When speaking on Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday programme (Saturday, December 5th, 12:40), Tim Sherwood suggested that the West Ham fans will not suffer their team sitting back and having 30 per cent possession when playing at the London Stadium.
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The Hammers are flying high in the league.
In truth we haven’t played great in recent weeks. David Moyes’s men have got the job done in the end on the most part, however.
The Scot has always set his West Ham team up to soak up possession and play on the counter since taking over the club for a second time in December 2019.
That has mainly been because he hasn’t got the players needed to implement a possession based playing philosophy.
Either way, we as West Ham fans are just grateful to have a team we can be proud of once again.
Sherwood suggested that the Hammers fanbase won’t be so forgiving when they come back to the London Stadium, however:
“Their fans wouldn’t have suffered them having 30 per cent possession against Aston Villa in the Premier League.”
Sherwood has a point. But something he is missing is the fact that West Ham fans love seeing their team compete first and foremost.
And you cannot accuse the current Hammers side of failing to deliver physically or from an effort perspective.
In our six homes games this season, we have had 34, 52, 30, 37, 58 and 39 per cent possession.
That isn’t horrendous considering the fact that we’ve played teams like Wolves, Manchester City, Aston Villa and Manchester United at home.
West Ham are incredibly competitive. And until Moyes brings in more technically gifted players, giving up possession of the football may well just be something that we have to get used to.
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