Former Hammers defender Tony Gale provides his expert
view every week, exclusively on whufc.com...
LOOKING back on our last two trips to the north west, at Wigan
Athletic and Manchester United, I'm sure most of us would have
been happy with three points from six had it been offered
beforehand.
At Wigan, it was a game that, in all honesty, could have gone
either way, and maybe the draw would have been a fair result, but
we nicked it at the end and that is always a lovely feeling. You
know there is no way back for the opposition and it ensures that
the supporters go home with a spring in their step.
It's certainly not nice when you're on the other side, as
Wigan were on Saturday, but we seem to be getting the rub of the
green at present and you have to enjoy these moments when they
arrive. There may have been some good fortune about the result, but
the winning goal itself was a good finish, superbly created by
Teddy, who came off the bench with just a few minutes remaining yet
was still the coolest person on the pitch when he stroked that pass
across for Nigel to convert.
At the other end, I thought James Collins produced another solid
performance alongside Danny Gabbidon, up against Roberts and
Camara, who can certainly be a handful, and overall it was a very
satisfying afternoon for Alan Pardew.
THAT was followed by our return to the north just a few days later,
to take on Manchester United, currently the form side in the
Premiership. It's never easy going to Old Trafford but, when I
saw the home team sheet, I thought we had a real good chance of
getting something from the game.
A back four containing Evra, Vidic and Pique, with O'Shea and
Fletcher in midfield, suggested to me that we would get our fair
share of possession and opportunities in attack and, for the first
15 minutes, that was certainly the case.
United came into it more as the half wore on and then, after
enjoying our own slice of fortune right at the death on Saturday,
we were on the receiving end on the stroke of half-time this time
around.
In the second half, I thought we lacked a bit of belief - as if we
didn't really deserve to be there. I've been there as a
player and, I have to say, it is easy to get a little intimidated
by the place. Maybe our lads played the occasion rather than what
was in front of them and that's a shame because, with the team
United had out, I really thought the game was there for the taking.
It may be the best chance we get in a long time to take something
from Old Trafford and I'm sure, if they had the chance to play
the game again, our lads would perhaps push the tempo a little more
and show a bit more confidence in attacking areas.
Saying that, we can't really complain about a narrow away
defeat against a side who have won their last six matches and are
virtually guaranteed second place in the Premiership, and it's
very hard to be critical of Alan Pardew's team after what they
have achieved in the past couple of weeks.
SOMETHING else to come out of the United game was the appearance of
Anton Ferdinand at right-back, as a substitute for Lionel Scaloni
with 20 minutes remaining.
In a position he is already familiar with, Anton did well, and
it's certainly an option that is available to Alan Pardew in
the coming weeks.
There is no doubt that Anton's best position is in the middle -
he has proven himself as a top class centre-back this season - but
he can do a job at right-back if needed and, you would have to say,
is better defending at one-on-one situations than Scaloni.
In all honesty, the key lies in the form of James Collins, who has
looked very assured and solid in the three games he has played
alongside Danny Gabbidon recently. I thought Danny was excellent
again at Old Trafford on Wednesday, and he may have to take the
lead in encouraging James to play a bit higher up the field, as he
does tend to drop a little too deep at times.
It's now up to James to persuade Alan Pardew that moving Anton
out of the middle to right-back is an option that he can use with
confidence. With Paul Konchesky bombing forward on the left side,
and Yossi Benayoun not the most defensive of midfielders, you need
a right-back who is solid and reliable in one-on-one situations,
and I think Anton is a better option than Lionel in that sense.
It's an interesting dilemma, and one that could certainly have
a big impact on how we shape up for the final month of a season
that is looking more and more like it will earn a momentous place
in the Club's history…
Galey's View - Mar 31
7th April 2006