West Ham United (H) | PL | Post Match Thread

[StillBluessinceHydeRoad]

What's even more interesting is the flip side of those stats -clubs winning when NOT ahead at Xmas.

City have a great record at converting a leading position (3/3,) but also account for 5/16 times a team trailing at Xmas still won it.

In fact, last 14 year, the 11 times City were not leading at Xmas, they went and won it 5 times

In other words, if a non City club leads at Xmas - there is a ridiculously high, roughly 50% chance City would go on and pip you to the title eventually!

If City are behind but somewhat close to Arsenal by mid-January, having missed a number of key players due to injury and international duty (Rodri, Doku, Ait Nouri, Marmoush..) who would be just coming back to the team...
Don't bet against us going on go win the title!

I suspect Pep would say that’s all history and is no guide to the future, and this is very true. This is still a team which is very new and is very different in personnel from our title winning teams. But it is improving rapidly and there is one constant with our six titles in seven years and that is Pep himself. In the season of the domestic treble we trailed Liverpool by 9 points (10 at one point)and still won and in the season of the European treble we overcame an Arsenal lead of 8 points, so we, and Pep, have form. As has been said, Arsenal may well feel our breath on their neck! No guarantees but quite favourable omens!

As for the players, Nunes and Doku (especially) have improved massively and Savinho is improving. He’s less of a performer and much more direct than he was and Pep clearly rates him …. As for Donnaruma I’m amazed there’s any controversy at all! I was as big an admirer of Eddie as anyone and Donna is different but he is a great keeper and has made some great saves, even/especially on Saturday to keep us comfortably in control.

All the best for the rest of the season, Blues everywhere, but especially to those who like me are proud to consider themselves happy clappers!

 

[skillman]

Had a thought about our sloppy second half performances this season and think it boils down to not being able to control the ball as well as we used to.

We used to get a goal or two up through dominance - same as we have been this season - then kill games by passing around the opposition but for whatever reason (teams improving their press being the main one coupled with a few of our players not being the most press-resistant anymore) we can't do that anymore.

So we invite teams onto us the same way we always have done but then can't actually do what we're needing to do.

It'll improve. The last 40 minutes of Saturday was a huge step up to other games and reminded me of City between 2017-2024 in how we killed the game completely and nullified most of what West Ham could do. Hopefully a nice building block.

 

[Xhavenjoe]

Silly comment. I saw it like you. Is that it now for the season. Not bad for 45 million. Dear me. I hope he pushes on but not seen any signs of that. Runs into brick walls. Passes side side back back. A goal is a rarity. Misses easy chances. I hope I am proved wrong.

Who cost 45 million ?

 

[ballbag]

Who cost 45 million ?

No wonder he keeps seeing his arse. In his head he's cost 50% more than what we paid for him.

 

[HarrytheBlue]

Have a lot of time for the hammers , fan base are sound , have a lot of west ham friends and you can have a decent footy chat

They have awful owners and looks like they will be going down .

Personal opinion but the PL will be worse off without the hammers

Had some great days at upton park too..


Cheers for the 3 points todsay lads...

They have the same stadium issue as us - a stadium built for all day comfort watching athletics. They get clonking big crowds but if ten seats are empty they stand out like a sore thumb. Ten empty seats at Anfield and you don't notice it because the rows of seats are so narrow.

 

[makinghistory]

I hope you are proved wrong too...like you were with Doku..

When have you thought a player may not make it and then seen him push on ? Or have you got it bang on every time ?

 

[makinghistory]

Well give the lad a fucking chance..you were proven wrong on Doku

You said Doku was the weak link and you would have Savvy, Bobb or Jack above him ..

Maybe back the players instead of digging them out .. I think that no matter how Sav plays you will not be happy with him.

Why do you need somebody to tell you what he brings to the team??

Well what does he bring to the them then. Nobody yet has actually answered this. Tells it all really. Being wrong on one single player is not a crime. How many players have you been wrong about over the years. An honest answer please.

 

[makinghistory]

They really are a credit to the club aren't they. Both Sav and Lewis were good when they came on.

Sav a credit to the club :) LMAO.

 

[makinghistory]

Well give the lad a fucking chance..you were proven wrong on Doku

You said Doku was the weak link and you would have Savvy, Bobb or Jack above him ..

Maybe back the players instead of digging them out .. I think that no matter how Sav plays you will not be happy with him.

Why do you need somebody to tell you what he brings to the team??

Yeah, he is pretty average and he doesn´t make me angry anymore ,makes me laugh. Dribbling past players ,doesnt make you a good footballer yet ,everything else is bang average. - This a sample response off the Blue Moon site. Seems others disagree with you however we are all entitled to our opinion.

 

[blue by birth]

Well what does he bring to the them then. Nobody yet has actually answered this. Tells it all really. Being wrong on one single player is not a crime. How many players have you been wrong about over the years. An honest answer please.

I've never slagged off any City player as I don't see the point..
You suggested getting rid of Erling last year..do you still want him to go???
Sav runs at players and that makes them uneasy..his decision making needs to improve but that comes with experience.
Anyway it's almost Christmas so have a good one

 

[Shirley]

They have the same stadium issue as us - a stadium built for all day comfort watching athletics. They get clonking big crowds but if ten seats are empty they stand out like a sore thumb. Ten empty seats at Anfield and you don't notice it because the rows of seats are so narrow.

Similar to the swamp where the seats are so small….

 

[asahartford1]

Sav a credit to the club :) LMAO.

I never slag off a player. Why , because they are better than I was, play for the team I support, are at the club I have loved for over 60 years.

You didn't like Doku, you don't like Savinho, and more will come along for you to slag off, enjoy.

 

[makinghistory]

I never slag off a player. Why , because they are better than I was, play for the team I support, are at the club I have loved for over 60 years.

You didn't like Doku, you don't like Savinho, and more will come along for you to slag off, enjoy.

You never ever slag a player off. Ummm. They are better than you were LOL. They do get paid a little more Im guessing. Mick Horswill in the 1970s you will recall played for City. He was hopeless. Some players are just not up to it. I also love City. To criticise does not mean you dont love your club it means you care about it and want it to succeed.. When you've watched City away at York and Gillingham you are a loyal supporter.You may also have done. I have every right to my opinion. Bc you dont agree, doesn't make you right.

 

[asahartford1]

You never ever slag a player off. Ummm. When you've watched City away at York and Gillingham you are a loyal supporter. I have every right to my opinion. Bc you dont agree doesn't make you right. Glory seekers seem to know it all. Just saying.

What would I gain from slagging a player off, why would i do that ?. They are elite, that is why they are at City.

 

[makinghistory]

I've never slagged off any City player as I don't see the point..
You suggested getting rid of Erling last year..do you still want him to go???
Sav runs at players and that makes them uneasy..his decision making needs to improve but that comes with experience.
Anyway it's almost Christmas so have a good one

You must be the only football fan in the world thats never slagged of one of his clubs players. I take my hat off to you. "makes players uneasy" LOL. Oh well that justifies his place ? Yes his decision making is crap and has been for a long time. Maybe thats partly down to his coaching or he just doesn't listen to what he's told ? Anyway hope he doesn't come good or you will be straight after me !! Respect to you. Have a Great Xmas and New Year. You are a good sparring partner LOL.

 

[pepguardiola'smoustache]

we are all entitled to our opinion

Everybody in the whole world is entitled to their opinion.
Whether that be on politics, religion, sport, whatever.
No matter how extreme a person's opinion is they are entitled to it.

The thing is, though, the moment you state that opinion out loud in public then you have to understand that other people are entitled to air their opinion of your opinion.
You can't have it both ways.

Your kneejerk anger towards players seems a little over the top and frankly unhinged.
You are very angrily calling out players who are pulling on the blue jersey and by definition that doesn't appear to make you a supporter in the truest sense of the word, no matter how many years you have been following the club.
This is the reason people are calling you out for calling them out.

I sincerely hope that you can get some help for whatever it is in your personal life that is making you unhappy and subsequently redirecting your anger elsewhere, but if you continue with your diatribe then you will get responses.

 

[blue by birth]

You must be the only football fan in the world thats never slagged of one of his clubs players. I take my hat off to you. "makes players uneasy" LOL. Oh well that justifies his place ? Yes his decision making is crap and has been for a long time. Maybe thats partly down to his coaching or he just doesn't listen to what he's told ? Anyway hope he doesn't come good or you will be straight after me !! Respect to you. Have a Great Xmas and New Year. You are a good sparring partner LOL.

I do get pissed off with our players sometimes but I don't need to go on a forum and slag them off.
So you are actually hoping he doesn't come good..strange take in my view.
I want all our players to do well..it's better for the team.
I get you don't like him or rate him and that's your choice.
Have a great Christmas and New Year too..

 

[makinghistory]

Everybody in the whole world is entitled to their opinion.
Whether that be on politics, religion, sport, whatever.
No matter how extreme a person's opinion is they are entitled to it.

The thing is, though, the moment you state that opinion out loud in public then you have to understand that other people are entitled to air their opinion of your opinion.
You can't have it both ways.

Your kneejerk anger towards players seems a little over the top and frankly unhinged.
You are very angrily calling out players who are pulling on the blue jersey and by definition that doesn't appear to make you a supporter in the truest sense of the word, no matter how many years you have been following the club.
This is the reason people are calling you out for calling them out.

I sincerely hope that you can get some help for whatever it is in your personal life that is making you unhappy and subsequently redirecting your anger elsewhere, but if you continue with your diatribe then you will get responses.

Very eloquently written but a load of emotional drivel. I am not alone in my views by a long way. Merry Xmas mate.

 

[Vic]

I was at the game yesterday and just watched it back today. My overall impression was that we were inconsistent and played quite poorly in the first half of the second half. A real positive was that Pep's substitutions on 60 minutes improved us and I have been impressed with Nunes in central midfield in the last couple of games. We are still a team in transition and are doing so well to be in the position that we are in. We shouldn't confuse that with being world beaters (yet). Progression from defence to the final third is still clunky and slow at times and that isn't really a criticism of any player only that the team need to develop and learn from pep. Cherki is such a wonderful player to watch but he gives the ball away too easily. I only hope that he listens to the man and simplifies some of his game without losing the magic. He needs to work on his stamina too.

I suspect "simplify without losing the magic" just means not trying to beat a man in case you lose possession but instead making a safe pass back.

I get that's essentially Pepball, which really made us the best team in the land and all the world, but I can't recall so often thinking why is no forward pass possible? Pass and wait for the return rather than pass and go past someone for the return... That's not even Pepball, that's just "the old one-two".

 

[Vic]

You never ever slag a player off. Ummm. They are better than you were LOL. They do get paid a little more Im guessing. Mick Horswill in the 1970s you will recall played for City. He was hopeless. Some players are just not up to it. I also love City. To criticise does not mean you dont love your club it means you care about it and want it to succeed.. When you've watched City away at York and Gillingham you are a loyal supporter.You may also have done. I have every right to my opinion. Bc you dont agree, doesn't make you right.

Gillingham away? Is that a new York away? I'm guessing you went to that...!

It might be worth its own "I was there, were you?" thread... I'll play Swindon home, York and Gillingham away, Gornik in Katowice in the snow, and the pre-season friendlies 3 days apart at Aberdeen and Walsall....