It's been a pretty good start to West Ham's season, truth be told.
Eight points from five games is a pretty good return for any team, but is all the more impressive after the Hammers'
Instead, the players have responded and are now unbeaten in four.
Club-record purchase Sebastien Haller has settled quickly, Manuel Lanzini has looked razor sharp in midfield following his return to full fitness and Declan Rice has shown immense composure in the heart of midfield.
Consequently, things are looking up. Yes, Monday's draw at Aston Villa wasn't the prettiest game of football to watch, but it did demonstrate progression. In seasons gone by, Arthur Masuaku's sending off would have led to an away day capitulation. Camped in their own half, inviting pressure, the West Ham of old would no doubt have conceded.
Instead, Manuel Pellegrini encouraged his side to continue breaking forward in search of a goal. Villa had to work hard for their openings and apart from one Jack Grealish chance late on, which he fortunately spurned, things were pretty comfortable. The Hammers saw out the game, and a point was deservedly earned.
But that wasn't the only thing to take away from this encounter. The other talking point was the performance of second half substitute Pablo Fornals.
Readily available on the counter, Fornals linked up well enough with Haller as the game began to stretch, despite the Hammers' being at a numerical disadvantage. A scruffy attempt at goal from distance was not his finest, nor was his failure to shoot from 12 yards when presented the opportunity in the dying embers of the game.
But football is about confidence. And for the £24m summer signing, he's probably lacking a bit of it after failing to immediately break into the starting lineup, despite his star billing.
Fully focused. 狼 @pablofornals pic.twitter.com/E2hYAKhyIl
— West Ham United (@WestHam) September 14, 2019
What's clear for any footballing purest to see, though, is that he has the ability to make a difference for West Ham. Starring at this summer's European Under-21 championship for Spain, Fornals was exceptional as his country cruised to eventual glory, seeing off a spirited Germany side in the final.
He's shown his class in La Liga previously, and there's no reason why he can't repeat that on the Premier League stage. 12 assists two seasons ago helped Villarreal finish fifth, and he's widely regarded in his homeland as a talented midfielder who
So for West Ham, it's about giving him the platform to express himself. Andriy Yarmolenko blows very much hot and cold on the right-hand side, and with Michail Antonio crocked with a hamstring injury, Fornals' time to shine is now.
Fear not Manuel, your
Source : 90min
