I really think Moyes should take some praise from that. Unfashionable, I know, but there it is: He'd done his homework: Our left flank was neutralised, crowded out, particularly by playing Collins as a sort of right-sided sweeper. I've never rated him, but he did a good job today. Janmat was deliberately targetted by fast direct players - he is a good player going forwards but so, so slow: Just push the ball past him and run after it - he can't keep up. Marriappa had a hell of a job backing him up. As the game wore on it seemed to me Watford were trying desperately to apply themselves by keeping to a team formula but, in doing so, slowed their game down - they should have thrown caution to the wind and played at breakneck pace - but that requires a mobile set of targets up front, of course. Deeney had a field day in the air against Chelsea, but this was largely, although not entirely, neutralised by better aerial defending from the opposition today. For all our disappointment, this was a very tight, cautious match and the first goal was clearly going to be all- important. They deserved the win, but West Ham only really shaded it.
What is pathetic, was the way Zeegelaar went down after a slight nudge from Hernandez. Seriously, he's got to be far stronger than that. They make the same stupid mistakes week after week. Janmaat gets beaten far too easily by Antonio, but you can say that about every opponent he's faced this season. Sure Janmaat will pop up with the odd goal now and then, but how many is he directly responsible at the other end? Get our injured players back and our form will improve for sure, but left back is not hampered by injury, so this will not improve. We only have two strikers, which is not enough. Okaka has excluded himself and Sinclair in not a credible option. But we've gone down the route of not relying on strikers, and I think this is understandable. We cannot get away from the fact, we are a small town club. It may be cliché, but it's something we cannot get away from. The board know our limitations. We've handled this by sharing goals around the entire side. We have more different scorers than anyone else in the league. I have sympathy with the decision makers when it comes to signing a striker. We made a mistake with Gray. He cannot finish clinically often enough, but he still cost the club good money. When it has been spent, that's it, we have to live with it for another season. If we're honest, we can't afford the cost of buying Premier league players, so we have to be inventive. We have to sign potential and maybe the odd punt here and there. It's the only way we can survive by being clever. Next summer, providing we retain all our performing players, we'll only really need a left wing back and a striker. I'm hoping we may keep Deulofeu on loan, as that door is not closed from what I understand. Every year we add a few good players to the squad. This season we probably made the most progressive steps in adding to the squad than ever before. Kiko, Chalobah, Hughes, Richarlison, Deulofeu and Carrillo have all been hits for me. I think you now have to add Karnezis to this group, as he's come back well from that disastrous debut. Last season it was Doucoure, Cleverley and Pereyra. The unfortunate part are the injuries. We've had to rely on too many squad players for far too long, and that was not part of the plan. I know it's frustrating when you're in the eye of the storm, but fans have to understand the situation and be patient. It may not seem like it now, but we are getting better. We're sailing close to the wind, more so than ever before, but I think we'll be more than ok by the end of the season.
The highs and lows of the Premiership are unbearable at times. I always try not to get too excited when we win, but it's pretty hard not to Suppose you have to respect that we're not the only side out there with resources and decent players. I do feel though, once fit, we've got one of the best squads outside the top 6. We could just do with a decent left back, and a striker that's isn't allergic to shooting
The west ham fan base is pretty dire add to that the adopted arsenal mentality of sack the board they have adopted I sat through the Huddersfield thrashing but still came away okay, had a day out, saw the football , takeaway on the way home , read the programme on the way home I don't walk out at half time or three quarters through Football is not a cheap thing to follow and I will never take for granted the opportunity I have to go and won't throw the toys out at a loss or start hating the team from top to bottom I'm happy to be critical of a performance but not to the detriment of enjoying the experience But today **** stadium, **** crowd (not our fans bar the nob in the white coat) **** facilities for a newly built stadium and a to and from walk that felt forever Depressing day, I've never wanted to see harry the hornets stupid little face so much or missed the chants of the rookery like this Roll on Everton, win (I hope) , lose or draw I know it'll be a good day
Yeah I thought on the way there seemed a lot faster than back and I managed to breeze through go on the way back Couldn't remember exact route there it felt like it was rerouted on the way back
All game Collins had Deeney in his pocket , petting him like Lenny and his pocket mouse from Steinbeck s ‘Of Mice And Men’
Happens every time he plays against a physically strong centre back, no matter how limited they are. He actually does better against some of the top teams because they're more likely to favour ball playing centre backs who can be roughed up a bit, rather than the oafs that crap teams use. Remember how an on-form Ighalo's pace and trickery destroyed Collins a few years back? Players like Collins, Shawcross and the like must absolutely love seeing a team sheet with Deeney on his own upfront. There is 0% chance he'll run in behind them, dribble past them, or even shift the ball half a yard to get a shot off. All they have to worry about is winning headers and the battle of strength and that's job done. Good penalty taker though.
Interesting that the first goal was because our defender fell over and their second goal was because our keeper could not hold on to the ball when fired at him, and a subsequent lucky rebound sets it up. If we had been more decisive with all that possession we should have at least a point from that match. We now need to get at least one more away point and three wins and a draw from our home games. I think it's going to be mighty close again this year.
Yeah, if we could guarantee getting a penalty every game he d be the first name on the team sheet for me .
Agree with the premise, except Britos at left back is also an appalling option. We’ve had a number of years to replace the woefully inept Holebas, and have consistently failed to do so.
Harsh to blame Karnezis, came at him very quickly and pushed it the right way at least. Lukebakio just got in the way horrendously. Zeegelaar was pathetic today, again. Won't play once we have a fit centre back of course but hopefully that comes sooner rather than later.
I left at 65 minutes today. If the players couldn’t be arsed, then why should I? We were second to every ball and slowed down every attack to walking pace. We could still be playing and we wouldn’t have scored. No problems getting home, and I caught most of the rugby.
Can't be bothered to comment on the performance tonight due to the fact it's late and I'm drunk, other than to say there was a bit of a Chelsea hangover. But what a soulless clinical dire stadium. I actually feel sorry for west ham fans who have gone from a pretty intense and engaging stadium to what must be so depressing a place to attend each week. Miles away from the pitch. Songs don't carry at all. What a disconnect from the players. I would hate it if we had to play there every week. It is not a football stadium. Poor west ham fans.
Your first sentence was shocking, and your final clause disgraceful. I usually think you're an excellent commentator, but now I'm wondering about your values.
Despite the general doom and gloom on here and although we had very little goal threat, if I was a neutral looking at that game I’d say neither team look likely of having to worry about relegation. If you were watching the Stoke game you’d think jeez these two teams are poor, but not today. We should just about have enough to not go down. I just remembered too, I though Deeney was awful but he did run in behind once and it was offside, he was however onside. The defender recovered and he blasted it against his legs though.
Also, I can never remember his name but I like the ref from yesterday purely because he looks like a cross between Dolph Lundgren and the bloke from Peaky Blinders.
I saw the match highlights programe on Sky, and from what I saw, we were not as bad as many on here have been saying. Most of our play was reasonable, but our biggest problem is without a doubt up front, we badly need a competent goal scorer, like Henandez is for the Spammers! It's crazy that most of our goals are coming from the defenders and MF players, at least one of our strikers should be our leading goal scorer, but they all seem to lack that clinical cutting edge. I know we are stuck with what we have up front within the 25 man squad, due to not strengthening in that area during the transfer window. However we do have some promising young strikers on our books, so maybe the time has come to at least try and see if any of them can step up to the 1st team, even for just a few games. Maybe just maybe, they might manage to find the net, after all the strikers we have right now don't seem to be able to. I would not want to burn the kids out, so I would invisage that they would return to the youth ranks to continue their development after a few games, but their youthful enthusiasm and adrenilin could just net us a few goals and give the team the boost we need to get over that survival line.
It was a relatively short cameo in which he linked up with Pereyra, took one long range shot but all in all looked quite comfortable out there. I think the manager did well to make the changes he did albeit I would have swapped Gray for Zeegelaar at half time. We dominated the midfield in the second half and barring that totally inept defending from Zeegelaar, a greasy ball that Karnezis unfortunately spilled we ought to have earned a draw. However despite that midfield dominance the quality of the final ball and the crossing left a lot to be desired. All in front of the defence , never asking them to turn and at a pace which allows a defence to reorganize. Now we have a break. Fingers crossed we get some of the injured players back especially Femenia. Gracia can actually have a decent session with them now a mini pre-season if you will and look to put Everton to the sword.
Yes I am completely unaware, because sadly I know little about or understand football. I also forgot that Gracia arrived once the transfer window had shut and therefore had no time to try and influence the club’s decision makers to strengthen in the two areas we are weakest, up front and in defence. Having slept on it, I now agree with you. If Gracia gets us 12 points in his 14 games in charge, he will deserve to be hailed as great.
Yeah, there are obviously other areas of the team which are weak, but if we had strikers on 7 and 9 goals each, we would 7th
I'll say it again. Six million euros for a competent left back. No let me rephrase that. More than a competent left back a leader, calm and solid in his position who can also play in a back three. Why oh why did we not go for Tagliafico ? The perfect counterbalance to Femenia. Two quality full backs. And if Giraldi has a brain he will go for Bustos this summer. Again the fee will not be that high and he is also a player on the up and of real potential.
I sort of agree, although I have no idea how good any of the youngsters would be, but they would certainly not be worse than Deeney was yesterday. It was like we had 10 men. It was like the FA had decided to ban him for a game after all.
Gray has never had a run of games to get into any sort of rhythm and consistency. When he was in the squad in the early part of the season we were playing well and flying high in the league. When Deeney gets marked out of the game such as stoke and West Ham he become obselete in the team. Gray can make runs into channels which creates space for other players and means defenders risk chasing a clean pair of heels if they play a line. Gray is our best option for the majority of the games to play to win. Deeney is a great option against certain teams without dominant centre backs but is 2nd choice at best.
