There was much to be encouraged about following West Ham’s Premier League defeat against Manchester City. In many respects, I feel more positive after witnessing the Erling Haaland super show than I did following the League Cup win against Bournemouth.
The fact that the Hammers remained in the game until late on was a testament to our perseverance, and there were occasions in the second half when an equaliser seemed possible.
One of the major positives from the final 45 minutes was the performance of Mohammed Kudus. After a poor start to the game, the Ghanaian managed to find a way to impact the match and break free from the constraints of the left wing.
However, a pattern is beginning to emerge where Kudus struggles to influence the game from the left-hand side. Eventually, through his own efforts and tactical adjustments, he finds a way into the game, but his starting role remains ineffective.
At his best, Kudus is a borderline world-class player and, most importantly, a goal threat. When cutting in from the right-hand side or playing centrally, he can unleash his powerful shot and wreak havoc on opposing defences
If I were an opposing manager, I’d prefer to see the Hammers rampaging attacker on the left wing, where he can be forced onto his weaker foot or guided down the line to cross.
Lopetegui is missing out on a significant asset and goal threat by deploying Kudus in an unfavourable position, and I suspect he knows it. The former Ajax man gave a telling interview to the official club website in July, where he praised the new West Ham coach and declared, “He knows how to get the best out of a right winger.”
As always, the international break has come at the wrong time, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see a tactical tweak when the Irons resume Premier League action.
West Ham Head Coach Julen Lopetegui admitted he was happy with his team’s overall performance in the 3-1 defeat against Manchester City – but slightly disappointed by the failure to convert goalscoring opportunities.
Speaking shortly after the final whistle, Lopetegui praised his side’s effort – but admitted to being left “frustrated” at a second home defeat in a row.
“We started the match very well,” he said. “But we didn’t score, and against these kind of teams you have to take advantage. If you don’t it’s very difficult.”
And Lopetegui called the blunder that led to City’s opening goal “a gift” – adding: “These kind of teams don’t forgive you; they scored and we suffered for the next 15 minutes. But we drew level and finished the first half well.”
The boss revealed that some tactical adjustments were made during the half time interval, which he felt appeared to be working early on in the second half.
“I think we did really well,” he insisted. “We had more passes, long periods of possession and created chances. But again – if you don’t take advantage of these opportunities, they are not going to forgive you.”
You may listed to Lopetegui’s (brief) post-match press conference in full below.
Before this visit of the greatest team in modern English football, a gaggle of excitable young West Ham fans were overheard discussing their side’s prospects for the afternoon. “No, but actually be honest,” said one boy to another. “What do you really think will happen?”
After a moment’s thought, he predicted a 3-1 defeat for the hosts, with Erling Haaland scoring two of the goals. A couple of hours later, his crystal ball had delivered almost the perfect forecast.
Matches like these are peculiar beasts for supporters of opposing teams playing Manchester City, a club who continue to make a mockery of the supposed competitive nature of Premier League football. For West Ham, in particular, a hearty dose of pre-game realism is hard to dismiss.
It is now nine years since their side beat Saturday’s opponents – an 18-game winless run that equals their longest in the top flight against a single opponent. No wonder there was a palpable sense of resignation before a ball had even been kicked.
For a brief period in the second half, before Haaland sealed successive hat-tricks, the hosts did actually incite a frisson of excitement. But it was fleeting. And the sense remained that, even had a West Ham player actually managed to score – in addition to the own-goal gifted by Rúben Dias – the visitors would simply have added more to their tally. Whatever was required.
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