After some great signings and two promising games at our new home, the Hammers fans were very optimistic for the first game of the season against fierce rivals Chelsea. However, when the team news came out an hour before kick off no one was happy. Enner Valencia started at left wing, Antonio at right back and Payet and Ogbonna were benched.
Maybe I could understand if we were really lacking in those positions, however, Payet and Tore are both 10x better than Valencia and Byram is a natural right-back whereas Antonio is not.
As the game began it didn’t take long for everyone to realise West Ham were really under Chelsea’s thumb, luckily in the first half Chelsea didn’t really create anything however early on in the second half Michail Antonio stole the ball off of a Chelsea attacker in our box and rather than clearing it first time he decided to take the player on, after this he, unfortunately, gave the ball away and after a little scramble conceded a penalty. Eden Hazard gave Chelsea the lead and it looked like game over.
However with about 10 minutes to go James Collins scored a volley inside the opposition’s box the Hammers were alive!! Unfortunately, after some lacklustre defending Diego Costa (who should’ve no longer been on the pitch) scored a great goal to put the game to bed.
