West Ham Player Grades after Complete Team Win at Everton 3-1

Manuel Pellegrini picked up his first Premier League win as boss of West Ham United on his birthday and it was quite a present indeed. With success across the pitch, here are the player grades following West Ham’s first win of the season.

Well, that was more like it from the Hammers. With the exception of a few minutes in either half, West Ham United controlled the game and dictated play as the Irons picked up their first league win of the season and their first win at Everton away since 2016; 3-1 behind Andriy Yarmelnko’s double and insurance tally from Marko Arnautovic.

This match was propelled by great effort as everyone put in a shift today and the side looked to play together as a unit for the first time in the campaign. Accolades all around but special mention must be given to Man of the Match Declan Rice, Yarmelenko, Filip Anderson and the Skipper—Mark Noble. Not so much for anything that he did vs the Toffees per se; but the word was out that after the match at Wolves he lit up his teammates for lack of effort. Here here, Mr. West Ham, well done.

Grades (/10):

Fabianski – 7:  Regardless of the results each week; Fabianski makes 1 or 2 key saves at key points in every match. I counted two more today. Totally in control between the sticks. He’s been an upgrade over Adrian and Joe Hart.

Masuaku – 6: Narrowly escaped a straight red card for an out of control challenge on Theo Walcott resulting in a boot to the back of his neck. Otherwise, did his thing along the left flank and was a bright spot linking play up with Anderson.

Diop – 6: Continues to grow into his place. At fault for the Everton goal though when he came too far out of position and missed the tackle that allowed the cross to come to Sigurdsson’s header. He’ll learn, and hopefully just continue to improve.

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Balbuena –7: The more I see the more I like. He and Diop look the part of an actual pairing in

central defense for the Irons. Solid, unspectacular and steady, —just what is needed for this club on the back end.

Zabaleta – 6: I love his attitude and professionalism, I just don’t love his lack of pace at his advanced age. But he was very good today along with just about everyone else. Was beat getting back a few times but it never resulted in an Everton goal or serious chance.

Rice – 8: Man of the Match. He was in control in midfield shielding the back four and carried the ball up when appropriate, seemed to have never missed a pass. Good tackles. A heart and soul player that needs to be in the lineup week in and week out from here on.

Obiang – 7:  The midfield triumvirate of Rice, Noble, and Obiang worked as there were few hiccups between the midfielders. There is something to be said for that in a side with so many new faces and so many changes to the starting XI each match. He was a threat going forward and remained his pesky self on tackles and closing down on the ball.

Noble (71′) – 6: As noted, it wasn’t so much his specific play today (which wasn’t poor by any stretch) but more what he still means as a leader of this club both on and off the pitch. The team needed to be held accountable for the lack of effort last time out and he is the man to do so. You never know how much difference that makes in reality to a group of professionals but the results today speak for themselves. It starts with the effort that the Captain gives and how he leads by example.

Yarmelenko (82’) – 8:  His first league start results in his first Premier League goals with his double. The second goal, in particular, was the result of some sublime skill and individual effort. He did tire towards the end but he put the team in front where they stayed for the match’s duration.

Anderson – 8: His best game in a West Ham shirt so far. So fluid and calm with the ball at his feet and showed off some excellent interplay with his teammates all across the pitch. Was at the center of the build-up play every time the Hammers threatened and created their chances.

Arnautovic  (64’) – 7: He was unselfish to play the one-two on Yarmelenko’s first goal that put the Irons up just at the ten-minute mark. When it was 2-1 and the match could be hanging in the balance he scored the third to put Everton away for good. His passion for the club and love of the supporters is the stuff club legends are made of. Leaving with a potential left knee injury is worrisome. His style of play lends itself to picking up knocks.

Subs Used:

Antonio (64’) – 5: Did a great job holding up play up top when he came on. Ran hard as per usual. Also as per usual not much skill with the ball at his feet to make the final play that would result in a goal for himself or to set up a teammate.

Sanchez (71’) – 4: Glad to see him get back onto the pitch after his giveaway vs Wolves last time out. Then had my mind changed as he almost had another one today. Too lackadaisical at times; just play the ball safely.

Snodgrass (82’) – 5: A professional footballer. Worked to help kill off the game and earned the side a free kick or two whilst picking up a yellow card of his own.