My journey home from the game on Saturday was not a pleasant one. I was filled with disappointment and disgust at our lack of organisation, discipline and quality and the fact that our mistakes against Leicester were replicated, and we added a sack full of others.
Our full backs in particular were very disappointing and were a shadow of the players who were crucial to our success last season. Cresswell was at fault for the first two goals but for me Jenkinson was perhaps even worse. His composure left little to be desired, losing out to Max Gradel on more than one occasion. Eventually Gradel caused Carl so many problems he won a penalty against him which consequently sentences Jenkinson to a three match suspension, our fifth red card since our season began.
In previous match reviews I have outlined positives despite defeat, for example, Ogbonna and Obiang gave reason for optimism against Leicester and the fact that the Europa League gave our youngsters experience. However, I am struggling to identify a single positive aspect of our game. Throughout the first half we were second best in every aspect of the match and rightly, the team were booed off at half time. When play resumed we picked ourselves up, didn’t feel sorry for ourselves and within 8 minutes we were level! But then once again we were sloppy and more individual errors resulted in going 4-2 down. A Maiga consolation meant nothing to anyone, except the Mali international himself who seemed delighted to get a goal, hopefully this will do wonders for his confidence.
We have been told the board will look to complete the signing of a proven goal scorer from the continent in time for the player to be involved in the game against Liverpool at Anfield. The need for additions is obvious, a central midfielder is still a must in my opinion and rumours have circulated today that the club may well perform a dramatic U-turn and acquire the services of Joey Barton to shield our vulnerable defence.
Please comment your feelings below and for those of you who, like me, are taking the long journey to Liverpool, have a safe journey and let’s hope for a better performance than what we have witnessed for the last two games!
COYI
As much as I can’t stand Joey Barton you can’t fault what he gives a side. I have to say it we need him. Nolan hasn’t been good enough for a couple of seasons and by all account Song won’t be available for 2-3 months. Plus our only fit striker Miaga is being sold WTF?
I feel your pain as a life long Hammer I just knew this was going to happen,I know it ! Why ? simply because we have not had a clue about how to score goals from decent build up play between players since last Christmas we seem clueless how to carve open other teams the way they open us !
Our defence has no chance to play correctly under such pressure we allow other teams to do this to us due to our lack of skilled attack and threat to other defence’s our midfield looks lost for Ideas and haw many games over the last 2 seasons have we been the team with the most possession you could count them on one hand ! – so why is that ???
All I hope is that Mr Slavin can see and solve the problems in time before the unthinkable happens and yes we get that oh so much needed striker before Tuesday — Clock is ticking in more ways than one !!
We were extremely poor in the first half and I would rather hear nothing than the crowd booing the players. We should try and give them a lift rather than demoralise them even more, they know themselves that they hadn’t performed, it’s up to the manager and his staff to change tactics and get them motivated. We are ONLY 3 games into the season!!
Our at home first half performances have been poor and this needs to be addressed by the manager and his team.
Lets give our team all the support when on the pitch and criticise after the game and at half time.
COYIs
Sorry, that should read; and not at half time.
Certainly worrying that despite the supposed change in style we still have less than half the possession against a Team like Bournemouth not to mention bring outplayed by players who wouldn’t get on our bench for the most part. Where do you go from here, well if you are our owners you wait till the last minute and put in desperate cheap offers and hope for the best. Meanwhile we have a manager who’s whole style is to play with hard working wingers while we have none worth a place and subsequently leave our fullbacks to attack and defend with little to no support. But don’t worry guys losing 2 of the 10 most winnable home games while the Daves fiddle is all part of some fantastic Master plan apparently.
yes, cresswell was awful, yes jenkinson was dreadful. BUT yes there is a BUT. Not only has our manager and chairmen need to open their eyes but us fans too.
THERE IS NO MIDFIELD. The engine room of any team even a pub side.
Why oh why our managers persist with NOBLE. pedestrian at best. watch him run alongside a player then stop. That’s like playing with 10 men every game. add nolan and it becomes 9. No side in any of the leagues can play with 9 men and expect to get something out of the game.
The full backs are exposed.
Let me ask a simple question. WHICH other sides in the premier league will NOBLE and NOLAN get into?
When SAM left I wrongly thought noble and Nolan’s days were over. How wrong. Seems as if we are contractionally obliged to play noble every game.
I think there is something fundamentally wrong with the club.
Money will be made from Olympic stadium. club will be sold. then maybe then We might get to be at same level as the likes of Crystal palace and stoke.
Not being pessimistic just a realist. too many false dawns.
Jenkinson will only have one match ban not three.