West Ham match review: 5 Talking points from West Brom clash

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LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 02: Andy Carroll of West Ham United celebrates after scoring his sides second goal during the Premier League match between West Ham United and West Bromwich Albion at London Stadium on January 2, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /

Has Carroll hit form?

When the teamsheet was revealed, I was pretty annoyed. And so were a lot of other people. Chicharito, a player frustrated by lack of gametime but still with a few goals this season, was left out in favour of Andy Carroll. But the big man came through for his manager and the team.

A classic centreforward goal broke his drought, and it begged the question as to why we’d waited all game to get a decent cross in to the big man. However, Big AC did his job and got above two West Brom defenders to head home. For moments like that, you wonder why he can’t do it more often.

His second goal was a great finish, and if you’d asked me to pick whose right foot I trusted to find that angle the only player I would have picked after Carroll would be Masuakully doesn’t use it very often. But it was a clever finish, and one that gives us a welcome boost.

But you have to look at the performance overall. He didn’t impact the game much for most of it, and seemed intent on hanging around the back post rather than the centre of the goal. Apart from the goals, he didn’t threaten at all. I hope it gives him confidence because when he’s flying you can’t stop him. But I don’t think he’s really back on form just yet.