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Irish Hammer 11:20 Fri Mar 11
West Ham must ‘turn good chances into goals

West Ham must ‘turn good chances into goals’

SEVILLE, SPAIN - MARCH 10: Manuel Lanzini of West Ham United looks on during the UEFA Europa League Round of 16 Leg One match between Sevilla FC and West Ham United
The familiar theme of West Ham United failing to convert their chances is one they are apparently still no closer to solving.

The 1-0 loss away to Sevilla was yet another game in which David Moyes’ side were bright offensively but wasteful when it mattered most. It could have been a different outcome had Nikola Vlasic and Manuel Lanzini dispatched their efforts.

Profligacy in front of goal cost West Ham in their fifth-round FA Cup defeat by Southampton and Premier League loss to Liverpool. It proved to be their downfall again in Spain.

“The Vlasic chance was huge and Lanzini’s too,” said Moyes. “It is a regular occurrence in the last few games. We should have probably got a point at Anfield and we could have easily got a draw (against Sevilla) as well so we have to turn the good chances into goals because at the moment we are not finishing off after good work and effort.

“Quite often in football, the goals come around so I am hoping I get them in the next three games before the international break. We need to be sharper, we need to be quicker to the ball in the box. We need to be more aggressive, all those things to get us over the line. We did a lot of good things. We just did not take the opportunities we got.”

West Ham
Vlasic and Lanzini could not convert good chances (Photo: Fran Santiago/Getty Images)
Despite the loss, West Ham will feel optimistic for the return leg. Lanzini caught the eye in his deep-lying playmaker role, Declan Rice impressed having only trained once this week owing to illness, and the back four of Aaron Cresswell, Craig Dawson, Kurt Zouma and Ben Johnson defended well, barring the set-piece goal they conceded.

It is worth highlighting Sevilla are likely to be without Alejandro Gomez, Diego Carlos, Erik Lamela, Fernando, Gonzalo Montiel, Karim Rekik, Suso and Thomas Delaney for the second leg. Moyes’ side will take plenty of encouragement that they went toe-to-toe with the La Liga side, albeit one which was depleted.

For large parts West Ham seemed the likelier side to score. Sevilla have won the Europa League on four occasions since 2013-14. But it was the visitors who initially played with the confidence of a team who are perennial challengers in this competition.

There are sizeable financial incentives for Moyes’ side to reach the latter rounds, too. West Ham’s players would receive a healthy financial bonus for helping the club to progress to the last eight of the Europa League and the club would receive an additional €1.8 million (£1.5 million) from UEFA for reaching the next round.

Before the game Moyes referenced the quarter-final defeats by Fiorentina and Bayern Munich he experienced at Everton and Manchester United. He is keen to go one step further, so it comes as no surprise he was meticulous in his planning for this tie. Members of his coaching staff watched Sevilla on three occasions. A member of the backroom staff recently attended their recent goalless draw against Deportivo Alves.

West Ham
Rice impressed again (Photo: Fran Santiago/Getty Images)
In the pre-match meeting, many felt they had the edge when it came to counter-attacking their opponents. Many of the attacks stemmed through the middle and left channel. West Ham noticeably launched fast breaks in the second half but their undoing was poor decision-making in the final third.

“I think if you said we had not created chances I might have thought this was a problem but it is not,” said Moyes. “I am still trying to get other people more opportunities and my biggest concern tonight was, are we going to give the West Ham supporters a really good night? Are we going to give them a real chance to see their team in action in the last-16 of the Europa League against a good side next week?

“The crowd drove them on in the second half and got them over the line. We need our crowd to do the same and they will because we will give them something to shout about.”

Moyes has often stated he wants to make the London Stadium a fortress. Many were of the opinion the ground was slowly starting to feel like home during the group stage. This was most telling following home victories against Rapid Vienna and Genk, when supporters stayed behind and chorused chants after the final whistle.

There was excitement about what West Ham could achieve in Europe and this has not been hampered following the defeat by Sevilla.

Those away fans praised the players long after the game had finished. One can only hope West Ham’s finishing will soon give them plenty more reasons to feel cheerful.

CARTERS 3:12 Thu Mar 17
Re: West Ham must ‘turn good chances into goals

Slainte mhaith a chara.
Happy St.Patrick's day from a fellow Irishman.
If the players can't get it over the line well....
Optomistic 3 1

daveyg 1:21 Thu Mar 17
Re: West Ham must ‘turn good chances into goals

Mex

Thanks.
Completed the climb on Tuesday afternoon.
Started at midnight, reached the summit at sunrise 06.45.
Climb down was even harder. 5hrs, my knees and thighs could hardly take the strain.
Then 2hr rest followed by another 4hr hike down to a camp for lower altitude. Some 18hr plus hiking,mountaineering (under the stars and moon ) and walking.
Knackered,now recovering slowly. Looking forward to a beer and a Irons victory tonight..
COYI

Mex Martillo 8:37 Sat Mar 12
Re: West Ham must ‘turn good chances into goals

Daveyg, that's brilliant your climbing Kilimanjaro. Have a great time, hope you really enjoy it. Surely a beer watching the game after that would be top!

Even our set pieces haven't been as good as they were, but it could be a good tactic to just tell our useless forwards, ok you cannot score but surely you can get us corners and getting a load of corners would eventually give us a goal? Having said that, I not happy that Fornals now takes some corners Cresswell is way better, but since his injured back I've noticed he doesn't take many set pieces and corners? Why is that?

daveyg 7:31 Sat Mar 12
Re: West Ham must ‘turn good chances into goals

I watched La Liga preview on I think Al Jeeraz channel last night.
Terry Gibson,was very insightful with his comments.

He said Sevilla away from home have had 8 draws,not sure if in a row. But he said the way they setup up away is very deep and don't really, break quick enough to score enough goals.They count on set pieces,funny enough.
I think set pieces are our best option too. If they are deep then hopefully we can get more corners and free kicks in dangerous areas. We need to be smarter in obtaining these and converting them.
I'm climbing Mt Kilimanjaro today and I'm not sure if I'll be back in time to watch it. Could be to tired to stay awake ome Thursday.

Manuel 7:07 Sat Mar 12
Re: West Ham must ‘turn good chances into goals

''It is worth highlighting Sevilla are likely to be without Alejandro Gomez, Diego Carlos, Erik Lamela, Fernando, Gonzalo Montiel, Karim Rekik, Suso and Thomas Delaney for the second leg.''


Mmmm. Will it make any difference though? it should of course, but it didn't against Newcastle.

One Flew 1:37 Sat Mar 12
Re: West Ham must ‘turn good chances into goals

The reason we stayed long after is because we were kept in, what type of lazy journalism is this

nychammer 12:51 Sat Mar 12
Re: West Ham must ‘turn good chances into goals

Well it’s been said time and again. Had we got a striker in the window then I think we draw last night and get something out of Liverpool last week. As it is we are now lightweight up front and goal shy. Just have to hope it changes and there’s Nothing more to say really.

Huffers 12:39 Sat Mar 12
Re: West Ham must ‘turn good chances into goals

Yes that was shit too but Antonio is the striker, and the only striker in the PL that’s hold continuously miss these chances.

Jasnik 11:50 Fri Mar 11
Re: West Ham must ‘turn good chances into goals

Vlasic had not dived when he headed the ball he could have tapped the rebound in but he was lying on the floor.

Huffers 11:12 Fri Mar 11
Re: West Ham must ‘turn good chances into goals

Antonio missed a volley from 4 yards. Not only missed the goal, missed the ball. He’s dog.

Jasnik 11:04 Fri Mar 11
Re: West Ham must ‘turn good chances into goals

Think big issue is Antionio not staying in the box.

Mex Martillo 11:00 Fri Mar 11
Re: West Ham must ‘turn good chances into goals

Everyone saying the same. When will the sitters start going in...
Thanks Irish