Agreed, this is the sort of game we were losing up until this season. So every cloud. I think we need to sign a striker in Jan, even on loan. Having to rely on Long is not good enough. He offers absolutely nothing
Just looked at the league table and only picked out AV as not having a bigger, better squad of the teams above us. WH also have a better squad. We have been spoilt by the early season fireworks. If we can’t win , don’t lose. Simples.
I think West Ham have some big players who will always defend the high ball into the box. I'm not sure we won a single header in the box whilst we were attacking. Against teams that pack the box we can't break them down. It also seems where our clever football, flicks and passes worked in earlier games they aren't any more. I guess it's only inches. We will get it back!!!!!
Other than Armstrong, Djenepo and Redmond - and invariably only one of them start each match anyway - I really don't see us as being out of form right now. As I said, I saw a West Ham side who came with defending in mind - and when that happens, it exposes our weakness. The more we have the ball, the less we can press and the more we fail to break the opposition down. Yes it's a shame that West Ham didn't give it more of a go (although if Benrahma scores, it becomes the perfect away performance from them), but it's up to us to learn how to break through that style. And that invariably involves signing a creative, quick-thinking player.
A very tired team out there, lack of neat control and movement off the ball meant that we couldn’t really create and break through a solid defence. One **** up that nearly lead to a goal but I thought Stephens was one of our best today.
We've got a rest before the Liverpool game, then a two week break with just Shrewsbury in the cup. Time to recharge and then attack the second half of the season
If we were bad, IMO our 'bad' is better than 75% of the Premier League and 99.5% better than the 'bad' Southampton
That was a decent game from us. We've come a long way but still a ways to go yet. Ralph has got us playing gangbusters against teams that set out to win and right now we are playing teams who are cautious and looking to catch us on the break so its just not happening. Our shots on goal just isn't good enough. We will come right again, we've had the ball in the net 3 times in the last 2 games. Eventually the linesman will have to let us away with one. This game would have played very differently if that first goal had gone in. Not many players to fault in that but the left side combo really needs some work. Individually they're not bad but nothing much comes from Djenepo and Bertrand. I get the impression Bertrand doesn't trust him so isn't making the overlapping runs. Was amazed to see Ings start and pleased he made it through the game. Bonus. Finally I am so sick of the new offside calls. Its absolute bullshit that Adams can receive, run into space cross the ball, Ings can take a touch, jink between two defenders and slot the ball into the net before the linesman's flag goes up. I just don't get it, if there was anything wrong with flagging when the offending player touches the ball, someone please tell me @tomw?
Don’t think he did today (and I’m usually a fan of his) his marking for the late free kick they nearly scored from was atrocious
3 points from 12 on our recent form is piss poor. 2 0 - 0 draws against average teams is piss poor. That was as boring to watch as Fulham. Played well against city and have now lost all invention. They need a kick up the arse!