Very easy for anyone watching the highlights of yesterday’s game to blame the red card of Edson Alvarez for West Ham’s defeat. Lopetegui at least fell short of using that excuse. Of course it was another dumb, reckless challenge. No hiding from that. But it masks another issue which until fixed, will condemn West Ham to struggling in every game.
Without an effective midfield, West Ham could have world-beaters at the back and the team will still be under pressure. Yes, Jean-Clair Todibo’s cavalier chip-mistake for Forest’s third was that, a mistake. I’m sure he won’t do that again.
The statistics overall for another of West Ham’s midfielders need highlighting. Guido Rodriguez’ ineffectiveness as a central midfielder keeps getting ignored week after week.
Zero tackles. Yep, zero. Seven lost possessions. Three ‘duels’, none won. Zero key passes. Surely time to take urgent action. Any of the youngsters would have put in a better performance than that but the truth is, Lopetegui pencils in the ‘Rodriguez’ name for the team sheet based on what he used to do. Playing like this, he should be nowhere near this Hammers midfield.
Forget the striker search for January, (even though Antonio yesterday looked as if he couldn’t hit a dartboard with a hedgehog) I’d rather muddle through with our trio of misfits up front and sort out the midfield. It gets to a sorry state where we are all desperate to see Tornado Tom back but at least he battles away and neither gets sent off through recklessness or avoids committing to a tackle
Soucek at least battles away and isn’t scared of making a tackle
Until we stop the centre of our team looking as if they are cardboard cutouts, we’ll never take the pressure off the back four and hey, who knows, start to play some forward passes that actually reach the front three.
