Moyes shares reason for not using subs in 2-1 loss v Brentford
West Ham United lost 2-1 to Brentford at home on Sunday, and David Moyes’ decision not to make any substitution baffled many.
Nikola Vlasic, 23, was being readied to come on towards the closing stages, but Jarrod Bowen’s 80th-minute equaliser changed things as the summer signing returned to the bench.
West Ham chased a winner, but it was the Bees who got one as Yoane Wissa came off the bench to grab a late goal with the last kick of the game.
Asked why he opted against bringing on the Croatian international attacker or making any other sub, the Hammers boss said (via Football.London): “We were on top and there was no need to change the balance, and if anything, I thought a second goal was going to come and in the end we got caught out by a free-kick.”
Costly?
Vlasic was ready to come on and hopefully make an impact, but the goal changed everything.
He would have fancied his chances of finally assisting or opening his West Ham account, but that has to wait until after the international break.
Most of the Hammers stars appeared to be running out of steam and could use the international break to recharge their batteries, and some fresh legs off the bench could have helped turn things around against the visitors.
While Moyes chose not to call on his bench, Thomas Frank did, and it yielded three points for him.
Bryan Mbeumo was taken off despite his opener for Wissa with eight minutes left on the clock, and that made all the difference.
Bringing Vlasic or anybody else on might not have changed a thing, but we would never know.
If Moyes cannot trust the Croatian to deliver at that stage of the game, when does he plan to?
West Ham clearly need more quality attackers to bolster their squad depth, and they need to make some signings in January.
In other West Ham news, the Hammers want to sign English sensation with 18 goals/assists in 20/21.
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