Doesn't surprise me and a lot of the credit must go to AN who can see how to utilise him in the team!!!!!
Surely Wes should be in the number one position? Less appearances, less minutes, same goals, same assists.
A guy I work with is a Hammers season ticket holder and said Wes ran the show on Saturday and was the best player to have appeared at Upton Park thus far this season. This could be Wes' biggest season for us yet.
He was very good on Saturday, and Bilic even mentioned him (although called him "number 14"...) I do think some of that credit has to go to Tettey, Dorrans, Howson and Brady though, because it was their crisp passing and movement which helped give the solid foundation for Hoolahan to get the ball in space and turn
Remember the stick I got on here from a few people when I said we'd have stayed up if hughton played him more.... I still stand by that, magic player
I will hold my hands up and admit I was wrong. I had him pensioned off a couple of years ago. He is now playing, possibly, the best of his career. AN is setting the team up to play to his strengths.
I think most on here thought Hoolahan was great on his got day, the trouble was his performances were very inconsistent. One day he would run the show, the next you wouldn't know he was on the pitch. Although he's not my favorite player I've got to say so far this season he's played very well and become very consistent. If he keeps it up we may be able to move him on for a good price and get a newer model for next season.
Must admit, I was in that camp too. I thought he was an excellent Championship player, but average at best in the Prem. My apologies Wes
IMO, the hole is a good position for an older player in a single striker system as he doesn't have to get back to defend as much and therefore stays in the link area between the CMs and the striker with the wide players working off him. It's less demanding physically and suits Wes, especially with ball-playing midfielders with a crisp passing game going on around him, like Rob says above. That has been a big part of our success so far.
The main problem with Wes under CH was he was pushed out on the left and absolutely useless. Under AN, in his best position, he's awesome!
Really??? I don't think the little guy is going anywhere and firmly expect him to end his career with us - he certainly won't play for another club at this level anyway so I think you can forget the idea of us selling him for a large fee - he is almost 50 after all!
The problem under hughton was he never got a run of games in the hole, the ten game unbeaten streak he started every game. The next year leroy fer joins and hughton alienates wes, hughtons blind faith in Johnson, fer etc. cost us. His inflexibility cost us our premiership status and his job. Johnson could hardly pass to feet he was so bereft of confidence, fer was the laziest player I've seen in a while, but hughton kept them going week in week out. Horrendous mismanagement that cost us fans potentially wes' best years. When I look back on it I still don't know why I wasted so much money on away games those two seasons, it was the same every week. Thank goodness we've got a manager who wants to play a bit and isn't scared to drop a player who isn't performing.... Sorry Johnson but I think the money we got off Derby was a great offer and in the prem you wouldn't cut the mustard
Plus Wes is now playing with two "proper" wingers so has more space. The opposition defence is kept spread to combat the threat of the two wide men, leaving more space in the centre for Wes to operate. The inverted wing play of CH meant they played more in Wes space.
