Well, I can safely say that the weekend was the lowest point in our season so far, and I would go as far as saying the lowest I have been since we have been back in the top flight.
I believe we are now amongst the teams fighting it out to remain in the Premier League, we are really struggling going forward which has been well documented. Now with the absence of key player Winston Reid, the defence that looked so solid before has now conceded 6 goals in 2 games.
Here are FIVE things we learnt from the Chelsea game.
ONE- with the absence of Reid, we are left with only two centre backs. James Collins was very poor on Saturday. Was he really fit enough to start? I don’t know, but the lack of depth meant he had to play.
TWO- the surprise element of the much talked about 4-6-0 has well and truly gone now, we need to have a focal point. Carlton Cole or Modibo Maiga need to play, it’s becoming too easy and predictable for organised defences.
THREE- Matt Jarvis is a strange situation, why isn’t he getting in the side? I think its time to play Jarvis and Stewart Downing with a focal point and start putting pressure on teams.
FOUR- Mohamed Diame, like Jarvis, I cant understand why he is not getting picked. It seems like everything that we did well last season is not happening this season.
FIVE- I really didn’t like Sam Allardyce taking Jack Collison and Joe Cole off after 35 minutes, I think that’s bad man management and a little embarrassing for the two players. The pressure is starting to mount on Allardyce after recent performances and poor selection. However, I am still convinced that Big Sam is the right man to take West Ham forward. Individual errors need to be cut out and only the players can do that. Time will only tell, but one thing is for sure the pressure will start to intensify if we cant pick up three points when we play Fulham at Upton Park next week.
What was your take on the Chelsea performance? Is Allardyce picking the right team/formation? What are your expectations after watching recent games?
Tweet me @jmrmarsden1
I think ‘Big Sam was right to take off J.Cole.he jst shy playing against his former employees.for me,i think Diame is being played wrongly.
Another season in the Championship beckons. One thing I noticed watching the Chelsea game is that confidence has now gone. The body language was there for all to see. Also, for the first time, I feel the manager is making mistakes too. He seems to have an arrogant agenda that is not working. There shall be three London clubs relegated this year – of that I am certain.
Sorry to say that he vast majority of supporters have been proved right. No quality second striker signed, just panic signings after the window closed. Plus not enough cover/quality at centre half and right wing. Bullshit about fair play rules will see us relegated.
The team selection was wrong from the start – against the stronger Prem teams, Cole and Collison aren’t good enough and shouldn’t have started. If McCartney is fit why didn’t he start – poor JOB was continually embarrassed out of position. Collins was def playing under duress and against a class team not up to it if not 101%. Taking off both C and C was crazy that early – and no-one in the ground bar Allardyce would have then put on Maiga rather than Carlton Cole – Maiga isn’t even Championship level. And then we come to Nolan – this performance was atrocious – it took till 75 mins for Allardyce to realise he “wasnt leading the team with his usual gusto ” – dear God, take the blindfold off. What was most inexcusable was the sheer laziness of several players – Nolan,Collison,Cole,Maiga – against any side, particularly against the best, everyone needs to work for 90 mins – for Nolan and Maiga that means shutting down at the front, non-stop, not half heartedly running around 10 yards off the ball. In the 95 th minute, 3-0 up, Lampard (pathetically and childishly booed by the cretins again) lost the ball and then chased back 50 yards to regain the ball from Diame – apart from Noble and Morrison no-one put such effort in for us – I expected a defeat – but at least go down fighting. At this rate Palace will rip us apart.
It is all very sad we are playing really bad and without a striker it is crazy. What is Carlton Cole thinking he can not get a start against a Norwich team who were beaten 7 nil and then at home we start without a striker and then bring on Maiga what the hell is going on.
In my opinion Diame and Diarra must start in midfield supported by Downing, Morrisson and Noble with C.Cole up front. This lad Diarra captained France for Gods sake he will allow Diame to attack the opposition as he covers the back 4. Also putting balls into the box without a striker is ludicrous and then stating stats about crosses etc. I do believe that Big Sam will get it right but the club must sign 2 strikers and a centre Half on the 1st or 2nd of January and not arse about till the last minute. Already the bid for the lad at Peterborough has been rejected again a sign of messing about, good God Barry Fry is a friend of the directors surely they can find out an acceptable bid. Look it as always the same we all could see we were short on strikers yet the club say they had 4 lined up that did not happen HORSE S— also we all new we needed a centre back again nothing when will West Ham react before the disaster i fear never.
Before the game did anyone actually think that we would get anything from this game as we don’t normally but having won last season of course it was possible but not probable and 3-0 is our norm against top 4 opposition.