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How big of a blow is this to West Ham?

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Winston ReidWe’ve not done well with injuries so far this year. In fact, if there were a league table of injuries sustained by club, I’m certain we’d top it. The latest casualty of injury is our outstanding defender Winston Reid. It’s an injury that had me concerned when I learned of it, but now, after the negative result against Norwich City, I’m wondering just how big of a blow Winston Reid’s injury will be for the Hammers. Andy Carroll’s on-going injury has been such a cause of frustration, but in my opinion, it’s the injury to Reid, which will cause us the most trouble this season.

Winston Reid has made an outstanding contribution to the team in the past few years. He’s been a mainstay in the back four, and has been incredibly consistent. Last season Reid started during 11 of our 12 clean sheet games, and was deservedly named Hammer of The Year. He’s spent most of this season clearing crucial balls and delivering game-saving tackles, and we’ve had to rely on him time and time again to stay in the game. He’s also proved useful up the pitch, particularly when he scored against Spurs in October’s 3-0 win.

Not to mention that even with West Ham’s slightly abysmal home and away record this season, he’s still bringing home the proverbial bacon in my fantasy football team.

Unfortunately, Reid has injured an ankle whilst in training. According to Sky Sports, he’s looking at a very lengthy time on the side lines and may not return to the pitch until after the New Year—which is not good news for a team struggling to pick up points.

Worryingly, Norwich was our first Reid-less game, and I think we can universally agree that what happened in the second half was a travesty against football. In the first half, defensively, James Collins and James Tomkins seemed an adequate cover for the New Zealander, but by the second half, it all fell to pieces and we really struggled defensively.

Sam Allardyce does not agree with the above sentiment, saying after the Norwich game: “we didn’t miss Winston Reid as I thought [James Tomkins and James Collins] were very good and from a defensive point of view they didn’t deserve to concede three goals.” (Sky Sports)

Whether or not you agree with Allardyce, the last time Reid was out injured for an extended length of time – after suffering a concussion while on duty for NZ – we won just two games out of 8. The game he returned we won 4-0, and from that point on, we did not lose another game in that season.

Do you think we’ll survive our Reid-less period, and am I placing too much importance on his role in the team? Can Tomkins and Collins avoid a repeat of “that” game? Let me know below or tweet me @makingthemarrow

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4 comments

  • John Pritchard says:

    Reid is a massive loss – whilst it’s good to see Tomkins coming back to form and proving what a fine player he is and whilst I always like Collins’ full hearted approach, Reid is a cut above. If we can remind Collins ( and indeed the rest of the side) that giving away free kicks on the edge of the box can be fatal ( as, unlike us, most Prem teams have someone who can actually take a free kick ) then with luck too much damage can be avoided – but where is the cover behind those two – O’Brien or Diarra?
    And while I’m on – for crying out loud, please start the next game with a striker on the field rather than donkey Nolan just grazing up front.

  • John Barry says:

    Yes, I do think you are placing to much importance on Reid’s role Emily. I do agree with you in that he has been our most outstanding defender, but when all is said and done, he is still only 1 man. On a lighter note. Read and remember as follows;
    West Ham United F.C.
    Honours
    FA Cup: 3 Winners: 1964, 1975, 1980
    Football League War Cup: 1 Winners: 1940 = 1 League Cup & 1 league champions title all in one because WW2 had commenced without a league program of fixtures. This competition replaced the league program, and was later stopped, so West Ham United FC keep this cup forever, i.e. forever champions!
    European Cup Winners .Cup: 1 Winners: 1965
    UEFA Intertoto Cup: 1 Winners: 1999
    FA Charity Shield:: 1 Winners: 1964 (shared)
    International Soccer League: 1 Champions: 1963
    = 8 Major Honours
    If anyone ever tells you that West Ham have never been champions &/or league cup winners, then this info will tell them that we’ve most definitely won both!
    But sadly, nothing won this millennium.
    Well, with just 8 games to go until the mid-season stage, West Ham are a long way short of the haul they achieved last year after 19 games, being a target of 23 points. In fact we are 8 points short of the 18 we had won after the first 11 games of last season. How many points out of the next 24 do you think West Ham will get? 4 wins & a draw would match last season’s effort, but their current form does not display that this can happen. I hope I am wrong? As in theory, West Ham, with Ravel Morrison and others coming on, have a better team than they had last season, but the theory does not always work & I can think of at least 8 points being lost by bad match official decisions, so there’s the 8 points we are down from last year, and let’s hope that Winston Reid recovers from injury soon. All the best Winston.

  • rivieralet says:

    The free kick Collins gave away was an unfortunate accidental collision , given rightly as a foul . But why was the ball there ? because Noble ( who coincidently wastes all of our free kicks and corners ) gave the ball away in midfield . As for losing Reid it is a disaster . Tomkins is terrible . Reid covers his mistakes but Collins is a great stopper but too slow to cover Tomkins .

  • Jackokw says:

    Agree with the article completely – Winston saves us time and time again, he’s an excellent and composed defender who also organises the rest of the defence. Would be a much better captain than Nolan.
    Tomkins also is a great defender – good timing of tackles, few fouls, dispatches the ball well.
    Collins however is a typical BFS player – lunges in sometimes, hoofs the ball away and gives away free kicks too often. He may be committed but he’s a liability imo.
    As for BFS’ comments re Norwich game – didn’t miss Reid, Jussi and wall not to blame for goal from free kick, Collins played well – just about sums him up really. Whatever drugs WH are feeding him on, they ought to give out free to the fans before the Chelsea game then perhaps we’ll see the same game as ‘Allerdici’.

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