If last week at Forest was utter tedium, through an absolute dog of a game, to get to the highest of highs at the end that just can’t be topped, which had left you buzzing all week long; West Ham continued that good feeling and had everyone coming out the ground on a high, with smiles on faces, after a really enjoyable game of football.
Yesterdays admin-
Title Defence Countdown:
14 wins down/ 10 to go. (Adjusted from pre-season target of 27 wins.).
48 points down/ 30 to go. (Adjusted from pre-season target of 89 points.).
Current PL unbeaten run:
P 3 W 3 F 7 A 2 CS: 2
3 Straight Wins.
2 defeats in last 21 matches since 1-4 loss. H. PSV Eindhoven. 2025. November 26. W.
P 21 W 13 D 6 L 2 F 46 A 18 CS:10
Through which-
Currently 5th in the PL. (Joint 4th).
Finished 3rd Europe/ Automatic qualification last 16 with home advantage 2nd: Vs. Galatasaray.
5th Round FA Cup: A. Wolves.
Yanno, reading and watching reactions to yesterday across SM and the internet, it leads you to believe that many have forgotten the essence of what being a supporter is all about. In a season where there’s been some real hard watches, and some really frustrating, disappointing results, that was a proper fun, enjoyable game of football. The sun was shining for the first time in months. And L’pool had what was a pretty routine win, scoring 5 goals in the process, to move to within one win of third in the table. Just a totally relaxed, enjoyable, fun day out at the match. I mean if you can’t enjoy big home wins like that without having to find something to nark about, just exactly
WHAT is the point of being a fan to start with?
Yeah, L’pool knocked off second half and made a standard, routine win more mad than it needed to be by madly turning the last 40 mins into an end-to-end basketball game. But they were always the better side who were always going to win. And win well given their determination from the off. And far more clinical finishing of late. At no point where you ever left in doubt or worried that the final outcome wouldn’t be anything other than a comfortable L’pool win. And it lead to a really relaxed, enjoyable day out just being entertained that had everyone present, of a Red persuasion anyway, walking out with smiling faces. Very reminiscent of many a win under Jurgen. The Reds by far the better side with by far more attacking fire power. But who madly forgot the defending part and turned those games into mad, basket ball-esq, we have a chance, you have a chance. We have a chance, you have a chance, mad, but excitingly enjoyable, games.
And don’t get me wrong. When we did knock-off after West Ham’s first, there were some proper mad moments where misplaced passes presented West Ham with some real decent chances. It wasn’t perfect by any means. But all the while, L’pool were still creating, and missing and scoring, more glorious chances of their own. And they scored 5 excellent goals. From 5 different goal scorers. When was the last time something like that happened? All without well arguably the best player in the entire league currently with £116.5 million of genuine, World class German creative talent missing again. Aside from the continued absence of a further £125 million worth of one of the planets very best goal scorers. Which is why these moments are to be celebrated and enjoyed.
NOT spent dissecting the negativities and doing mad ‘
What if?’ scenarios.
Joe Gomez returns for what feels like his first start in like forever. And puts in his usual, calm, assured shift for the 77 mins he could manage. Kerkez is once more really good both ends of the park. Boxing Bowen. And adding a real good, attacking option wide. Frimpong is electrifying in his short return to show what we’ve badly missed in attacking transition his absence. Even the much maligned Salah and Gakpo have decent games. Mo holding the width, drawing two men to him at all times creating space for others. Whilst being sound, if not spectacular, in possession. Cody dovetailing well with Kerkez and Ekitike. (Who, as brilliant a debut season as he’s had,
BADLY needs some heading practice by the way! Deary me. Ten Bob head him!
.). Going outside his man and being a constant wing threat. Moving Gakpo joint 4th this season in G/A in the process. (8 goals/ 4 assists.).
Everyone else is ‘meh’ and makes their own mistakes through the game. Alisson in particular and his lackadaisical kicking is getting beyond frustrating now.
But then he produces saves and an assuredness back there very few other goalies this league can. And Arne could have been quicker with his changes. Ideal opportunity to give the consistently impressive Rio and Trey longer minutes out there.
By no means perfect. But man alive was it enjoyable. In the sun. With L’pool playing with a tenacity and determination from the off to make sure we came away with the three points that were deserved and never in doubt.
And now we get to visit the ‘
delights’ of (not so) ‘
delightful’ Wolverhampton twice over the next week. Before returning to that wondrous City by the Bosporus we know and love so well.
C’est la Vie.
Up the third place charging, Champion Reds!
Inclusivity at its finest. Massive props to L’pool for that.