His name is Ludek Miklosko, he comes from near Moscow. There's a moving, if geographically incorrect, ovation for the former Hammers keeper before kick-off.On the day of the match it's been announced that Ludo has inoperable cancer and is making the best of his final years. Thanks for the memories, big man and we're with you all the way.
In the London Stadium there's Nigel in Christmas jumper, CQ, Gavin wearing his 1970s Admiral West Ham shirt and referees' friend Mystic Matt for the Twixmas 5.15 kick-off. With Soucek and Rodriguez suspended options are limited, but it's another strange formation from Lopetegui, with Wan-Bissaka at left back and Emerson seemingly playing left midfield.
The Hammers have an early chance as Kudus pounces on a Robertson mistake, Bowen crosses and Paqueta slips as he shoots, slicing his effort well wide. But it's all Liverpool after that. Gakpo dissects the West Ham defence to find Salah, who draws a great save from Areola. The keeper has to tip over Diaz's effort after Soler gives the ball away. It's soon apparent Wan-Bissaka is having a lot of trouble tracking the elusive Salah.
But it's goalless after half an hour which gives us some hope, at least until Mavropanos's clearance unluckily deflects off Coufal into the path of Diaz, who fires home. West Ham very nearly equalise when first Paqueta heads into the keeper's arms and then Kudus wins the ball, plays a give and go with Paqueta, and fires against the base of Alisson's post from 25 yards out.
SALAH DAZE
That moment is crucial as Liverpool immediately get a second. A long ball oven the WHU high-line sees Salah flick the ball through the Greek Bloke's legs with a magnificent bit of skill and set up Gakpo for a tap-in. We're saying that West Ham need to keep it down to two and regroup at half time. But on 44 minutes West Ham decide to play it out from the back. Soler gets tackled and Jones sets up Salah on the edge of the box. He scores with a low shot that Areola should save. As Matt points out, we too often concede goals in bunches. At 3-0 down Nigel breaks precedent and eats his not-so-lucky mandarin before half-time.
Loppy makes another formation change at half-time, taking off Coufal and moving Wan-Bissaka to right-back and Emerson to left back, bringing on Fullkrug and strangely benching Alvarez, leaving a central midfield of Paqueta and Soler against Liverpool's powerhouses. Within the first minute Salah is forcing another save from Areola. It's four when Alexander-Arnold is given the freedom of Stratford to fire home a long range effort that deflects off Kilman's head, wrong-footing the keeper. At least West Ham hit the bar at 4-0 down. Mystery man sub Andy Irvine curls in a lovely cross and Kudus heads against the woodwork.
The fifth goal arrives when Fullkrug loses possession and Salah runs from his own half, gliding through challenges to set up Jota who curls home a quality finish. Bowen gets crocked by a late tackle to round off a dismal day. At least sub Luis Guilherme has a go and his shot from the edge of the box is deflected on to the outside of the post by Dick Van Dijk's heel. We're not going to score 'til a' the seas gang dry, as Robert Burns might say. There's been an alarming lack of fight and the fact there are no yellow cards for West Ham says a lot. Liverpool are a great side and surely Champions elect, but this was far too easy.
Gavin suggests that we try the Cow, which proves as elusive as Mo Salah, and involves negotiating security barriers and the bowels of John Lewis and Westfield. At least there's Ghost Ship and Young's Winter Warmer to dull the pain. Nigel reveals that West Ham have not beaten a team in the top half this calendar year. More optimistic is the fact he's received an Angel Witch CD from Father Christmas.
We reflect that the only real winners of this have been Lisa, who has at least put in more of a shift elsewhere than our lads, and Michael, absent possibly auditioning to replace Sigourney Weaver as Prospero in The Tempest.
West Ham have been hammered by Liverpool (twice), Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs already, and Lopetegui's brief was to be at least giving these sides a game and he's currently a downgrade on David Moyes, while Tim Steidten also has to get some blame for misfiring signings.
The changes of tactics are confusing, playing out from the back isn't working, the players look disheartened and there's an air of apathy about the crowd. Defeats at Man City and Aston Villa will surely spell the end of his reign. We've only played really well in a couple of games this season and that's not good enough. As the Stranglers might say, Something Better Change.
PLAYER RATINGS: Areola 6; Coufal 5 (Todibo 4), Mavropanos 4, Kilman 5, Wan-Bissaka 4; Alvarez 4 (Fullkrug 4), Paqueta 4, Soler 4 (Irving 5); Emerson 5; Bowen 6 (Summerville 5), Kudus 7 (Guilherme 6).
3 comments:
Good article Pete. I thought Areola played better than 6. Kudus worth his 7, Bowen below par, the rest hopeless. No money for transfers without selling. The players don’t even look like they’re trying. Dark days.
Areola did some great saves but thought he was at fault for the third so knocked a mark off. Here's to a better 2025.
Lopetegui 1.5, hopelessness permeating through an unhappy team, what is Sully waiting for?
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