Back to reality I suppose. After an excellent win against Arsenal last week, West Ham slumped to a 2-1 defeat at home to Leicester yesterday. With such raised expectations, many fans left disappointed as the Tinkerman came to town and left with all three points. So, after the second league game of the season, what have we learnt this time around?
1. Consistency? What consistency?
In last week’s version of this article, I posed the question of whether we could perform consistently after the win at the Emirates. Yesterday I was reminded that this is West Ham. We don’t really do consistency. After defending so well the week before the two Leicester goals were easily avoidable.
The intensity was lacking within the team in the first half and they seemed to be undone by any degree of speed, particularly from Jamie Vardy. But, hey, where’s the fun in knowing what team is going to show up on a weekend? Right?
2. Pick up the pace
West Ham enjoyed the majority of possession in the game and it is clear that they are trying to implement a passing style after a few years of hoofball. However, it’s all well and good passing it to one another on the ground but it has to be done in a certain manner for it to work. At the moment, it is far too slow, agonizingly so at times.
The midfield appeared to take an age to actually pick out their pass and this gave the Leicester defenders plenty of time to organize and cover themselves. The passing game has to be done with speed and first time passes to throw a defence out of kilter. It’s easier to do when you’re playing on the counter, like at Arsenal, but more of a challenge, when you have to actually take control of a game and the opposition, is looking to hit on the break. Definitely something that needs work.
3. Oxford has the talent but isn’t a regular starter just yet
Oxford can be a star if he applies himself and it is clear, after last week, that he has the talent. He is still incredibly young though and isn’t ready to be a regular starter just yet. It’s still very much a learning process for him. Yesterday he was largely anonymous in the first half and was brought off at half-time and replaced by new signing, Pedro Obiang, who looked far more assured in the hold.
Oxford should still be in and around the first team, he has that ability, but he’s not quite ready for regular starts. Put him in the team for the odd game plus a few substitute appearances, throughout the season, and his time will soon come. He certainly has age on his side.
4. We need a striker!
Ok so this isn’t something we’ve learnt all of a sudden, it’s been known for a long time now. But when Maïga comes off the bench as you’re searching for an equaliser it makes the fans despair and really adds a new emphasis to our desperate need of another front man. Another attacking midfielder would be nice too, thanks.
5. We’re not qualifying for Europe via fair play this time
Adrián’s sending off makes that four red cards already this year. Definitely not winning that fair play league this time around are we? In all serious though we have to stop getting red cards. It’s starting to get ridiculous.
6. Performances aside, this season will be special
Yesterday marked the first league game of the final season at the Boleyn ground. To recognize this West Ham designated the day as ‘Claret and Blue’ day and the fans certainly got on board. The noise at the beginning was deafening. It was goosebump inducing.
This was the moment that the realization that we will be leaving our home soon hit me the most. Sampling the atmosphere at that ground is a limited commodity now and I would encourage anyone lucky enough to go along in the ‘Farewell Boleyn’ season to drink it up and participate. We’re counting down the days now until we move to Stratford so let’s go out with plenty of volume and bubbles in the air.
