It wouldn’t be a traditional West Ham United season without a mini injury crisis, would it?
The Hammers were missing five key individuals during Saturdays cruel 2-1 defeat to Everton.
Alex Song, Diafra Sakho, Enner Valencia, Cheikhou Kouyate and Stewart Downing all missed the defeat with Mark Noble and Morgan Amalfitano picking up knocks during it.
It just goes to show how far this squad has come that the Irons ‘reserves’ were desperately unlucky not to walk away from Goodison Park with a point.
Whilst watching the game on Saturday it got me thinking which of these key men are the east end club missing the most?
The Hammers dominated large spells, and it was clear that the visitors were missing the strike combo of Valencia and Sakho. The hosts had to withhold large spells of pressure from the Irons but the combo of Nolan, Amalfitano and co struggled to really carve open the Everton back four.
I can’t help but feel that had the Irons had their deadly duo that the Toffees would have struggled to hold off the Hammers charges. The key to our early season success has been the speed of our counter attacks, but with Andy Carroll and Carlton Cole up top, the mode of attack was somewhat blunted.
Though missing the deadly duo were a big miss, the strike force of Mauro Zarate and Andy Carroll could and probably should have had enough in the tank to secure at least a point.
The biggest miss of all was commanding and classy midfielder Alex Song, the former Arsenal and Barcelona man is the influential man the Hammers have been missing for years.
His array of passing and interceptions keeps the Irons ticking over, whilst always giving us the chance of springing a fast counter attack. It comes as no surprise that since the Hammers brought Alex Song into the side they have only lost just one game against Manchester United, in cruel fashion too.
He brings the calming nature you would expect from a player who has played at the highest level in Europe. He brings a winning mentality to the team and without his presence the Hammers struggled to gain a true foothold in the centre of the park. I highly doubt that Eto’o’s winner would have happened had he been on the pitch. He marshals the team expertly and the Hammers showed their naivety by plunging far too many men forward at that stage of the game.
The arrival of Song back into the starting eleven will certainly calm the nerves of the Hammers faithful. Of course West Ham United will be better off when the five some return to the squad, but for me the Cameroonian is the missing link.
Come on you Irons!
Send me your views on twitter to @Bowdenwhu
im sorry but i dont believe for a second that all those players just happened to be injured at the same time. no way! It was more likely a combination if players playing midweek, travelling long distances and Sam wanting a) rest those players (maybe some carrying knocks) and b) use our plan B against Everton (our plan A last season).
So what did Sam do? Tried to be responsible by resting those players whilst at the same time giving in to his true genetic desires, playing the big strong strappin’ lads and out muscle the opposition – Tomkins, Collins, Reid, Nolan, Cole, Carroll – all in the same line up!
i rolled my eyes when i saw that line up. Lots of questions need to be answered, why does he think a Carroll and Cole partnership would work? i dont. and im sure im not alone.
why are we risking all our centre backs on the pitch at the same time? knowing we have none others in the squad should any injuries or sendings off happen (or both).
how did Nolan or Cole deserve the nod over Zarate?
i hold back too much criticism of Sam because its just one match, we were unlucky not to pick up a point, matches are lost all the time and we shouldnt overreact. We’ve done well so far this season. However… the neanderthal approach that Sam often loves and is notorious for, is not the way forward for west ham. And some of our other line ups and performances this season are proof of that.
Conspiracy theorists?
West Ham have entered the twilight zone one again after an unlucky loss!
Conspiracy theorists?
West Ham have entered the twilight zone once again after an unlucky loss!
I wish we could get away from this, if we loose it’s all BS’s fault and if we win its nothing to do with him! Nonsense.
If you take out Downing, song, kayoute, Sakho out of your starting eleven it doesn’t leave a lot of attacking options!
If you add to the mix, carroll/nolan and Jarvis were retuning from injury, the problems with zarate over form and fitness leaving only Cole to lead the line! I think it would be difficult for anyone to pick a credible attacking unit!
Having said that, if we had supplied the kind of crosses from jenks and cresswell that we have being doing all season then you would have expected carroll and Cole to take better advantage than that of the poor fare they received Saturday.
It just shows you how bad the crossing was when Jarvis whose crossing/finishing is frustrating at best, looked good when he came on.
Also imo it would have been better to have started with Cole and zarate leaving carroll to continue his rehabilitation on the bench.
Finally as Xmas is now approaching!
if we have had a half decent ref we would have received better protection, offside goals would have been recognised and McCathy and Morrellis thuggish behaviour would have gotten the red cards their “tackles” richly deserved. COYI!
Oh please Lengends, get real. So when come Saturday we find those players are still “injured” will you claim that once again Sam is lying and those top class performers are sat at home with their feet up perfectly fit? I despair at some of the rubbish stated to discredit our manager.
They are injured, accept it, luckily we have a strong squad and plans A to D.