A Remarkable Turnaround in Fortune
Football is a funny game. After those demoralising results against Wolves and Forest, I struggled to find any positives. We looked like a team sliding towards the abyss, and it felt like we were becoming completely cut adrift.
Fast forward a few weeks, and the picture looks remarkably different. We’ve managed to beat QPR in the Cup, Tottenham and Sunderland just as the teams around us started picking up results of their own. It hasn’t just kept us in the game; it’s breathed life back into the London Stadium. Without that run, we’d be staring at an insurmountable gap. Instead, we’ve given ourselves a fighting chance.
Toe-to-Toe With the Elite
At half-time against Chelsea, I was sitting there in disbelief. We were fantastic in that first half. For 45 minutes, we went toe-to-toe with one of the most expensive squads in the world and looked like the better side. But the second half was a sobering reminder of the margins at this level.
Ultimately, I think Chelsea’s quality just shone through. When a team can reach for their bench and bring on world-class reinforcements to change the tempo, it takes a massive toll on a side that has already put in an incredible shift. We worked so hard in that first half that I think one or two of our lads just ran out of steam. It’s frustrating to lose from a winning position, but there’s no shame in being beaten by the sheer depth of a squad like that. The key now is not to let that collapse undo the good work we did in the weeks prior.
The Power of Two Up Top
One of the most interesting developments lately has been our change in shape. For most of the season, we’ve played with a lone striker. It’s a thankless task. Recently, however, Nuno seems to have stumbled across a formation that actually works: playing with two up top.
With Taty Castellanos and Pablo Felipe leading the line, supported by Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville, we look like a completely different animal. It’s almost as if we’ve rediscovered the old-fashioned idea that two strikers are better than one. It’s been a case of attack being the best form of defence; by keeping the ball further up the pitch and giving the opposition more to worry about, we’re taking the pressure off our own backline.
Taty and Pablo have brought a workhorse energy that the West Ham faithful always appreciate. That tenacity – chasing down lost causes and harassing defenders – is the bare minimum requirement in a relegation scrap. Taty has his goal in the cup, and while Pablo is still waiting for his first, they are doing all the right things. Once the goals start flowing regularly between them, we’ll see the true benefit of this partnership. If you find a formula that works, you have to stick with it.
Life After Lucas Paquetá
Another talking point of last month was, of course, Lucas Paquetá heading back to Brazil. It’s a complicated situation, but I think it ended up being the best thing for both parties. Had he stayed, the speculation and the off-field issues would have dragged on and on until the summer, acting as a constant distraction when we needed one hundred per cent focus.
I’ve always felt that if a player doesn’t want to be at a club, or if their heart is elsewhere, it’s best to find a way out. I respect the fact that he chose to go home for personal reasons rather than moving to a direct rival like Chelsea or Spurs. You have to empathise with the toll the last couple of years must have taken on him and his family.
Interestingly, we actually look a bit more fluid without him. While you lose that individual magic that can unpick a lock, you gain a bit more pragmatism. Players like Tomas Soucek seem to be benefiting in a more settled, hardworking midfield. In a dogfight, sometimes you need players who are up for the fight more than players who are looking for the spectacular. We wish Lucas well, but it’s time to move on.
Targeting a Cup Run and Addressing AFCON Chaos
Looking ahead, the FA Cup tie against Burton is a massive opportunity. I know some fans worry about the distraction, but in my day, we didn’t have the luxury of changing six or seven players. You went out to win, you put yourself in the hat, and you saw what the draw brought on Monday. Winning breeds confidence, and a good cup run can galvanise a league campaign. We’ve had some stinking draws in recent years, but the path is opening up now. Let’s go to Burton and get the job done.
I have to also mention the scenes at the AFCON final with the Senegal walkout. It’s a dangerous precedent. While I understand the frustration with VAR, we cannot have players walking off the pitch. If that becomes a recurring theme, the game is in trouble. FIFA and the authorities need to nip that in the bud and come down hard on that sort of thing immediately.
The Battle for Survival Continues
Finally, we pulled ourselves back from the brink last month. We aren’t out of the woods yet, but teams like Crystal Palace are looking over their shoulders at us. If we keep the pressure on, we can drag them right into the thick of it. Let’s keep this new energy going.
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