West Ham - Post match thread

[BluessinceHydeRoad]

The idea that last night's team would be found out by better opposition and that Pep won't pick it against a top six team seems to me to misunderstand Pep and to ignore experience. The claim is based on the lineup being too 'attacking '. Yet Pep picked almost exactly this team against Spurs, dominated the game and it wasn't a lack of emphasis on defence, but rather a basic failure to mark properly, which resulted in a draw rather than a win. Pep's answer to teams which attack is to attack them more! But something else has been ignored from last night 's display amid the eulogies of our front three. That threesome is young, talented, exciting...and also unbelievably energetic and hard working. I came across the match stats today and they give scientific support to what I and everyone else thought they actually saw last night. Sané was clocked as the fastest player on the pitch, Jesus was second fastest and Sterling third. Sané made 73 high intensity runs - more than any other player apart from Jesus, who also made 73! Sané made more tackles AND interceptions than any other player! There is nothing here to suggest that that lineup is lacking solidity and everything, in fact, to suggest it is EXACTLY the lineup Pep would send out against top class opposition.

 

[blue ranger]

West Ham are no muppets. They won their last 2 outings in the Prem and they've some decent results against top teams; a solid mid table team.

The ref let a few too many things go for my liking, and lost control a little. Clogger Carrol should have seen Red for violent conduct. Hopefully it won't be in the referees report and he'll get a retrospective. Doubt it though.

Back to our performance, absolutely amazing. Lightning fast going forward, hungry for the ball and incisive at the right moment. We were pretty solid at the back also. Stones had a good game, and Otamendi was a rock. Big Willy did nothing wrong between the sticks, and the back line seemed to feed off his confidence.

We've got options on the bench, and competition for places all over the pitch. Maybe not so much fullbacks, but we may be able to bring on the youngsters alongside the experienced players.

The future isn't looking too shabby.

I thought Stones and Sagna were rocks. But still think Otamendi was out of position and on the floor far too much. Not that impressed with Kolarov either. But good performances from everyone else, along with some special ones.

 

[Indaparkside]

I remember the pundits slagging Messi of one game as he was fairley quiet 20 min later he scored a hatrick

Says it all don't it pal they haven't got a brain cell between them still never heared one off them say we battered Chelsea or spuds were Lucky to get a point if it was at the swamp the headlines would be gotten away with murder etc but don't worry we will have the last laugh we never pushed on after Mancini left, but I BELIVE pep will build us a dynasty we will have a young vibrant team that will build and gell together to win everything and I mean everything good things come to those who wait and ours are around the corner.ive been following city for 40 odd years and we are developing something special something to be proud of so let's stand together and marvel at what's going on at our magnificent club fuck the media and their biased opinions we will have the last laugh

 

[Steve68]

I'd certainly give the RagDipperArseHaringeyMeedya something to froth about if I were reffing. I'd have players booked in the fucking warm up! Aggressive warming up! Reckless warming up. Speaking to me when they weren't captain for the day in the warm up. Exiting the coach in an aggressive manner. And red shirts!

Your jib. The cut of. I like it. :)

 

[cleavers]

Interestingly mate, the pre match hype from BT sport was all about how great the atmosphere was now at the ground and how they had found their home with Gold interviewed and trust me, the volume button had been well and truly put to the max whenever they sang their cute bubbles song.

Just watched it again, the West Ham crowd noise must have been added in, we hardly heard a peep out them all game, and the "bubbles" at 75 minutes didn't happen anywhere near the away end, totally exaggerated.

 

[HarrytheBlue]

Oh I'm giving plenty credit pal, I just thought West ham offered absolutely nothing in either department that you mentioned. No wonder the ground emptied at halftime

They pretty much had Spurs (now a top, top team) chasing shadows. There are better teams than West Ham we'd have toyed with last night and made look like mugs. Do this for a few games and we'll look back and realise it was more about us. West Ham looked at us, thought it doesn't take much to score against us, quickly gone two down and realised that if they attempt a fightback, we'd have scored two or three more. Big psychological effect on West Ham, especially given the number of goals we've put past 'em this season. A few weeks ago, Swansea probably fancied their chances of frustrating us but not now. Right now, I doubt they know what their approach is going to be.

 

[HarrytheBlue]

No, he is factually reporting what was said last night.

They wanted Jesus sent off for a second yellow that wasn't even a foul and he screamed that he was onside despite him clearly not being and lets not forget Glen at the end with others wanting a penalty for Kolarov's non handball in the wall.

Hoddle was a massive talent that didn't quite reproduce his best form for England. He could teach Webb how to strike the ball. Webb knows the laws and how to apply them. He could give Hoddle a footy rules tutorial.

 

[HarrytheBlue]

This^ Am getting tired of the notion we were 'good' because wham were shit. Yet before the match TV pundits, radio pundits, the papers and even on bluemoon were saying wham were coming into form and that we'd find it hard to contend with Snodgrass and Carrol. Well, I didn't notice Snotgrass doing ANYTHING to make me clench my arse cheeks. As for Carrol. Willy and our back line had him well and truly snuffed! That's why he resulted to dirty tactics... Yes, wham were shit. But that's more to do with our superiority, not their inadequacies!

Totally agree. Our superiority left West Ham not knowing whether to park the bus, hope for a lucky goal on the break, or have a go. They did neither. We'll do the same to better teams than West Ham. No, West Ham weren't shit, we left 'em chasing shadows because we're a few steps up from their standard.

 

[HarrytheBlue]

A reminder of what football fans used to be like. Fair play to the old fella, he's a credit to his club.

Totally agree. What a nice guy. Remember when we used to applaud Henry when he took corners at our place ?

 

[blueinsa]

The idea that last night's team would be found out by better opposition and that Pep won't pick it against a top six team seems to me to misunderstand Pep and to ignore experience. The claim is based on the lineup being too 'attacking '. Yet Pep picked almost exactly this team against Spurs, dominated the game and it wasn't a lack of emphasis on defence, but rather a basic failure to mark properly, which resulted in a draw rather than a win. Pep's answer to teams which attack is to attack them more! But something else has been ignored from last night 's display amid the eulogies of our front three. That threesome is young, talented, exciting...and also unbelievably energetic and hard working. I came across the match stats today and they give scientific support to what I and everyone else thought they actually saw last night. Sané was clocked as the fastest player on the pitch, Jesus was second fastest and Sterling third. Sané made 73 high intensity runs - more than any other player apart from Jesus, who also made 73! Sané made more tackles AND interceptions than any other player! There is nothing here to suggest that that lineup is lacking solidity and everything, in fact, to suggest it is EXACTLY the lineup Pep would send out against top class opposition.

Superb post, nailed it.