Four great wins and optimism by the bucket load was then followed by three hopeless and uninspiring defeats and doom and gloom returns with a vengeance. Just what is it about West Ham that causes this typical pattern of inconsistency to plague us all season after season?
Everton and Stoke City away games were poor – of that there is no doubt. It was hard to take any real positives from plodding, defensive performances that saw us give a stereotypical uninventive and at times clueless showing against sides that whilst higher in the table, were nonetheless beatable, especially Stoke who were missing four of their better players on the day.
The decision to leave out James Collins and bring in Winston Reid was for me an odd one. James Tomkins and Collins had been solid in Reid’s absence having barely conceded, and given their all in the process, and it was an out of sorts Reid who was the most disappointing performer on the day.
The quality of play was just not Premier League standard, as we saw at Goodison Park where offensive intentions were nowhere to be seen, making life hard for defenders, and easy for wave after wave of Everton attacks. As is nearly always the case when it turns into a defence-versus-attack match, sooner or later something has to give, and it did in the form of a solitary goal that saw us leave empty handed.
Surely all the good work of February wouldn’t be undone this easily…would it? A home game against a nervy, bickering, disjointed and for most of us almost unrecognisable Manchester United missing both Nemanja Vidic and Robin van Persie was next up, and this was the time for us to get back on the saddle, battle from the off, batter their makeshift defence (Michael Carrick at centre half) and give the almost resigned and pressurised David Moyes another sleepless Saturday night/Sunday morning.
But no; it didn’t happen like that. The team lacked heart, attitude, belief and energy, and we were made to look even more lightweight than we actually are. It was the same old story. Concede the midfield to the opposition, rely on defensive stability and power and ‘nick’ a home draw!
We just watched as the United midfield whipped the ball around us at will, probing and pulling, waiting for a gap and giving Wayne Rooney the chance to pull the trigger. Both goals had elements of luck for sure, but had Adrian been any less agile and alert, we could have been looking at a greater margin of defeat.
Even the impeccable Mark Noble looked lacklustre on a day when belief and confidence were so badly lacking, and as for the simply awful passenger that is Mohamed Diame, just why is he being picked?
The same old suspects were out on the pitch but failed to play; Kevin Nolan is back to his old self, forever chasing and closing down and little else. Stewart Downing tried, Matt Taylor misplaced pass after pass, George McCartney kept up his record of passing backwards wherever possible, and Guy Demel just looked slow and ponderous.
Collins and Tomkins were pulled around by clever quick interplay, and runners got behind us to tests the overworked Adrian. Depressing apart from the angry and bullish Andy Carroll who looked strong and ready for a scrap; but he cant do it on his own.
So what has changed in a few short weeks? How have we gone from lively and committed to sluggish and accepting? Big Andy is back yes, but where is the team play, the movement, the pressurising, the attacking phase of our game?
Sam Allardyce can’t be so naïve as to think you can play the same way, week in week out and still expect to get results in the Premier League, can he?
Attacking quality sides with two or three players wont get you goals against most non-league sides, let along giants of the game, Sam! Virtually a whole season of struggle has gone and you have stuck with the same old tired, basic, unimaginative and uncreative style that has seen us hope for a 0-0 and celebrate if we get a bonus win. Could things really be any worse if we tried to get more men forward earlier, tried to press quicker and higher, injected a bit more pace and energy into the midfield and allowed a bit more freedom of expression.
Would Ricardo Vaz Te, Ravel Morrison and Pablo Armero, three sharper and more skilful players really do worse than the lame Diame, Taylor and Nolan? We don’t know because you never try anything different.
The home game on Wednesday night against Hull City is beyond huge now. Its three points or bust because nothing less will do. Forget this obsession with defence. We are at home, we need to attack and pressurise and we need to get goals both first and early. This is Hull City, not Barcelona so for once in your defensive minded football career, have the guts to go for the throat and give us a performance to be proud of. No excuses about referees, linesmen, injuries, or whatever else you can think of to cover tracks.
Yes, the squad is weak and light of true quality (whose fault is that?) and yes some players seem to be going through the motions of late, but as manager it’s your job to motivate and lead from the front. We are all watching and expect the performance that is vital for survival. Over to you, Sam.
Good article. If we do nothing else, then we must change the tactics. Against Man Utd Downing had the beating of Rafael who quickly picked up a yellow card, so why did we not constantly play on him as he would either pick up anoither one or give him the virtual freedom of the box. That was vewry short lived and we then reverted to looking for AC with every ball forward. They then double tagged him which should have left someone else clear ,but again that was not capitalised upon. There was one stupid moment where Tomkins had the ball at the halfway line with Carroll standing almost behind him and they were bereft of ideas as to what to do with the ball as he had to give it to him there!! Even the commentry asked ‘does the ball have to go to Andy Carroll?’
Sam can keep trying to blame everything in a game to mask the shortfalls, but the simple matter is we’re one dimensional , predictable and have lost our way. We are capable of playing passing football but the Sam way dictates that trhey give it to Andy and we will score – WRONG! Let’s get a plan B & C and make the opposition at least have to think how we might play instead of giving them a whole week to deal with the high ball.
Spot on Eastender. We CAN pass the ball, but orders is orders…hit Andy and see what happens…its usually nothing !!!
The real problem is the quality of the squad ,the club cannot afford £50 -60 million to splash out on new players so we have to make do with what we have got which is hopefully enough to keep us in the division until we get to the O.S .If the the four wins run had been spread out over the last 7 games with the 3 losses ,say W W L W L W L we would probably consider it a decent run .Stop being so negative and get behind the team .
You need to recognise the difference between informed comment and opinion and negativity !!!
West Ham are crap – lack of quality all over the park.Thought the object of the transfer window was to bring in players to hit the ground running and improve team performances – wrong ! I’m not sure what’s happening but the club needs a massive shake up from top to bottom. There are players at the club who seem to struggle to do the very basics – they can’t even pass to a team mate a few feet away. The standard is absolutely dreadful. Get behind the team ?? About time these so called “players” started to earn their ridiculous salaries and got behind the fans – they are all piss takers!
The players have had enough of all being treated as side kicks to Andy Carroll, with Sam making Andy God and everyone being made to play a one dimensional game around him. I totally understand that the players must be sick of it, especially Carlton who was doing great until AC came back. What a kick in the teeth it was for him to get only 28 minutes at Goodison. If Sam continues with this one man AC show, we’’ll once again be lucky to survive!
One man to blame fat face Sam. Four wins don’t make a good manager or a great player, Nolan. Back to what we deserve, chase, chase, chase, chase. HOOF!
one mouth not enought.
move over BFS time for a change & we would play sexy football under Laudrup esp what he did for Swansea
Good shout Rick. A perfect fit. Laudrup wont be on the job market for long though !!
I don’t want to say too much, but we are actually 1 point worse off than what Avram Grant achieved at this stage in the season, who after 30 games had won 32 points. West Ham then went on to only get 1 point from the last 8 games & got relegated on 33 pts. We are also 5 points worse off than what we gained after 30 games last season. We went on to win 2 & draw 4 of our last 8 games last season, whereas Avram Grant only gained 1 draw from our last 8 games, so after 2 years & Andy Carroll being out injured 4 times with him scoring just 8 Premier League goals. What have we actually achieved in those 2 – 4 years? We surely are well overdue for a change in things!
In fact this one dimensional football is so boring, it’s like, wake me up when we get the points. If we don’t get the points then don’t wake me up
Some really valid comments and opinions here, together with a number of back-up statistics. For me, if we were at least winning ugly I could cope SHORT TERM with Allardyce, but when we struggle to get regular results with defensive, one-dimensional football that is hard to accept, especially at a club like ours. Ive been around the club for over 50 years, but im no misty-eyed romantic who yearns for the “old days”…we have always been an “average” team in terms of league placings and performances, and that is a fact. The odd great day at Wembley was welcome and a bonus. However, we have also been noted for innovative, attacking and exciting forward play bought in by Greenwood and Lyall, so for many to see their legacy tarnished by what is in effect, and in a nutshell, Collins punting the ball to an isolated Carroll, then dont be surprised by the negativity and dissatisfaction from Hammers fans. I do feel that Allardyce is however very limited by the generally poor squad, a problem by the way that is very much of his own making, and a major lack of creative attacking talent means that defensive minded players are being asked to do a job they are simply not capable of. If we get through this season, then the board have a huge decision to make on the clubs future. For me, a complete top-to-bottom change is needed, and Sam Allardyce just cannot be the man to take things further.
Some good comments about the present manager. Sam has the ability to get players to play. When you play in the premiership they are all big games. He can claim bad luck with players out injured but when they return his tactics stay the same. My concern is the ability to get some well known names playing at West Ham. Why is it good players on loan or free transfers didn’t want to go and play at West Ham, why is Ravel Morrison loaned out when Sam himself said he was a star? There are others that didn’t want to go to Upton Park, is this because of Sam, the current board or is it the predictable scrap we have very year because of our inability to produce good football? Is this time to say that you Sam but goodbye?
usually great reviews / articles and comments on here, you must be having a slow day and decided to write complete rubbish and see what idiot responded… mission accomplished.
It’s all quiet from the re tards when he’s winning, get beat by x2 of the top x5 teams in the country on the bounce and all the arm chair fans come ambling out of their holes in the ground to have their 10 pence worth..
– 100m DEBT
– 1 season after the championship
– Tough to attract genuine premier league worthy talent (because of the above)
– Most competitive Premier league in what, 10 / 12 years?
We’re not going to get relegated, we have the increased revenues of the Olympic stadium to help attract the squad we need and deserve to look forward to, owners that support the club financially and an experienced manager that has helped us get back into the premier league at first asking and kept us mid table (cannot expect anything more) for the majority of the season.
Stop being the archetypal moany pessimistic fans everyone thinks we are and try some positivity for a change, see how it fits.
COYI
We’re all entitled to our opinions Popester, why do you assume people who don’t agree with you are ‘negative’ and ‘armchair fans’ ? I was at the game Saturday and if you were impressed with what you saw then we are miles apart in our opinions. The football we played in our ‘glorious February’ didn’t particularly impress me either, we’ll only stay in the Prem because a handful of clubs are marginally worse than us.
I’m afraid you are as deluded as the management chain at our club.
You are completely insane and should seek professional help at the earliest possible time.
In the meantime stay away from sharp implements, and would you be interested in buying a 10 year old bmw with only 5000 miles on the clock (honest)
on your own mate….seriously on your own !!
Popestar come clean we know you are BFS,s window cleaner or Nolans milkman.I have been supporting our team since 1935 and have seen the best and worst of the teams but the performance last night goes down as one of the lowest ever. I have always proclaimed that the problem with Hammers over the years is that so many times they have been an 8-man team -always short of 3 decent players to make a significant impression (probablydue to lack of funds) After last night charade this current lot are a 6 man team. Adrian, Tomkins (brilliant game) Reid, Collins, Noble and Carroll. The others such as Nolan, Taylor, Diame, and dear Joe Cole need to be moved on and Jarvis, Carlton Cole, McCartney,Demel and Johnson must be on borrowed time if we manage to stay up. Be loyal, be pragmatic but dont hide from unpleasant facts matey.
here here !!