In response to Claret and Hugh’s article concerning El HJadji-Malick Diouf’s record goal assists this season, one Hammers fan – a regular Claret and Hugh reader and contributor, has put pen to paper to highlight how key components of his game sometimes get lost and how many players suffer from over coaching: No doubt an advocate of the ‘keep it simple, stupid’ school which West Ham could do well to apply tomorrow night against the Red Devils.
Here is his guest post in its entirety:
Guest post from ‘Taffyhammer’
Really fantastic to see a cross like that on Saturday. It has been very frustrating to see players out wide going forward with no end product. Not just West Ham but football clubs in general.
Benrahma used to do it. Head down, one trick pony. Drives up the left wing. Our men in the middle left high and dry. Eventually, if we are lucky, comes back at the box and tries the shot into top right of goals. It worked a couple of times but we could not rely on a couple of goals each season to bring us success.
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Forget possession. Forget training ground positional practice. Forget having to put a foot on the ball whilst looking up to check who’s where. Play instinctively. Get the ball crossed over into the mix where our advancing centres have the advantage over the opposing defence.
Yes, it won’t always guarantee a goal and we might lose possession more often than not. But possession is not everything if there is no end result. Opponents on the back foot and in chaos is the dream scenario for every match.
Just like the goalkeeper kicking the ball up to the front guys. Much better than pussy-footing around and losing the ball in our own half. Of course, the rest of the team can’t just take a time out, watch and wait for the inevitable return. They need to be aware and moving forward in support. England could have won a couple of World Cups with this kind of attitude. All too easy for Southgate to stuff the ball up his jumper and hope that possession will bring success. We suffered for generations with lost opportunities for players and supporters alike. Southgate could have stifled Lionel Messi and turned him into an international Vardy.
So, I am all for it, Diouf. Keep on crossing and encourage the other guys to do the same. Rest of the team? Expect this kind of play, get up there and take advantage.
As for the ‘dip’ in form before African adventure, that can be put down to nobody being quite sure of what they were doing in that period. Too many people giving conflicting advice replaced with no advice at all. Plenty of support but no definitive advice.
The last few games have shown that we may have hit on a theme which brings us watchable and exciting football. I hope so and also hope that it continues.”
Watchable and exciting football: Amen to that. For the first time since mid-Moyes’ era, West Ham offer occasional electric pace and fast passing. Finally it seems the fun is back; Now for the points.
