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

Stop teasing me... That would be the funniest thing ever to happen in football, if after stealing our money to get that stadium, that they went down the first season in it.

Bring on Rotherham!

 

That Tadic goal was a little cleverer than it looks. It didn't just roll past Adrian and then Tadic just had to tuck it away.

He actually made a little fake to mess up the GK and played it with his left foot. I mean yeah, he should score from there but it would have been easy to get excited and push the ball too far with that first touch. He probably would have scored anyway, but it wouldn't have been as aesthetically pleasing.

 

I know West Ham signed Payet and he has been a great buy, but some of their players - their recruitment has been shocking with all the money they have spent.

 

Yeah, my reaction to that was "Are you sure Noble?". Whether it's relegation, or just losing at home to Boro next weekend. Things can indeed get worse than this. (And yes, I so hope they do)

 

I actually thought Zaza had a decent game and worked hard. Just didn't get enough support from the rest of the side. Still not worth 21m, though.

 

Great work. We are starting to look good and romeu has stepped up from last season

 

I heavily praised them last summer for their transfer activity. But this summer, leaving out the one or two players who I didn't know much about, I don't think any of it impressed me. Even more so in the knowledge that they'd lost Jenkinson back to Arsenal, and Carroll was always going to get injured again before too long.

 

Yeah! saw it live on Tele here in Serbia - I will admit to going out for 2 cigs during the first half. But not in the second. After the first half I was going to say that my grandma could cross a ball better then Cedric with a stick of rhubarb but in the end he did good din ee?and so what if he should have passed not shot, he's a defender in ee? (though next time shoot on target!)

 

How good is this feeling, compared to the Sunderland draw and losing in the last minute vs Arsenal.

 

Interesting thought process on KUMB regarding the Moyes/Martinez, Allardyce/Bilic effect - they're speculating that the incoming manager has benefited in their first season from the previous incumbent's defensive training they've left with the team. Then come second season, that's gone out of the window and the new manager's ineffective defensive strategy gets found out.

Could be something to that.

 

I thought it automatically converts to permanent for £25m at end of season.

WHU asked Juve to issue the bill to the Queen or one of her cronies...

 

In supposedly the year they were going to really challenge top 8, all of their signings are totally underwhelming. They have a habit of buying players with plenty of power, but no real technical skills. Payet aside. And Lanzini.

 

I wonder if that's Sullivan or Bilic. I suspect the former. Porn king with horrid taste wants ostentatious flashy players. If the cap fits....

 

Only if he makes a certain amount of appearances. It was 7m for a season long loan, then if he plays enough games it becomes a permanent move for another 14m plus 3m in contingencies.

 

I really really meant to listen to Puel....but my mind wandered after the first minute. As Henry said, that's Puel's happy face.

 

Just on the way back...some thoughts:

Is that one save in 2 league games now for Forster? Brilliant defensive organisation today. Sat so bloody high up that I had a great view of the shape and the way the diamond got pulled around was fascinating (much like the triangle used to get pulled round into shape with Vic Morgan and Davis).

The midfield were superb. Hojberg had his best game and cut out the odd lapse that I felt had been hampering his performances previously. Most pleasing thing was the performance of the full backs. Bertrand was superb and Cedric had his best game in a Saints shirt to date.

Tactical genius from Puel who had the courage to focus on Payet and Lanzini's lack of desire to track back rather than double up defensively.

A wonderful performance that was a step up from Swansea which I also thought was terrific.

Here's to Romeu continuing to prove me wrong. Startling improvement!

 

Watch it matey. I'll have you know I can still do it even if it is with a little help.

 

Clearly, he is as thick as he sounds. He can't count to eight...

 

Watched the match in Stockton. The Boro fans were wanting a Saints win to dent West Spam confidence. One bloke had a bet on 2-1 with Austin scoring first. Close but no cigar!

 

Yep. That maybe is the case with alot of new managers