Thursday, December 07, 2006
West Ham 0 - 2 Wigan
Well there goes the home form - I think I warned of this earlier this week. I also mentioned a lack of cutting edge - I think that is still apparent. I also called for Harewood to be partnered alongside Tevez and he was but we got no reward for it. Wigan came to Upton Park with a game plan to stop us attacking and we had no answer to it.
The itself doesn't worry me - we always lose to Wigan at home because they always play the same game plan which we have no answer to. The first time they came to Upton Park we won 4-0 - they did their homework and worked out how to stop that happening again. What concerns me is our next two fixtues Bolton away and Man U at home and our league position - we are now in the relegation zone. We never get anything from Bolton and we'll be lucky to do Man U the way they are playing.
I'm a touch worried. :-(
The itself doesn't worry me - we always lose to Wigan at home because they always play the same game plan which we have no answer to. The first time they came to Upton Park we won 4-0 - they did their homework and worked out how to stop that happening again. What concerns me is our next two fixtues Bolton away and Man U at home and our league position - we are now in the relegation zone. We never get anything from Bolton and we'll be lucky to do Man U the way they are playing.
I'm a touch worried. :-(
Posted by Dave at 9:20 am
norven munky said...
It should worry you that we got done over by Wigan's tactics.
If PJ is smart enough to work out the tactical changes required after a loss, why can't Pardew?
This is the 3rd loss at home to Wigan on the spin. It should be managerial bread & butter to work out a plan to stifle the tactics that have stuffed us twice previously.
I need to look at it again but where was Konchy when they scored the first? Acres of space.
Following up your Konchy played quite well against Everton, if you have a look at the tape again. He makes more mistakes than you can poke a stick at. He made two in the 1st couple of mins. More worrying was that it wasn't just his crossing...he was getting made to look a mug trying to stop crosses going in. Multiple times.
And as to his crosses, you can't just keep turning a blind eye to the fact that 75% of the time his crosses are shite. He's a prem player at the highest level in Britain. Fuck me.
His ditribution from the back is often shite. His 1st instinct is always to turn himself into difficulty and consequently he has no choice but to pump it long.
This morning against Wigan. Unforced mistake in the 1st 30 secs turned it straight over to them. Allowing them to get settled.
He needs to be dropped. This whole NRC & PK untouchable thing is just bullshit and AP needs to make a tough call real soon.
Dave said...
I was more concerned about Spector's performance this morning - he looks like his confidence has left him - time to bring back pantsil.
said...
Now I'm really worried!!
Who would have thought that after last year we would be fighting for survival this year?
I didn't see the game, but surely our problems are deeper than just JS, NRC and PK.
WHERE THE FUCK IS DEANO?
We should ban all Hammers from international duty.
I wonder! Has anyone ever won the FA Cup and been relegated in the same year? Could we be the first?
norven munky said...
Greg I know you want to erase that Gerrard 90th minute goal from your mind but we didn't actually win the cup ;-)
said...
I have no doubt that Pards will be the man to save us from relegation. Expect him to pull a rabbit out of the hat. Although saying this I am worried.
whubris said...
Well, Bowyer's a head kicker! :-) Not the sort you mean though. NRC needs to step up and be a friggin CAPTAIN.
beggers said...
Not so sure we are being tactically outdone as opposed to out paced and generally out enthused.
Wigan played a real high line, pretty easy to play against with the right type of passing. But you need quality passing. Mix up the play with a few long balls, some incicsve balls along the deck and keep the defence guessing. NRC played a great ball to Marlon and he was on goal. Unfortunately that was about it.
Someone said on here before about being to one dimensional and that we are, we are predicatble at the moment. Wigan never really looked to worried at the back. But it's pretty hard too defend if you're constantly being turned around.
Our game lacks pace and power, we are obviously lacking in confidence and it shows. We are too slow both in our movement and on the break. We don't seem to be able to create the space we used too. By this I mean beating players, holding the ball up or finding gaps. We used to get at teams with this pace and movement and now it is all but gone. We look a shadow of the team that played in the FA Cup.
To be honest I would have gone for the same team and formation as Pards. I've no doubt the game plan was to play at pace but if the lads don't do this then Pards tactics look underdone. It's about instilling confidence back in the players and application on the paddock. But how do we achieve this? No magic formula just hard work. Extra training for me would help.
Everton, a couple of seasons back, had a simlar run to us and got out of it. From memory there was no real change in personnel just the a few wins on the bounce and the belief returned. It's all a mind game now. Maybe Pards should give a shout to Moyes, "so how did you do it!"
Got to get the beleif back in the team that EVERY game is winnable. This is a real test for the backroom staff. All is not lost but I've been bricking it since we lost to Newcastle. And we are about to entre our historical bad Christmas run!
Greg's right the problem is across the whole team and not just a few players. It's like a disease, and all have to share the blame. Although I will reserve a special mention for the Captain, he must lead by example and that he is not.
Novern, never mention Gerrads name on here again, there's a good chap. Still not over it!
Onto the game proper. Thought Marlons shot on site policy is the way to go. The only trouble was he didn't hit the target. C'mon son sort it out! He didn't however hold the ball up as well as he should. Back to creating space again. He used to terrorise defences and now.....! I was bang'n on on here about him playing for England, wrong Beggers!. Tevez has goota score soon, hasn't he?????!!!!
Thought NRC was ok as was Mullins, but I don't think just ok will cut it in this league. Ethers doesn't beat'em like he used too and Yossi trickery seems to have deserted him.
Konch, well he managed to get a few crosses in, I didn't run the rule over him like Novern, but I thought he was ok. Thought centre backs did their jobs, but Spector had a mare.
All in all it was the sort of avareage performance you'd expect from a team languishing near the foot of the table and on that display we deserve no better.
I'd play 5 across the middle for Bolton. We got to dictate the tempo of the game, even a few draws would ease the pain. We just have to stop losing.
whubris said...
I'm not in the anti Pardew league yet but surely it's his job to keep the team's mental condition up as well as physically and tactically?
beggers said...
whubris, TOTALLY! The players know how to play football, apparently!, so it's the managers and other backroom staff's job to get them into a winning frame of mind. They are not doing a good enough job at the moment. I also am not anti Pardew but the buck stops with him. I read somewhere that Eggert has pretty much told him so as well.
beggers said...
Also whubris liked the "no surrender" team you mentioned in one of the other posts on here. May as well "go for it" as you put it. Best form of defence is attack!
I'd love to go to Bolton with the Yossi, masher, mullins, Bowyer, Ethers in midfield and run at them all day. They would never expect it. I've said it before but we need someone to pull a "Tonya Harding" on NRC. If he's injured and can't play, I reckon we'll look better. Terrible thing to say but I reckon it'd be true.
Melbournehammer said...
To me the biggest disappointment was Yossi.Looked totally disinterested and as if didn't want to be there.
Green Not at fault for either goal
Spector I like him.Looks as if he wants to play.Did not get any support from Yossi on the right which meant he had to hoof speculative balls forward.
Collins/Ferdinand the odd dodgy clearance but otherwise ok.
Konchesky enuff said already
Yossi his worst performance ever.
Mullins OK no support from other midfielders
NRC thought he got stuck in the first half then AWOL in the second
Ethers didn't seem to want to run at their defence
Marlene Better than Bobby but made the wrong call many times.
Tevez Feel sorry for the guy.Never stopped running.Unlikely not to score.
Wigan's game plan was obvious from the start.I just hoped we would score to open the game up more.
The worse part about these"morning games", is that you feel like shit for the rest of the day.I feel sorry for you Queenslanders then being turned over and spanked by the Jets that night.
...Post a Comment ... Go to Forum
norven munky said...It should worry you that we got done over by Wigan's tactics.
If PJ is smart enough to work out the tactical changes required after a loss, why can't Pardew?
This is the 3rd loss at home to Wigan on the spin. It should be managerial bread & butter to work out a plan to stifle the tactics that have stuffed us twice previously.
I need to look at it again but where was Konchy when they scored the first? Acres of space.
Following up your Konchy played quite well against Everton, if you have a look at the tape again. He makes more mistakes than you can poke a stick at. He made two in the 1st couple of mins. More worrying was that it wasn't just his crossing...he was getting made to look a mug trying to stop crosses going in. Multiple times.
And as to his crosses, you can't just keep turning a blind eye to the fact that 75% of the time his crosses are shite. He's a prem player at the highest level in Britain. Fuck me.
His ditribution from the back is often shite. His 1st instinct is always to turn himself into difficulty and consequently he has no choice but to pump it long.
This morning against Wigan. Unforced mistake in the 1st 30 secs turned it straight over to them. Allowing them to get settled.
He needs to be dropped. This whole NRC & PK untouchable thing is just bullshit and AP needs to make a tough call real soon.
Dave said...I was more concerned about Spector's performance this morning - he looks like his confidence has left him - time to bring back pantsil.
said...Now I'm really worried!!
Who would have thought that after last year we would be fighting for survival this year?
I didn't see the game, but surely our problems are deeper than just JS, NRC and PK.
WHERE THE FUCK IS DEANO?
We should ban all Hammers from international duty.
I wonder! Has anyone ever won the FA Cup and been relegated in the same year? Could we be the first?
norven munky said...Greg I know you want to erase that Gerrard 90th minute goal from your mind but we didn't actually win the cup ;-)
said...I have no doubt that Pards will be the man to save us from relegation. Expect him to pull a rabbit out of the hat. Although saying this I am worried.
whubris said...Well, Bowyer's a head kicker! :-) Not the sort you mean though. NRC needs to step up and be a friggin CAPTAIN.
beggers said...Not so sure we are being tactically outdone as opposed to out paced and generally out enthused.
Wigan played a real high line, pretty easy to play against with the right type of passing. But you need quality passing. Mix up the play with a few long balls, some incicsve balls along the deck and keep the defence guessing. NRC played a great ball to Marlon and he was on goal. Unfortunately that was about it.
Someone said on here before about being to one dimensional and that we are, we are predicatble at the moment. Wigan never really looked to worried at the back. But it's pretty hard too defend if you're constantly being turned around.
Our game lacks pace and power, we are obviously lacking in confidence and it shows. We are too slow both in our movement and on the break. We don't seem to be able to create the space we used too. By this I mean beating players, holding the ball up or finding gaps. We used to get at teams with this pace and movement and now it is all but gone. We look a shadow of the team that played in the FA Cup.
To be honest I would have gone for the same team and formation as Pards. I've no doubt the game plan was to play at pace but if the lads don't do this then Pards tactics look underdone. It's about instilling confidence back in the players and application on the paddock. But how do we achieve this? No magic formula just hard work. Extra training for me would help.
Everton, a couple of seasons back, had a simlar run to us and got out of it. From memory there was no real change in personnel just the a few wins on the bounce and the belief returned. It's all a mind game now. Maybe Pards should give a shout to Moyes, "so how did you do it!"
Got to get the beleif back in the team that EVERY game is winnable. This is a real test for the backroom staff. All is not lost but I've been bricking it since we lost to Newcastle. And we are about to entre our historical bad Christmas run!
Greg's right the problem is across the whole team and not just a few players. It's like a disease, and all have to share the blame. Although I will reserve a special mention for the Captain, he must lead by example and that he is not.
Novern, never mention Gerrads name on here again, there's a good chap. Still not over it!
Onto the game proper. Thought Marlons shot on site policy is the way to go. The only trouble was he didn't hit the target. C'mon son sort it out! He didn't however hold the ball up as well as he should. Back to creating space again. He used to terrorise defences and now.....! I was bang'n on on here about him playing for England, wrong Beggers!. Tevez has goota score soon, hasn't he?????!!!!
Thought NRC was ok as was Mullins, but I don't think just ok will cut it in this league. Ethers doesn't beat'em like he used too and Yossi trickery seems to have deserted him.
Konch, well he managed to get a few crosses in, I didn't run the rule over him like Novern, but I thought he was ok. Thought centre backs did their jobs, but Spector had a mare.
All in all it was the sort of avareage performance you'd expect from a team languishing near the foot of the table and on that display we deserve no better.
I'd play 5 across the middle for Bolton. We got to dictate the tempo of the game, even a few draws would ease the pain. We just have to stop losing.
whubris said...I'm not in the anti Pardew league yet but surely it's his job to keep the team's mental condition up as well as physically and tactically?
beggers said...whubris, TOTALLY! The players know how to play football, apparently!, so it's the managers and other backroom staff's job to get them into a winning frame of mind. They are not doing a good enough job at the moment. I also am not anti Pardew but the buck stops with him. I read somewhere that Eggert has pretty much told him so as well.
beggers said...Also whubris liked the "no surrender" team you mentioned in one of the other posts on here. May as well "go for it" as you put it. Best form of defence is attack!
I'd love to go to Bolton with the Yossi, masher, mullins, Bowyer, Ethers in midfield and run at them all day. They would never expect it. I've said it before but we need someone to pull a "Tonya Harding" on NRC. If he's injured and can't play, I reckon we'll look better. Terrible thing to say but I reckon it'd be true.
Melbournehammer said...To me the biggest disappointment was Yossi.Looked totally disinterested and as if didn't want to be there.
Green Not at fault for either goal
Spector I like him.Looks as if he wants to play.Did not get any support from Yossi on the right which meant he had to hoof speculative balls forward.
Collins/Ferdinand the odd dodgy clearance but otherwise ok.
Konchesky enuff said already
Yossi his worst performance ever.
Mullins OK no support from other midfielders
NRC thought he got stuck in the first half then AWOL in the second
Ethers didn't seem to want to run at their defence
Marlene Better than Bobby but made the wrong call many times.
Tevez Feel sorry for the guy.Never stopped running.Unlikely not to score.
Wigan's game plan was obvious from the start.I just hoped we would score to open the game up more.
The worse part about these"morning games", is that you feel like shit for the rest of the day.I feel sorry for you Queenslanders then being turned over and spanked by the Jets that night.
