West Ham United (A) | Post-Match Thread

Alan Harper's Tash said:
West Ham beat Liverpool at home.

The point we gained there yesterday is literally the difference between the two teams in the league.

Thats how big a comeback the second half was.
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Emphasis on “comeback,” which was thrown away by a recurring problem of missing penalties.

I said the WHU was my biggest concern on the run in ages ago, so my concerns were borne out.

I have no doubt that if we end up winning the league by 1 point next Sunday, others will make your case. It will not, however, paper over the cracks that have become apparent in the squad or the loss of the 8 point cushion we had.

Please don’t get me wrong. I was watching the game on my iPad between flights with my earbuds in. I was so excited by the own goal that tied the game I yelled out! Unfortunately, I was enjoying the excellent WiFi signal in a “quiet/sleep room” where pilots were napping and almost got kicked out for it! That excitement was only equaled, albeit negatively, by the penalty save, which would have effectively ended the season and handed us the title!
 
jimharri said:
To be brutally honest, not too many of our players deserved much higher marks than them.
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I would disagree, although at least the back 5 of them should have been grateful we didn’t have 5 suitable replacements!

It was the worst “coordinated defence” performance I have seen in a long time and if we hadn’t come back with the early goal in the 2nd half, it could have got a little messy, with a GD swing that would have made Liverpool’s SOTON game a bigger GD scare than it already is!
 
ChicagoBlue said:
Emphasis on “comeback,” which was thrown away by a recurring problem of missing penalties.

I said the WHU was my biggest concern on the run in ages ago, so my concerns were borne out.

I have no doubt that if we end up winning the league by 1 point next Sunday, others will make your case. It will not, however, paper over the cracks that have become apparent in the squad or the loss of the 8 point cushion we had.

Please don’t get me wrong. I was watching the game on my iPad between flights with my earbuds in. I was so excited by the own goal that tied the game I yelled out! Unfortunately, I was enjoying the excellent WiFi signal in a “quiet/sleep room” where pilots were napping and almost got kicked out for it! That excitement was only equaled, albeit negatively, by the penalty save, which would have effectively ended the season and handed us the title!
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Having a cushion allows for slip ups and subconsciously knowing that you don’t have to win every game drops your level inadvertently.

We have lost our 3 best defensive defenders, therefore we are susceptible to conceding at the moment. We still should have won the game at West Ham anyway.

There aren’t many cracks to paper over in our squad. Most teams would struggle with 3 centre backs missing. I do think we need another defensive full back to fill in when Walker needs a rest and maybe plays instead of Cancelo when we need more defensive stability.

I think the character (TM Brendon Rodgers) that the team showed in coming back from 2 down will stand us in better stead than us not actually winning the game does negatively.
 
citymad said:
Listen Einstein now is not the time to try youngsters. This is a crucial time when experience is needed. IMO zinchenko is a quality player, a full international that Pep trusts. Yes he struggles against fast and tricky wingers but so does the likes of TAA. It’s not his position but he gives his all and he never hides and always shows for the ball and very intelligent with the ball. Yes I’m all for trying the youngsters but not now when the pressure is on.
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K
 
citymad said:
Listen Einstein now is not the time to try youngsters. This is a crucial time when experience is needed. IMO zinchenko is a quality player, a full international that Pep trusts. Yes he struggles against fast and tricky wingers but so does the likes of TAA. It’s not his position but he gives his all and he never hides and always shows for the ball and very intelligent with the ball. Yes I’m all for trying the youngsters but not now when the pressure is on.
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Wwell said.
 
If you freeze the penalty, you can see that Fabianski has started diving before Mahrez has kicked the ball. The keeper gambled, but it was a good gamble based on knowing that Mahrez usually kicks to the top right of the goal. Of his 5 previous penalties, he has scored 3 times in the top right, 1 in the top left and missed 1 wide of the right-hand post.

With keepers obviously studying Mahrez's penalties I think he should vary them more.
 
CityFan1970 said:
If you freeze the penalty, you can see that Fabianski has started diving before Mahrez has kicked the ball. The keeper gambled, but it was a good gamble based on knowing that Mahrez usually kicks to the top right of the goal. Of his 5 penalties, he has scored 3 times in the top right, 1 in the top left and missed 1 wide of the right-hand post.

With keepers obviously studying Mahrez's penalties I think he should vary them more.
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I agree. Bit telegraphed that pen.
 
CityFan1970 said:
If you freeze the penalty, you can see that Fabianski has started diving before Mahrez has kicked the ball. The keeper gambled, but it was a good gamble based on knowing that Mahrez usually kicks to the top right of the goal. Of his 5 previous penalties, he has scored 3 times in the top right, 1 in the top left and missed 1 wide of the right-hand post.

With keepers obviously studying Mahrez's penalties I think he should vary them more.
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He shouldn't take any more. If Foden is on the pitch then I'd like to see him have a go.
 
CityFan1970 said:
If you freeze the penalty, you can see that Fabianski has started diving before Mahrez has kicked the ball. The keeper gambled, but it was a good gamble based on knowing that Mahrez usually kicks to the top right of the goal. Of his 5 previous penalties, he has scored 3 times in the top right, 1 in the top left and missed 1 wide of the right-hand post.

With keepers obviously studying Mahrez's penalties I think he should vary them more.
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Have a look at Cresswell on the right hand side of the area. The way he times his run and busting a gut to get in. He knows his keeper is going that way and they would have planned this in training. If the keeper saves it he knows he will be first to the ball
 
blue b4 the moon said:
Didn't he miss the one at West Ham in the cup?

There's no natural taker in our team, no Yaya or Balo etc so for my money use your best player Kev. He'll miss sometimes too but he'd be taking them in my mind if on the pitch.
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Now you mention it i seem to recall him missing a pen. Either Foden or Kev, as you say, but De Bruyne seems to shy away from taking them.
 
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