Saturday 21 September 2013

West Ham 2 Everton 3 - Relegation struggle confirmed

OK, the excuses will be made. Did Noble connect with the ball before he was sent off? Probably yes. Should he have been sent off therefore, even if a foul was awarded? Probably no. Did he even deserve the first yellow for the tug on Mirallis? Some referees would have considered the free kick punishment enough, especially given the fact that Reid cleared the ball anyway.

However, moan as much as we like, we lost because Everton played us off the park in the second half and Noble ended up with an early bath because we were chasing shadows throughout that second period.

So, the West Ham fans who took issue with my warning about relegation, made as soon as Carroll's injury was confirmed and we failed to buy a replacement, might now like to think again. True Petric came on and made an instant impression by chasing a lost cause and setting up Nolan for the penalty award, but it is unlikely he will be fit and available for every game, and Maiga, once again, looked out of his depth. In fact, depth is the key word because when you bring on Taylor to protect a lead in the Prem, you admit that your squad is paper thin.

That second half was every bit as depressing as our performance against Stoke. As soon as Collins fouled Barkley within Baines shooting range, you knew Everton would equalise. Jussi's positioning was awful, but with Baines going for the opposite corner for his second, you can understand the Finn's muddled thinking. Of course, the solution was obvious, to put a tall man on the unprotected post, but you need players with brains to work that out, or a manager that thinks outside the box, which Allardyce doesn't.

Once Noble was dismissed, the game was up, but we were lucky to lead because the only objective in the second half was to protect what we had. Petric did brilliantly to win the ball on the dead ball line and play it back to Nolan, and Nolan bought the penalty like the old pro he is, but we offered absolutely nothing going forward apart from that in the second period. And the midfield were clearly shattered 60 minutes into the game because of the pressing tactics. Everton simply bided their time and then passed the ball through the gaps that inevitably appeared.

Meanwhile, Lukaku showed what we missed as Sullivan and Gold fiddled as Upton Park burned. Financial Fair Play? Cobblers. We were just trying to save on wages for a few weeks, and because of Carroll's injury, it exploded in our faces. Also, of course, Allardyce's one dimensional Plan A policy of the lone striker meant that Lukaku didn't fancy keeping the bench warm, waiting for Carroll to pull up lame.

So, the relegation struggle was confirmed today. It's going to be a long, difficult, painful season and God only knows the implications to the club if we go down.

Player ratings: Jussi 4; O'Brien 5 Collins 6, Reid 8, Rat 6; Noble 5, Morrison 5; Jarvis 5, Nolan 5, Diame 6; Maiga 4 Subs Petric 6, Taylor 5

17 comments:

Elf72 said...

Really!?

Sav said...

No, come on HF. Only 5 for Noble? It is so unfair. The man was class!

And now to answer some of your questions:

1. Did he touch the ball. Clearly NO. The replays and slow motion proved that.

2. Did the referee have to send him off. Yes, surely. It was a dive-tackle from behind.

3. Did he have to throw himself. Only an idiot would, considering James Collins was ready to block him at the box and the threat that Everton (and Baines in particular) posed to West Ham.

So give Noble 10! because he is West Ham through and through and because he makes a lot of passes and so on and so forth and don't forget, so intelligent!

The only good thing that West Ham got from his red card is that finally he will be left out of the team for a game or two. There is no other way, it seems.

Anonymous said...

Lol you're not wrong there mate - squandering a lead TWICE! Ha ha ha:)

Anonymous said...

Maiga is worthless a 4 is so kind of you as he plays striker and yet didn't have a shot on goal. Take away the penalty and what did Nolan do but make bad passes and relax the back four of Everton. Vaz te isn't given enough credit for today as he was creative and a spark just like petric. I think Nolan's time is done.

Is something wrong with collison? Taylor over him doesn't make sense. If you want to argue he is more defensive your wrong cause Sam played him in front of noble prior to him going down. It just doesn't make sense.

US HF

jake star said...

Can you imagine trying to get the ball off huddlestone and Livermore in the next game hahaha be well funny to watch.....noble is so slow it's embarrassing and if he gets any deeper May as well play in goal. Nolan has less pace upfront we have errrrr nothing......this will be a very tough season and oh oh dear.....hull next who will defo play us off the park. Seen the m twice and they pass well and errrr create something we can't!! Then the big boys oops nothing there. So sam please go no one wants you or your ideas thanks for promoting us but no one wants to play for you!! We tried to get him , him and him, and they all said no effing way am I playing for him. Go or please please get sacked if w e are gonna go down let's at least play some football.

Anonymous said...

Shut up Sav you mug. Noble never should have seen red because his first yellow card wasnt even a yellow. Collins was only ready to block if Barkley shoots, if anything Collins wouldve given them a pen. Until the red Noble far and away our best player, and he misses one game which is in the cup which contrary to what you think is good for us.

Anonymous said...

Unbelievable total pants just not good enough to see a game out.

depressedhammer said...

We can argue the toss on here as much as we like. But the fact is Sam A bought one big egg, put it in the basket and dropped it. Had the chance to buy another egg but bought a 'winger baby egg' (Downing) instead of a 'striker egg.' Sam A got us in the bad place we are in, now it's up to him to get us out of it. Be interesting to see how he approaches the Hull game. A must have 3 points game. A loss to Hull will be a disaster and could well confirm that a relegation battle lies ahead. There are times when i feel very low about being born in West Ham!!!! COYI

Anonymous said...

Slow boys again - Nolan, Noble. Diame can't take the ball further. Collins - to say the least, limited.
Maiga - money for jam.
Jarvis - not much cop really.

Morrison and Reid the only two bright spots out of today's line-up.

Noble can be good, but his slowness is a major failing for such a young player and causes him to make disastrous 'tackles', time and again.

AJ said...

HF I am so happy for you, to be able to gloat (again) at our clubs expense, and for what? so you can say "I told you so"

Anonymous said...

oooh noble sent off! will this stop you from bumming him in every other post. west ham are shite mate just accept it

Anonymous said...

noble 9

Anonymous said...

So, I've posted two comments and neither have been put up, this is the third, wonder if u will put this up? Why haven't you put the other two up? Have you spat the dummy out you precious little thing x

Anonymous said...

What is it with us and injuries?
We are a different team without this injury list but Collins and Noble need a serious talking to about using your brains when it comes to exactly where you don't try high risk tackles.

Anonymous said...

Why don't you use viargra like other men your age, rather than getting your rocks of when our team does badly, you're obviously some sort of sick pervert

Anonymous said...

The depressing fact is that we cannot afford to lose BFS at the minute. With the window firmly shut no significant changes to the squad can be made and he is the only person with half a chance of getting results with the cart horses he has loaded our team with. I think we are stuck with him til the summer. Then a new man should be sort. One whose footballing philosophy belongs firmly to this century!

Anonymous said...

Moyes will be looking for work soon.........