West Ham fans point finger of blame at one man as Southgate-esque blunder proves costly vs Man United
The West Ham United faithful have flooded to social media this evening, to take aim at manager David Moyes.
Lingard steals the show
The Hammers were of course back in action a short time ago.
After continuing to impress en route to a 2-0 downing of Dinamo Zagreb in the Europa League group stages during the week, the Irons welcomed Man United to the London Stadium, for a Premier League clash.
Moyes and co. headed into proceedings aware that a victory this evening would actually have guided them clear of their opponents in the English top-flight table, back into the top-4.
In turn, when Said Benrahma opened the scoring on half an hour, West Ham’s supporters could have been forgiven for getting somewhat swept away in the moment:
#WHUFC take the lead! ⚒
Saïd Benrahma’s shot hits Raphaël Varane and goes past David de Gea! #WHUMUN pic.twitter.com/VM23pdror8
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 19, 2021
The drama, though, had only just begun…
First, Cristiano Ronaldo levelled things up ten minutes before the interval, slotting home on the rebound after seeing his initial effort kept out by Lukasz Fabianski:
🎙 | “It had to be him, didn’t it!?”
Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal scoring return to #MUFC continues after a VAR check! 🟥#WHUMUN pic.twitter.com/mYv6RPeydd
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 19, 2021
Then, in scenes straight out of a nightmare, Jesse Lingard, the man who of course led West Ham’s charge to a European berth amid a scintillating loan spell last season, put United in front with 89 minutes on the clock:
“It is the scenario that #WHUFC fans were dreading!” 😦
Jesse Lingard breaks West Ham hearts with a late stunner at the London Stadium! 💔#WHUMUN pic.twitter.com/ajnXn5psGQ
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 19, 2021
Moyes targeted
Incredibly, however, the hosts’ hopes of stealing a point were not yet over.
As the clash rolled into injury-time, just moments on from United being denied a penalty at one end, West Ham were awarded a spot-kick of their own, after Luke Shaw was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box.
David Moyes, evidently not happy with the penalty-duty options on the pitch, subsequently opted to introduce captain Mark Noble from the bench to take responsibility, in scenes reminiscent of the Euro 2020 final.
In a moment of collective heartbreak for Hammers across the globe, though, the club’s beloved long-time midfielder saw his effort from 12 yards brilliantly kept out by David de Gea:
David de Gea. CLUTCH. pic.twitter.com/1A2yPZUWTP
— B/R Football (@brfootball) September 19, 2021
It is not Noble, however, who has since been widely singled out for blame on the back of the full-time whistle sounding in the capital.
Instead, the West Ham faithful have opted to direct their ire at boss David Moyes, amid understandable bemusement at his decision to hand the responsibility of such a crucial spot-kick to a player who was yet to step foot on the pitch on Sunday:
I don’t agree with putting Noble on there, not a touch of the ball all game and you put all the pressure in the world on him. Gutted.
— Uber West Ham (@UberWestHam) September 19, 2021
That’s a massive coaching blunder from Moyes. Shocking decision.
— Ahead of the Curve (@Wrighty_8) September 19, 2021
#moyes fault…did he learn nothing from the euros about bringing penalty takers on..
— Philip whitehurst (@Toffeewolfie) September 19, 2021
This is not on Nobes but on Moyes.
— #GSBOUT (@WHUsamo23) September 19, 2021
That’s absolutely terrible management from Moyes. You don’t bring someone on just to take a penalty.
— JS (@JackSimmons101) September 19, 2021
Pathetic from David Moyes
— Czech Ham United 🇨🇿 (@CzechHam) September 19, 2021
What a terrible decision to bring on Noble to take the penalty. The players earned the win and the manager lost it
— Shaun Webb (@ShaunWebb9) September 19, 2021
See that in the Euros and it didn’t work. Bad decision David.
Lanzini should have taken it. Well played though lads. ⚒— ⚒Hoady⚒ (@329hoady) September 19, 2021
You can’t be doing that in the Premier league poor management
— Scott Laws (@coachlawsy) September 19, 2021
Absolutely disgraceful decision to let noble take the penalty from the bench and an insult to the players that have put in a shift
— BAD BOy (@zazaitan) September 19, 2021
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