Stoke 0-0 West Ham: Match review and talking points

A trip to the bet365 Stadium for West Ham this week as they faced Stoke City.

It’s always a tough place to go despite Mark Hughes signing many ex-Barcelona players, the Potters certainly still can’t shake that Tony Pulis style from their game! A 0-0 proved that and for the second week in a row West Ham fired blanks.

Adrian continued in-goal behind a back three of James Collins, Jose Fonte and Winston Reid. There were two wing-backs with Arthur Masuaku on the left, and Edimilson Fernandes occupying the right flank. Havard Nordtveit and Cheikhou Kouyate were the holding midfielders – Captain Mark Noble was back from suspension but was left on the bench. Manuel Lanzini and Andre Ayew played just off lone striker Jonathan Calleri.

First half chances

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Both sides don’t have a lot to play for, Stoke and West Ham should be safe unless there are freak results from now to the end of the season, and this game was played in that manner. Calleri going close with two shots, one of them being a rabona – yep rabona! And Ayew also with a spectacular overhead effort that was saved by Jack Butland in the Potters goal. Despite how close he came, replays suggest Ayew should have left it for Calleri, the Argentine had a much simpler finish.

The second was the same as the first half really, some tough tackling and a few long distance chances for both teams. Adrian kept West Ham in the game with three great saves during this half: Xherdan Shaqiri, Saido Berahino and Marko Arnautovic all failed to beat the Spaniard. For the Hammers Kouyate smashed a shot wide and a sliced effort from Calleri that was nearly diverted in by Lanzini’s head, only to be saved by the feet of Butland. A sloppy game that ended 0-0.

Strange substitutions

With the game screaming out for a goal and Ashley Fletcher being the only fit striker on the bench, nearly 3,000 fans made it clear by singing his name as a hint for Bilic to bring him on. Instead Slav decided to take off Ayew and bring on Noble, of course that didn’t go down well with the traveling supporters. I felt a little sorry for Mr. West Ham as everyone wasn’t booing him, in fact it was the managers choice that was being jeered.

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Aaron Cresswell replaced the injured Masuaku at half-time, and the final change was Calleri off for Robert Snodgrass, which left the Hammers without a striker for the final 20 minutes.

Oh no sorry we did have one but he was left on the bench!!! It was a baffling move at a time in the season the Hammers could be climbing the table.

MOTM – Manuel Lanzini

Lack of pace

I have mentioned this on too many occasions this campaign, but the lack of pace is horrible and boring to watch. We need a player desperately that will frighten our opposition, Michail Antonio is brilliant but we can’t depend on him all the time, a couple of flying wingers who will run at pace and get the fans excited are surely on the summer shopping list. The speed of the team this year has been awful, not only that but easy to play against.

This was not the most exciting match report and in truth it was a poor game. Yes we came away with another point and kept a clean sheet, but the lack of goals is a worry. Not many teams go to Stoke and come away with all three points, so I suppose a point is a good point.

Friday night West Ham host, in my eyes our biggest rivals and a team I hate losing against – Tottenham. Now Spurs, as much as I don’t like them, have been excellent this season, so I’m a little worried.

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I can promise you the atmosphere will be the best so far at the London Stadium, everyone will be behind the lads and I pray they turn up ready for a battle, we all leave happy and with the three points that confirm our Premier League status – a win would also smash Spurs’ title dreams: just like last years 1-0 win at Upton Park.