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

[Shirley]

If we are being completely honest, on recent form (since December)) we are a distinctly average mid-table team.

But we’re still second?

 

[Gordyola]

Genuine question, has he phoned that quote in? Surely it was the other Pep doing post-match?

He can do the post match PC

 

[SWPISHOME]

Lescott just said a good point that shows that we have a fundamental issue, along with the recruitment issue that hasnt worked...

'None of the players (except cherki) seem to know how to pass to haaland'

Doku put one on a plate for him tonight, a couple of other good balls put into the area too which he didn't attack.

His attitude off the ball is worrying, that's the most worrying part imo, constantly pulling out of challenges too.

 

[Mr Ed (The Stables)]

Can anyone confirm the stat blurted out by tnt that City have not had a goal scored by a sub since the 1st game of the season?

Yes that's what they said.

 

[eyalluvitt]

Haaland looks like he’s completely checked out.

It’s worrying, and I’ve seen this before, elsewhere,

Fernando Torres syndrome

 

[mattyads]

Pep doesn't play him every week because of his work off the ball. I thought he would have started today though because it was win or bust.

To be fair Nico has been one of our best players

Which sums up our plight.

 

[chaddblue]

I think I might have finally reached that point where you have to face the fact that all good things come to an end

Pep had given us things we’ll be grateful for forever and will never ever forget. He will be the best manager we’ve ever had in our history

But his time is up. It’s gone stale. It’s not working anymore

We need a young, energetic manager with fire in his belly.. who will bring new ideas and invigorate the team

Come home Vinny.. it’s your time

 

[SWPISHOME]

I can't fathom what we are trying to do from them. Literally taking them no differently to how a Sunday league team would. When you see Arsenal at set pieces, the delivery is nearly always excellent, and there is a clear plan about where specific players are positioned. Ours just seem to be hit and hope. It's rank bad.

Pep has always said that we don't work on set pieces too much, it's definitely fucking noticeable though...as you said, it's Sunday League stuff.

 

[jamesha]

I was at Newcastle last week and it was so good to watch. I would love to know if that line up would have got the result tonight. I also wonder if ATM playing Haalamd is THE issue. Last few games with and without might suggest so.

I think playing Haaland and Semenyo together is the issue. Neither contribute much outside goals.

 

[Jonas.shaffer]

whilst Rodri looks slower than my father, and he's been dead since 1975!

I agree with the rest, but not this. I thought Rodri played well.

 

[Tracking back]

Isn’t our player of the season a 20 year old academy kid left back turned box to box midfielder that Pep picked ahead of seasoned internationals at both positions?

Well yes of course....... but apart from him. ;-)

 

[bluwes]

Think we missed Sav tonight ;-D

You twat, Ive just splaffed a nice Glass of Amarone over my best white Fred Perry polo . I’m I two minds to send you the cleaning bill…..lol

 

[Gordyola]

Were we much better in the goalscoring department?

They had one attempt from a corner NONE from open play our expect goals was 2.12 v 0.54 nearly 4x so yeah we were

 

[Gesario]

Manchester City midfielder Rodri, speaking to TNT Sports: "Maybe [the title race is over] yes, maybe no. We're not going to drop hands, we're going to keep fighting.

"We know it's going to be difficult because we have this experience of what you need to win at the end. I think the distance is too far but we're going to fight until the end.

"Now is a moment of no regrets. Today we showed a little bit of what the season was, ups and downs, then maybe the last pass or the last strike can make the difference. Football is about goals and we couldn't find the players to have numbers in terms of goals.

"That's the most important thing in football because we created the chances, we controlled the games but this is what makes the difference."

On Pep Guardiola's mood: "No regrets. When you are here 10 years or seven like me and what we've done, you cannot ask more of the lads. We are able to do what we're able, we've been fighting.

"There are a lot of young lads in there that are a bit down right now. They don't have that experience in these moments, you need to support them. It is not time to criticise. You smile and go to the next one.

"Football is like this, you learn from these moments. Losing is part of the process but we're still alive in other competitions and we have things to fight for this year.

"I'm a player who has the experience to understand the circumstances and know that we are in a moment where we are building a team to win. It's not easy, it takes time and it is not the time to point the finger at anyone."

On other competitions: "The mistake we can make is to think we are the unbelievable team that we used to be. We are in a moment that we are in a process to come back. At City you always have to in but football is not like this, we know how difficult that is.

"We are alive in other competitions and on Tuesday we have a massive game [against Real Madrid], that I really believe we can turn around. The players who play have to score."

Say that again

 

[BlueMoonz1977]

Haaland has fluffed his lines enough times the past weeks, he’s had ample opportunities to finish and he hasn’t. If you need another player to play the ball in the exact correct position for you to score then any average striker would be bagging 20+ a season.

I agree..i actually believe haaland wasnt wanted by pep (he wanted kane)

But the club and viana got haaland instead - so we are left with pep having to use him for a system that doesnt help either party

Pep & ibrahimovich pt 2 all over

 

[St.Pauli support]

No goals in that team anymore. Bernardo was just lucky. We were a goal machine once, now we're scared in the box. The full team doesn't believe they could score. We are really helpless.

Top 4 is all I expect this season.

 

[bluwes]

I agree with the rest, but not this. I thought Rodri played well.

Rodri was my MOTM tonight

 

[Superted Lichfield]

Oh do fcuk off petal

He’s nailed it! Our most in form player is Bernardo and he’s in 30’s and probably leaves in the summer. We’re a mess from the keeper who is 6-5 but doesn’t like crosses to a striker who is undroppable ! Something has to give we’re going nowhere at the minute

 

[kevreeves]

99 posts since 2009, lol.

What's your point? Season ticket since 1978, just because I don't spend my life posting on a forum, doesn't make me less a blue. Obviously you're a bigger fan than me?

 

[daveiw01]

Criminal the way he’s been treated, you could maybe understand it if we were winning every week playing good football

Exactly, given our defensive frailties for much of this season it would seem a no brainer to have Nico G. and Rodri in central midfield together, maybe playing or alternating Nico O. with RAN at left back from now on in.