Champagneblade
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- Jan 24, 2010
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Just about come down from being angry to pen a few thoughts.
First off team selection - losing Fleck was a blow. Osborn coming back was understandable and after a little time settling in with a few poor fouls, he got into it a little. What Stevens had done to deserve a recall, I've no idea. Disappointed to see 3-5-2 again and not 3-4-1-2. The time to keep it tight, be cagey, etc etc went weeks ago. It should be a full in blitzkrieg from the off against teams like this. More on the teams like this comment next.
The West Ham line up - I looked at their XI and I thought this is a win right here. Matched up their system. No obvious focus point with Antonio out. A lack of creativity from out wide and no Benrahma in the starting XI. Also no physical presence up top. Absolutely tailor made for what we needed. Key men missing and limited punch up top. This was not a team pushing for top 4. This was a team there for the taking.
The result - if it had finished a draw West Ham could not have complained. They never got out of second gear. But they didn't have to. We did all the work for them. Yet such was the ineptitude to do the absolute basics we managed to somehow gift them a big win. We showed a total lack of quality which bordered on careless frequently and even cowardly at times.
The performance - I absolve Rammers of any blame for that defeat. He had no chance with the goals and he made a couple of good saves. Maybe it is a confidence thing but he does have a tendency to parry when I think he could legitimately catch the shot and end the attack. But that's not for tonight.
I feel sorry for Max Lowe. He's been gaining confidence and loses his spot to a mainstay in Enda who has done very little to justify his selection after a poor second season. I will follow RND very closely now because the spot is an absolute gimme for him next year. Onto tonight, he had a shocker. Was saved by VAR from giving away a penalty from quite frankly a ridiculously unnecessary challenge. He then contributed to the abhoration which was the opening goal. He was one who contributed to the back, back, back approach to attacking play and looks so far off the pace. He has done nothing to justify selection and I think Chris should admit he was wrong to bring him back.
Bogle has a quiet game and for once couldn't drag the team forward. He's done enough good recently to be afforded the odd nondescript performance all the same.
I didn't have an issue with Egan but he is the only one in the central defence without O'Connell who looks like winning the ball in the air consistently. I hope his injury is not serious and he can get back for next season. Just like O'Connell this could be the long term blessing that sees both retained for next season but he's a positive influence and he'll be missed. His injury probably took the edge off my anger because I care more the lad gets better than one shitty team performance. Get well soon.
Ampadu, what can you say, a work in progress. I like what I've seen lately from him and he has been growing in confidence. But you can't mark like that on a corner. To give your man a completely clean header when your team is up against it. 2-0 and it felt like West Ham had done nothing to work for it. Basic poor turnover for one goal, an unenforced error and an abject attempt at marking.
Basham did try to get forward. He never throws the towel in. I appreciate that from a player. It was a definite pen but given he wasn't sent off and the damage was done before that it was probably worth the risk.
Osborn I thought was off it early on and gave some stupid free kicks away, one in a dangerous area. I then thought he got into his stride more. He's no John Fleck. But he's not Jimmy Fleck either. Steady and put a couple of decent balls in. No issue with his eventual showing.
Norwood, eh? Ollie, Ollie, Ollie. I can appreciate your ping and I do so want to appreciate your qualities. And I keep telling myself you always get promoted from the Championship. But you can't keep making the same mistakes. Lose possession unnecessarily though Enda coming backwards also takes some blame. As has also been said, the first man has become your arch nemesis at free kicks and corners. Please practice more. You were good at this once.
Onto Lundstram. The guy is a fraud. He's conning the manager week in week out. His lack of closing down for the third was pathetic. But thoroughly in line with his overall performance. I wouldn't pick him again. Seriously. What does he add? He goes backwards at every opportunity. He slows down any break we may create. For a box to box midfielder who always gets picked, he never troubles the scorers. He has these occasional half-arsed shots which never look like getting near. I doubt it is as sinister but those suggesting he is just playing to get his own stats up like pass completion, by taking no risk passes always, make a reasonable observation at the very least. His lack of care is so visible from his casual swing of the leg, "you have it" backward passes to all the other stuff he does poorly. Gone through a phase of rating himself quite clearly but he's now not even looking good enough for our depleted bunch.
Oh David McGoldrick. Love him. But that really was a bit of a homage to the finishing exploits of early 2019/20. I just wish the chances had fallen to Billy and not you today lad.
Billy, starved of service for himself. Put in one or two decent crossed of his own. As above, I just wish McGoldrick's chances had fallen your way. Wasn't your night. I do wish you'd spend more time shielding the ball than trying to buy fouls.
McBurnie had an odd night. Why we quite frankly fucked about bringing him on only Chris can tell. He should have been on at half time in place of Lundstram or Norwood or my preference Enda (moving Osborn to LWB though that was at a time my patience hadn't completely worn on Lundstram). He may well have been another marker at the corner who could win a header. Got one header in. Didn't score. Story of his season.
Jags actually did fine when he came on. Given the level of opposition he might do ok. Made some decent interceptions to be fair. I was quite encouraged by his cameo.
Shame we didn't use the third sub. I would have given Maguire 10 minutes if only to display my displeasure at Lundstram.
Overall, I felt West Ham deserved a draw. They didn't show much adventure. Lingard had some moments but nothing that wasn't self inflicted in most cases to be honest. But we just handed it to them on a plate. They never got out of 2nd gear and we gave them 3 goals from absolute basics - ball turnover, absence of marking, absence of basic defending. So whilst they didn't deserve a win, we definitely deserved to lose with the abject football basics on display for all three gifts.
With no Egan, I'd revamp the defence a bit and use it to kick Lundstram out.
I'd be going:
Ramsdale
Ampadu Jags Bryan
Bogle Basham Fleck/Osborn/Lowe*
McGoldrick
Sharp Burke
Ampadu and Bryan play on their correct sides, both providing youthful energy alongside Jags' experience, you replace Lundstram with Basham's industry with Lowe or Osborn out wide. You give Billy a partner whose pace can create space and McGoldrick a chance to scheme. I'm not writing off Norwood. He could still form a midfield 3 with Bash and Fleck if needed as an alternative. At least he doesn't hide like Lundstram.
We all like to dream and part of me maybe 2% hoped we would see the greatest escape but that was firmly extinguished tonight. 3 points were there for the taking. Despite the scoreline, with a modicum of competency we'd have kept a clean sheet and with an ounce of clinicality we'd have came back with the points. It's not fine margins though. It's simply not being good enough.
UTB
First off team selection - losing Fleck was a blow. Osborn coming back was understandable and after a little time settling in with a few poor fouls, he got into it a little. What Stevens had done to deserve a recall, I've no idea. Disappointed to see 3-5-2 again and not 3-4-1-2. The time to keep it tight, be cagey, etc etc went weeks ago. It should be a full in blitzkrieg from the off against teams like this. More on the teams like this comment next.
The West Ham line up - I looked at their XI and I thought this is a win right here. Matched up their system. No obvious focus point with Antonio out. A lack of creativity from out wide and no Benrahma in the starting XI. Also no physical presence up top. Absolutely tailor made for what we needed. Key men missing and limited punch up top. This was not a team pushing for top 4. This was a team there for the taking.
The result - if it had finished a draw West Ham could not have complained. They never got out of second gear. But they didn't have to. We did all the work for them. Yet such was the ineptitude to do the absolute basics we managed to somehow gift them a big win. We showed a total lack of quality which bordered on careless frequently and even cowardly at times.
The performance - I absolve Rammers of any blame for that defeat. He had no chance with the goals and he made a couple of good saves. Maybe it is a confidence thing but he does have a tendency to parry when I think he could legitimately catch the shot and end the attack. But that's not for tonight.
I feel sorry for Max Lowe. He's been gaining confidence and loses his spot to a mainstay in Enda who has done very little to justify his selection after a poor second season. I will follow RND very closely now because the spot is an absolute gimme for him next year. Onto tonight, he had a shocker. Was saved by VAR from giving away a penalty from quite frankly a ridiculously unnecessary challenge. He then contributed to the abhoration which was the opening goal. He was one who contributed to the back, back, back approach to attacking play and looks so far off the pace. He has done nothing to justify selection and I think Chris should admit he was wrong to bring him back.
Bogle has a quiet game and for once couldn't drag the team forward. He's done enough good recently to be afforded the odd nondescript performance all the same.
I didn't have an issue with Egan but he is the only one in the central defence without O'Connell who looks like winning the ball in the air consistently. I hope his injury is not serious and he can get back for next season. Just like O'Connell this could be the long term blessing that sees both retained for next season but he's a positive influence and he'll be missed. His injury probably took the edge off my anger because I care more the lad gets better than one shitty team performance. Get well soon.
Ampadu, what can you say, a work in progress. I like what I've seen lately from him and he has been growing in confidence. But you can't mark like that on a corner. To give your man a completely clean header when your team is up against it. 2-0 and it felt like West Ham had done nothing to work for it. Basic poor turnover for one goal, an unenforced error and an abject attempt at marking.
Basham did try to get forward. He never throws the towel in. I appreciate that from a player. It was a definite pen but given he wasn't sent off and the damage was done before that it was probably worth the risk.
Osborn I thought was off it early on and gave some stupid free kicks away, one in a dangerous area. I then thought he got into his stride more. He's no John Fleck. But he's not Jimmy Fleck either. Steady and put a couple of decent balls in. No issue with his eventual showing.
Norwood, eh? Ollie, Ollie, Ollie. I can appreciate your ping and I do so want to appreciate your qualities. And I keep telling myself you always get promoted from the Championship. But you can't keep making the same mistakes. Lose possession unnecessarily though Enda coming backwards also takes some blame. As has also been said, the first man has become your arch nemesis at free kicks and corners. Please practice more. You were good at this once.
Onto Lundstram. The guy is a fraud. He's conning the manager week in week out. His lack of closing down for the third was pathetic. But thoroughly in line with his overall performance. I wouldn't pick him again. Seriously. What does he add? He goes backwards at every opportunity. He slows down any break we may create. For a box to box midfielder who always gets picked, he never troubles the scorers. He has these occasional half-arsed shots which never look like getting near. I doubt it is as sinister but those suggesting he is just playing to get his own stats up like pass completion, by taking no risk passes always, make a reasonable observation at the very least. His lack of care is so visible from his casual swing of the leg, "you have it" backward passes to all the other stuff he does poorly. Gone through a phase of rating himself quite clearly but he's now not even looking good enough for our depleted bunch.
Oh David McGoldrick. Love him. But that really was a bit of a homage to the finishing exploits of early 2019/20. I just wish the chances had fallen to Billy and not you today lad.
Billy, starved of service for himself. Put in one or two decent crossed of his own. As above, I just wish McGoldrick's chances had fallen your way. Wasn't your night. I do wish you'd spend more time shielding the ball than trying to buy fouls.
McBurnie had an odd night. Why we quite frankly fucked about bringing him on only Chris can tell. He should have been on at half time in place of Lundstram or Norwood or my preference Enda (moving Osborn to LWB though that was at a time my patience hadn't completely worn on Lundstram). He may well have been another marker at the corner who could win a header. Got one header in. Didn't score. Story of his season.
Jags actually did fine when he came on. Given the level of opposition he might do ok. Made some decent interceptions to be fair. I was quite encouraged by his cameo.
Shame we didn't use the third sub. I would have given Maguire 10 minutes if only to display my displeasure at Lundstram.
Overall, I felt West Ham deserved a draw. They didn't show much adventure. Lingard had some moments but nothing that wasn't self inflicted in most cases to be honest. But we just handed it to them on a plate. They never got out of 2nd gear and we gave them 3 goals from absolute basics - ball turnover, absence of marking, absence of basic defending. So whilst they didn't deserve a win, we definitely deserved to lose with the abject football basics on display for all three gifts.
With no Egan, I'd revamp the defence a bit and use it to kick Lundstram out.
I'd be going:
Ramsdale
Ampadu Jags Bryan
Bogle Basham Fleck/Osborn/Lowe*
McGoldrick
Sharp Burke
Ampadu and Bryan play on their correct sides, both providing youthful energy alongside Jags' experience, you replace Lundstram with Basham's industry with Lowe or Osborn out wide. You give Billy a partner whose pace can create space and McGoldrick a chance to scheme. I'm not writing off Norwood. He could still form a midfield 3 with Bash and Fleck if needed as an alternative. At least he doesn't hide like Lundstram.
We all like to dream and part of me maybe 2% hoped we would see the greatest escape but that was firmly extinguished tonight. 3 points were there for the taking. Despite the scoreline, with a modicum of competency we'd have kept a clean sheet and with an ounce of clinicality we'd have came back with the points. It's not fine margins though. It's simply not being good enough.
UTB
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