In the end, the raw was a good result but I felt West Ham should have gone in front at first half time and then continiued to control the second half. West Ham were attacing the goal in front of me in the first half and seemed to sqaunder some good opportunities. Looking at the match overall, West Ham can feel robbed of the three points which they fully deserved. Having said this. there were some individual performances that I felt were worthy of praise. Both Adam Armstrong and Che Adams worked tirelessly this afternoon but I feel they were let down by an ineffectual midfield with peer players like JWP continuing to look anonymous. it is quite interesting that people are still continuing to support Ralph and I am beginning to wonder of these people will ever be critical of anyone. There seems to be an acceptance of mediocre amongst many Saints fans. Bearing in mind we were playing at home, I felt that today's performance barely held west Ham at bay and was adequate at best. It seems quite clear that Ralpjh has run out of ideas. The mass substituation did little to improve our fortunes and I am now starting to wonder whether Ralph's tenure is likely to have a detrimental effect on our less senior players. Whilst I have heard stories about Ralph not comminicating with players and having issues with more senior members of his squad, I would suggest that this is a side issue insofar that we are not seeing anything to suggest Ralph's squads can cut it at this level. We should have had a fresh start in the summer and cannot understand the logis for us to continue with him at the helm. It just feels like he has lost the ability to reproduce the creative football experienced during the lockdown.
I thin the logic is around Saints fielding a team which has a chance of beating the visiting opposition as opposed to jusy about holding or head above water. I have given up anticipating a team under Ralph ever tonking the opposition. I think the defensive errors have largely been ironed out but where is the press ?
I haven't been able to watch many games this season so I don't want to overstate this or say he's "the next", but when I have watched there have been a few moments when Adam Armstrong has slightly reminded me of Jay Rodriguez.
Hey Os, just wanna say firstly, I did.not see the game or listen to the radio. As you say we have worse and inexperienced players. And a manager who is failing to recognise etc. And yet that manager and players managed to grind out a result against these better players and superior manager! As I said I can't comment on the performance, but judging by most, we were pretty crap for large parts of the game. I'm not saying keep Ralph, a change would hopefully bring fresh ideas and hopefully more points, but it's not guaranteed, it has to be the right manager. But credit where it is surely due, we kept them at bay and got a point, surely the defence and GK were good. Any points against teams that are clearly better than us should be seen as a good result, especially given that we have lost 4 on the bounce? I'm not saying things are changing but based on today we have got a point from a game we have played bad in which is better than playing bad and losing which is where we have come from. 3 points from Bournemouth regardless of how we play will be another positive step.
So if we had won the game would they also deserve booing as cumulatively they would still deserve it? In my view it's not what they deserve that's important, it's what they need, a huge cheer for keeping them at bay and getting a point is what I would like to have happened but that's just me!
They were good saves, but not excellent. I'd fully expect any decent keeper to be stopping them. And the goal we did score was a deflection, so kind of got lucky there. If we were five points better off I'd have said that today's game was actually a decent standard, and an enjoyable contest. We went at them for the first 30 mins, and understandably found ourselves up against it after we scored. Once they scored it was backs to the wall, and their quality dominated. If we weren't lacking confidence, and had a few extra points on the board, I think we'd have been braver. As it is, we stopped the rot. I'll take it. There were some minor promising individual performances today. Just seems to be written though that we'll lose to Bompey and Ralph will get sacked.
I think it’s different if there is a win as it can change the momentum. Our players and manager are not doing a good job at the moment, we should not let them think we are satisfied with what they are delivering. It is very rare that I boo, but the situation at the club at the moment is absolutely unacceptable and a lucky point is not enough to change my mind on that, it’s early doors but much more of this and we are very likely to get relegated. The context of todays game is important, if it had been a battling performance it would be different too, we were abysmal in that second half, there was no cause to believe there is any improvement.
Some positives: Che had a really game especially 1st half. Not sure if it was bad luck, great keeping but big shame he didn’t score & really needs a goal. Very surprised he was taken off especially as he was really our only threat in the box. KWP as usual, committed & pretty good. AA put a shift in but just hasn’t got the skill / ability at this level (or in this team/tactics). Most of the other starting line up were okish. My biggest gripe is with JWP; anonymous. Such a waste to play him as DM. He’s actually not very good at it & to lose his forward play is criminal. Surely RH can see this is hurting us. Don’t want to go into the Oriol / Lavia injury discussions but there must be other options, Lyanco has been mooted many times. Strange making all subs with 20mins to go. Desperation comes to mind? If it had worked, brilliant but we certainly didn’t look any better thereafter, arguably worse? I’ll leave the overall performance discussion to others. Good point in the end; need 3pts Wednesday now but feel it’ll be another draw & then we’ll be put to the sword next Sunday, as my b’day pressie.
I think you not listening or watching the game is why you feel positive. Maybe I shouldn’t watch On a purely results basis it’s a good result, as you eluded. It was the performance for me. Second half we were not in that game at all. It could easily have been 4-1 or 5-1,in my opinion, based on the play. As someone said, the accumulation makes a difference... If we were in good form and had won a few games, today looks like a good point. But based on months of this it makes you ask “where will our next win come from?” I apologise to everyone if I seem overly negative. Maybe this is the start of an uptick in form and a solid point
Fortunate to get a point overall - but who knows how valuable it`ll be come the end of the season. For Bournemouth, assuming ABK won`t make it, I think I`d rather see Lyanco than DCC.
And, fair play, the crowd were singing right up to the end! I was a touched surprised by the relatively low level of booing, it was not necessary and ignored by most there.
Can I ask why? Presuming it's not because Lyanco is hilarious? Thought DCC did just fine and was the better of he and Salisu when he came on.
I think Lynaco is quicker, recovers quicker and is a better player when in possession of the ball. And he has a natural enthusiasm which we are short of at present. I agree DCC was more reliable than Salisu however when he came on.
Salisu had one of those airy fairy displays that he throws in on occasion which might've been costly but overall it's not a bad point. We really have to back it up with a win at the Mini-Skates now.
Same old same old today. Pretty good for the first 30 minutes, but pretty lacklustre for the next 60 minutes, and we looked like the team who had played Thursday, not West Ham. We were not pressing the ball in the second half, hence the goal where Rice had the freedom of the edge of the box to pick his spot. It good enough, Again, and a change is so desperately needed in my opinion. Since the win at home to Norwich in February:- Played 22 Won 3 Drawn 4 Lost 15 Scored 18 Conceded 48 Points 13
