West Ham United’s game against West Bromwich Albion showed just how well the Hammers can play. With a 3-1 win, a great performance and the three points what did we learn about the Irons?
Andy Carroll can score goals- With people questioning Andy Carroll’s goal scoring credentials lately, our move to the Olympic Stadium being captured and the return of English players from international duty (he was left out), the game against West Brom was perfect for him to prove people wrong about him, and he done it in style with one powerful header and one volley which was pure class.
Gary O’Neil is better than most thought- I wrote an article saying that O’Neil could be a key player for us when Mark Noble got injured, however nobody else seemed to see it, but in the game against West Brom I think he showed that he can be, with a sublime goal and link up play that was at times as good as Noble’s alongside his set pieces I think he showed the credentials to be a great player for us in the centre of the midfield.
George McCartney isn’t ready- When I saw George McCartney coming on for Guy Demel, I couldn’t help but feel excitement and relief for him that he was back in the team after such a long time out through injury, however this was short lived as five minutes into his comeback he was forced to get treatment for an injury and a couple of minutes later we were down to ten man as he was forced to walk off of the pitch.
Kevin Nolan is no longer an ‘unbenchable’ – The game against West Brom saw Kevin Nolan substituted at a much earlier stage than he normally would be (which is with about five minutes left) and this comes after questions of whether he is an “undroppable” or “unbenchable” and this shows that despite the fact that he may still be a bit of an ‘undroppable’ he is no longer an ‘unbenchable’.
Ricardo Vaz Te is willing to work- Ricardo Vaz Te is definitely not a man who is known for his work rate, and it is usually at a very low level but after being left out of the starting line up for a while a raise in work rate may have been what he needed to re-establish himself in the team. He gave a lot more for the team in my opinion and with an assist and some good defensive work, this could be the game that gives him a kick start for the rest of the season and going into next season.
This is a good article and states some very good points. Unlike you though I felt Gaz O’Neil would not do the job, but having seen his last few appearances he is convincing me that he can and his goal yesterday was class. However, I still think that Nolan is an unbenchable, he was subbed because of an aggravated broken toe. But 1 more year and he may be dropped regularly because collison will be coming into his own :).
Very good article I have been saying it for a long time andy Carroll has the potential to be one of the best strikers in the premier league he is an arial threat but he can play the ball on the floor aswell as showed by his volley , and to the last comment about collision a mate of mine knows him very well and jack reckons he has until he is about 26-27 before his knees give way a certain Ledley king springs to mind class player not playing enough because of injury
If you wish you can watch the game’s highlights on http://www.footballwatch.net/team/207
Nice to have andy carroll fit again,towards the end of last season he played like this for liverpool. he leads the line well-holds and plays the ball off well, and his 2 goals had class all about them.