Probably how I would sum it up. Missed that something different Bruno gives us and no Isak on the bench to cause something different. Gordon looked alright in the small cameo he had
Yeah that's what they do. I've always said the league table is false, the performances dont warrant a top 4 place.
I don’t quite agree with this, we’re 20 games in and lost just once. Yeah we’re not City it arsenal or city or spurs or Cheverton but we’ve punched above our weight so far
The results do though. Whether they can sustain that until the end of the season though is the big question and most Toon fans would probably accept that they'll have over achieved should they qualify for the CL.
I was here for the many years we were rubbish and I'm prepped for the years to come. It may not be pretty.
Wilson has been rubbish since the World Cup. He was in great form prior to it but the time not playing then a minor knock and an "illness" over Christmas have left him looking lost the last month or so. Isak looks 10 times the player when he's on, it's a shame we weren't able to play him today as without him or Bruno we ran out of steam after about 20 minutes >.< West Ham haven't become a rubbish team overnight, they've got some quality players in there who have just been shocking this season. In Aguerd, Rice, Bowen and Pacqueta they've got a few who should be up in the European spots.
I thought Rice was outstanding today, tbh. He really took hold of the game at one point and everything was going through him. Isak has looked good but I think the guy is made of glass. Always have done.
Since world cup we've played in short bursts, I think the idea is grab a lead and no ****er can score against us. Well thankfully today has maybe proven a point. We can't afford to rest up we need to keep going. Today I was worried we wouldn't press or commit to tackles with players fearing suspension or injury ahead of the final and I think I was probably justified in that thinking.
Of course you've punched above your weight. You play not to lose rather than to win, this is why you have racked up so many draws. Your fanbase will turn on Eddie by Christmas if he's still using the same tactics. Guaranteed.
At the end of the season, the table doesn't lie. It's more or less mid season though, long way to go and I still don't think you lot will end top four. Happy to be proven wrong if it means the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool miss out mind.
If we are going to continue spending and building a squad then we'll probably have more good days than bad but we're still early in the potential project. Alot of the more established teams in the league have back-up players who aren't trash, we get a couple of injuries and a suspension and all of a sudden our front 6 in the starting line up look like this: Some decent players in there but worth noting they were all playing under Bruce and Ashley when we had 3 points in 8 games at the start of last season. If we are going to do well then it's going to take longer than 14-15 months!