en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/722250 Comments by chickenrunboy http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/03/20/vote-player-performances-v-middlesbrough-2/#IDComment320730482 Cannot blame the fans, the ref or anyone else. This was down to the manager and the players. Putting both Tomkins and Nolan in centre midfield means we have two without the skill, pace or movement to get the ball down and play and that leaves Noble with too much on his shoulders. When he's off form (last 3 games) we've got nothing. Nolan should only play when we are away. That's tactical and down to the fact that I can't stand to see him at Upton Park. Tomkins is a centre back out of position. Clueless Sam. Maynard was bought in to score goals. He's not going to do that playing out of position on the right and looked like a fish out of water. I doubt he was in their box more than 4 times. Clueless Sam. We have no width, no pace and no creativity. Lansbury and Morrison aren't wingers but they would have given us more that Collison who is, sadly, a shadow of his former self and not worth a place in the squad at the moment and certainly not as a wide player. Clueless Sam. We all know that we desperately needed a win but the shape of the team was negative and the ambition to push on from the bonus of a fortunate goal was lacking. Once again, despite the evidence of recent weeks, we sat back and allowed a team back into a game they had no right to get anything from. Clueless Sam. The highlight of my evening was going for a leak at half-time. Tue, 20 Mar 2012 23:32:50 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/03/20/vote-player-performances-v-middlesbrough-2/#IDComment320730482 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/03/17/vote-player-performances-v-leeds-united/#IDComment318474673 Off the point maybe, but in the middle of of our frustration, let's spare a thought for Fabrice Muamba of Bolton and hope he pulls through. Sat, 17 Mar 2012 19:01:22 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/03/17/vote-player-performances-v-leeds-united/#IDComment318474673 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/03/16/when-the-going-gets-tough-the-tough-get-going/#IDComment317776625 Talking about the stick the team get from some fans when playing at home, Sam said in tonight's Standard "If we're playing rubbish then, yes, I can understand it but we're not." Yes we are! When we are bad, as we have been in recent home games, it has been dire. It worries me that we have been rubbish, it worries me more that Sam thinks it's ok. Fri, 16 Mar 2012 19:48:46 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/03/16/when-the-going-gets-tough-the-tough-get-going/#IDComment317776625 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/03/15/should-ravel-start/#IDComment317005307 totally agree. so much talk about handling him carefully i cannot see cautious sam putting him on at the start to face all the abuse bound to come from the manc haters. suspect he may come off the bench towards the end if we're winning easily or in need of a goal. i'd play him because we are in desperate need of some quality in the final third. Thu, 15 Mar 2012 20:45:26 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/03/15/should-ravel-start/#IDComment317005307 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/03/15/should-ravel-start/#IDComment317000882 only trouble is nolan is not a defensive/holding midfielder - he plays (i use the term loosely) as an attacking midfielder attempting to get into the box looking to score. that means your team would only have noble to protect the back four and that's not his best position - although he will make a tackle, unlike nolan, we are at our best when noble is making things happen further up the pitch. Thu, 15 Mar 2012 20:38:02 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/03/15/should-ravel-start/#IDComment317000882 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/03/11/twelve-things-we-learned-from-the-doncaster-game/#IDComment313604398 Someone on yesterday's post-match thread said that with our squad we should be walking this league - it's a line I've seen on here many times. I've been considering this today (too mad and frustrated to think straight after the game) and wondering if we are simply over-estimating the quality of the squad. How many of them would make a best of the Championship team? Green, Tomkins, Noble? Who else? At home we are regularly out-passed and out-played even when we win. Maybe we just aren't good enough or as good as we think we should be? Sun, 11 Mar 2012 14:25:45 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/03/11/twelve-things-we-learned-from-the-doncaster-game/#IDComment313604398 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/03/10/vote-player-performances-v-doncaster-rovers-2/#IDComment313102988 Anyone got a plausible reason why Collins came on when we are 1-1 at home against the mighty Doncaster and we have an attacking midfielder and a striker on the bench? Answers on a postcard to the Davids. Sat, 10 Mar 2012 19:17:28 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/03/10/vote-player-performances-v-doncaster-rovers-2/#IDComment313102988 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/03/10/vote-player-performances-v-doncaster-rovers-2/#IDComment313096420 Anyone else notice how much the team were arguing with each other? Nolan moans at everyone all the time but there was a notable lack of spirit today, even in the first half. The pattern of the game was remarkably similar to Watford - a good start, failure to put the game to bed when dominating, a gradual draining of belief followed by a loss of shape and finally blind panic and total disintegration. Sam cannot blame this on a failure to convert loads of chances because we didn't even create any after the first 20 minutes. At home, there is something wrong with formation (Doncaster dominated us in midfield), tactics (why play Collison or Lansbury if our plan is to lump it in the general direction of Cole?) and most certainly the attitude of the players. On the evidence of this week, it's hard to see us sorting it in time to stay in the top two. Sat, 10 Mar 2012 19:02:47 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/03/10/vote-player-performances-v-doncaster-rovers-2/#IDComment313096420 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/03/10/match-preview-west-ham-v-doncaster-rovers/#IDComment312887965 I suspect wishing for no Nolan is a waste of time, so I will concentrate on keeping my fingers crossed that Faubert isn't in the starting line-up. Like Collison he's going through a really bad patch and his confidence looks shot. three points are obviously crucial today - not just in terms of the table, but to calm the nerves at upton park and to lay down a marker for the rest of the season. On that basis whatever formation and line-up we start with i hope we play with pace, urgency and tempo from the first whistle. Sat, 10 Mar 2012 11:46:21 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/03/10/match-preview-west-ham-v-doncaster-rovers/#IDComment312887965 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/03/08/home-form-are-we-to-blame/#IDComment311638264 Agree with Philly - i thought the booing was aimed at the ref for the thrice taken throw-in which ended in a Watford corner if memory serves. The ref deserved some stick and got some. There's no argument, the crowd atmosphere and noise level has changed a lot over the years. its not like it used to be when i first stood on the north Bank in the 60s but then, not much has stayed the same. Players now cannot rely on totally uncritical support so they need to do something to get the crowd going especially when its against ordinary opposition like Watford. Particularly after the long injury delay last night the team played without shape, pace or urgency. It's very difficult for the crowd to be loud and supportive when faced with such a dire performance. Faye and the rest of the team need to understand that and remember how special the atmosphere can still be when we see a proper performance. In over 45 years I've never booed the team but I'm a lot quieter when watching the team underperforming or players not putting in the effort. Thu, 8 Mar 2012 21:15:22 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/03/08/home-form-are-we-to-blame/#IDComment311638264 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/03/04/ten-things-we-learned-from-today/#IDComment308015606 A word in praise of James Tomkins. Today's was not a performance in which he did anything dramatic but I really like how comfortable he is in possession now. We know he's great in the air but he's added to his game and is looking a complete centre back this season. Sun, 4 Mar 2012 20:32:59 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/03/04/ten-things-we-learned-from-today/#IDComment308015606 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/03/04/match-thread-cardiff-city-v-west-ham/#IDComment307811077 Sense this has been an excellent time to play the Taffs and just what we needed. Fair play to the team and Sam - we have an amazing away record. Sun, 4 Mar 2012 14:33:17 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/03/04/match-thread-cardiff-city-v-west-ham/#IDComment307811077 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/03/04/match-thread-cardiff-city-v-west-ham/#IDComment307807222 Would love to see Baldock on for Collison or Vaz Te to give us some fresh legs. Sun, 4 Mar 2012 14:25:38 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/03/04/match-thread-cardiff-city-v-west-ham/#IDComment307807222 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/03/04/match-thread-cardiff-city-v-west-ham/#IDComment307805184 Boy did we need that. Panic and nerves were setting in. COYI!!! Sun, 4 Mar 2012 14:22:01 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/03/04/match-thread-cardiff-city-v-west-ham/#IDComment307805184 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/03/04/match-thread-cardiff-city-v-west-ham/#IDComment307804753 LINDA!!! Sun, 4 Mar 2012 14:21:16 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/03/04/match-thread-cardiff-city-v-west-ham/#IDComment307804753 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/03/04/match-thread-cardiff-city-v-west-ham/#IDComment307787283 No real surprise at Chelsea. Players like Lampard and Terry have too much influence and the young and inexperienced AVB never had enough backing to clear them out. Sun, 4 Mar 2012 13:48:38 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/03/04/match-thread-cardiff-city-v-west-ham/#IDComment307787283 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/03/04/match-thread-cardiff-city-v-west-ham/#IDComment307776728 Collison off and O'Neill on in the second half - another disappointing game from Jack/ Sun, 4 Mar 2012 13:28:43 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/03/04/match-thread-cardiff-city-v-west-ham/#IDComment307776728 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/02/28/the-return-of-kevin-nolan/#IDComment304961293 Nolan motivates how exactly? I see him moaning at refs and moaning at team mates. that's not the same as inspirational leadership. He has scored some good goals but defensively he's lazy and going forward he is slow and lack's creativity. Wed, 29 Feb 2012 23:16:31 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/02/28/the-return-of-kevin-nolan/#IDComment304961293 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/02/25/match-thread-west-ham-v-crystal-palace/#IDComment301536656 probably not, but we played 3 games with 10 men - it may have taken it out of the team as it has called for a lot of extra effort. that said, if it was the case you would hope that Sam would've picked up on the tiredness in training and freshened up the side today. Sat, 25 Feb 2012 21:14:17 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/02/25/match-thread-west-ham-v-crystal-palace/#IDComment301536656 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/02/25/match-thread-west-ham-v-crystal-palace/#IDComment301454193 Tired legs and minds on show today. Most of the team were simply not good enough but I don't think we should be too hard on them after the heroics of recent matches. Green showed why he is still in the frame for England but that was about it. Not helped by the way we were set up in the first half with Maynard on his own and isolated. It got better when Cole came on and we should have scored at least one from the chances that fell to Cole and Baldock. Strong contender for most boring game of the season but we need to forget it and move on and win the next one. Sat, 25 Feb 2012 18:24:34 +0000 http://www.westhamtillidie.com/2012/02/25/match-thread-west-ham-v-crystal-palace/#IDComment301454193