West Ham: Disappointing Player Grades for Rescheduled City Match
It was clear that David Moyes was going to play a defensive game as is his Modus Operandi and his formation of 5-4-1, which often seemed more like a 9-1 at times backed this belief. Here are the player grades from the unexcited loss by West Ham.
No one was expecting any results from last seasons’ Premier League leaders Manchester City as West Ham tend to lose by a three to four-goal deficit but perhaps with City’s FFP scandal, the denial of Champion’s league for two years, and a recent loss to Spurs, City might have been weakened enough for West Ham to pull themselves up by the bootstraps, healed from the break to take a point. But with the most expensive bench in West Ham’s history, the Hammers still left with a lifeless 2-0 loss.
Player Grades from 0 – 10
Player Grade: 6
Our most consistent player gets one of the few decent grades; not at fault for the first goal, he would’ve stopped De Bruyne’s second goal as he played near post. Considering it was Man City he wasn’t heavily tested, but excellent at the proactive collection when loose and through balls went into the box.
Player Grade: 4.5
Few forward runs; some cleaning up of Mendy’s penetrations; at fault for the first goal with wrong positioning and then an injury saw Fredericks subbed off.
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Player Grade: 4.5
A few blocked shots; no forward movement; he didn’t stand out but didn’t have any mares like the Brighton match.
Player Grade: 6
This may seem like a generous rating considering the match, but Ogbonna did so some bursting forward, marked his men, had few good blocks, and saves. There is a reason he’s been in consideration for Hammer of year
Player Grade: 5
Cresswell was being Cresswell; he’s not a CB but Moyes thinks he is; he made some good blocks, last-ditch saves but had no ability to actually move forward because West Ham had parked the bus and as CB in this formation, there was no room for his trademark overlapping runs or crosses
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Player Grade: 4
A few glimpses of attacking possibility with some dribbles, Masuaku didn’t have any of the defensive nightmares that were expected when fans saw him in the lineup. Partially at fault for the second goal, Masuaku was no better or worse than the rest.
Player Grade: 7
West Ham fans are sadly aware that If Rice doesn’t assume the captaincy in a stable Premier League West Ham side he will leave us for better shores. Rice played the essential pivot from defense to offense, and besides Antonio was probably our most forward players; Rice has found himself our new box-to-box midfielder where there is none. His leadership came out as well as he was constantly pushing, instructing, and going where the game needed to go. He gets a high rating in this match because with better surrounding players he would’ve been excellent.
Player Grade: 5
Not able to display any creativity, Snodgrass offered a few short bursts of forwarding movement and his usual tenacity, but with the box packed, we didn’t even get to see the grass-stained shorts of West Ham’s current most goal-involved player.
Player Grade: 3.5
I wish I could give our dear Captain a better grade but he was one of the most toothless players out there; poor distribution, a lack of leadership, and no forward movement Noble was very quiet in this match and should vent been subbed off early for an attacking player.
Player Grade: 4
Neither a poor or good game but what Soucek offered was discernible; he was as pace-less as Noble, and seemed to hold with zonal pressing; absent from the game, couldn’t tell if he had many touches.
Player Grade: 5
Athleticism, some bursts forward, worried passing; no magic, and a few sky driven shots; Antonio was our only threat next to Rice but isolated and without any vision, Antonio wasn’t as exciting as most games.
Substitutes
Player Grade: No grade (subbed for Fredericks 59′)
Good cross; a few good blocks, and a great reception from City fans, Zabaleta played his role but meshed with the rest of the parked bus.
Player Grade: No grade (Sub Snodgrass 79′ )
Not the anticipated play West Ham fans were waiting for; Bowen was subbed on late and was only able to make a few good runs showing pace, and a few shots; a misplaced pass to Antonio was disheartening as he is going to have to realize as Hammers fans that there is no build-up play; camera catching his shocked face on bench before substitution is how we all felt.
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Overall, this match was yet again another poor performance. You could use the excuse that it was City but then you would just be fooling yourselves again. West Ham has little to no time to shape up either because it is right back to the grind this weekend.