Normally I feel deflated after a loss, but not so much this time. I'm not sure why. Maybe it was because we didn't put out our strongest XI so I wasn't expecting a whole lot. Maybe my focus was on Sunday's game. Maybe I was too full of Thai food to really pay attention.
Surprised with the amount of negative comments considering we made 7 changes and have a semi final at the weekend. We looked competitive for 80% of the game I thought, and had it not been for Holebas - who had a complete mare - we'd have maybe got something. Jurado caused real problems all game, if he had Ighalo and Deeney infront of him instead of Amrabat who clearly isn't a striker then we could've scored a few I reckon. Berghuis looked great when he came on, yes he gave it away a few times but he must be so rusty. He was running at players, his passing was very impressive, had Anya not had such a poor first touch he'd have had 2 assists, also nearly put Anya through again but for good goalkeeping. Has to make you wonder why when we couldn't create a chance to save ourself why this lad wasn't even in the squad, he caused more problems tonight in 35 mins than our whole team did in about 6 matches. Has to be in the squad for Sunday for me. Amrabat just isn't a striker and deservedly out of the match on Sunday, very silly indeed!
The way we played last night will give Flores food for thought re Sunday's game, however We were missing Deeney, ighalo, Watson, capoue, Britos, Nyom and Ake from the starting line up, those 7 will probably start on Sunday the other 3 outfield players from Cathcart , Prodl, Behrami, Jurado, Suarez and Guedioura I would add Anya as he had a good game last time we played at Wembley and his pace is useful. COYH
I'm in the "didn't go, had it on in the background" camp for this one. Only got home at 1-0 down just before the second, so watched a tiny bit until half time and then got on with my household chores, popping back every so often. From what little I saw, we looked ok. It wasn't a rampant West Ham that tore us apart, like the commentators seemed to suggest, and we seemed to play well. Take away the 2 unnecessary pens and that was a 1-1 game in the making, not bad form our second string team v a champions league chasing hammers. One thing I would say is that all 4 defenders have played on regular occasion this season already, and for once and it was the defence which let us down rather than lack of attacking options as so many in the negative camp are complaining about. Perhaps it was an off day, perhaps the challenges were those of players not wanting to get injured for the weekend. But for those of you who did watch and are raving about Jurado, Suarez and Berguis, it's a good feeling to know that perhaps these players will feature big next year (I've personally always rated Suarez as he's not had much game time but when he does play has an amazing touch and good vision). I'm happy this dog is out of the way and looking forward to the weekend now! COYH!!!!!
I think people are underestimating the impact of West Ham's pressing tactics, which I thought were the best I've seen from any team this season. There were three players around anyone in midfield and even Holebas and Paredes were shackled the moment they got space out wide. I thought our makeshift midfield did well to break through to create chances on even a few occasions considering that pressing and that if we had even one proper striker on the field, we might have got something from that encounter.
Actually I thought Anya bottled it when he was put through, IMO he could, and probably should, have got to the ball before the keeper!
I recon if QSF has the squad in place sooner, and perhaps a bit more time, we'd of seen more football like last night. He's openly admitted that this isn't the way he wants the team to play but had to do so to keep us up. It worked, and hopefully last night will be a sign of things to come. Absolutely, if we had Deeney or Ighalo, perhaps even Olaure, it would've been a different game - Ambrabat, despite his passion and work ethic, just isn't cut out to be a striker. Nor is Jurado. It may be better not to go to any more league games this season then, QSF said earlier on in the season that once we're safe he'll be trying things out - I imagine it'll be more of the same after the Semi-Final. I'm sure the coaching staff didn't call it nothing game, but in reality it was. Subconsciously, none of the players with a chance to start on Sunday are going to bust a gut, it's probably going to be the biggest games of some of their careers, and to some, their last real chance to win some silverware. The fringe players have had all year to stake their claim, they train with the first team on daily basis. Jurado looked great, i'm one of his biggest critics (ask Reids and Harrow Orn) but I always thought he'd do a better in a different formation/line up. Infact, Jurado looked better with the top two dropping deeper to actually collect the ball, rather than running away or looking to use their strength to hold on to it. Yep, Jurado has been poor all season (IMO), but if you can look at it from a less biased view, then it was very clear he was quality last night. Sell Abdi? He's a great squad player to have with loads of experience - now he may wish to leave on his own accord, then fair enough, but the better quality players you have in training the better the session. It was hardly a sitter, Deeney or Ighalo would've struggled to get that. The penalty showed frustration, which is unlike Abdi - usually he's one of the more intelligent players in our team and he'll know he did wrong.
The good players would've finished that, he was running at it full pelt because he's too slow for this league.
Berghuis (aka QSF secret weapon for sunday) was class last night, direct, played without fear, and got an assist. I was thrilled with his performance. Needs to feature more against Villa, Sunderland etc.
He possibly did enough to earn a place on the bench at Wembley, but lets not get carried away, he wasn't THAT good!
So he's not good enough and too slow? Have you forgotten the last 4 seasons of Almen? You have to remember that every time he has played this season has been from the left midfield!
He was poor last night, and it had nothing to do with his position on the pitch. Imagine the reaction if Jurado had missed the chance then immediately given away the penalty.
We'll let it slide because it was Jagielka's assist. The ball was nowhere near Layun when the cross came in.
While not being his greatest fan on the forum, one of the things Beppe did very well was his pre-season fitness work with the squad during his summer in charge. We finished last season looking fit and string, culminating obviously in promotion. It's been noticeable this season, and in the two seasons before 14-15, that adjectives such as 'tired', 'weary', 'legless' seem to be applied to our performances after Christmas.
It depends on definition of assist. Fantasy football credited it to Jurado, even though his cross was cleared by the Everton defender. Berghuis got last nights too, even though the ball deviated from the cross to Prodl.
Jagielka basically chested it in to Layun's path. He wouldn't have scored if Jagielka had completely missed it.
You may be right, my stream only showed it once and I couldn't quite tell so gave Anya the benefit of the doubt this time.
