3 points away from, clean sheet, nice goal by Isak, mostly controlled, good defending from set pieces. A lot of positives today
Would generally consider that a comfortable, routine win, but given our recent tribulations I'm just glad to get over the line. Wirtz much better today - showed a lot more of what I was expecting from him. Szoboszlai quieter than of late, but that's probably because those around him were better and he didn't have to try and do it all himself. WTactualF was up with Paqueta? Absolute nonsense from him and he should get even further punishment for the sarcastic applause going off. And a fine from his club for throwing away what little chance they had of getting back into the game. Ref was lenient with him - I'd have sent him off at least 30 seconds earlier. Knob.
Much happier after that result and importantly performance. Not exactly edge of your seat excitement, but we got what we've been asking for. Much more solid, better in the build up, alot more comfortable in possession. The finish from isak was absolutely top draw. It won't get much attention, but that's a much harder finish than it looks.
Nice win, but match had no pace, more like a training game. Thought Wirtz played well, some nice passing in crowded areas. Hopefully Isak's goal will kickstart him. Sunderland will be a tougher game, although they are better at home than on the road. Overall I am a happy pensioner, just shows you what can be achieved with a real defender at RB!
The clean sheet was the most important thing and it felt that both Virg and Konate were much more focused and proactive in attacking the aerial balls . Paqueta felt like a bettng fix
Thought Gomez was good and very surprised he lasted that long considering Slots comments about a knee injection .
Thought having a RW that defended made a difference today. imo the only player that doesn't need to put a defensive shift in should be your CF as they should be ready to hold the ball up and make the first runs forward. So Salah should face the prospect of playing as CF from now on, can't afford opposition FBs to roam forward unchallenged. tbh West Ham were probably the perfect team for us today, hugely inconsistent with a inferiority complex against us. Would still like to see Isak and Ekitike play together (from the start) at some point. Think Isak will play better when he has someone to cause chaos for him (ironically Nunez and Isak would probably have been great together) Also someone should check Paqueta's bank account for a mysterious payment, cause that was more than just daft.
Just back from the game. Two poor teams, thankfully West Ham were woeful. That stadium is pants; you can’t see what’s happening from so far away! What I could see was that we had no pace. Zero. We used to be deadly in transition. Now we don’t even try to break fast. So yes, two goals and a clean sheet so a big tick but it was against a team with no threat at all. Wirtz was head and shoulders above everyone else, he didn’t stop moving and was always looking for the return ball or making little runs but the ball was never dispatched. He is not the problem imo, the ball is moved so slowly around the pitch, it’s painful to watch sometimes. Rock and roll football is well and truly dead, unfortunately. ho hum - take the points and move on. Can’t see much changing until we inject some pace and physicality into our team….Jan will be interesting.
Szobo. Wirtz played a free role, mostly coming in from the left Isak played a high role with Gakpo a left forward (wouldn't say he played LW)
On the Paqueta red, yes he's an complete idiot, but why aren't his team mates hauling him away. The incident goes on for an age, the ref actually holds off on the second for quite a while and there's ample opportunity for the West Ham players to save Paqueta from himself, but they didn't.
He's off to ACON, so doesn't really matter. I reckon he'll be sold in the Summer, the contract gave us the security of not losing him for free, rather than any long term playing. Last season earned him the right to another season imo, but anything beyond that (at his age) still has to earnt as it would be for any player over a certain age.
