Many West Ham fans were left understandably vexed after their team’s FA Cup exit at the hands of Manchester United after extra time on Tuesday night.
The team was rocked by injury on numerous occasions, with Angelo Ogbonna and his replacement Issa Diop both having to be removed from the field through injury.
The latter became the first official concussion substitute in English football amid the introduction of new safety laws enabling clubs to remove concussed players without incurring the de facto tactical penalty of using a regular substitution slot.
Operating as a makeshift centre-forward, Andriy Yarmolenko was another unfortunate casualty after David Moyes confirmed the Ukrainian had ‘opened up his knee ligaments’ before former Manchester United youngster Ademipo Odubeko came on against his former club.
In the post-match fan-led dissection of the game, many West Ham fans took aim at a wide range of individuals, running from 518-game Hammers icon Mark Noble to David Moyes and the Hammers’ much-maligned board.
With even Moyes himself in the firing line, having led West Ham to be dark horses to finish in a European spot in the league this season, nobody appears safe from the wrath of fans. The manager came under fire for a conservative approach to the game, with the Hammers recording only three shots all night compared to the hosts’ 16.
Despite his status as an Irons legend, Noble’s influence on the game was minimal, failing to record a shot and losing possession 15 times (Sofascore).
Issuing responsibility and blame for the defeat proved to be a contentious source of debate among some Hammers fans, keen to focus on exactly why the Irons find themselves out of the FA Cup.
These West Ham fans took to Twitter to offer their opinions…
Twitter: Noble is a scapegoat, he played well tonight. Ultimately we don’t have a striker and it cost us. We played well ton… https://t.co/dLYNTZDvIW (@jxmeswhu)
Twitter: @jxmeswhu If football is about creating chances and excitement then no, we weren’t good tonight. I’m not interested… https://t.co/N7TxFtUwLr (@td67coyi)
Twitter: @td67coyi @jxmeswhu He doesn’t have full license to spend it’s rather the unwillingness of the owners not prepared… https://t.co/ffs2SryHSe (@LingardinhoSzn)
Twitter: @WestHam Shame we couldn’t test their keeper more. I’d love a proper cup run. But the league is looking so promisin… https://t.co/oTfkmfupii (@Bobby_Seagull)
Twitter: @Bobby_Seagull @WestHam We desperately need at least one decent striker. Defence & midfield look fine, but we’ve no… https://t.co/HIqiuk8L66 (@JeffStump3)
Twitter: @Bobby_Seagull @WestHam There seemed to be a lack of attacking creativity tonight as well as against Fulham. There… https://t.co/6Ku11qdfYx (@domster68)
