Nolan still isn't firing. Cole was replaced by Carew but there was no attempt to go 4-4-2 again. Faubert was pulled off again. Again we lacked invention and penetration.
Kid yourselves by looking at the table but, as I warned midweek, we have beaten nobody of calibre so far and I count Peterborough in that.
We don't appear to be promotion quality yet but if we were to sneak it, then God help us in the Prem if we keep playing like this!
53 comments:
I agree we cannot afford to get promoted playing in such a manner or we'll come straight back down (dependent on how/if we buy).
Hopefully, when Pam settles on a best team then we'll begin to see improvements. He needs to go 4-4-2 asap.
A performance like that away I would have settled for, but not at home when we're favourites for promotion.
You should go to a game to see what it's like. There are actual West Ham fans there and everything.
I saw Noble score the goal that won us the match with my own eyes.
like you said you didn't see it so give it a rest. 3 points, another win and up to 4th, 2 points behind the leaders and only 1 goal behind them on goal average. What do you want? Why not support Man Utd with your nothing is right attitude.
You got home quickly 1737. Live next door?
ever heard of mobile internet?!
Are you that desperate to read my opinions? Out of the ground, straight on to The Games Gone Crazy! And stay on the site to reply! What a compliment.
just browsing as i'm travelling home from the game. i read most of the hammers blogs out of interest. I don't think yours is a particularly good one but I felt like commenting on that post. You obviously enjoy writing so keep it up and i'm sure you'll get it right in the end.
HF and Stani, I think you are both right to a degree. I listened to it and we never sounded dominant. With our talent, in that division, I was expecting more.
Glass is half full says we have been mediocre and are 4th.
Glass is half empty says.....well....pretty much what HF is saying.
So, 17:45. You were there. When you can, write up a match report and send it in. ESPN was not complimentary at all. Called us lifeless.
17:47 0
17:55 1
"Why not support Man Utd......?"
What a darn good question. It would save an awful lot of heartache for us and I imagine for you. How about it HF - why not have a season as Cockney Red? - At the end of the season, we can compared notes and see how we enjoyed both enjoyed the experience or not.
Do say yes, pleeeeeaasssseeeeeeee.
EPSN - what the hell do they know - couldn't you get the BBC where it didn't sound too bad at all?
Woooo Hoooooooooo another win! happy days - remember what Pam said? we'll win but sometimes it won't be pretty. As good old Malcolm X said "by any means necessary" BRILLIANT!
Dave,
That's right mate...but with the glass half full there is a fear that if we carry on being mediocre, we may not be lucky enough to stay around 4th.
The worrying thing about playing bad but still picking up points is if you do not start playing good when the points stop coming.
The opposite situation i.e when your playing well and not picking up points, is a bit less worrying because in that situation it's only a matter of time before points come.
There are a few very good managers with hard working intelligent players in that league, I fear.
We need to start being the Man Utd of that league and very soon or we'll lose that fear/respect factor teams may have about a big club like ours.
18:21, I will certainly read the BBC report as well. It wasn't up yet, but ESPN was. And actually, Soccernet is a better website to navigate in my opinion so I go there first.
I went to the match today. It was not as bad as you think. negatives were: faubert is a useless Cnut every time he got the ball he either stalled to long, overhit the cross and many more. also the biggest problem is in the final 3rd carew was just terrible when he came on. Positives are bentley was sharp when he came on Noble had a quality game and got man of the match and FAYE was superb he won everything and scared peterborogh attackers and one more thing NOLAN was awful and Lansbury was anonymous
Actually, could you provide a link to the BBC report? I clicked on it but it's not there.
If they say we were OK I'd love to see it.
No no Dave - you could listen to live spoken commentary via the BBC.
I am just relieved for taking the three points. It was probably not convincing, but there is time and personnel available to get it right. I am not too worried about how well we are when we are back at the Premier League. I will do that when we get there. Whatever happens I think that our current is squad is much better than the one we had last year in the Premier League. And don't forget our manager is not Avram Grant anymore.
Haha sums you up that you didn't watch it and make a judge on it, proper armchair fan!
It could of been 10-0, you are a proper div and I'll just sit here and laugh at you!
Throwing in my two cents.
Like Dave, I'm resigned to radio broadcasts here in the US. So I have to rely on my brother's match reports as he's lucky enough to attend all the games.
So apparently it was a disheartening performance today from an attacking point of view, in that we were toothless and uncreative for the majority of the game.
Still, being a glass half-full guy myself, I try to look at it as three points gained regardless of the performance. Don't they say that's the sign of a good team if you can still win when playing crap? Kind of like getting away with stealing or cheating death.
Though I understand also the cause for concern because, after 8 games, I guess people are starting to wonder when this 'gelling' is going to occur.
And certainly you wouldn't fancy your chances in the Prem if you had gotten there by playing bland and unexciting football.
But anyway, I guess that until Sam starts losing games, is he really going to shake things up?
Pardon my French, but fuck 4-4-2. 4-4-3 is getting us promoted, and so is team selection consistency. Once again fickle West Ham fans emerging.
That sounds pretty bad Fred! Faubert was crap, so was Lansbury and so was Nolan! God help us!
Ahhh, 18:54. I did, actually. The West Ham App for the Ipad/Iphone provides live audio of every game. Plugged itinto my little speakers and heard the whole thing. And you are right in that the announcers thought we were better. But every match report says we were toothless and unconvincing, including the BBC.
Stani, I know exactly what you mean. But Id be more worried if we were leaking goals. The clean sheets are easier to build upon. So my glass is simply half.
On a side note, I went to my auto mechanic this am before the game to get an oil change. There was a British Expat there and we started talking. Big cricket fan. We talked about how Im learning it a bit. He mentioned that unlike baseball where the umpire can decide a ball and strike, in cricket there is no question as to whether the ball hit the wicket.
"Except when you deal with LBW" I said.
"Very good point" he said.
I was pretty happy with myself I gotta say.
Faubert was one of the reasons we didnt turn possession in to goalsas when the ball came to him he lost it whatever he tried. Also Noble gets man of the match gets the winning pen and stani and sav say nothing yet when they think hes had a bad game there straight on to giving him shit
You outdone him Dave, good on you! And I'm not sure how it is in baseball, but for most dismissals in cricket (lbw, caught behind), apart from the obvious bowled as you mentioned, the players must ask the umpire. Basically, the appeal 'owzat?' is a question. This means if there's no appeal in regards to the dismissals mentioned above, then the umpire doesn't give it of is own accord. Same in baseball?
The bowling side can also withdraw their appeal straight after making it and the umpire cannot still send the batsman off.
Fred, Noble scored a penalty. The radio commentators I listed to were hardly waxing lyrical about him. Are you saying I should take your word, a Noble admirer? From what I heard, Faye was our best player. Now cheer up for God's sake, it's only my opinion of Noble, don't take it personally.
Mike,
That's pretty much the view I got. I also think playing one striker contributes to out toothlessness
4-4-3 TIS? If we can get away with that, I'm happy fella.
Actually Stani, there is no appeal allowed on the issue of "balls and strikes", the rough equivalent to wickets. In fact, the rules state that a manager or player is automatically ejected from the game if they argue that issue because its entirely the subjective call of the umpire. Cant question that.
Its hard for the umpire because there is no physical item like the wicket. There is a mythical strike zone in the air above the "plate" that the umpire must determine if the ball travelled over, and at the correct height. AND, the strike zone is different depending on the height of the player. Once, as a publicity stunt, a midget was sent up to bat. In a real game. The pitcher could not get the ball at the correct height and the batter was walked ( free pass to first base ) on the minimum 4 pitches.
Noble got the official man of the match award so that bit isnt my opinion and i also thought faye was superb
That was for his PR Fred. Or that's what Stani will tell you!
Fred, the man of the match award is also just one person's opinion.
It probably was HF. When no one does well enough to deserve it, give it to the local boy, a crowd favourite.
And the official man of the match award is sponsored right? Who would the sponsor choose in order to get the most out of it? Yep, Mr popular!
LOL I told you so Fred. Now Sav will arrive and say it was because Noble has agreed to do a speech at the sponsor's Christmas dinner do.
Faubert would have gone but he knows what they do to turkeys at Christmas!
Dave, I see what you mean...but our game's still more gentlemanly! :)
Stani, the more I learn, I think your game is more fascinating as well. Could be me just enjoying the new toy, but the mental "chess" like aspects of both games shine more brightly in cricket.
But the 1986 World Series when my NY Mets won is still among the most remarkable things I've ever seen. So I can't ditch baseball completely....yet.
Well I've only been living in the States for six months, but I haven't a clue about baseball so far.
Ok, so it wasn't the best performance we've seen, but we toll the 3 points. That's a sign of a good team.
We as squad are in a much better position that we have been in a long time and we have a very very good manager.
How about getting behind the team and not focussing on every little negative.
You never know, you may still get as many responses.
No, the sign of a good team is one that trounces very average teams like Peterborough. The sign of a good team is when you squeeze out results despite loads of injuries.
Mike I've lived in the UK for about 15 years and still don't have a clue about cricket!
My only thought about Noble being selected for man of the match in a very poor match where everyone played badly is "Christ,we are stuck with him for the rest of the season".
I have not watched the match so I can't really comment about the performance of specific players so I will leave it at that. With the man-of-the-match honour secured I am sure Mark Noble will now be automatically selected so I will have a chance to see and judge him again the next time a West Ham match is televised or when I happen to be in London. I will let you know what I think of him then.
I guess it's all Greek to you Sav! Poor pun!
Yes, but you presume I want or care to know HF.
All knowledge is valuable. You are an intelligent guy Sav. If you made the effort to understand, you would be enthralled by the sport.
Dave, your fascination will only increase. And wait until you identify yourself with a team and start looking out for them.
Come on Sav, you know you want to :)
Sav, if it makes you feel any better, (and at risk of ridicule from the fellow posters here), I never could get into cricket myself. I probably have sports ADD or something.
I promised myself not make another derogatory comment about cricket because a lot of my friends (including HF and Stani, but also many others) just absolutely love the game. So I say, whatever makes you happy guys.
But Mike for me it is just a little unreal. I mean you have a stadium as big as Old Trafford and in the very middle you have a batch of guys where they throw a small hard ball which another one tries to hit with a bat. The rest of them are all standing, burning under the sun, and watch. Then if the ball gets hit in their viscinity one of them may run towards the ball and try to catch it before it falls on the ground. And they do that time and again for three days! And I say to myself, what is the fun in that? And the scoring is as complicated as it gets for a sport.
So, unlike you Mike, I never tried to get into a cricket team. Even if I did, I would probably fall asleep during the match. Like some of the spectators, who I noticed drink beer and eat ice cream while they watch the game. Come to think of it, that is probably the part I like most about cricket. Sorry Stani and HF, I am just not into cricket. It's not my thing. But as I said, I am happy you guys are having fun with it.
Can anyone help a Hammers fan in New York figure out the best options to see/hear our games? Seems like the supporters group goes to Legends on 33rd street in Manhattan but they rarely show our games. Otherwise is Radio London or an iphone app the best choices for live commentary? Is there any reliable LIVE STREAMING via the internet ? Your help is appreciated
If there is a link you will find it here mate:
http://ultimatewesthamunited.blogspot.com/p/live-football-links.html
Otherwise, Radio London.
If West Ham get promoted this season, I'll look back and wish I had moved to USA next year instead of this one. Finding streams for the Championship is a frustrating pursuit to say the least, (one that I frequently complain about to the wife).
Fox Soccer carries the occasional Championship game, but of course any one particular team is only going to come up every so often.
As I said, streams are harder to find now we're in the second tier.
Can't even watch the BBC round-up as won't play in 'my region'.
Brian. I prefer McCormacks on 26th and Third Avenue to Legends.
If you have an IPhone or Ipad the Official App provides Live Audio of every match, video highlights of every match, press conferences, and other stuff. Worth every penny.
Stani, I do have a team. England. As for a club team, feel free to offer one up. How the hell do you think I found West Ham close to 20 years ago as a Manhattanite?!
How much does the official app on iphone set you back?
posh put 7 past ipswich and if they beat us today would be only point behind us and only 6 off top and you call them very average. just last week you were complaining we cudn't beat teams in the top half and when we do you still complain. the only problem i see are peoples perception and unrealistic expectations, were are not that good, peterborough are not that bad, we don't have a divine right to win every game comfortably. ironic that we play ipswich next and if we dont win by 3 or 4 how many people will mention that posh put 7 past them yet we couldnt whilst not even seeing the irony that they said 2 days earlier that posh were average and we should smash them...
Seen their away form Daz?
The App was about $5. Then there is a subscription service, whichnI think was 10£ for 60 days. Again, worth every penny.
true, but form can go out the window against a team like west ham, the biggest game any of them are likely to play, i know its a cliche but teams raise their game because it is like a cup final for them...i totally agree we played poor and should have won easier but it was no surprise, i predicted a 1-0 win. if we win tonight we go either top or a point off top depending on derby so i will take that because we are not playing great but winning,last year we played well in parts and were bottom, i know which i prefer
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