TalkSPORT broadcaster wowed by ‘terrific’ West Ham United development after 2-0 win v Freiburg
TalkSPORT broadcaster Tom Rennie was left stunned by the “terrific” West Ham United achievement of winning their third consecutive European group stage after Thursday’s win over Freiburg.
The Hammers sealed their place in the Europa League last 16 – avoiding a play-off against a side dropping down from the Champions League – with a confident win over the German outfit.
Goals from Mohammed Kudus and Edson Alvarez ensured West Ham recorded their 10th successive win on their home turf but also their third successive European group stage win after also topping last season’s Europa Conference League on their way to a final triumph in June.
And talkSPORT broadcaster took to his personal X account (14 December) to heap praise on the Irons’ exploits in Europe over the last few seasons.
He posted: “A terrific achievement. To have won the group in three seasons in a row across two competitions is some going while remaining in the top half. Let’s hope some of that potential is fulfilled to push to qualify again.”
Brilliant
Say what you want about David Moyes and his so-called “dinosaur” tactics at the club in recent seasons but the heights he has taken West Ham United to especially in Europe, must not be discounted.
The Hammers have become masters in European competition under his management, with Thursday’s night over Freiburg their 20th win in their last 21 or so games under Moyes but also their 10th successive home win.
Moyes and his team should certainly be counted as one of the favourites for this season’s competition given their exploits in the Conference League last season.
The Scot may be criticised for his reserved approach at times but it’s an approach which has been proven to work wonders when it comes to knockout fixtures and given the Irons’ record at home in the competition too, even many of the best in the competition will struggle to topple them.
Going far in the competition must certainly be a high priority for Moyes and the club but how they balance that with their Premier League ambitions and excel on both fronts certainly leaves a lot of doubt.
The January window will be crucial any of those ambitions, both with outgoings and incomings and one key position which could make the telling difference is up-front. However, January is always a difficult window to do quality business.
In other West Ham news, one pundit and former Hammers player shares his reaction as Fabrizio Romano shares a transfer update ahead of the January transfer window.