The Hammer to score...

Starting with 13pts from a possible 18; 
then holding United at the Theatre Of Dreams, only to be edged by Moyes' Hammers at home. 

"It's happening all over again..." as Lonnie Gordon sung in 1990. 

We could put just about any song lyrics into this week's performance, for the hidden detail spoke volumes all-round. 

The odd-controversial moment.
A game of moments. 

Yes, we missed quality in many areas. 

Today warrants praise for West Ham's team, which played the full 90 minutes as a team, slightly better than we did. 
From the kick-off, Moyes' players showed no fear of our newly-discovered counter-attacking threat; every intention of dominating possession - for a purpose.  It's credit to their players maturity that despite 15 minutes of full game control without scoring, there was never any fear of panicking in the Hammers' game. Qualifying for Europe sure helps in this category and if Richarlison's quotes can be trusted, then demanding Europe through declaring full intention to help the club do just that is a pressure Rafa Benitez will clearly enjoy - though perhaps not with results like today's.

But staying on today's action, the opening quarter-of-an-hour was a statement of how an opposing team were slightly more ready to perform as a team right from the start - a no-no in professional global sport. 

Yes, signings like Allan, Gray and Doucoure have added strength to our team, and sure, we stayed in the game well by not conceding in those early wobbles. Praise especially for Seamus Coleman, for it was one of his long-distance runs with possession in the 16th minute that helped transport action into the West Ham half. Soon enough, the quality of Demarai Gray would become evident and though Alex Iwobi's end product is sadly not the greatest the winger was at least in the right place to convert the chance - a sign of a positive, willing attitude, if little else. 


Our crossing and shooting efforts over the past 18 months have showcased the confidence to use the weaker foot. Calvert-Lewin's appetite for scoring, in combination for finding a long-term & more mobile replacement for James Rodriguez in Demarai Gray, plus Benitez's decision to trust the players to go after opposing teams, have brought about an elevation in quality performance. 

But today was a test very different to anything prior to anything we've faced this season; reasonable physique, closely-knit teamwork ethics and enough quality throughout to compete in possession - not just without. 

Nothing United don't have themselves, but at Goodison, whatever the gameplan, the onus is always on us to take the fixture to the visitors  To quote Ray Houghton's assessment of Bulgaria's club Levski Sofia two decades ago: "It's easier to defend, than it is to attack". It wasn't in any way disrespectful or toxic; attacking as a team requires not just eleven bodies running to the hilt, it requires eleven minds at all times to know each other's game(s) instinctively and imaginatively. For this, David Moyes and those in the capital trusting him to do his job, all deserve credit for letting something good: last.

This is exactly what Benitez used the latter weeks of 2021 preseason for too. 
Today was always going to be an even contest, albeit one stripped of world-class quality through injury absentees. 
A contest decided by moments. 

Some have expressed dismay towards the award of a corner-kick that would lead to the only goal of today's game. 
Others questioning Jordan Pickford's lack of authority in dealing with the situation, as well as seeing the danger out from the corner itself. 

Once again, praise to the Hammers, in this case Michael Antonio's superb standing leap, that alone, placed sufficient doubt in the referee's mind as to whether two players challenging for the same ball was fair on all counts. The goal also highlighted Yerry Mina's aerial dominance we missed, not least how some rumours that Napoli MIGHT have been willing to swap him for Koulibaly a year ago may well have had some substance. 

Praise yet again too, to the defender Angelo Ogbonna, firstly for a Michael Keane-glancing header to establish a lead - AND for that late charge down block after a late corner ended in an initial clearance being put right back into the West Ham penalty box, and a venomous shot on goal. 


Despite some poor individual decision-making by our own players, we did remain reasonably calm in possession; a mark of quality and assurance in coaching by Benitez and strength of character in the players. 

The fact however, is the opposition were slightly better, for longer in today's match, that statistics don't necessarily reflect. 

Everyone has to take this one on the chin, commit to training and preparation, short-term and long, and come back more determined not to let this experience become an all-too-regular occurrence. It's a marathon, not a sprint. 

(Plus hope the governing bodies' long-awaited review of FFP yields a workable change in everyone's best interest's around the world of global, professional sporting participation...)