Heading pack to Upton Park after a long summer feels like heading back to school. Everyone’s excited, because after a long absence they forget how bad school can be. People are hugging, shaking hands, and it feels great to reunite with the people around you. It’s also interesting to look at West Ham after a long absence and see what changed for the good, what changed for the bad, and what didn’t really change at all.
There were some big changes to the squad made over the summer, and it was great to see Sam Allardyce take a risk and put a few newbies in his squad. I was surprised and glad to see Cheikhou Kouyate in the squad and thought the new signing had a fairly solid first game.
Aaron Cresswell was another great change for the team, especially considering it was his first ever Premier League game and it was against a team who will most likely (and annoyingly) finish rather high in the table. It was unfortunate that he played a role in Spurs’ goal, but it does not undercut how well he shut down their team for the majority of the game.
It was also a nice change to see Man of the Match awarded to him. Often it goes to the player the sponsors would most like to meet, irrespective of whether they truly were the best—but Cresswell did well on Saturday, and deserves a pat on the back for his efforts.
There were also some changes that weren’t for the better. I’ve been moaning for years about the TVs near the bar in the Alpari Upper – they’ve been so fuzzy they were almost unwatchable – but this year saw the addition of brand new flat screen TVs! It should have been a great change but… they weren’t turned on. Imagine, West Ham go out and spend all this money on something shiny, new and expensive, and then don’t even use it. I know; I’m shocked too.
It also made for a terrible change to see Mark Noble missing a penalty. The red card for Spurs was harsh, but seeing Nobes completely miss was hard to stomach. Surely we must be looking at nearly five years since this last happened?
Overall, it wasn’t a bad game. We had Spurs entirely contained for the first-half, and had the majority of the game. We just didn’t take advantage of opportunities, and that stopped us from winning (or even drawing) – and this is something that hasn’t really changed from last year. There are other things that still need to change, as well.
I need to see more from Kevin Nolan, and by ‘more’ I mean ‘something.’ He was anonymous for most of the game. We still need to devote more attention and bodies up front. Enner Valencia looks quick, sharp, and likely to score but he does not at all come across as a lone striker type. He battled extremely well for the ball on the left edge of the box, but then was left with no one to play it in to, as he was the only striker and the only one that far forward.
This wasn’t the game that will make or break our season. There were a lot of positives to take from the game, and I think the Crystal Palace game will give us a strong indication of what our season will be like. Losing to Spurs is annoying, but losing to a manager-less Palace would mean there’s another big change we’d have to make; here’s hoping we put on a good show and get some goals against them instead.
Did you see any good changes at Upton Park on Saturday? What changes would you still like to see (yes, I know about Sam…)?
Noble , I believe had scored last 10 …. Just as well because he does nothing else . We must move forward and get rid of the players that are past it or have never been it … Cole , Nolan , Noble , O’Brien , Jarvis for a start . All losers who have won nothing in the game . Trouble is no one wants them
Good post Emily. You’ve summed up nicely what most of us die hards are thinking. Plenty of positives, and reasons to think we’ve the basis of a very strong team. Yes, you raised the Sam issue. For me, apart from the obvious, his removal, I’d settle right now, for Nolan not to be first on the team sheet. Week in week out. He’s just not worth his place. And as long as he is guaranteed a start we won’t be at our best, or anything like it!
I’m all for changes Yes even BFS and Nolan but I don’t agree about Noble I thought he was good on Saturday and check his stats his running and work rate are head and shoulders above the rest His passing id good give those in front of him dont move up quickly enough not only for him, But for any lone forward ( which I hate ) How is it Nolan can get up behind Carroll but not for other forwards..JUST a point!!
What’s changed at West Ham? Not much. We still have a manager who’s happy to send out Cant Control and Ricky Vaz Te as his first choice and leave two new – and must surely be better – strikers on the bench. This is despite almost all of Cole’s goals (a saying you don’t hear often) last season coming when he came on as a late sub against tired defenders. Maiga run his socks off for 75 mins, then Carlton comes on and scores.
And why does he insist on playing the wingers on their weak side? Downing’s actually a good player, but has to cross (and tackle back in the right back position) on his weaker side. Same with Jarvis last year. Give me more of ‘Wily’ Kouyate and Cresswell, though. Class acts the pair of them. And Valencia did more in his first three minutes than Cole in the previous seventy.
Zarate won’t get a look in under fat sham,and that’s a shame cos hes a good player.I cannot believe Carlton cole is still at the club,nice bloke that he is hes a terrible player.Also nolan is a waste of a position when we could play 2 strikers,he offers nothing and looks knackered after 15 mins
Bottom line is Allardyce cost us the game,spurs were there for the taking and allardyce did nothing,changed nothing and never went for the win when spurs had ten men
Change is imminent. The wind tells me the Palace game cannot see the same starting line up as the spuds game, especially as there was a red. Some change of hairstyles but same rhetoric and same tactical moves makes me think the bench is the best change, apart from Cresswell & Kouyate playing themselves into the PL…change ? Interesting concept but seems also like perseverance .
Went to the game, It turned on Noble missing from 12 yards. I have always said evolution is better that revalution for WHU but Carlton upfront on his own is not gonna win games. If you support CC he is OK but for some reason Nolan only comes alive when Carroll is playing. It was ours for the taking and reminds me of early last year being beat in games we should have won /drawn dragged us intpo a dogfight…..
our biggest problem is scoring goals so what exactly changed on Saturday to address this? let’s see….I know. it was our new promised attacking style of play with carlton up front and Nolan tucked in behind him. I thought it worked a treat and was a pleasant change from our usual style…….