For those who watched the game, will understand that it wasn’t an all-time classic from our point, in reality, it’s a game we would all like to forget as soon as. However if we actually analyse the game, we can say we coped well in the first half, looking good value for the 1-1, not creating much, but posing enough of a threat to cause trouble for Arsenal.
That second half. Where do I start? Arsenal came out firing, we were caught napping, and before we knew it it was 5-1 and the game was over. But what did we actually learn from the game?
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For starters, we do not cope well against pace. Theo Walcott was running riot against Joey O’Brien & Guy Demel all night long, no matter what side he was on. Lukas Podolski as well, may not appear to be the quickest guy, but can shift himself quickly over a short space, which proved diffidence in the game, bagging a top quality goal and three assists.
I know Joey & Guy are not the best, but at least make a challenge. Any pacey wingers from here on in must be licking their lips at facing our fullbacks. We couldn’t be in need of fullbacks more than we currently are, lets hope we can get one tied down.
Next on the hit-list is the defenders positioning. I understand that they have played well thus far on the whole, but when players dribble towards them, they back away, stand square on, and are easily turned and they also lunge in prematurely.
The amount of times last night and against QPR that players would lunge in and would have the opponent skip past, made it unbelievably easy for Arsenal to get in behind it was unreal.
Defensively they need to reshape and work on some technical issues, like the offside trap. They’re not in sync all the time, which has to change if we want to have a chance of staying up. I know I’m probably becoming rather cynical here but it has to improve.
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Now, for Big Sam’s tactical changes. I noticed that a lot of Hammers’ were not best pleased with the rather defensive minded changes in the second half. I have already vented my frustration regarding Ricardo Vaz Te & Kevin Nolan, but now bringing on Alou Diarra & Danny Potts at that stage in the game baffled me. Not only this, not starting Joe Cole, Mohamed Diame or Matt Jarvis in the game. I understand that players need a rest but this was a big game and a game which required our top players if we were to have any chance. Sam will not win over many of us if he continues to make these decisions, nor will he win over the board, with his contract running out fast. Times-a-ticking Sam.
One last note, I would like to wish all the best to Danny Potts, stretchered off in the game with a head/neck injury. Is recovering in hospital as we speak. Hope all is well. COYI.
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its time for bfs to be sacked players arnt playing for him players want to leave l saw the spiral downwards from 4/5 weeks ago , also the two davids dont want to open their wallets to buy some decent players to sign its also time to sell the club to the russian billioner that was ready to put some money into the club just before the spiral started , it might be drastic but it has to happen now b4 its to late we get to close to relagation zone , lets get goin and be the strong club we were ,
Great analysis, spot on, thought the same thing, the non starting of Jarivs, Cole, & Diame, really strange, I know we are not the fastest team, but to have Nolan, Taylor, Collison, Noble do all the running in mid seems ludicrous. It felt like Sam wanted to loose the game, or at least not risk any of our best players which I don’t like to see.
One more thing to add I was really shocked at the number of times one ball from their CB or Wilshire took out 5/6 of our players, tomkins and reid were often left on their own way to often, I thought the 5-3-2 we we played at Man U would have worked a treat for a game like this.
COYI
Do not know much about these things, but is it true there is much money to be made in relegation, then promotion, and so on. As it does seem strange the way management is carrying on
Spence is fast enough to chase speedy wingers