As I said, it was a tired and uncharacteristic performance from us. It happens. But don't go thinking we play like that every week, we don't! As you found out at WHL!!
Easy as Stan. Your implying that it would only be a valid reason/excuse for a team like Barca. This coming from someone who's team blamed their own kit colour for a few defeats back in the 90's that is so pathetic I still remember it. It was after le tissier's mob trounced you 6-3. West Ham deserved their win, but don't tell me playing on a pitch that has obviously had horses and carts on it all week prior does not affect the surface and play of a team who play their football mainly on grass. You know I'm right, because you obviously justify such a reason for Barca. One saving grace of not having played in the CL much is that you dont forget the football that exists away from it, it seems. LVG in (hope it burns you, when I say this) ;-)
I don't think it's a valid excuse for any team. It's a pathetic excuse as both teams play on the same pitch. I'm not sure how saying that Fergie's reason for us losing to Saints 20 years ago, which you have said was a pathetic excuse, justifies the crap pitch excuse. Or is your point that because Fergie blamed the shirts no United fan can ever have an opinion on a post match excuse again? That seems quite militant and also very childish. Spurs have better footballers, supposedly, so they should be able to cope with a muddy pitch. I doubt a single one of the Spurs players had only ever played on bowling greens before yesterday. I've seen West Ham play this season. They play it on the deck more than in the air. but you still expect football to be played on immaculate pitches... it doesn't, this is a football message board. I don't know you and I doubt you posting that will have much impact on what United decide to do with their manager next season. I could be wrong, you may be very influential at Old Trafford.
no, what im saying is you should be able to distinguish between an excuse and quite a valid reason. It's not an excuse, we were outplayed. You cant deny how it affects a team which generally plays its game on the grass. Throughout the years when FA cup upsets used to happen or could potentially happen. Most of the pundits would give the condition of the pitch as a possible factor in the upset being caused. Many players and managers of the big teams in post match interviews also would cite the pitch as being condition as being one of the reasons the lesser team managed to gain a replay. you have heard that as have i, Stan. It's not an excuse. I watched the whole match and its no coincidence Kane played like he had 6 pikey horses tied to him and he was trying to control a sack of potatoes not a football.
All of that ignores the fact that it's West Ham's home pitch. They play on it every other week! We don't. It's exactly the same tactic as is used by lower league teams when they come up against Premiership opposition at home in the cup. The state of their pitch levels things up a bit for them.
Yeah, the Spanners' pitch was dire, but I think, in our heart of hearts, we know it's a lame excuse. I refuse to believe that Poch and his team could not have anticipated this and other equally devious Spanner tactics. It's the one fault I will lay at Poch's feet; whilst he is undoubtedly the best tactician we have had in charge of the team for a long while, he still, inexplicable, seems bereft of ideas against the tactics of certain sides, even though he must know what he's going to get! If last night's game is the worst we will have played this season, I'll take it, so I am choosing to be philosophical about the loss.
I said way back mate that it's not an excuse. It didn't help. But the reason we lost was because that was one of the two worst performances we've had all season. The other being Newcastle.
That's all very well,Pixie, but expand a bit more on why it is that you have, finally, decided that it's time for Wenger to go? We're all intrigued.
You played no different last night to how you do every week. The only difference is, we were so good, and Bilic's tactics were so well thought out, that we made you look pony. And as for all this whining about the pitch. It wasn't even that bad! Stop making **** excuses and accept that West Ham are ****ing class and will get even better.
I'm not making **** excuses! We played very badly, just as we did against Newcastle. If you want to believe that you've suddenly been transformed in Bayern or Barca, you go right ahead. The truth is that we were way below par and you took advantage of that!..
Nope, that's just you talking bollocks again. Tell me, when you said that you 'forgot' that you lost to West Ham, was that because the dummy refused to lend you the half-brain that you both share ?
There's no forgetting we lost to the Spanners, Pixie. Go on the Spurs board and have a look at the many comments I posted on our match-day thread. You'll have to log out to have a peek, of course. We played badly for only the second time, so far, this season. You'll see that every single Spurs fan accepts that. I really don't understand what point it is that you are trying to make.
So why did you say that you 'forgot' that you lost to them ? Has the dummy been hogging the half-brain you share ?