Veni Vidi Vici Published 21/02/18 on Moore Than Just A Club
“Consciousness-one level is understanding where we are in space. Consciousness two is where we understand our position in society: who’s top dog, who’s underdog and who’s in the middle. And type-three consciousness is simulating the future. And type-three consciousness, only humans have this ability to see far into the future” – Michio Kaku
We set out on northern adventures this Saturday to face Liverpool in their back yard and it may not be a trip to the slaughter house that many of us might expect although we were left red faced after the drubbing they gave us at the London Stadium which would seal Bilic’s fate and see his demise.
Crystal balls are wondrous objects that let us peer into the near and far future, to glimpse our next true love, next triumph or give us fair warning of failures and threats…If only a crystal ball could really do that! Would we settle for some kind of predictive high percentile…to narrow the odds and stir those gambling juices?
Of course I err before launching into bullish verse when facing the reality of a two week break that might dull any sharp edge and momentum gained from the victory against Watford. However there is reason to not let the weight of impoverished plight take hold and drag us down into the depths of further despair.
This season West Ham have had one of the worst, if not the…worst injury record of any other Premier League team, the statistics are just shocking. However, Arnautovic is back, there is a good chance that Lanzini may make the Liverpool journey and the likes of Reid and Fonte may be available if so required. We always knew that on paper the squad was quite capable of upsetting any team but that hasn’t materialised…perhaps it’s time it did!
Our biggest problem this season has been to play with any composure and to pass with pace that would clear our lines as efficiently as a German assembly plant. We have not dominated possession in midfield, indeed we have been lackadaisical in that regard but not without effort in the most part. Our attacking play has lacked potency and our strikers have generally been misfiring or isolated for most of the campaign.
However, Noble has started to play with an authority that calms those around him and he can lead, direct and encourage in equal measure. Ogbonna, Collins and Cresswell have become quite the solid combination at the back, whilst Zabaleta shows no signs of slowing down on the right hand side.
Our creativity has been welcomed, albeit sporadic at times, with Arnautovic showing signs of a player that may well be lodged in West Ham folklore for years to come, Joao Mario has given us pause for thought and he may well be the secret ingredient that we have been searching for all this time…the link up man from defence to attack through midfield.
Hernandez has started to fire…and if he can get any kind of service on Saturday, then he will be a threat against any team. If Antonio plays and can continue with his bullish behaviour but produce the bacon, then there is a real chance that we might just cause quite the upset against a red team with a formidable attacking line up of Salah, Firmino and Mane.
However, the man we’ve all been waiting for to produce some craft with guile, pass and move, link in and score is our very own creative spark that is Manuel Lanzini. Recently celebrating his birthday, we’re all hoping he hasn’t eaten too much cake and can be fit enough to make the match or at least on the bench.
However, let’s be under no illusions…this will be an epic encounter and with the deck stacked firmly in their favour. We’re on their manor and they are searching for consistency and yet another convincing display to satisfy their own fans too. However they are cumbersome in defence…a weakness that can be exploited with pace and irritation when playing high up the field.
We need our men at the back to be the stand up heroes we know they can be, but they have to morph into gladiators to fight against any oppressors who would put pressure in our penalty area. Moyes will have to bring his A-Game and show his tactical superiority against Klopp who would surely loved to push us aside and give us a damn good swatting to do the double over us…just as Newcastle and Brighton have done thus far this season.
This will be a tall order for any team, but if Moyes can encourage the players to spread their wings, especially in the counter attacks and keep the ball moving forward, whilst being steadfast, resolute and bearish in defence, then the angels may indeed be smiling upon us…for once.
Of course under Bilic, there were a couple of favourable results against Liverpool, however that was then and this is now. We cannot live on past minor victories or parities, we need to take the fight to them…West Ham are the underdogs and they are the top dogs…well a lot more on top than we are at the moment.
However, if history…whether recent or archaic, has taught us anything it is that any team can be beaten and any team can make themselves very hard to beat. The players have to be disciplined, committed and resilient against anything they send our way. They cannot falter in their quest for three most valuable points, but a solitary punta will be fine too.
If Arnautovic can deliver another great performance and Hernandez can be the pest we always hoped he could be, then with a forward thinking supporting cast this may be just within our grasp.
If there is a chance that Lanzini can return, that will give West Ham a psychological edge to make the most earnest Liverpool tacticians take a step back to contemplate the latest threat. If he can create and link in with Mario, then this may indeed be a blossoming partnership that may yet yield fruit. If nothing else…a positive display from Lanzini may make his summer move over to our opponents ranks a sealing handshake, it will give us the win…but we may lose Lanzini forever.
All we can ask for is a committed, passionate and resolute display from the lads, park the biggest double decker bus, that Moyes can find, in front of our goal and hope we can all chant our heroes names but rejoice in an aria all the way home…’Veni – Vidi – Vici’… We came – We Saw – We gave those Reds a damn good thrashing and we conquered their threats!