Nine

We were all asking questions back in October, because we were legitimately not playing well. A few of us including myself were frustrated at Howe not incorporating Tonali into the side at that point but again, he’s proven that he was right to integrate him in the way he did. He’s come into the team seamlessly and hit the ground fucking sprinting, allowing Bruno to move up is the icing on the cake. A lesson learnt again, and we will hit rough form in the future. Actively wanting him gone at any point was madness (Mourinho ), but it’s the way emotion goes for some. Probably our best run so far under him? Coming from looking poorly coached up until Tonalis inclusion it’s incredible work. Edit: also, I’m not sure I’ve ever witnessed a manager capable of maximising what he gets out of fairly limited players quite like Howe does.

Arteta must hate this guy

Other than the massive flap/one handed punch attempt from that corner maybe I think he’s a bit unsettled by their set pieces

Iceak

They have no heart man

Just like that

Can’t waste those

What actually is the West Ham way?

No Bruno for this is absolute pain, you don’t replace those attributes. I think we’ll set up quite passively as a result and the first 30 minutes or so will be a feeling out process. Kind of expecting a bit of a dead game tbh. A draw would be fine.

They won’t overpay, so outside of an opportunistic signing I doubt we do much of anything.

Potter will need time to build his side and flip a complete 180 on the Moyes/Lopetegui style. It likely won’t be a seamless transition, although a few of their players are already well matched for his system. If their fans remain patient they will have one of the best managers they could realistically attract, I think he’ll do very well there with time.

De Ligt is a shambles

It’s incredible how much Bruno F has actually carried this side for years now

I think a better, more level headed manager would come out and make the point of how well their team performed under difficult circumstances (lots of unavailable players, illness to some that did play and against high level opposition). He probably did tell them that in the dressing room, but to come out and lose control of his emotions in a post match isn’t a good look after they played well. Cracks are really showing with this guy now, not sure he has the head to compete in this league.

Ange fuming

Credit to Spurs, they put up a good performance with really limited selection which I personally wasn’t anticipating. Think we were fortunate to come away with all 3 points.

It’s not a penalty

Broken nose

Slow start again from us, but I expect them to die off again like the first half

To be fair to them they pressed really well for 30 minutes but they’ve dropped off completely now, would be a hard ask for their depleted squad to keep that up for 90. Disappointed that we didn’t manage to exploit their high line in that first half hour but we just weren’t clean enough on the ball, now they’ve died off they arnt playing as high and reckless but there is definitely space in behind for us. Second half will be ours, one more will kill it.

I think we’ll be looking at versatile forwards rather than an out and out 9, we have had a few long term targets like Ekitike and Joao Pedro that can play multiple positions across the front and I’d expect us to continue with players like these.

Expect to see a shit load of attempts to get in behind them, with a few being successful. Bruno in the number 8 position must be a scary prospect for them right now.

Hed be incredible but he won’t be coming here

I genuinely cannot believe Amorim started with that 2 in midfield vs our 3, total suicide from minute 1. Two old, immobile CMs as well. Really looking like he’s out of his depth here.

I’ve never seen them look so weak, we are playing through the midfield with no effort at all.