I’m a life long West Ham fan – like many of us here on KUMB – and I’ll defend my fellow Hammers in a battle whenever and wherever I see fit. We’re a family! Sticking together is what we do. All for one and one for all, as a Musketeer once famously said.
But even families have their differences. Their disagreements – their falling-outs. Times when despite their common cause, they don’t see eye-to-eye! Right now I’m at that point of conflict with some of our fanbase following our disappointing defeat last weekend at Brentford.I’ve been hurting all week – like we’ve all been hurting – especially after Aston Villa didn’t bother to turn up against Spurs the following day. Their gutless display literally handed the points to our biggest rivals – giving them a vital lifeline in the battle at the bottom of the table.
I had hoped we could go to west London and maybe nick a point, at least. Not sure why I had that optimism because as we all know Brentford have been our nemesis since their arrival in the Premier League. It’s the hope that kills you so they say – and it certainly did that last weekend.
I know at the end of the day near misses count for nothing. They don’t win you points or football matches. That’s why I don’t subscribe to all this ‘expected goals’ nonsense we’re shown. Or find myself obsessing over possession stats like some seem to do.
That was a tool frequently used against David Moyes during his time with us. Seems to me the grey-haired Scotsman is doing fine with his tried and trusted method of playing right now at Everton.
But back to Brentford where we clearly enjoyed no luck at all that afternoon. Two nailed-on penalty appeals turned down. Clear contact on Konstantinos Mavropanos for the Bees’ first goal, ignored by the inept Craig Pawson and VAR, and three strikes of the woodwork suggests it wasn’t going to be our day no matter what.
Of course, these days there always has to be a scapegoat for some people and it appears the popular choice for some sections of our fanbase was El Hadji Malick Diouf.
It’s difficult to defend him for the clumsy challenge handing the home side a penalty. He was naive to say the least – that’s fair comment. But for some to carry on the criticism and continue to slate him generally through the week is totally unnecessary, in my opinion.
Our Senegalese left back has been an excellent addition to the side. Do we have a better crosser of the ball in our squad - and that includes Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville? I doubt it.
His pace and delivery have paid dividends on a number of occasions over the season. While his defensive capabilities is still a work in progress – whose isn’t – there has been significant improvement in that aspect of his game under Nuno and his coaches.
The player is still only 21 – just a year older than Ollie Scarles – and although Ollie is one of our own – and we love him for that – Malick is ahead of him on merit by some way in my opinion. This is not the time to crucify a player who has been a massive plus for us.
With just three games to go, we need to be right behind Diouf and everyone else in the team. That includes Pablo Felipe – another who has come in for over zealous criticism just recently. Just a shade older than Diouf, Pablo is short on experience, but more than makes up for that with endless work rate and enthusiasm.
Now is not the time for division in the ranks. We have to stay solid and as one. Next up of course it’s Arsenal – champions in waiting, so it seems. Not opponents of choice right now for Nuno I’m guessing – but a challenge I’m sure he’s up for.
We do have history with the Gooners of course, which I’m sure won’t be lost on their supporters. Our 1-0 victory at the Emirates last season put a huge dent in their title charge – as did our 2-0 away victory the season before. Not forgetting a 2-2 draw in season 2022/23 halted them in their tracks at that time.
It’s going to be a tough and tense Sunday afternoon at the London Stadium – no question about that. But we’re unbeaten at home in nine games since 6 January (excluding that penalty shoot-out.) The LS is no longer the generous take-away it was for visiting teams.
Mikel Arteta (aka Captain Black, the Mysteron) will be prowling his technical (and beyond) area as usual, disputing every call and tackle. We have to get behind the team – make the noise I know we’re capable of – and put Arteta and his team firmly back in their box.
We’ve done it before when the heat was on and the odds were against us. Together we can do it again! This battle isn’t over yet – keep the faith – it could well go down to the wire.
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