Despite recent injuries to West Ham’s big players, we have pushed on and picked up some valuable points, two to note, from Liverpool and Southampton, both on our travels.
Gary O’Neil wasn’t my personal choice to fill in for Mark Noble after he was sidelined, but who else was there? O’Neil has been fantastic during his run and has very much proved myself and other doubters wrong after recent performances. Saturday’s trip to Southampton was another great game for the midfielder, creating the most chances for our team and assisting Andy Carroll for the equaliser. O’Neil has fully deserved any potential contract extension, and I for one would be delighted to see him sign it.
Winston Reid was also sidelined and was a huge upset for many fans, however James Tomkins has stepped up superbly, putting in a fine shift alongside James Collins against Liverpool, and again so against Southampton on the weekend. It was great to see that both defenders slid in to stop Gaston Ramirez scoring, showing that they would both throw themselves in front of a shot in order to keep a clean sheet. Although Ramirez was fortunate with a bounce, it was still a good defensive display from the young English defender who offers great depth to the squad.
Despite this, I feel the addition on Pogatetz scares many, he is a weak defender and I would personally rather a call-up for a youngster than to see him play against Manchester United in the wake of Tomkins picking up a minor injury.
It must be said that Ricardo Vaz Te has improved as of late, and since Joe Cole’s injury he has had his time to shine. The Portuguese winger has regained his skilful performances from last season and has shown signs of getting back to his top gear. A fine run against Southampton showed this, and for once, a lovely square ball – perfectly timed – to Kevin Nolan was a breath of fresh air, as he was once the player that kept the ball for too long.
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We haven’t got the largest depth in the squad in terms of numbers, but our players have all stepped up to the mark when called upon, and this has been an integral factor in our campaign.
Despite these great shifts being put in, I feel that we need to add to our squad to ensure that the worst possible injury problems can be overcome swiftly and effectively. For example, Tomkins’ injury which could see lacklustre Austrian Emmanual Pogatetz earn a spot against the current Premier League leaders.
Come summer it will be sensible if we swoop for a defender to cover, and this could even be a youngster to ensure that we have players that can grow, and cover whilst not becoming too upset about being out of the match squad. (Any suggestions as to who we should bring in?)
Currently we have three good centre backs in Tomkins, Reid and Collins and the good thing about Tomkins and Reid is that they are both young and are still growing in terms of maturity and also their attributes on the field.
We haven’t got the best of depth on the wings with just Matthew Jarvis, Joe Cole and Vaz Te being good players to call upon. Matthew Taylor should probably be offloaded come end of the season with a replacement being swiftly brought in. (Again, any suggestions?)
Where else are we lacking depth in the squad? Or are we fully equipped for any potential injuries?
Ben Edkins (@benedkins12)
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Great post, my only real concern with Allerdyce is he does not seem to give any of our youth team players a chance, which is something I and a lot of fans want to see. Even if it’s 10-15 mins every other game or filling in when first team players are injured.
I could maybe handle the lack of youth players getting a chance if we had some super solid cover, but Pogatez keeping out a number of young hungry West ham players dying to show what they can bring to the table..I don’t buy that.
I know times have changed but we won’t be creating any more Lampards, Defoes, Ferdinands, Coles, Johnsons etc any time soon because plain and simple the under 21’s do not get enough game time on the pitch.
I really hope BFS can start to introduce a few players younger next season as I am bored of an ageing team that has very little pace, If Vaz te and Jarvis do not play we look dreadful going forward.
Players like Nolan, Taylor, Collins, Cole, have 1 max 2 seasons left before they really become in-effective and we need replacements which can’t get overnight (unless we get bought by some mega rich guy, which i’m not really a fan of) we need to plant the seeds now, give them the 10 mins here and there so we can fade out nolan & co to become the subs instead of the youngsters.
Couldn’t agree more Maz!
Allardyce is literally the only person in the whole world that thinks Pogatetz is a better defender than Jordan Spence or Danny Potts.
I’ve never known a manager more averse to giving young players a chance.
Could`nt agree more with Tonka.
My beef is with BS and his football phylosathy – big strong physical athletes, with minimal skill levels, – Bypass the midfeild (mostly) attack the 18 yard area in numbers, wait for the knock downs, and so on. We`re already being labelled as long ball merchants, and set peice specialists. (even Southampton think they are Barcelona compared to us!)
He constantly useses his adopted son Nolan (as some inspirational leader) but when he swops him with Collison there is a marked difference – we use the ball a little more intelegently, etc. The reason why we love Joey Cole so much is he loves us, plays his heart out, and throws in some skill, and tecninque with it!
I am all for getting results, and staying in the premier league (which BS has duly acheived for us, and being well paid) but we should not surrender the the entertainment value completely, otherwise a string of bad results and the Westham – Football Acamedy, will surely lose its credit, and come the big move to the OS Stadium we will struggle to half fill it. I sincerely hope the two of them (Gold & Sullivan) sit him down and aim with their forthcomming aquisitions to bring in some balance to the Team-Squad!
Personally in Big Sams defence he is probably looking for safety first and then blooding the youngsters (40 points). Before Big Sam arrived at the club there was no sending of youngsters out on loan and no real progression path to the first team.
In short our youngsters progression was hit and miss and although we ALL want to see the “Academy” produce top quality young players, we have to try not to get too carried away and at the same time put things in context. How many other teams in the Premiership are throwing youngsters in??? I can’t think of many, and we need to realise there is a reason for this and TRUST the manager to make the right decisions. We need to realise that damage can also be done to youngsters by throwing them in too early. I don’t believe Joe Cole was developed as well as he could have been by Harry who didn’t instil the discipline of position in him which is why he didn’t become the player he should have been.
The job at West Ham NEEDS a steady hand and although we want to see rapid progress, we need to remember how far we have come in such a short time and the fact that this club needs delicate if unspectacular progress in order to be where we want to be for the Big move.
What I do agree with is that Pogatetz worries me and although we want something out of the game I’d rather go with the kids on this occasion.
Pogatetz is the Worst Signing defensive wise, against Tottenham he was only on for 10secs and gave away a free kick. Surely Spence has earned a starting spot, please anyone other than Pogatetz