happier than me seeing him get back his mojo ,he to has a bit to go yet .