Apart from the YouTube feed freezing at the first drinks break and restarting itself some ten minutes later, by which time we’d shipped a ‘mystery’ goal which I have still yet to see, the first half of our pre-season campaign was singularly unremarkable.
Fabianski seemed to be distributing at twice the speed of last year, but there was more than a hint of ‘training game’ about this especially in the first half. Orford did his best to inject a little activity going forward and Guilherme and Kudus buzzed around changing wings a couple of times. Such were the highlights.
Defensive problems aren’t yet ironed out although the 9 substitutes at half time did seem to give West Ham’s defence a better balance after Mavroupanos and new signing Kilman had departed for – Aguerd and Zouma. Mav did seem to look a bit off the pace with some wayward passing. One who did make an impression when he appeared for the second half – as I’d been intrigued by his story to date – was Andy Irving.
Perhaps because I was focussing on some of the lesser-known squad members, I thought Irving to be one of the more incisive passers forward, (all things being relative!) and on a couple of occasions he placed some pretty decent balls through the opposition midfield and looks to be completely at home with the club. Indeed, the Scot, who we picked up for a song last year and immediately loaned back to Austrian side Klagenfurt, has been a more of an ‘invisible arrival’ at the West Ham training ground this summer.
When you think of the fuss made of Wes Foderingham’s joining I’m at a loss to explain why the PR department has decided to ignore Irving completely.
As a left-footed central midfielder, Irving looked at home immediately. Active over large parts of the pitch in the second half, he did a good impression of a box to box midfielder, popping up on several occasions in the left back position to help out. He seemed both fit and strong enough to compete with our opposition who are far and away more advanced in their pre-season.
Champions League qualification beckons for Ferencvaros so their fitness levels are further ahead and many of their starting eleven played 75 plus minutes. Potts put in the longest shift – more of our academy squad members tomorrow.
After a decent half, Irving turned creator in the last minute with a clever through ball with his right foot for ‘attacking maestro’ Nayef Aguerd of all people to volley home in style and rescue a draw. In a game that was just the start along the road toward fitness, miles in the legs was probably most important but Andy Irving must feel pleased with his ‘friendly’ debut with the club. He certainly doesn’t look out of place.
The news breaking just before kick off that Flynn Downes will be on his way to Southampton for £18 million made this ‘invisible man’s’ debut arguably more relevant. If he carries on in this vein then he will be a useful, and more visible addition who seems to be hardworking and talented enough to pick a pass.