You say that but he’s probably the biggest winner this afternoon.
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Isak is so good at that first time bounce finish. We need to get more byline crosses in for him.
Much better. Forget about how poor West Ham are, we went out there and did the job which is easier said than done whilst in bad form.
Gomez at right back going forward please. Hopefully wasn’t injected to the max to make the game but went 90 mins so that’s a good sign.
Wirtz also better and looked at the pace of the Prem today.
I’d like to see Mo still on the bench for Sunderland but he may come back after a rest. Just hope it doesn’t upset any momentum as play felt solid down the right.
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It was just so dumb, like he went on for at least a minute after I shouted to send him off at my television.
He was given ample chance to go away.
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Wirtz was absolutely sensational, and Gomez offered much needed stability at the back. Kerkez looked okay as well.
West Ham’s lack of press allowed us to control the game, which will hopefully give some of the players a bit more confidence as they were able to put together some good passes and passages of play.
It hasn’t changed my view on how we look as a side, as I do think stronger teams will bypass our midfield easily, as West Ham (when they actually strung some passes together) got through between the lines.
Do we think Salah comes back in on Wednesday, or remains benched?
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A much needed win and no goals conceded. Let’s build on this now.
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Get this team playing around Wirtz’s brilliance.
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We won!
Clean sheet!
Wirtz was our best player however I also voted for Gomez who showed that a real RB is worth while particularly if he can pass and Alisson because he helps calm my nerves and that of VVD.
Overall a better performance than what we have been getting however same old problems in evidence more often than I like.
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His captain didn’t seem to grasp how near he was to a red…Ali tried to calm him down…so did Curtis…and Virgil…not many of the Hammers players intervened…probably wanted him out of the way…
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I was watching a Christmas film this afternoon and Mrs Mirkle was the star, my wife piped up you might need her today and I replied I hope she exists. So so happy we won today keep fingers crossed it is the launching pad for the rest of the season. COYR
Please everyone let’s enjoy today after the long period of gloom and doom!
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It is interesting that Szoboszlai played in a much more constrained role today. Feels that we need one of Wirtz or him to play the more constrained role to maximise the team’s efficiency. Also we seem to engage WHU closer to the halfway line than to press higher - another thing that seems to work for us.
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Couldn’t watch the game. My wife takes Christmas tree day very seriously and I couldn’t be arsed having a fight to potentially just watch us get beat again.
How did we set up? BBC has it down as 4-2-3-1 with Szobo on the right and Isak up top with Wirtz tucked in behind. Was that what it looked like on the pitch?
Wondering how Salah will take being left on the bench for the full 90.
Also mad how Chiesa and Endo keep making the bench but Slot does all he can to never play them.
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Yeah mostly, because it was a dull game. But I still gave compliments where it was merited, particularly to Gomez, Kerkez and Wirtz throughout.
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Is a PL rule that states you must name 9 subs? If he could get away with naming 4, he probably would.
Neither have been in his plans since day 1, this is never going to change.
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Very happy with that. Clean sheet after conceding so many was good to see. Better from the cb’s especially Konate, Gomez was solid, Kerkez had a decent game. Grav seemed more disciplined in front of the defence too. Whisper it quietly but it also looked more solid without Mo as a lot breaks down around him these days, and the opposition then comes bearing down on us.
Lovely to see Isak get off the mark with a crisp finish right into the corner. Wirtz my motm and the team needs to be built around him. Every time he got on the ball he was making something happen or looking to make something happen. He hurt them or almost hurt them so many times, and if we will just release him to do his thing we won’t look back. He was looking for Isak too, which was good to see.
In a way I would have preferred to see Ekitike come in for Gakpo, as I want to see if he can play with Isak, but Cody got his goal at the end.
Don’t want to go overboard. There were some decent signs to latch onto, and after the run we’ve had we will all take it.
But it’s only a step. Long way to go.
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Much better, albeit against a very poor opponent. We did the basics right, stayed compact and never looked like conceding.
Gomez was fantastic considering how little he has played. Got an assist and never looked troubled. Konate was also massively improved alongside him. Wirtz ran the show and could have easily scored and grabbed an assist.
It was a decent performance by everyone really, the only complaint is that we kind of stopped playing after gaining the lead, but Paqueta killed off whatever chances West Ham had.
Hopefully, we build on this.
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3 points away from home, clean sheet, (hopefully) no injuries. What’s not to like?
This felt like a back to basics job for us, and I think it largely worked.
Wirtz MotM for me. Very creative and an absolute handful for West Ham. Honourable mentions for Gomez putting a solid 90 minutes in, and Isak who got his first goal. If you don’t know what to do with the ball, then sticking it in the net and letting the opposition have a go isn’t a bad plan.
I am hoping that this is us finding our feet again. We had a bit of false hope after the Villa game. Maybe it’s better this time? At least the confidence of the players will improve.
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Positives :
- Slot realising that Gomez can fill in for the RB position and can do some mad passes from wide as well. Had a good assist as well
- Slot realising that his full-back being wide is a good thing as well. Kerkez and Gomez were doing what full-backs should do to great effect
- Slot realising his wingers coming deeper and narrower is also a good thing as well. Our wingers were dangerous today with Gakpo netting 1 and assisting 1.
- Isak’s sharp. Very very sharp. The team should feed him more.
- Wirtz is class today. Came deep to help out in some sticky situation manufactured by Gravenberch and Macca. Did the simple passes to get runners on the ball. Has to put in more power for his shot.
- Konate looks awake now after RM decides to fuck him off in the most public of manner.
Negatives :
- Macca looks lost and ponderous. His place in the starting 11 looks very shaky.
- Slot’s subs are still baffling. His subs led to us losing control to a 10 man team. If Pacqueta didn’t get sent off and got substituted by another player, we wouldn’t get that second goal…
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I’m actaully a little bit more pissed off at Arne now.
He went with a more obvious team/set-up and they got the job done.
On reflection, it just grates a smidge that he didn’t do that 2 games ago.
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He should even if only out of respect for the scientific method.
This was not a great performance but a big step forward and for probably the first time since the second half of the arsenal game you could see evidence of what this team is supposed to be. The very live question now is can we do that again, with Wirtz being able to have the same influence in the same areas, with Mo coming in for Dom? You won’t get great odds on the answer being yes.
If Mo comes back on Wednesday and we revert back, Today really could be looked back at as a landmark game where the new era emerged
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or his family has put a massive bet on him getting sent off lol…
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