IntenseDebate - ollief79

14 years ago @ West Ham Till I Die - Vote: Player Performan... · 0 replies · +1 points

Anyone who saw Allardyce's post match interview on Sky will have seen a manager on the defensive, big time.

We supposedly played a 'terrific' 2nd half, should have had at least 2 penalties (and Sam said he knows he is right and everyone else is wrong - very objective of him) and only drew because of a 'wonder' goal by Boro.

In essence we put in an average containing performance all game offering little to nothing in the final third, might have been lucky to get one penalty and whilst the Boro goal was excellent, lets not beat around the bush, we have conceded late goals and dropped points all season, often to scrappy goals - so the quality of the goal is irrelevant, fact is we've not delivered at home all season and Allardyce is unable to find a solution. You can blame refs, decisions, wonder goals etc all you like, end of the day, we're not delivering at home - and he and the players have to start admitting that and sorting it out asap, else top 2 is not going to happen. A little less conversation a little more action please, Mr. Allardyce.

14 years ago @ West Ham Till I Die - Vote: Player Performan... · 0 replies · +1 points

Pretty fed up of hearing Sam and the players come out after every home game saying 'they came here with a game plan and yadda yadda yadda..."... the game plan is called getting men behind the ball, and it's not an indefensible strategy - christ do you not think Southampton come up against the same strategy every home game and yet they don't draw or lose all the time?

Fact is, Allardyce has had all season to work on various formations, tactics, strategies and personnel to combat whatever tactics opposition teams follow at Upton Park, and after 6 months he still cannot come up with solutions, only excuses. It's worrying. Very worrying.

You do have to applaud how he gets so many great away results, but ultimately he has to be judged on home and away games and whether come what June we are Premiership or Championship - and if we are the latter, I am sorry, but with the squad he has and funds and resources made available to him this season, Allardyce doesn't deserve to be in charge again next season.

14 years ago @ West Ham Till I Die - Match Thread: Leeds Un... · 0 replies · +1 points

Once again we're making it SO easy for the Leeds back 4 by playing Maynard upfront by himself. If we're going to play 1 upfront, we have to start with Cole, Vaz Te or Carew. Carew isn't even on the bench.

14 years ago @ West Ham Till I Die - Playing Away · 0 replies · +1 points

Following the last 2 home results, coupled with Reading's recent storm up the table, this is the first time this season that I've really started to doubt us finishing in the top 2.

In fact it is more than just a doubt, it has an inevitable feel about it. I don't see our home form changing much between now and the end of the season. The fact that we've suffered with the same failings since the first home game to Cardiff right up to last weekend against Doncaster is nothing short of negligence. 6 months to find a remedy/fix, and Sam and the players haven't been able to do it. Bravo to the manager and the players for the amazing away form, but can we really sustain that until the end of the season?

I think by 5pm on Saturday, after a defeat to Leeds and Reading winning tonight and Saturday, along with Southampton, I see us sitting 3rd in the table, 6 points adrift from automatic promotion, with 10 games left to go. Not a very nice position to be in and one that should've easily been avoidable......

14 years ago @ West Ham Till I Die - Ten Things We Learned ... · 2 replies · +1 points

Watching how Cardiff played for the first 5-10 mins and how they gave us so much time and space, I felt they were there for the taking today, so I was relieved as much as anything that we did put them to the sword.

I thought we were mostly in control and Maynard should have scored at least 2 goals.

No bad performances, though I agree that Collison and Lansbury were often anonymous

Faye was immense all game, Nolan's finish oozed quality and once again we looked organised and professional throughout.

But it is so often after an outstanding away result, that we then struggle against supoosedly easier opposition at home. I actually fancied us before KO today, it's the home games against Watford and Doncaster that concern me. It's almost like we think we've got the job done by beating the top sides and then fail to capitalise against the lesser sides. Here's hoping we buck the trend against Watford and Doncaster.

14 years ago @ West Ham Till I Die - The Return of Kevin Nolan · 0 replies · +1 points

I think we have a top quality pool of midfielders to choose from for the Championship, but there isn’t one box-to-box all rounded player like we had last season in Parker and Hitz…. I agree that Noble has really returned to form but he will always lack speed and quickness in the middle of the pitch and in getting from box-to-box... you can't fault his work rate or energy levels, but I'm not certain he can be our main midfield man in the Prem.... It’s like we have to play 3 in the middle to make sure we have all the right attributes in there….. but if we can find a pairing that works, and maybe Lansbury and Noble could be the answer (but then that means no room for Nolan in the middle), then you could play Cole upfront with any of our other strikers and you’d fancy us to score pretty much every game….

14 years ago @ West Ham Till I Die - How would you play the... · 0 replies · +1 points

I expect to see us line-up 451, as I think we always look stronger and better in that formation, and with Nolan not available there is the opportunity for a different player to fill in the hole behind the lone front man.... I really hope Diop is fit, and if he isn't I wouldn't surprised to see Tomkins play the holding midfield role again.... I think you could see us line-up like this:

Green

McCartney
Tomkins (Faye if Diop unfit with Tomkins playing holding midfield)
Reid
O'Brien

Taylor
Noble
Diop
Vaz Te
Faubert

Cole

14 years ago @ West Ham Till I Die - Results: Player Perfor... · 0 replies · +1 points

I'm a big defender of Nolan and his contributions as captain of the team - I don't think anyone else in the current squad is capable of leading the side (maybe in a few years Tomkins might - but right now Nolan is the standout candidate).

The problem is, as people point out, his performances haven't been great, and he plays in a position where there are others who are arguably better than him (Collison, Lansbury, O'Neil) - so based on performances and other options available to us, there's an argument for him being drop. But his influence and leadership skills are in my opinion too important to the side for him to be dropped.

pjdpjd mentions Lucas Neill, and my views of him were identical to that of Nolan, except Neill played at right back, a less influential position than the middle of midfield, so it worked out ok with him and we didn't really have the same dilemma.

14 years ago @ West Ham Till I Die - Results: Player Perfor... · 1 reply · +1 points

I think too many people on here are being overly-critical of McCartney and over-confident in Potts.

Don't get me wrong, I think Potts showed enough in the games he played to show he has potential, but I saw the Birmingham and Derby away games he started in, and Potts had a really tough time in both games. Physically he still has to fill out and develop a lot and I definitely wouldn't be putting him in ahead of McCartney at the moment.

As for McCartney - it was never a penalty that he conceded against Ipswich - it was shoulder to shoulder all day long. His performance in general that night was poor, but so was everybody elses - he is the right man to play at left back and help get us out of this league. But in the summer, if we get promoted, a new left back, right back and centre back have to be at the top of our list of targets if we are to survive in the Prem.

14 years ago @ West Ham Till I Die - Transfer Window Rollin... · 1 reply · +1 points

Spurs may well make a move for Morrison, but he'll not get a game at Spurs, which is why I reckon he'll come to us.

IRONS!

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