- Jan 23, 2006
- 27,020
- 45,348
Not one bad performance today, we matched Villa's effort and work and outplayed them on all other measures.
we still look like a team getting it together rather than the finished article but it's growing, in fact you could see that happening through the game. That back four and Hojbjerg & Skipp in front is now fixed and I'm hard pushed to change that front three. Ndombele had his best game so far, ok I know he's only had three, so him and Lo Celso are the picks for the other position which is as settled as we've been thus far.
The new boys all nailed it today, Romero is class and looks completely at ease with players running at him and his competence gives Dier the breathing space he needs to cope.
Emerson Royal really found his feet today, he's bedding in nicely and even found his confidence to get into Villa's box a few times.
I'll include Skipp in this group too as he's really staked his claim.
Gil ok didn't get long but I swear he looks stronger each time I see him.
That was a different team today and I don't just mean the effort and that they played better I mean they looked more like a team and that will get better bearing in mind when we get in the groove the strikers won't snatch at `chances, the goals will come.
I know it's only one game and one swallow does not a summer make but I'm not looking at the result or even the performance really, I'm looking at something deeper, things look like they're starting to sync and I'm more optimistic.
Another bonus, on the way home hundreds of West Ham fans got on my train at Stratford and they really did look glum.
we still look like a team getting it together rather than the finished article but it's growing, in fact you could see that happening through the game. That back four and Hojbjerg & Skipp in front is now fixed and I'm hard pushed to change that front three. Ndombele had his best game so far, ok I know he's only had three, so him and Lo Celso are the picks for the other position which is as settled as we've been thus far.
The new boys all nailed it today, Romero is class and looks completely at ease with players running at him and his competence gives Dier the breathing space he needs to cope.
Emerson Royal really found his feet today, he's bedding in nicely and even found his confidence to get into Villa's box a few times.
I'll include Skipp in this group too as he's really staked his claim.
Gil ok didn't get long but I swear he looks stronger each time I see him.
That was a different team today and I don't just mean the effort and that they played better I mean they looked more like a team and that will get better bearing in mind when we get in the groove the strikers won't snatch at `chances, the goals will come.
I know it's only one game and one swallow does not a summer make but I'm not looking at the result or even the performance really, I'm looking at something deeper, things look like they're starting to sync and I'm more optimistic.
Another bonus, on the way home hundreds of West Ham fans got on my train at Stratford and they really did look glum.