Not too disappointed with a point. Didn't see the game though. Sounds like I picked a good day to work!
I thought on one of them someone was supposed to make a run for the far post but they went way too early and pulled back and that's why one of the kicks got screwed up. Still, we have enough players to take kicks that there's no reason for Ramirez to keep taking them if it's not working. I'll take that draw considering the goal we gave up was a little fluke-y. In general, the defense shut down the counters and handled the crosses fairly well. We looked more threatening and that was a world class save to salvage that point for WHU. We can expect a lot more of this next year though. Maybe not quite as cynical as this, but teams playing for the point. We did have some key players out, but even still we need to get a little better at scoring in these type of games. I feel confident we can, just making a note.
Of course it makes a difference. Noble and Joe Cole are 2 of our most creative players/best passers. We can just as easily say we could have won that if those 2 were playing as you can about your 2. We were also missing our best defender.
Pochettino speaking to BBC Radio Solent: It is hard to enjoy games like that I am soaking wet I congratulate the players, they did quite well in weather conditions that favoured West Ham's style I think we played the game as we wanted We imposed our brand of football I think we defended well We nullified their style of play, we toned them down It's just a shame about the result, as my players' performance was really good I think we were unlucky the ball went through Davis' legs, touched a leg and swerved in Adding to that, how wet it was - it was hard for Artur to control the ball Personally I don't know much about the virus But I do know that four or five have been affected so we haven't been able to train properly It was a risk to bring Jay on, he was only able to train yesterday He basically spent all week without training The energy that he displayed showed a lot of him, overall though it was a risk so we didn't want to play him too much I am excited to meet Laudrup again next weekend They play a very similar style to us So I hope we see a good spectacle next week
Your side made Danny Fox look like a reasonable Premier League defender. Spend the summer mulling that over.
I have to say the stats do tell a story. Diame and Nolan between them played 41 passes all game, Schneiderlin, Cork and Davis all made more passes than that on their own.
In the car on the way back. West Ham were truly awful during the first half but in fairness there was much less hoofball in the second. Ref seemed to miss loads and the conditions made great football unlikely. Still, another point. I loved the "we play on the ground" chant which finished a split second before yet another forward ball, to a resounding "hooooff!" Classic
Well played, a draw is the fair result, neither team can complain about not getting the 3 points, both goals were fortunate, can't see either teams getting dragged into the dogfight. Good luck for the rest of the season.
Amazing thing is on Radio Solent on the way home, there were a bunch of texts about Ramirez' amazing free kicks (no irony intended as far as I could tell). That said, I do think it was one of his better games. He gave a few hints that he could indeed become a decent player. I think MoM was probably Cork although Davis ran him close.
I'm so relieved I don't watch West Ham every week. I see why Trix is such an arsehole now, I'd be pissed off if I had to support that.
Thought fox did well to his credit only got caught out once or twice, perhaps more to do with WHU but oh well. Rodriguez is becoming frighteningly good he was awsome when he came on shame he couldn't have played the whole match. Some of his touches to turn and run at players were just superb. Could go on to big big things that boy.
Davis is my MOTM. Clyne was very good but slipped a couple of times which cost us potential counters - don't blame him because of the weather, but drops him slightly below Stevo.
