Most important game of the season by a mile - My thoughts on the West Ham game. Poll and Ratings?

I said to my father walking to the stadium this was going to be the most important game of the season due to our target being a european position of any kind. We really needed not to lose this our else it would be game over for our european hopes.

Best game of the season, most important win of the season. So satisfying, West Ham fans singing "1-0 to the saudi boys", making money bags gestures to our fans. So funny seeing the west ham fans reactions lol. Best game I'd been to for a long time.

The ref was a ****ing disgrace for the west ham 2nd goal. Ridiculous decision when schar was down to allow a quick free kick, and he was being attentive to schar giving our players the impression the game was going to remain stopped until schar was taken care of.

When Jarrod Bowen's goal went in I thought "that's it, season over", and as player after player went off injured, I thought this game was going to sum up our season.

I wondered how many players going off were genuinely injured, or jus didn't want any part in the nightmare.

What an amazing turn around. If we manage to finish anywhere in the top 7 this season, Howe should not be sacked.

Overall I think we deserved to win. Our subs were effective, but Moyes subs were dreadful, and we controlled the game most of it, West Ham just sat back and tried to counter.

Ratings -

Dubravka - 5 - Should have done better for the 2nd goal IMO. I've become increasingly aware that despite dubz being a canny back up option, we would have conceded 4-5 less goals over the last 2 months if Pope was there instead. Pope's shot stopping abilities have been highlighted massively in his absence. Despite his lack of technical ability the most important thing is stopping the ball going into the net, and Pope is 2nd only to Allison in this league for that.

Livramento - 4 - Not a great game, off injured, didn't do much

Krafth - 5.5 - I was surprised how much pace he has, decent balls into the box at times. Definitely a massive step down from trippier, but he wasn't bad at all. Shame he came off, but not his fault.

Burn - 4 - Every time he gets on the ball I **** myself, but defensively not too bad. Wins a lot of headers, as he should, more comfortable at CB, but still not great.

Schar - 3 - I really hate the forward runs he makes at times that leave us exposed, I forgive him because we were down and chasing the game. I like him, I think he's a good player, he makes crucial interceptions and passes. But sometimes his attacking runs really do expose us. He had a clear shot on goal at one point and decided to play a 1-2 run in the box which is so predictable and never ****ing works. He should just have a shot once a game whenever he gets into a decent position, no more of these runs of death into the box.

Lascelles - n/a - Hope he's ok

Hall - 9 - Superb when he came on. I wasn't convinced with his previous performances, but arguably the best performance at LB all season besides the Livra performance vs psg/arsenal. Won every tackle. Hope he gets everton game.

Willock - 5 - His pace does make a massive difference over miley, but still not fully fit.

Bruno - 6 - Does the best he can while on 9 yellows, but I still think he does well. Not amazing but good. Decent distribution of the ball. Hopefully this period of having to be more careful will improve his all round game. He makes some impressive tackles when he has to keep his head.

Longstaff - 5 - We need an upgrade. Works his nutsack off but quality isn't there often enough.

Elliot Anderson - 7 - Did well when he came on IMO. Worked hard, decent defensively, good runs forward, although I still think CM is not his best position, it's LW.

Gordon - 8.5 - 3 assists, poor finishing but can't complain too much as he was involved in 3 goals, a tad unlucky to get sent off IMO but that's what happens if you move the ball at all like that. Would have given him a 9 if not for that.

Isak - 9 - 2 goals and a wonderful assist. MOTM for me. Even though Barnes made the difference late on. Isak was an attacking threat in goals and assists. Barnes wouldn't have scored his first goal without one of the best forward passes of the season from one of our players.

Murphy - 7 - Didn't think much of his early on, but some decent balls into the box and a very good makeshift RB performance IMO. Not great first half, but 2nd half did quite well I thought. His 2nd half RB display gave me more respect for him.

Barnes - 9 - Could have had a hattrick. A shame he can't stay fit and make the same impact when starting. Hopefully will have better luck next season.

 

Spot on and most tellingly it's all the younger, backup, unused options that shone. Some have been enforced but if all were fit he'd still stick with Burn, Schar and Longstaff.

Howe needs to get his head out his arse for the final 9. If we get this enthusiasm on the pitch regularly we'll get more victories.

 

Murphy and Hall marks OTT for me. Possibly 6 and 8 respectively.

Isak stood out for me for not just the goals he scored but his overall play eg the pass for Barnes first and he was also involved in the build up for Barnes'second.

 

Out for 6 to 9 months, so no he's not.

 

Dubravka - 1. At least 2 of the goals were down to him. Glued to his line and should have been out for their first. Weak for the second. He is having a massive effect on our team. Should be saving the third.

Tino - 1. Worst game for us. Did absolutely nothing.

Burn - 6. Defensively better when moved into the centre.

Schar - 3. Second goal was partly his fault for going down like a fanny. He does it every game.

Lascelles. Unlucky.

Krafth 1 - He was dogshit.

Bruno - 7. Trying his best.

Longstaff - 1. Another dogshit performance and missed an absolute sitter.

Willock - 4. Poor game by his standards. Looked leggy.

Hall - 8. Stopped their attacks and gave us amassive attacking threat.

Almiron 7. Just for having the good sense to go off injured. A waste of s shirt. If he hadn't gone off Barnes would have stayed on the bench.

Anderson - 9. Brilliant and gave us a midfield and threat.

Murphy -7. He's a lazy bastard but he came into the game and was a threat.

Gordon - 9. Outstanding as usual. Scared the **** out of them every single time.

Isak - 9. Outstanding. Two goals and an assist. He is just a massive player for us.

Barnes - 9. Two goals and a huge threat. Hungry and wanted to win it.

Eddie Howe - 7. ****ed up bringing Krafth on. Realised his error though. Points deduction for the Miggy sub. Chasing a game you want an attacking threat not a serial waster.

 

Krafth was decent I thought. His crossing was decent. Didn't do much wrong IMO

 

Caught out a few times.

Darth Bane would be displeased.

 

Indeed.

But he'd send Zannah to punish him...

Many newcastle players would purposely play **** on purpose

 

Krafth was absolutely awful

 

FIxed.

 

With minutes of him coming on he'd ****ed up the offside trap and allowed Antonio to score. Improved after that, but he's still obviously second rate.

Defence of Hall, Burn, Schar and hopefully Tripps should work.

 

Nominations for motm are me and Hung….. we shut them shandy drinking twats up and woke the stadium up

 

He was shaking his head when subbed. Dunno why - **** e.

 

He’s injured isn’t he?

 

All four goals scored in exactly the same minute.

The scoreline and order of goals scored also exactly the same.

How ****ing weird is that!

 

Yeah, but no.

Penalty awarded in 3rd minute, ball only in net in 6th minute due to the endless VAR

 

True. Technically I don’t know what minute it was deemed as.

Having said that the similarities are bizarre.

 

Agree, kinda mental.

But goal in 6 mins as that's when it was scored

 

Not quite.

First penalty awarded in the same minute as first goal against Leicester but scored about 2 to 3 minutes later due to waiting for VAR.

Still spooky though.