1. Gary O’Neil may be the step in that we are craving
With Mohamed Diame out for the meantime and a whole gapping in the middle to partner Mark Noble, West Ham United have been looking and desperately trying to find someone who can fill that gap and Gary O’Neil may have proved so. I have recently bemoaned the fact that Sam Allardyce has persisted with playing Gary O’Neil on the wing, but today he has shown the qualities that made him a regular in the West Ham United team at the end of the season and the run in to our showdown at Wembley. I think O’Neil is a very solid utility player and at times, when played in the middle of the park can be a pivotal player for West Ham as he allows Noble to have some freedom. This is what he allowed today and even though the game was a scoreless stalemate, Noble showed signs of being able to take a game by the scruff of the neck.
- 2. Winston Reid and James Collins are becoming a formidable partnership
At the start of the season, many supporters may have felt nervous about our back four and our back two centre backs especially. Many felt that Collins has seen his better days and Reid wasn’t experienced enough, add to this, James Tomkins’ wavering form, you would have been forgiven for being pessimistic; nearly 4 months on and all that have changed. West Ham United are now one of the most efficient sides at the back, where most of this is down to the pairing of Reid and Collins. Today they showed their growing understanding to work together, by keeping a potent West Brom side to keeping the majority of their shots from distance, a marked improvement from the days of Grant.
- 3. Lack of strength in depth
Every side moans about their injury problems and the key players that their sides miss when they are either injured or suspended, but West Ham are at a new level. We only named 6 substitutes rather than the customary seven. I feel that we are clearly lacking in strength on depth and could possibly be regretting sending many of our prodigies out on loan. Hall and Morrison would have been welcomed on our bench and both of them could have made appearances in the side. With as many as 4 games in nine days, we may start to find ourselves very short on numbers.
- 4. Demel needs to step up
Guy Demel has had a good year since returning from injury, he has been a regular in the West Ham line up and looked comfortable at times, but today I thought he was rather average against Peter Odemwingie, who in turn, wasn’t exactly the best winger in the league on that performance. With the transfer window around the corner, he may be weary of his place in the side and with good reason as well.
- 5. West Ham’s attidude is admirable
Against a well drilled side that were well over due a win after last weeks loss to Arsenal, the attitude of a West Ham side to keep West Brom at bay was impressive. James Collins throwing his head in first to stop Shane Long from converting a Zoltan Gera shot summed up the game. Collins’ determination and pure grit to deter a follow up shot from the Irishman showed how much this side want to play for each other and that they care about how they do on the pitch as a team, not just individuals. As many supporters like myself, we can take some pride in seeing a side that may just be on to a formula that could go onto bigger and better things than just Premier League mediaocracy.
Are you serious about O’Neil and Noble? Both are weak, ponderous in possession and are poor passers of a ball. Neither can go past a player. Neither can tackle effectively or win an aerial duel. O’Neil is a Championship player and if we had paid money for Noble we would be saying he is not a top Premiership midfielder. Take Diame out of the midfield and it shows just how much he covers the others. When Diarra and Diame are both fit I don’t expect to see O’Neil or Noble starting regularly
Tony are you bonkers? Noble has made the most tackles (including successful) in the league and his passing accuracy according to opta stats has only once or twice fallen below 80% accurate this season. Just because a player isn’t blessed with pace doesn’t mean he isn’t a great player. it all depends on your assignments as a player and he is completing his.
O’Neill I feel is a good squad player to have- perfect for those 10-15 min run outs but not a starter. He’s kinda replaced Spector on that sense.
We need some more depth to the squad either from players returning from I hurt or loan signings In jan.
I agree, Tony what are u on about regarding Noble. He’s been one of the reasons for our strong start. O’Neill is a squad player at best but definitely worth retaining!
Noble “ponderous a poor passer of the ball” ??? Please tell me you are joking. All the stats have had Mark ahead in terms of tackles made, distance covered and pass completion. Awful analysis of one our shining lights.
I read somewhere that Noble had completed the most successful tackles in the premier league this season. You certainly can’t say he can’t tackle
A potent West Brom side?!?? The same West Brom that have failed to score for over five hours of football? Collins had a decent game but his distribution is cack. Tomkins over him every day of the week. Collins makes me nervous and has been involved with a lot of the goals we have conceded
There are pros & cons to all of the above comments but I thought that we did quite well against the ‘Baggies ‘ & the ref who seemed not to notice Carlton and Jussi almost having the shirts ripped from their backs. Fart near a West Brom player & concede a free kick.
However, I am of the opinion that when Collison & Diarra are fit, BFS may well consider changing the mid field set up. He might also consider returning O’Brien to right back then strengthening the left back position. Reading that we are looking for a couple of forwards may mean that we’ve probably seen the last of Carroll & Maiga.
Three big signings needed.
A goalkeep.
Striker.
Defender.
UNTIL THIS HAPPENS, FORGET ABOUT BEING A CONSISTENT TOP 6 TEAM