Well that was dire. Collison, Maiga and Vaz Te were held back far too long and a Reading team there for the beating were allowed to con their way to victory. When Allardyce eventually woke up to the possibility that we could actually attack the team that has already conceded 19 goals at home this season, we created three good chances from open play. But until then, the only game plan seemed to be to defend and pinch a goal from set pieces.
This was the old Doctor Evil that I complained about all last season, a guy who doesn't understand that sometimes you are the superior team and that you should stamp that superiority on the game. Every game is played the same, with the priority being reducing the goals scored by the opposition, forgetting, it seems, that you can win by outscoring your opponents. We should have beaten this Reading team comfortably, instead we gave away a pathetic goal and then spent 60 minutes protecting a 1-0 deficit. When the chances came, because at last we tried to create some, we missed them.
The squad is, of course, hopelessly inadequate. Tomkins is not a right back. O'Brien is not a left back. O'Neil is not a Premiership player. Taylor was offloaded by a Bolton team heading for relegation for a reason. And Noble needs somebody half decent alongside him to control a game. And yes, to satisfy his critics, his set pieces in this game were embarrassing. Meanwhile, Jarvis is hopelessly out of form.
It's one win in eight games now, and Nolan's suspension for the Norwich game isn't going to help our cause. We need Vaz Te fit and firing whilst Collison's performance was promising. The teams at the bottom are closing the gap however, and the relegation trap door has eased open. Five wins is all we need, but this is a team that has forgotten how to win. Three points against Norwich are essential, but Norwich pushed Man City close today so that won't be easy - especially without Nolan.
Worrying times!
Player Ratings: Jussi 5 (He didn't make a save!); Tomkins 5 (distribution awful) Reid 7, Collins 4 (what an error!) O'Brien 5; O'Neil 4, Noble 4; Taylor 5, Nolan 6 (stupid booking!), Jarvis 4; Cole 5 Subs Collison 6, Vaz Te 5, Maiga 5
Hahaha I agree with Nobles rating but Nolan a 6. Are you having a joke HF he was anonymous in the game bar 1 cross. Like last season we will play better without him. Can someone tell me what is gained by playing o'neil over a kid as he is he most useless player i have ever seen in my life and the fact you gave him a 4 is stupid. Didnt complete a pass lost the ball coutless times and kept running backwards and kept passing it out for a throw in!! He should get a 1 at best.
ReplyDeleteYou keep going off at Nolan for getting a 5th booking but Collins also got a 5th booking but that isnt even mentioned in the report and of course he will also be missing for the Norwich game.
ReplyDeleteyes worrying times indeed hopefully diame back soon but in the meantime give diarra ago next to noble agree about oneil simply not good enough for the prem but my biggest worry is goals 2 decent forwards and a left back sam and sell oneil obrian cole and vaz te
ReplyDeleteWhilst your at it sam sell every other squad player we have, so we are just left with my 11 favourite players. Who cares if we can only field 6 of them due to injury or suspension? Sell them all sam!! #prick
DeleteHow is Allardyce going to convince the board to put their hands in their pockets come January when he convinced them to spunk millions on Carroll and Jarvis?
ReplyDeleteWest ham deserved what they got today,dirty tatics, nolan and collins deserved to be booked, cole should have been sent off for stamping on reading player
ReplyDeleteAnd like a couple of cockney slappers arguing over a kebab,plastic hammer and some tart quibble over player ratings. Time for a reality check girls.IT DOESN'T MATTER,YOU GOT BEAT.
ReplyDeleteYes, the design of the site is nice and I know you always have me and Sav in mind HF, even when writing. Shame about the header image though. Is that Noble saying "I managed to get one good cross in"?
ReplyDeleteOoh stani thinks the new design is "nice". What a shower of cockney ponces you lot are. Who are you? The inter city fairies?
ReplyDeleteWas Pavel not of woman born? I bet Zola is having a chuckle tonight. What a Madjestic performance from the bottom team. You couldn't make it up hammer fanny,could you?ha ha.
ReplyDeletethe bottom half of the premier league is average like the championship, anyone can beat anyone
ReplyDeleteYes but any team from the bottom half of the prem would shit all over any championship team?? What's your point
DeleteOh, just that anyone can beat anyone. Sorry it wasn't clear for you.
DeleteTime to stick your heads between your legs and kiss your cockney arses goodbye(or in your case,eachothers cockney arses) cos you're leaving the premier league on the allardyce express. Love watching you hammers squirm. Isn't nolan shite and isn't noble a tosser? Who said nolan isn't shite? Well he can join noble and the tossers.
ReplyDeleteYou've still got to feel for big Sam though. There's only so much polishing a turd can take before it becomes apparent it actually IS a turd.
ReplyDelete