The game will be quickly forgotten - very quickly. The excitement value was zero but, if at the end of the season it turns out to be a sterile encounter between two mid table teams, who cares? This was a point well won, a crucial point on the road to survival, a vital point given the way the teams at the bottom have been picking up points lately. Five more wins and we are safe. Five more wins!
Anything of note to report? West Brom hit the bar from a corner but it wasn't a controlled header. And Cole was immense, playing up top on his own and engineering three shots on target without any assistance from his team mates, albeit one was struck off, absurdly, for a foul. He also played the best pass of the night, crossing the ball onto Taylor's head.
At the back, both Collins and Reid were giants and O'Brien did well too, particularly given he was on the wrong flank. Demel, on the other hand, played like he did at Wembley against Blackpool, as if he had lead weights tied to his boots. At one point I swear Fatty Dowd out sprinted him after giving Guy a ten yard start. It was no surprise when Allardyce pulled him off - he almost always does anyway - but Clarke must have been rubbing his hands in anticipation when Tomkins replaced him at right back. Our resources are stretched absurdly.
On the ball we were dire for most of the game. O'Neil bent one narrowly wide. Reid planted one over and one wide from corners. And Cole forced those three saves. That was just about it.
Without the ball, we were huge. So much ground was covered as we chased, harried and disrupted West Brom's rhythm. We were missing seven players and couldn't even fill the sub's bench, but the team ran their hearts out for the club, the fans, for Captain Kev and for Big Sam. There's no getting away from it, West Ham under Greenwood or Lyall would have lost this game before even leaving the dressing room; Allardyce teams, however, thrive on adversity and this is now very much an Allardyce team.
It wasn't great to watch but it was a very good point. Enough said.
Player Ratings: Jussi 6; Demel 4, Collins 8, Reid 8, O'Brien 7; Noble 6, O'Neil 6; Taylor 6, Nolan 6, Jarvis 6; Cole 8 Subs Maiga 5, Tomkins 5
It's been quite a while I can't find anything to disagree with you HF. Even as regards the player ratings!
ReplyDeleteI thought brooking and cottee were quiet today,infact i don't think either had a touch. You get knighthoods for anything these days. Mcavennie may aswell have stayed at home dealing out medicine.
ReplyDeleteDunlopilo says :
ReplyDeleteI agree with everything said here. Poor match, poor display by bothe teams, a typical match from middle of the table anywhere, from any decent league. There is a point win, we can be happy given the circumstances.
I did not like the refereeing though. O'Brien gets a yellow for a mild foul, his first, and one without consequences nor committed with evil. I don't think there was a yellow for Tomkins, his first, and same thing as for O'Brien, plus it is challenge between two players for the ball. There was no foul by O'Neill on Odemwinghe (the guy throws himself on the floor and constantly simulates contacts). Finally, why did the ref give a card to Nolan and Mulumbu ? Just use common sense, have the blokes come with you on a side discussion, have them shake hands and that's it. What's this "I'm the boss" silly attitude ? English referees are one of a kind. You wouldn't get half the stupid yellows they pull out on the continent. Yet, remember how dreadful Webb Was in the last world cup final ?
Come on west ham fans. Don't cause any more embarrassment to the plastic hammer. It's YOUR team and YOUR chance to comment on the issues that matter. Did you go to the game today? What are your player ratings? Are you looking forward to Barnsleys pies next season? Let's get the comments up to one hundred and put an end to hammer fannys humiliation.
ReplyDeleteIs that it? Is that the best that both you and West Ham have to offer? I watched the second half of the second half and West Ham were, frankly, shockingly bereft of anything. No spark, no ambition, no invention and, if that's the sum of your ambition, to survive the premiership without flair or imagination, without silverware or even so much as a applaudible passage of play in 90 minutes then you may as well emigrate to Eastern Europe and watch it on your laptop.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree HF watched the game at work. O'Neill and Maiga really annoyed me, both running round like headless chickens. Reid was outstanding yet again and was unlucky not to score. The Tomkins at RB really winds me up aswell. Reid has more pace and plays there for NZ so why not switch him to RB and put Tomkins in the middle? As you yourself said in the summer, not recruiting the players we need will come back to bite us on the backside. Also if Sam is bothered about not being able to fill the bench why did he allow Hall, Potts and Morison to leave on loan? Yes they may well need he experience but at least give them a chance.
ReplyDeletenoble only a 6? i thought he deserved at least 11
ReplyDeletewhat a bag of shit
ReplyDeleteWatching the game didnt do anything for my ticker...I was glad when it finished and we'd kept a clean sheet.
ReplyDeleteMuch of the decision making from our players was very very frustrating, except for most of or defense.
With our depleted squad, to come away with a point with West Brom's record at home, was an excellent result.
Agree with Sav...one of your better reviews, Granddad.
Jarvis looks like a player who has lost all the potential he once had. Could he be one of the most expensive flops in a Hammers shirt? As of now of course.
ReplyDeleteThe problem with Jarvis is that he can't defend. If he improves on his defensive duties he has something different/useful to offer going forward. This didn't show much last night. So, we were left with only the negatives.
ReplyDeleteHahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha Family commitments
ReplyDeletehahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Poyet agrees with you HF
ReplyDeletehttp://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20756500