Match Day Thread West Ham United vs Southampton 25/09/2016 4pm Kick-off

From observation I would say that Austin has missed as many chances as Long. Plus he's slower and consequently gets offside more. In one report I read Long was motm against Palace.

That said, he is clearly very confident at the moment and that's a powerful thing for a striker.

 

Charlie had quite a while off......he will get sharper/better yet.

 

If you were following the Radio Solent commentary you wouldn't know who missed what, they got it wrong so often, I guess Shane and Charlie look alike from a distance!

 

I swear Dave Merrington thinks Chatlie and Shane are actually the same person running around a lot!

 

Pal of mine made a very good point about Nathan's miss the other day. Some cock behind him was shouting off that Charlie would have scored it, so my man turned and said "Yes, but Charlie's too slow to have got to that chance in the first place"

Vin

 

anyone got a spare ticket?

 

I like both Charlie and Shane. They both compliment each other I feel. Whilst Charlie can hold up the ball and eventually provide the finishing touch to a move, Shane will get the ball back for the side and then become either a speedy outlet or just a brilliant foil to pull defenders away. Charlie will miss chances but what I like about him is that it doesn't really affect him that much as he knows he will get more chances. Long does need a goal that his efforts have warranted but if he continues to be a menace that just terrorises defences like he has so far this season, then that's fine be me.

 

If I get the national express back to Lincoln from Winchester it takes 10 hours of zig zagging just to get to Nottingham and then I have to change to another bus to Lincoln. Think yourself lucky at 6 hours Leave Winchester (Alfred Statue) at 8.30am. Get back to Lincoln bus station at 7.30pm!!! (Takes 3.5 hours by car)

I remember once went on the Lincoln club coach to Maine Road which is about 2.5 hours by car. Took the coach 4 hours without any stops!!!

 

It's the usual Lawro "They have to win one eventually" reasoning. Doesn't surprise me.

Cuco has to start though. Much more physical than Cedric and Antonio is their main threat other than Payet.

 

The upside for Long being below even his usual below-average finishing level at the moment is that the main reason he's stuck around in the top-flight as long as he has whilst having such a fundamental flaw for a striker is that he can make things happen even when he's having a stinker. I mean the Palace game was a perfect example, we weren't exactly flowing well until the first goal then one tiny window created by Kelly's miscontrol, Long eats up the ground and gets between him and the ball, easy penalty and Austin steps up to get the goal and earn some of the plaudits which would have him start the next game for many people.

He's frustrating as hell as a player and I have really questioned his ability as a striker (especially a lone one) in a team not looking for instantaneous counters and balls in behind the defence, but even though he can turn a chance into nothing, he can turn nothing into a chance.

I'd have no problem with Austin starting as the hot hand, but also no problem with Long getting 60 minutes to terrorise what could be a makeshift West Ham defence while the game has the most likelihood of getting stretched before Austin can come on and look to do what he does best in a time span befitting his fitness.

 

Lot of sense

Ah yes, of course. I'd forgotten that part of the Lawro logic plan. Working on the principal that something has to change eventually, which it invariably does. I think he may have picked the wrong match to suggest a turnaround in their fortunes though.

 

West Ham's new pitch is 5 metres longer then their old one, and their defence is looking fragile. A few balls over the top for Long to chase could cause them all sorts of bother. When he wins a penalty, sub him off for Austin. After Austin scores, sub him back off for Long, and keep repeating the same trick.

It's not exactly rocket science!

 

When it was us last year on a winning streak he started on a "they have to lose one eventually" line.

 

Just been on KUMB and one post stuck out which came across as quite arrogant "Southampton have no stars to watch out for, much like teams such as Swansea, Stoke and Sunderland". It is true that we have no real household names but aside from Payet I would consider West Ham in the same boat completely.

 

They are arrogant on KUMB (which makes it a good read when they lose) and so were the ones that I met during our Championship days. Using that as evidence I've decided to tar them all with the same brush and label them as a bunch of loud mouth geezers who need to be put in their place. I'm sure there must be some good unbigoted Hammer fans out there but that doesn't fit in with my own bigotry. Hope Saints stuff them but they probably won't.

 

You know how Saints miss 2 hatfulls of chances every game?

You know how (in the league) West Ham concede 4 every game?

Sunday is the day that we don't miss any and West ham concede 10!

No7 Positivity is BACK!!!!!

 

Puel on Boufal "After international break" . Apologies for seemingly getting it wrong and getting people's hope up! Was just passing on some info I heard.

 

Jay Rod out for 3 weeks.

 

They really need to change that ****ing song.

OYM FAREVA BLAWIN' BABBLES

 

About half of all games I've been to have been on my own. Trick the odd non supporting mate into games. Girlfriend is going to Leicester away with me. Four of the staff from were I worked recently go to one away a season with me which they'll continue doing now I'm living in England. Joined a small supporters group in Dublin which was good for meeting up to watch games or to go to the odd one with them...I must befriend the Saints supporter downstairs as I hear him cheering everytime we score!