It is Time to Tango! Published 16/02/18 on Moore Than Just A Club

The war party drums get louder and louder. The crowd inhales in desperation and exhales in utter frustration. The movers and shakers deflect…and the masses congregate to urge their soldiers on whilst being riddled with internal dissenters…and the fans haven’t even gone to the match yet!

If we could only close our eyes and dream of better days and fortunes found, to rid ourselves of such absurdity and beckon footballing purity. Ultimately we are to be one voice who loyally support our players in these testing times. We back our manager with future uncertainties and sympathy for the mountain ledge he has had to navigate since his arrival.

The fanbase have been besmirched by the ruling party..who would call for unity and to get behind the team. Our unity and support for our team, our club, our colours has never been in doubt and should never be questioned by such questionable honour. However, although during matches the fans will urge on, cheer and stumble into dejected silence…they are equally driven to dissect each  team performance, to deliberate team selections, tactics and to praise or criticise in measure.

David Moyes had started to produce results by hook or by crook. It wasn’t anywhere near flamboyant or attractive, but it was effective…if only in the short term. I stand by my early reservation for a manager of dubious recent performances, however I soon began to warm to the man who was delivering what we needed rather than what we may have wanted.

However, seldom has there been a performance that the fans can be united in opinion. Some approve of the defensive stances whilst others berate the offensive floundering. We have pulled off victories by attrition rather than strategic dominance but in the main the players have yet to form a bond that would see fluidity in their game.

Some aspects have improved…but only slightly and largely inconsistently. Overall defensively it has got better and tighter with Collins and Ogbonna raising their games. Passing has become more accurate and there were signs that Chicharito may well rouse from his slumber to deliver the fans some form of payback for their patience.

Overwhelmingly the major spanner in the works has been the growing injury list and lay offs for key players whether by the Doctor’s stethoscope or the FA’s decree. The shallow squad has not been able to step up to improve on performances so the team has struggled to find any cohesion and forward prowess whilst the opponents have been more successful in that regard.

So what is this virus that ails us and will it ever be cured? Certainly just enough to save us from the hell of the Championship where our financial future would be ravaged, our attendances would surely drop and the global fanbase would struggle to witness any reincarnation…if that were even possible.

Many would agree that when the manager has a fully fit team of our best players to choose from then the pencil and paper statisticians would report in comparative terms to teams in the top half of the league…possibly even a top eight side. However Moyes has been thwarted, just like his predecessor, by the lack of cohesion and the inability to merge the A List of individuals into a team that would withstand pressure and flourish in the opponents penalty box.

Individuals may excel for limited periods, whilst others would remain sub par and the rest would raise their game to equal the abject average. The result against Brighton surely made the team and management wake up to the notion that a lot more work is needed but concede that effort and force of will is the only positive still to remain.

Everyone was aware that the resurgent Watford travelling around the northern section of the M25 and dropping into the London Stadium would be ready for the fight, especially after a hugely emphatic win and performance over Chelsea in their previous fixture. It was all set to be a tough day at the office and most would lie in wait for a result that would see us limp into a two week break with our tails firmly nestled between our legs. However, West Ham decided to show up and Moyes presented us with an attacking formation with some successful play…especially in the first half.

Chicharito and Arnautovic look like a promising combination now with both netting to secure the three points. In the second half, although committed and resolute in defence, Watford had much the better of the half but could not create clear cut chances, whereas our players continued to probe and gain success.

If we ignore the performance and the result on Saturday and purely focus on the creativity and attacking dimension of our game, then few could argue that whilst Mario is proving to be a growing asset within our ranks, we still lack that spark that can only be delivered from our Argentinian maestro in midfield. Indeed after Mario’s first couple of appearances there was an expectation that he might have thrived against Watford, instead there were misplaced passes and a performance that was not so much sub par but rather a failure to soar.

Whilst it was a welcome sight indeed to see Arnautovic waltz his way back onto the pitch with his new stylishly and speedy haircut, we still needed Evita to sing her tune, “Don’t cry for me Argentina. The truth is I never left you!” Yes, we still need Lanzini to quench our creative thirst and alleviate our midfield fears and foes. Only when he returns can we build a team around him, to partner up with Mario and Noble and to let Chicharito and Arnautovic run riot in attack. We did well on Saturday…but we could do so much better, and we may need to in the upcoming matches.

We may yet lavish ourselves in splendour and embrace joy like a dear old friend when we face Liverpool, Swansea & Burnley in the coming weeks but unless Moyes can find a way for the old heads and young shoulders to bond, for the new additions and late arrivals to gel together…then we may resign ourselves to being once hailed as fortunate sons.

There would be that illusive ingredient that Master Chef Moyes would dearly like to pull from the cupboard. The gelatine to sure up our wobbly legs, the spice to infuse our inventiveness and the music to two step tout suite into our foe’s goal. However, he need look no further than a fighting fit first team and the Latin American dancer to strictly meander his way around the park.

We need him more than ever and we need the team to match their desire and commitment with performance and results. A grateful fanbase and welcoming colleagues await…It is definitely Time To Tango!