Not bad, we just need a tad extra quality - My thoughts on the game

Really can't believe we didn't nick it right at the end with that Gouffran chance, but it wasn't going to be our day.

We were the better side, but West Ham could have easily nicked a goal, so I'm happy with the point and quite happy with the Performance. I think we just need a couple more signings to add a little bit of quality, and we can really do well this season.

Ratings -

Krul - 6 - Not asked to make a save, but stood strong against West Ham's physical threat

Debuchy - 7.5 - MUCH better. Got done by a couple of Jarvis runs, but apart from that he was excellent. Good, controlled challenges. He's very good in the air for a shorter bloke. Leaps well. Some of his crosses were pretty decent, but we unfortunately didn't get anything from them.

Colo - 7 - Calm and composed as usual. Good performance.

Mbiwa - 7 - Played well. I was really impressed when he held off a West Ham attacker with pure strength when I thought we were just about done at one point. Good defending.

Santon - 7 - Caused West Ham problems with his runs and defended well.

Ben Arfa - 5.5 - Some great runs and skill, got us up the pitch from deep areas at times, but not enough of a final ball. Can't blame him for shooting at times. We didn't look like breaking West Ham down.

Sissoko - 7 - Surprisingly good for a role which I didn't think would suit him. CM in a flat midfield. Good work in attack and in defence.

Anita - 8 - MOTM. His reading of the game is excellent. He tracks players runs, challenges well, and he made some fantastic interceptions to save us at times. Sometimes his passing lets him down, but nothing that can't be worked on.

Marv - 6 - Didn't whip in much of a final ball, but he did play a good part in a build up play. Good passing and movement.

Shola - 6.5 - Fair play. I was pissed off when I heard he was starting, but I don't think the bloke did much wrong. He did **** up some passes and mis-controlled some balls, but that's to be expected. He worked well, linked up well with the others and put in a good shift.

Cisse - 5 - Wouldn't be surprised if he hands in a transfer request really. Getting no service what so ever, and he's having to try and make something of stupid long balls. He's not a target man, he should be the one being fed chances, not trying to hold it up and create it for others.

Gouff - 5 - Wasted a good chance before the one at the end. The last chance of the game, I don't think we can be too critical. It was a reflex shot. He had no time to think and just swung a leg trying to dig it in. Unlucky. Worked hard, tried his best. He doesn't seem to be able to get involved enough in our build up.

Sammy - 6 - Fair enough. Both Ameobi brothers are trying and have some impact at least. I thought he'd scored a fluky goal with that cross. that would have been the most perfect goal an Ameobi has ever scored. A ******ed cross that hits the post on the opposite side and goes in. He made some good runs and threatened WHU.

MOTM - Anita. A lot of people, including me, have been shouting for him to get a ****ing chance. He was great after his first few games last season, but unfortunately Sissoko had to be so ****ing good.

Overall - I was happy with the performance, although we could have lost and gone home with a very frustrating 0-1 defeat, which I really can't believe we didn't suffer. Nolan missed an open goal.

Still, both sides could have nicked it, and surely neither side can claim that a draw is a bad result after the way the game went. We were definitely the better side, but West Ham created more chances, which is why I credit fat sam and his teams. They know how to win ugly.

I think we need a winger and a striker personally. We need someone with Pace like Jarvis who can whip in a good ball, and we obviously need more of a threat up front. Hopefully Remy will perform, but we can't just hope that he springs into life when he's fit. We need signings now!

 

I really applaud your positivity Tash but we were utter weasel ****e.
I've seen more passion watching a Consett game.

We need a new manager, owner, CF x 2, CM, CB and pie runner.

We are continuing last seasons slide again... Simple as.

 

I don't think the performance was bad really, I just think we need a bit more quality in the side. West Ham were tough to break down.

Our final ball was what let us down really.

 

To be fair we were the better team but only just, unfortunately that was because it was two dreadful teams who on the evidence of that will be bottom 6.

 

Against the same teams we are 1 point better off that last season
I'm taking that as a positive

Thought Ben Arfa was wasteful
the Ameobi's lacked cutting edge, both got forward but always looked for another option when they could of went on
and got into the box making the defender work
Krul is very hesitant when crosses come over, not commanding his area
Sissoko to many passes that never found it's target, I counted 6 passes in total that was either cut out or intercepted
Cisse well just Sissy, not enough strength to worry the defenders
Marv. needs some spikes in his boots, slipped over when in a promising position
the back four played reasonably well, much better than at city,
Anita was a little workhorse in the middle, such a pity he wasn't 12 inches taller
watching him jump up for the ball against a 6 foot 3inch player is laughable

it's sad to say but I would of been happy with a draw before the game
then again West Ham got what they came for
and this is what other teams will do to us as well

16 shots at goal and none on target

Fans 8 - for sticking with the Team till the end


I forgot Nolan - 10, applauding the Newcastle fans before and after the game
also I think that there was a bit of the David Kelly's, Chopra's when he was in on goal (thanks Kev)

 

How anyone can take positives from today is beyond me. We are clueless in posession, no movement. We do not create chances and always depend on spectacular strikes to score. The crowd is flat, the team is awful to watch despite some obvious individual talent and then there is Pardew. 'It's difficult to win a Premier League game when you run around with ten men the WEEK before and lose 4-0. The man is a deluded idiot.

 

Stevie, both teams had two positives today.

1. They kept a clean sheet
2. Didn't lose.

 

Our play is slow and unimaginative. Too many scared to have a go. Our players mark and defend like inexperienced schoolboys with no organization and we are clueless from dead balls at both ends of the pitch. We rely far too much on individuals rather than playing as a team.
West Ham came for a draw, were there for the taking and we didnt take them.
Might have snatched it at the end but also nearly lost it. A draw fair but very disapointing.
Marv quiet apart from falling when in a good place once.
Ben Arfa relied on too much, maybe a bit greedy but at least he had a go.
Sissoko decent in patches but lacking support.
Cisse poor but lacking service.
Anita very good.
Much better from Debuchy.
Santon decent, likewise Mbiwa.
Collo very good.
Gouffran looked busy and dangerous.
Sammi a bit of a threat.
We have the players but not sure that Pardew knows what to do with them.
We do need a few more quality players tho but will we get them. Sorry Shola but you tried hard again today but we need a good CF desperately.

 

The fact we didn't muster a single shot on the West Ham goal, makes it difficult for me to believe that we weren't that bad.

 

Tash whilst you are correct that we weren't as bad as some make out, it is just very frustrating to watch a team with no cutting edge. We have nothing once Benni has an off day (like today). No strikers who can lead a line, no striker who can make it stick long enough to allow our midfielders get beyond them, and nobody who can really unlock the door. West Ham defended well but we never really stretched them and they were there for the taking. On chances we were lucky to get a draw even if I felt we were slightly on top overall.

I lay today firmly at the door of the board. Stevie Wonder can see where the we are lacking in personnel, yet we've done **** all to correct it. There are plenty of players around who could make a difference. We just don't want to pay. Hughes at Derby can create, Tom Ince can, Jordan Rhodes can stick the ball away for fun, there are plenty of others too. Our solution? It'll be sell Cabaye and buy a few French lads who are ill suited to the league and need time to adapt, but cost **** all.

I recorded QPR and Liverpool games. I skimmed through Liverpool. The other I watched more of, and I would give my right arm to have Joey back from QPR watching their game. He wasn't amazing but he puts ten times as much effort in as any of our lot.

 

I don't think its as bad as we are making out.But then again to have no shots at home is a ****ing joke.Everyone saying west ham will have a decent season well they did not look anything spacial to me in fact both teams evenly matched in my opinion.
Now here is the frustrating bit with just 2 to 3 good additions and we will be ok.
Don't shoot me doon but if cisse was still on he would of buried the gruff chance.

 

just huffed and puffed ... im afraid and yes no cutting edge hit the nail on the heed..

 

I pointed out that we lacked a final ball which is why I think we need a bit of extra quality. We need a good crosser of the ball and we need a replacement for Cabaye as well.

We won a few home games last season due to a little ball played through the back line of a defensive side which Cisse finished off.

We had none of that today. Just **** crosses.

 

This.

 

No change to last year just less players (can't believe its possible)
Battered Away from home which could have ended up a cricket score and another dire pointless home performance.
We moan on about replacing cayabe, what about replacing ba,perch,Simpson and buying some actual quality at the back which was
One of the key reason we nearly went down.
I predict we will concede 8 in a game this season.

 

Hope it's the derby

 

Agreed - 14 shots on goal and not a single one on target tells its own story. One shot on target against City.

If the general consensus is that was 'not bad' Ashley must have really driven expectations down. With Andy Carroll I feel West Ham would have certainly won.

 

With Andy Carroll, we'd have won.

 

We were awful.
We are not going to sign anyone either to improve the squad.
A change from top to bottom is needed - Not that it will happen unfortunately.