“Ravel Morrison has not been played at all and I don’t know why. We’ve been playing Nicky Maynard but he is a small striker, like I was, and I don’t think it works having him as the lone striker. I’ve felt sorry for Nicky when he’s been played on his own up front."
“A lot of fingers have been pointed at the forwards but a striker is only as good as his service and there aren’t too many options out wide and that’s been a problem more than anything else.”
Spot on TC. Shame Officer Dribble Allardyce doesn't get it! He is committed to the long ball lump of course, and seems to think it is all down to the air headed strikers. The problem is, when they live on scraps, they snatch at chances. They miss, the crowd groan, confidence sinks and we are in to an unvirtuous cycle.
It's time for Nolan to step aside for home games. It's time to get two men up top with Tomkins anchoring, Noble or Lasbury pulling the strings and with Vaz Te and Morrison or (dear God) Faubert operating on the flanks. I would have Taylor at left back too to add attacking impetus. We may lose as a result but a win brings three points and a defeat only loses you one. Do the sums. One win and one defeat is better than two draws; why can't Allardyce get it?
I agree with most of that but thought Tompkins looked a bit slow Tuesday night getting the ball under control and working out what he was going to do with it. I think central defence is his best position.
ReplyDeleteI think we all agree, the only one who does'nt is Big Sam. Play Vaz Te wide right, Lansbury wide left, Morrison and Noble in the middle, then put Maynard and Baldock up front. Play the ball on the floor and move the ball and their defence around. It would appear that even Tony Mowbray has worked out how to stop West Ham when they play at home. So change the tactics and get it right at home or away, we still have the games, or is it that Big Sam only has one play book and no Plan B. The excuses are wearing thin, it would seem it is obvious to everyone except The Manager and his staff. Even the David's have not really made any comments, could this be due to the pay-off Big Sam would get if they sacked him.
ReplyDeleteLet's hope he accepts that his tactics are not working, and changes them particularly if he wants his 2 points a game, it will require changes in the tactics. Otherwise we will be in the championship next year and clubs will not say we are favourites to win, but the favourites not to be able to score.
If it was tried for a few games it could well change our fortunes, playing the way we are will not.
Noble HF?! Did you see him in our last game, I think it was the 77th minute or something and he found himself with the ball in space in the middle of the pitch and could have gone forward with purpose, but he just went back and forward two yards as if in a panic and not knowing what to do. The attack was then dead as all the opposition players had got back. Utterly frustrating.
ReplyDeleteAnd his free-kicks?! How the hell does he manage to convince people he should be taking the?! He is a master con artist
We are third from top, unbeaten in eight and with a game in hand. Some of our problems have been caused by injuries. Bentley, followed by Lansbury, followed by Taylor and now Vaz Te all of whom were having a positive impact prior to their departure. So while Sam can take some of the blame for our inability to turn some draws into wins, he also deserves some credit for the decent position we find ourselves in.
ReplyDeleteI am hoping that we can get Vaz Te back quickly and that Morrison/Lansbury/Taylor will improve and give us some creative spark. Sacking Sam would be idiotic in my opinion
Leave all the players whose surname begins with the letters "No" out. Use Lansbury and Vaz Te and Morrison. Let's play the West Ham way when we play at home and the Allardyce way when we play away.
ReplyDeleteBut can Sam get it... I don't know... We are running out time and out of games. How the hell will we win the crucial game against Reading at Upton Park playing this way...
Spot on analysis HF...if anyone to voice their opinion and know what they are talking about from a forwards perspective it's COTTEE.
ReplyDeleteI agree with John 18:02 regarding TOMKINS ,his best position is in central defence ,but I can see why ALLARDYCE is using him in the holding role,his defensive capabilities plus it frees up NOBLE,but DIOP is the man who best fits the role.Him and FAYE have been valuable additons to the team that ALLARDYCE has added,no qualms there.What is so frustrating is that ALLARDYCE has brought in the players to address the weaknesses in the side but the square pegs in round holes scenario is repeating itself again,fielding players out of position and not playing to their strengths.Considering the COTTEE /MacAVENNIE pairing, they were not big players,as the current new recruits arn't(VAZ TE,BALDOCK,MAYNARD) ,but they certainly knew how to play together,they developed a great understanding of each others game.Thats what I would like to see in the WESTHAM attack ,but ALLARDYCE seems hell bent on his one up top approach to work his long ball tactic.As far as having an effective midfield is concerned it is far from being resolved.There is no width,little pace and creativity .I am a fan of LANSBURY when he plays for the U21 ENGLAND team,he really dominates that midfield and fills it with creativity ,he has not been given that same role at WESTHAM .ALLARDYCE needs to give him that free midfield role along with MORRISON who has the pace and guile to unlock defences .I am just not convinced ,though,ALLARDYCE has it in him to make these sweeping changes as he is too conservative and safety conscious,too set in his ways.But it needs a shake up like this to bring some life back into the team as they look like a team going through the motions.It means dropping NOLAN ,scored some important goals ,had a great game against CARDIFF ,but his overall contribution is not enough to keep him in the side despite being a decent captain,and NOBLE ,who has had some decent matches this season,but lacks a real cutting edge in the creativity side of his game and poor goal tally from open play.The width of the team being another major area of concern ...players like DEVONSHIRE and WARD we need ,players who play with pace and take players on get to the by-line & put in decent crosses.TAYLOR lacks pace and so his ability to take players on is stifled and FAUBERT has the pace but seems to shy away from taking players on.He has showed in some games this season what he can achieve but consistency is his problem.So for now VAZ TE is the best answer to the problem on one wing with FAUBERT on the other.
Anony-mouse says,
ReplyDeleteSouthender- I couldn't agree more with your post. We're at where we're at right now- limiatations, injuries, etc but we've just got to crack on.
I did think Taylor had a stinker on Tuesday, the culmination of a few poor weeks compared to his early season standard. Until Vaz Te is back though we are short of an alternative left sided attacking player though so hopefully Taylor can get it together. Vaz Te is the big loss for me - the way he plays makes us keep it on the ground. Hopefully he'll be back soon.
And I agree that sacking Allardyce would be madness. We are where we are and it's a time to all pull together and focus on the only thing that matters this season- promotion. Cos if we don't go up, given the financial position, it could well be that at some stage in the near future people will have more pressing things to talk about than the quality of football.
COYI!
Here we go again,same old same old...let's bash Noble.
ReplyDeleteThere is one reason Noble has had a dip in form the last few matches,the return of Kevin Nolan.
Noble played very well (not brilliant) when Nolan was suspended but was far more creative without Nolan in his way.
Nolan plays in exactly the position Noble should be occupying - most advanced of the midfielders - playing decisive balls through the channels for the likes of Maynard & Baldock to run onto,forget the hoof ball,keep the ball on the deck,drop Nolan & Cole & let Noble run the show but that aint gonna happen cos Nolan is Sam's boy...
The only reason Nolan is in the team is because he is a crafty old pro who knows where to put himself at set pieces - look at the equaliser at Leeds,Nolan blocked off their keeper giving Collins a free header plus he also bags a few goals for himself because of his situational awareness but apart from that he completely stifles our team!!
Noble has to run the show with either Lansbury or Morrison alongside with Nolan to be used as a sub only.
Simples!
Jonny Hammer x