That offside is very frustrating because it stopped us in our tracks really. We made such a strong, positive start today but that goal just changed everything, and it should not have counted. One of these days, we may get a decision. All this 'evening themselves out' nonsense just isn't true, and these clowns are continuously reeled out to officiate. When I say we are due a decision, it is a serious understatement. That said, we need to learn how to finish. We create openings, but our decision making in the final third is often poor, and we need to be clinical. Cardiff vs Hull also demonstrated this. Cardiff had the possession, the chances, and controlled the game, but didn't score when they were on top, and were punished by an efficient, and clinical Hull side. It is a tough league, and especially when you play teams, like West Ham, who give you few chances, when you get them, you need to score.
The free-kick for our goal probably shouldn't have been given. But it's easier to see the decisions that go against you, which might be why they don't seem to even out.
Who would you drop? To fit Gaston in. I would like us to try Gallagher up front with an attacking trio of Jrod, Lallana & gaston. Spider and cork protecting our back four, which would mean dropping Lambert and Davis to the bench.
To be very honest I don't think that is exactly true (being pedantic.) West Ham always play those tactics so I think it's more a case of us not knowing how to play them rather than them changing their tactics to get a result against us. Its annoying but I'm sure we'll eventually manage to overcome the more physical and direct teams. Until then we'll just have to settle for beating teams that play football properly. After all I'd rather lose to West Ham whilst playing entertaining football than have to watch that dross every week and focus on the result as the one and only importance.
Yeah, might as well go at them as their defence is poor. There's no point trying to defend against the league's top scorers!
I don't see how playing it from side to side for 5 minutes like a team of crabs then humping it forwards is that exciting, or watching speculative shots from 30 yards go to row z, but I guess that's what it msut be if Southampton are so exciting. for me a chipped pass over the top of a static defence for one goal, and an overhead kick for another is well worth the price of admission.
Thats certainly a different view of it. I can see your point actually. As much as we enjoy the possession we have had a few games this season that we 'appear' to have completely dominated only to be undone by the sucker-punch.
I agree with you. I get annoyed when we do the hump it forwards bit, if it is a 50:50 ball forward. Rickie's ball against Fulham was not a 50:50 hump it was a calculated play of the ball (long) into space where our attacker was moving. Probably a 70:30 pass. I sometimes think at home, that the crowd get annoyed by the crab like passes, become agitate and the players then knock it 50:50 (by the way, a 50:50 pass can also be a short one). I would rather we keep the ball until a player has created space with good movement, a player has the chance to use a bit of skill to go passed an opponent, or their is a chance of a forward ball (usually longer) that will be behind the opposition and is better odds than 50:50. Sometimes recently we have knocked the ball somewhere between Rickies's head and the CB's head (Stoke at home) and this is very poor play. This is how West Ham have played in our home games of the last 3 seasons, certainly no deft chips over a static defence.
Crazy post-match stats. https://www.westhamtillidie.com/posts/2014/02/25/post-match-stats-west-ham-united-3-1-southampton
You can certainly see why we went for Osvaldo. Ok, he turned out to be not the the one but we obviously need a 'Suarez" of some description.
