West Ham 3 Blades 0 - report/pod

[Deadbat]

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The Blades went down to a second successive league defeat as they were beaten in the Capital as West Ham became the latest side to do the double over them. After positive results for the likes of Burnley, West Brom and Fulham, coupled with such a huge deficit to make up, United now have more than one foot back in the Championship. The Hammers in contrast are now up to 5th place (having been 4th for a period before Chelsea’s win against Newcastle) and eyeing up Champions League places in an incredible contrast from last season when they were amongst the strugglers.

Wilder’s side showed three changes with no place in the match day squad for John Fleck who was ill. Back came Oliver Norwood and also Enda Stevens, for the first time for a while. Ben Osborn also started in midfield with Fleck’s omission. Sharp and McGoldrick started up front and Brewster, Burke and McBurnie were on the bench. Lys Mousset was also not involved at all but youngster Frankie Maguire was in the match day squad again, a departure from the previous rotation policy of youngsters from the academy being involved in the first team.

West Ham had key men Thomas Soucek available after his successful appeal for his ridiculous red card in their last league game at Fulham. Jesse Lingard, who had been linked with the Blades before signing on loan for the Hammers, started the game. Issa Diop did start after a head injury when he came on in the cup defeat at Man Utd. Manuel Lanzini and Ben Johnson started.

McGoldrick won a free kick early on half way but the next foul went the other way and was in a much more dangerous position. Lingard’s clever flick fed Bowen and Osborn brought him down. Rice took it and hit it firmly and Ramsdale did well to parry away. As Stevens chased Dawson he stupidly tripped the defender who was going nowhere. The penalty may have seemed a surprise to some but looked pretty clear cut as the replays proved. Fortunately for the returning wing back, VAR saw that the West Ham man was slightly in front of him from Rice’s kick and the penalty was overturned in favour of offside.

United got back into the game slowly and nice build up saw Lundstram and then Norwood involved with the latter whipping in a good ball but McGoldrick was on the stretch and could not quite get there. Soon after the Blades won a corner but Dawson headed wide of his own goal with Fabianski challenging in a bit of a let off.

Everything good West Ham did seemed to come through Lingard and more delightful skill saw him put the Hammers in again but the pass after this was overhit. Lundstram and then Ampadu gave the ball away soon after and Lingard was in but his shot was pushed away. The home side had got through too easily and from some decent possession from the visitors, the lack of final ball or indecision saw West Ham break. Lingard was in again and Ramsdale had to save at his near post this time. Dawson headed over the corner as West Ham kept probing and looking dangerous with the pace and runners trying to take advantage of pedestrian football from the Blades.

United did have some of the ball but the slow build up was ended by two poor Stevens crosses and West Ham were away again. This time Egan gave away a stupid foul giving another chance of a free kick. Cresswell went for goal and was a long way off.

Osborn at least showed some forceful running and drew a foul but another woeful ball in, this time Norwood, saw it cleared. Basham returned it and eventually McGoldrick had the first effort towards goal but it was miles over on the half volley.

Another poor set play delivery, after Lundstram had been fouled ended with Stevens cross too close to the keeper and ended another better spell from the Blades that then saw Osborn take a low shot that was going wide but Fabianski tipped round the post.

After a better 10 minutes, it was probably inevitable that West Ham then scored of course! It came with United having the ball but failure to move it on at pace or make any kind of decision saw it moved back and side and then back again. Stevens ball was not great but Norwood had time to do anything with it other than the slow sideways pass that Basham could not get to and West Ham were in. With Basham committed to the tackle he was out of position and Bogle was way up field again. Lingard was in and as Basham finally got back his tackle was crude and wild. It was an obvious penalty and maybe he was a bit lucky not to get red carded as there did not see to be any play on the ball – however the double jeopardy rule whatever that is these days maybe saved him!

RICE took it after an argument with Lingard who was going to take it, and coolly sent Ramsdale the wrong way to give West Ham the lead.

Soon after Lingard was in again but as he clashed with Ampadu both players went to ground and needed treatment – but the decision went the Blades way this time.

There was three minutes of stoppage time played and it ended with West Ham winning a corner and looking for a second but the half time whistle came with no further damage done. West Ham had deserved to lead with United not offering anything really as an attacking force.

The second half began with Norwood giving it away twice again but they at least got up the field for a spell but two crosses went straight to the keeper. Stevens then sent an aimless cross over as the final ball continued to be wretched.

United then had a great chance when Sharp got down the left and stood up a great cross but McGoldrick hit the back of Johnson with his header and it looped up but Fabianski tipped over. It was the best chance of the game for the Blades.

Lanzini ran away from Basham and fed Bowen but his shot was blocked from Ampadu leading to a corner. Cresswell took it and DIOP got up and brushed off Ampadu with ease to head the ball down and in past Ramsdale. It was reminiscent of so many other goals the Blades have conceded this season – routine set plays that have been scored with too much ease.

Lingard then got away again and this led to another corner but United cleared this one. United tried to find something with Basham running forward but he could not get his cross in and then the same man had a looping header saved easily.

Wilder shuffled his pack on the hour mark, bringing McBurnie on for Norwood. The striker had been waiting for quite some time even before the second goal.

Decent work from Osborn and Stevens saw a good ball come in but McGoldrick could not quite get there and Soucek blocked the ball as he shaped to shoot. The corner saw Basham unable to divert it goalwards.

Noble came on for Lanzini as West Ham looked to manage a comfortable evening out. Lingard tested Ramsdale with a low shot that he saved quite comfortably.

Osborn sent over a great cross and McGoldrick’s header down was saved. It was a decent chance from United but he could not exert enough power on the ball. At the other end Lingard took a long range shot and Ramsdale had to push away again as once again United did not pick up the former England man who continued to cause all sorts of problems.

Stevens then dithered on the ball and Coufal got in and was one on one suddenly but Ramsdale made a terrific save at point blank range to at least keep United in the game even though in reality it looked long gone.

The next stage saw a scrappy spell but that suited West Ham who were in cruise control. United got to the final third but time after time the final ball did not come in or was woeful with no penetration at all. A rare decent ball in from Osborn was headed goalwards by McBurnie but easily saved as the striker could not find direction or purchase.

Egan then made a great block to deny Lingard just before the midfielder went off for Benrahma. Egan in making the block seemed to badly hurt himself and his leg was put in a brace and the centre back had to be stretchered off. The game had gone but this was the latest blow in a dreadful season for the Blades.

West Ham looked to be the most likely to score another goal as Lundstram’s poor tackle led to a free kick which United shepherded behind. The corner was cleared away but the game was petering out to an easy win for the home side.

A late chance came when Bogle finally got in the box but as it dropped McGoldrick took a touch when he should have maybe taken it earlier and it was blocked away. The corner drifted aimlessly out with another appalling set play. Fredericks came on right at the end as the game entered 6 minutes of stoppage time but United did have another chance when the ball was played inside but Lundstram took too long again and blazed well over. Benrahma’s driven cross went over everyone before the final moment of agony came right at the end. Neat football saw Benrahma’s skill create a chance and as the ball came out to FREDERICKS and nobody went out and as Jagielka and Lundstram stood there, the sub easily found the corner and it was 3-0 and the rout was complete.

United – Thought we were crap tonight. Yes, we had a lot of the ball but we never looked like doing much with it, and the other way looked like we may concede and were always at full stretch. We gave it away often under no pressure and then we were chasing back and they were in. We looked like a side that had no belief we could score, no belief we could keep it out and in general play we had little to no idea. Defensively they pulled us apart all game and I felt they could score whenever they attacked. Lingard ran amok. We had no shape, no discipline, nothing. I am all for us having a go and being cavalier and going down without a whimper. Tonight, I have no idea what we were trying to do? We got up the field and seemed to push the wing backs up but then we never looked like getting into their box or creating. We had loads of the ball but they knew we could not do anything or had no idea and they then picked us off or waited for us to give it away and ran up the field. Even at 0-0 they had 2 on 2 or 3 on 3. It was bizarre. I had no idea what our plan was at all. We tried to pick our way through a packed midfield/defence and could not do it and then went back and just coughed it up. They really could have had 3 or 4 more as Lingard alone just got through us. At some point you would think Bogle and Basham would have said woah, hang on, we need to stem this area? We just kept falling for the same sucker punch. First half it was like they played like an away side on the break but it worked. I heard some West Ham fans say they are better when teams attack or have a go. Well, we tried to but did not even create anything so it was perfect for the way we play. Not sure they battered us but picked us off and did what they had to on the turnover to ease into good positions. I think we could have played all night and still not scored. It was predictable and boring with no invention.

They could have led early through a stupid Stevens tackle and the mistakes kept coming. We created nothing the other way save for one good Norwood ball. Several give aways from Stevens, Osborn, Lundstram, you name it. We then were running back as our slow midfield did not have the legs. Felt sorry for Ramsdale who kept us in it. We may have had 50% possession but did the square root sod all with it. Half time 1-0 and you think right let’s change the formation or tactics? He got McBurnie ready after 50 minutes? Why? Do it at half time or wait. McGoldrick had a decent chance but after this you felt we would not get another as good and so it proved. In the end he waited for the sub and it was too late and we were 2-0 down as more awful and weak defending on a set play as we looked like schoolboys defending men.

After this we had a few half-headed chances but they could have scored more and all the quality was through them as they picked us off and Ramsdale made more good saves. They got a third goal from more shambolic defending. At this point we looked a pathetic and sorry state. Even when we got near goal we takke forever to make a cross and as for shooting, forget it? Touch, touch, touch, oh we have lost it, oh we are defending? They want way too long to do anything. They sadly are not quick or good enough nearly to a man at this level. They cannot do things at the speed this league requires to create and score and when we cannot defend the basics then we are going to be bottom of the league and that is what we are. Lundstrams series of fouls and give aways summed it up – that was just a symbol of how bad we had been as much as others had been equally poor.

Looked like a performance from earlier in the season where teams did what they needed to and won at a canter. We actually had a fair bit of the ball but other than a few crosses we did nothing with it at all. We looked pedestrian and clueless and spinless defensively

 

[Deadbat]

Ratings:

Ramsdale 8/10 – We kept giving him the ball back constantly and they put him under pressure and they had several shots reigning in. He saved a free kick from Rice well and pushed it away and did well to do the same with a shot from Lingard and at least got both out of the danger areas. He saved another at the near post also and kept us in it. They then scored a penalty and a free header which he had no chance with. He made superb save from Coufal – really good point-blank range and then a few more from Lingard. He was our best player today and that sums up how bad we were. Not sure he did much wrong at all. Hugely exposed and the team should be owing him an apology really.

Bogle 4.5/10 – Not a great night and thought we saw little of him attacking wise and not sound enough defensively. Seemed to be caught too far up the field and they broke down here so many times. They kept finding this ball and Lingard got in time after time splitting him and Basham. He was not a factor attacking wise but has to get closer to his man. Players ran through him all game and I thought he was not tight enough to his man at all. He did have a few runs near the end but it was way too late. He and the rest of the team were just not close enough at all. Defensively not seen he can stop a man, stay with runners or deny crosses yet as good as he has looked the other way.

Stevens 3/10 – Thought he looked woefully off it. Poor touch, control, passing and defensively all over the place. Very lucky with the penalty as he was so slow and even old man Dawson was quicker to get there. Ridiculous tackle. After this he continued to give it away and when he had it hit the first man when he got forward. His ball was not great to Norwood on the goal albeit the error after this was worse. Did put a good ball in for McGoldrick second half that was a half chance. Dithered badly and lost it as they nearly got a third. How long does he want on the ball? Continued to make poor decisions on the ball and left his man too much space, the same as Bogle on the other side. Not sure why Lowe was dropped after doing ok recent games – not brilliant but not one of the worst players. Stevens looks a shadow of the player he was and sadly he is one you may have to look to move on. This is 12 months of wretched form now not 12 games.

Basham 4.5/10 – Thought he was all over the place today and lacked discipline. They kept breaking down the area where he should have been. He had to see that the threat was coming down that inside channel and, on the break, but left us horribly exposed. The goal he dived in and maybe on reflection maybe stood his ground. The run back and tackle was desperate and really clumsy. People may say he had no option but he could have not done that! Maybe Ramsdale make a save – it basically gives them a goal. After this he had a few attacking moments but it was all a bit desperate with a shot blocked and looped header. He then started to get a bit desperate and he along with others gave the ball away several times. He tried to keep going but even he was poor tonight in the basics of passing, control and defending and nothing really came from his forays and as I say was undisciplined, I felt.

Ampadu 4.5/10 – In general play he was ok for spells and showed some better touches going forward than most. Time and time again showed that he is not strong enough. We will discuss Norwood’s give aways but him losing header after header from set plays has been as many mistakes. There have been at least 3 or 4 goals like this that have from his lack of physicality and desire. He is not strong enough and was the classic example of men v boys. After this never really saw him as they kept coming running through us. There comes a point when you think about next season as he is not going to be here and we need to look at some other options – even some kids who we can look at? He is too weak defensively but not sure midfield wise he affects games enough either. He has improved a bit but whilst he makes bad mistakes, he won’t be good enough to play centre back at the top level.

Egan 6/10 – Was ok to begin but then gave away a few silly fouls and I felt that he and the defence were not sure when to push and stay back and ended up with some 2 v 2 situations even at 0-0. On the break we were badly exposed. He was one of the better defenders but more due to the fact he did not make any obvious mistakes really. Made a good block to stop a Lingard shot near the end and got injured doing so. Did not look great and when your leg is strapped in a brace then you do fear the worst. Hope it is precautionary but you worry it might be a while till we see him again. The only positive and I hate to say it, is that an injury may see any interested clubs be ahem…not interested. Of course I do not want it to be serious by any stretch.

Lundstram 3/10 – Started ok and involved but then gave it away a few times and looked very leggy as they broke several times through the midfield. He won a few free kicks that got us up the field but overall, on and off the ball did not do enough and as often happens just disappears. Did not create anything and did not stop them running through us. Stupid tackle for a yellow summed up how disinterested he looked 2nd half. He then just kicked it out. The third goal he just stood there. We have so few midfield options but it comes to a point where if he is not staying, do you look at other players even youngsters? I would be saying you sign the new contract now or we move him out of the group – seriously what is the point in him still playing now when we are down if he is not committed to next season? I have defended him at times but tonight he was abject – he never went forward and then when they had it just fouled or ran slowly back. He was as bad as Norwood at times tonight. You go through his season and like with Norwood, Ampadu, Stevens you just recall errors (foul v Wolves, penalty miss v Villa, miss v Leeds, red card v Brighton etc, etc). Time for him to be taken out for me. Not sure what we are achieving by playing him. Give one of the lads a go. We cannot get any worse. I think persisting with him and Ampadu now achieves nothing.

Osborn 4.5/10 – Tried hard but lacking badly in quality but when he is the man we are looking to in order to create then it is a concern. They were just quicker and stronger than our midfield. He had a few runs and won a free kick and then had a low shot but the game passed him by and he lacks top level pace and physicality to impact games. He at least did put a few passes in second half when he got forward and some of the best moments came from his crosses but they were only half chances really. Nice lad but not up to this level by a long way. At this level in midfield, you have athleticism, power, pace or skill. He is neat and tidy but very ordinary. He was probably not as good as any of the West Ham midfield but still our best midfielder by a fair bit. That summed him up

Norwood 2.5/10 – Continued his for the most part, shambles of a season. He must have gifted 4 or 5 goals on a plate at least to other teams! Literally passed it straight to them. He put one great cross in early and a few other ok balls but slowly got worse. His set plays were terrible and then they started running through us and we had no protection at all as he and others just did not have the legs to get back. The goal he was not given the best of ball but he did not look at all. He then started the second half and gave it away two or three times again before he was finally taken off but the game was over at this point at 2-0. You’d drop him and not play him but we have no one we can bring in. Berge is injured and with Ampadu in defence and needed even more with Egan out, you sense that he has to play. I am very unsure whether we keep him as a starter next season. I know he can be effective at the Championship level but his legs just seem to have gone and I think we need to go in a different direction if we are building another team.

McGoldrick 6/10 – Our best outfield player again first half in that he got on the ball and tried to make things happen but he was way too far from goal. He kept coming away and finding space but then as he came deep, we/he had no one to hit. Maybe should have done better with the chances from Norwood’s cross but was on the stretch and misread it. A volley miles over. He kept trying but then had a good chance and maybe should have scored and hit the defender and it went closer after the touch. Had one other better header saved and kept trying to get on it but a chance at the end he took too long. He actually at least got into good areas even if he should have done better with at least one chance. The main threat for us again but he needs some help.

Sharp 5/10 – Not really in it all game but not his fault. He did try and hold it up and early on was involved a bit but as the game went on became less and less involved. He had one run down the side first half and a cross blocked and then another good one to McGoldrick second half but the game passed him by. We did not get it forward quick enough or get it into the box. He had little service at all really. When we tip tap it round and don’t beat the first man not sure what more he can do? We did not even give the front two anything to hold really.


Subs –

McBurnie 4/10 - One weak header but not sure he had many touches as again no decent balls or crosses came in. I have criticised the forwards but tonight if we do not feed them or get in good crosses, then what can they do? He looked a bit desperate as he chased things at the end as did the whole team.

Jagielka – Read one ball but the third goal he just stands there? What is he doing? Has to get out. May have to play for a while now.

Manager Wilder 3/10 – Thought that tactically we played right into their hands. They let us have it and then broke with pace and runners. They kind of defended in numbers when we got into their third knowing we did not have the creativity or individual skill to get through – they then just broke away and attacked us with numbers. We seemed caught between doing neither attacking with purpose as did not cross it, get beyond them or play anything at pace with sitting in and keeping a good shape. We were all over the place when they broke and our midfield’s lack of pace and mobility shown up again. We had a let off but they then got a penalty anyway later on after more individual mistakes. I thought he may change it at the break but had this annoying thing where he readied a change 5 minutes after the break – why not do it there and then (half time)? Then when he made it, it was too late. Ironically McBurnie may have helped at this corner as that is one of the things he does well. After this I thought change it, tactically or personnel but he did nothing. We did the normal of McGoldrick coming back and another striker – seemingly his only other tactic (oh and going to 4 with 10 minutes to go) and the game just drifted on. Why did he not make other subs? The final one was enforced and defensive. I felt tonight he kind of almost threw in the towel a little bit. I know he cannot be blamed for errors but also try and make something happen when it is not working and it clearly was not as they had completely worked us out and Moyes got it spot on. He got lots of kudos last year tactically but for all the criticism of his signings and senior players maybe letting him down, he has also tactically and coaching wise been well off it and other managers have found it quite easy how to set up and comfortably beat us. It may irk some but teams have worked him and us out as well as the drop off in individuals and the overall intensity.


West Ham – What a turnaround from last season. They were close to the trapdoor and until Moyes came and found a resurgence, it seemed like they may go. It was still very up and down though and it was only late on they kind of pulled away. The previous manager/s (including Moyes!) had spent a fair bit of cash for not so much reward. They still have many of those around that they cannot move on. I still felt the squad and side was very unbalanced although the likes of Bowen, Benrahma and Dawson gave them some British quality and experience. Bowen had done well last season. I still thought Rice, Antonio and even likes of Noble were the key men but we have seen strides from a number of players who maybe looked less than captivating last time out. Soucek and Coufal may not be exciting names but have been so effective. Soucek with goals and man of the match performances and has become a bit of a talisman. I always worried about the defence but a few have improved here too. Lingaard gives them more attacking threat and shows they will still be very competitive with the big wages. They still have lots of expensive talent like Fornals, Lanzini and Yarmolenko who are not regulars and the squad maybe does need to get younger but they have made strides in that direction.

I did not expect them for one minute to be 6th or anywhere near the top. I would have said top half would be a major surprise and expected them to be 12/13th to 17th place really – but just enough to survive. Oddly not having fans may have helped as the atmosphere was not always the best at the London Stadium. They can relax a bit more. Moyes has shown he is a good manager. He may have been characterised as a yesterday man but he has done brilliantly this season so credit to him. I thought his appointment would be short term to get them up, steady the ship and they would move him on but he maybe there a while longer. However, just as last season went poorly and this season has gone well, it can swing the other way as outside the top 6, as we have seen you can be sucked into a struggle any season if you are not one of those juggernauts.

Today they won easily. 3-0 maybe flattered them a bit, but it was definitely a 2-0 game. They had all the chances outside of maybe the one McGoldrick one and Ramsdale made several saves. They broke on us at will and the likes of Lingard and Lanzini caused us problems all game. They were better and more dangerous in general play and on set plays. They looked stronger and more physical but also better with the ball. Oddly they did not have much with it but did not need to have really. They were more effective and economical in everything they did do. Better finishing and they could have had more goals. It was a comfortable win where they just moved us from side to side, watched us lose it or cross it to them and then broke. They pressured us a few times at the back/midfield but after they led, they dropped off their press as did not need to. It was as if as soon as they scored, they did not need to do anymore so just played at a canter.



Opponent Man of the Match – Lingard. Not even close. His little flicks and skills got them into good areas and he ran with the ball causing us all sort of problems. He had a number of efforts on goals and obviously got fouled on the penalty. Cresswell took a few dangerous set plays and Lanzini buzzed around. Rice was accomplished in the middle too. Even the lad Johnson looked good.

Opponent Weak link – Not sure anyone played badly really – all very easy. Maybe Dawson was moved about a bit and showed his lack of mobility and gave a few free kicks away but really it was just an easy win.

Referee/Officials - Simon Hooper. They got the offside right and he was correct to give the trip. The penalty was easy. Not sure I understand the double jeopardy rule – surely it should be if it is an intentional trip which this was it should be a red card rather than an unintentional trip being a red card – it seems the wrong way around or have I misunderstood it. To me that should be a definite red card and the rules should be changed. There was no play on the ball and was a horrible, cynical foul and I would say the same the other way around. Outside of this yellow, Lundstram got one also for a poor foul. A few times we were not even quick enough to foul as they broke!



Coverage – BT Sport. Usual cliches of us needing snookers and how desperate we are looking and a bit of a West Ham/Lingard love in. The only argument I could make was how bad we were and how easy we made it so feel the praise in this sense was maybe a bit over the top. Ian Darke is normally ok but made a weird comment about how you have to be good to wear pink? He also had no chemistry with Karen Carney who I thought was terrible with no informed analysis or anything new brought to the table. I am not saying this in a sexist way. There are some good female pundits like Alex Scott but Carney was awful tonight.

I have to say I have dipped into a few games and I would rank BT maybe last in coverage now, with Sky 2nd – which may have seemed unheard of a few years ago. Sky has Neville and Carragher who are great but even think Martin Tyler has lost a bit of his mojo and seems a bit predictable. I also think likes of Keane and Souness just go in for the shock stuff. Redknapp offers nothing really. They shook things up with Stelling’s mob but I think they looked in the wrong areas. They needed to compliment Neville and Carragher but now they are essentially carrying Sky’s coverage.

BT generally I am ambivalent about really. I think Jake Humphrey is incredibly condescending and quite smug and for someone who is supposedly a Norwich fan seems to lack wider football knowledge of the difference between the have’s and have not’s and seems too fixated on the big clubs. Crouch and Ferdinand are ok but they have some poor analysts such as McManaman and Owen who are to be frank terrible.

I have only dipped into them but now if there is a game on Amazon I will try and watch just because the coverage is so good. I think Amazon Prime’s coverage from how they present to commentators is the best by a long way. Jim Rosenthal and Gabby Logan are smooth hosts and then they have Peter Drury, Jon Champion and Ian Darke amongst others with great co commentators too such as Ally McCoist. They also have Alan Shearer who has improve massively analysing with Logan et al. They have really got all the best bits.

 

[CaptainMorgans]

Oli Norwood has been a massive problem this season, but Wilder has left him in there - grossly exposed, on his own, without the mobility to prevent teams coming right through us.

The system should have changed. We know Norwoods limitations & strengths as a player. We know he is capable of having a stinker (sadly this season they've been far more prominent), but to do nothing about it is poor management.

 

[metalblade]

A report that just about sums up our season, some players can't be arsed to do their jobs and gift goals every week it seems. Nothing changes.

 

[Klaatu Barada Nikto]

Referee/Officials - Simon Hooper. The penalty was easy. Not sure I understand the double jeopardy rule – surely it should be if it is an intentional trip which this was it should be a red card rather than an unintentional trip being a red card – it seems the wrong way around or have I misunderstood it. To me that should be a definite red card and the rules should be changed. There was no play on the ball and was a horrible, cynical foul and I would say the same the other way around. Outside of this yellow, Lundstram got one also for a poor foul. A few times we were not even quick enough to foul as they broke!

I think I the ref just got it wrong on the penalty. Complete mystery to me why he stayed on the pitch

 

[robbiez666]

Ratings:

Ramsdale 8/10 – We kept giving him the ball back constantly and they put him under pressure and they had several shots reigning in. He saved a free kick from Rice well and pushed it away and did well to do the same with a shot from Lingard and at least got both out of the danger areas. He saved another at the near post also and kept us in it. They then scored a penalty and a free header which he had no chance with. He made superb save from Coufal – really good point-blank range and then a few more from Lingard. He was our best player today and that sums up how bad we were. Not sure he did much wrong at all. Hugely exposed and the team should be owing him an apology really.

Bogle 4.5/10 – Not a great night and thought we saw little of him attacking wise and not sound enough defensively. Seemed to be caught too far up the field and they broke down here so many times. They kept finding this ball and Lingard got in time after time splitting him and Basham. He was not a factor attacking wise but has to get closer to his man. Players ran through him all game and I thought he was not tight enough to his man at all. He did have a few runs near the end but it was way too late. He and the rest of the team were just not close enough at all. Defensively not seen he can stop a man, stay with runners or deny crosses yet as good as he has looked the other way.

Stevens 3/10 – Thought he looked woefully off it. Poor touch, control, passing and defensively all over the place. Very lucky with the penalty as he was so slow and even old man Dawson was quicker to get there. Ridiculous tackle. After this he continued to give it away and when he had it hit the first man when he got forward. His ball was not great to Norwood on the goal albeit the error after this was worse. Did put a good ball in for McGoldrick second half that was a half chance. Dithered badly and lost it as they nearly got a third. How long does he want on the ball? Continued to make poor decisions on the ball and left his man too much space, the same as Bogle on the other side. Not sure why Lowe was dropped after doing ok recent games – not brilliant but not one of the worst players. Stevens looks a shadow of the player he was and sadly he is one you may have to look to move on. This is 12 months of wretched form now not 12 games.

Basham 4.5/10 – Thought he was all over the place today and lacked discipline. They kept breaking down the area where he should have been. He had to see that the threat was coming down that inside channel and, on the break, but left us horribly exposed. The goal he dived in and maybe on reflection maybe stood his ground. The run back and tackle was desperate and really clumsy. People may say he had no option but he could have not done that! Maybe Ramsdale make a save – it basically gives them a goal. After this he had a few attacking moments but it was all a bit desperate with a shot blocked and looped header. He then started to get a bit desperate and he along with others gave the ball away several times. He tried to keep going but even he was poor tonight in the basics of passing, control and defending and nothing really came from his forays and as I say was undisciplined, I felt.

Ampadu 4.5/10 – In general play he was ok for spells and showed some better touches going forward than most. Time and time again showed that he is not strong enough. We will discuss Norwood’s give aways but him losing header after header from set plays has been as many mistakes. There have been at least 3 or 4 goals like this that have from his lack of physicality and desire. He is not strong enough and was the classic example of men v boys. After this never really saw him as they kept coming running through us. There comes a point when you think about next season as he is not going to be here and we need to look at some other options – even some kids who we can look at? He is too weak defensively but not sure midfield wise he affects games enough either. He has improved a bit but whilst he makes bad mistakes, he won’t be good enough to play centre back at the top level.

Egan 6/10 – Was ok to begin but then gave away a few silly fouls and I felt that he and the defence were not sure when to push and stay back and ended up with some 2 v 2 situations even at 0-0. On the break we were badly exposed. He was one of the better defenders but more due to the fact he did not make any obvious mistakes really. Made a good block to stop a Lingard shot near the end and got injured doing so. Did not look great and when your leg is strapped in a brace then you do fear the worst. Hope it is precautionary but you worry it might be a while till we see him again. The only positive and I hate to say it, is that an injury may see any interested clubs be ahem…not interested. Of course I do not want it to be serious by any stretch.

Lundstram 3/10 – Started ok and involved but then gave it away a few times and looked very leggy as they broke several times through the midfield. He won a few free kicks that got us up the field but overall, on and off the ball did not do enough and as often happens just disappears. Did not create anything and did not stop them running through us. Stupid tackle for a yellow summed up how disinterested he looked 2nd half. He then just kicked it out. The third goal he just stood there. We have so few midfield options but it comes to a point where if he is not staying, do you look at other players even youngsters? I would be saying you sign the new contract now or we move him out of the group – seriously what is the point in him still playing now when we are down if he is not committed to next season? I have defended him at times but tonight he was abject – he never went forward and then when they had it just fouled or ran slowly back. He was as bad as Norwood at times tonight. You go through his season and like with Norwood, Ampadu, Stevens you just recall errors (foul v Wolves, penalty miss v Villa, miss v Leeds, red card v Brighton etc, etc). Time for him to be taken out for me. Not sure what we are achieving by playing him. Give one of the lads a go. We cannot get any worse. I think persisting with him and Ampadu now achieves nothing.

Osborn 4.5/10 – Tried hard but lacking badly in quality but when he is the man we are looking to in order to create then it is a concern. They were just quicker and stronger than our midfield. He had a few runs and won a free kick and then had a low shot but the game passed him by and he lacks top level pace and physicality to impact games. He at least did put a few passes in second half when he got forward and some of the best moments came from his crosses but they were only half chances really. Nice lad but not up to this level by a long way. At this level in midfield, you have athleticism, power, pace or skill. He is neat and tidy but very ordinary. He was probably not as good as any of the West Ham midfield but still our best midfielder by a fair bit. That summed him up

Norwood 2.5/10 – Continued his for the most part, shambles of a season. He must have gifted 4 or 5 goals on a plate at least to other teams! Literally passed it straight to them. He put one great cross in early and a few other ok balls but slowly got worse. His set plays were terrible and then they started running through us and we had no protection at all as he and others just did not have the legs to get back. The goal he was not given the best of ball but he did not look at all. He then started the second half and gave it away two or three times again before he was finally taken off but the game was over at this point at 2-0. You’d drop him and not play him but we have no one we can bring in. Berge is injured and with Ampadu in defence and needed even more with Egan out, you sense that he has to play. I am very unsure whether we keep him as a starter next season. I know he can be effective at the Championship level but his legs just seem to have gone and I think we need to go in a different direction if we are building another team.

McGoldrick 6/10 – Our best outfield player again first half in that he got on the ball and tried to make things happen but he was way too far from goal. He kept coming away and finding space but then as he came deep, we/he had no one to hit. Maybe should have done better with the chances from Norwood’s cross but was on the stretch and misread it. A volley miles over. He kept trying but then had a good chance and maybe should have scored and hit the defender and it went closer after the touch. Had one other better header saved and kept trying to get on it but a chance at the end he took too long. He actually at least got into good areas even if he should have done better with at least one chance. The main threat for us again but he needs some help.

Sharp 5/10 – Not really in it all game but not his fault. He did try and hold it up and early on was involved a bit but as the game went on became less and less involved. He had one run down the side first half and a cross blocked and then another good one to McGoldrick second half but the game passed him by. We did not get it forward quick enough or get it into the box. He had little service at all really. When we tip tap it round and don’t beat the first man not sure what more he can do? We did not even give the front two anything to hold really.


Subs –

McBurnie 4/10 - One weak header but not sure he had many touches as again no decent balls or crosses came in. I have criticised the forwards but tonight if we do not feed them or get in good crosses, then what can they do? He looked a bit desperate as he chased things at the end as did the whole team.

Jagielka – Read one ball but the third goal he just stands there? What is he doing? Has to get out. May have to play for a while now.

Manager Wilder 3/10 – Thought that tactically we played right into their hands. They let us have it and then broke with pace and runners. They kind of defended in numbers when we got into their third knowing we did not have the creativity or individual skill to get through – they then just broke away and attacked us with numbers. We seemed caught between doing neither attacking with purpose as did not cross it, get beyond them or play anything at pace with sitting in and keeping a good shape. We were all over the place when they broke and our midfield’s lack of pace and mobility shown up again. We had a let off but they then got a penalty anyway later on after more individual mistakes. I thought he may change it at the break but had this annoying thing where he readied a change 5 minutes after the break – why not do it there and then (half time)? Then when he made it, it was too late. Ironically McBurnie may have helped at this corner as that is one of the things he does well. After this I thought change it, tactically or personnel but he did nothing. We did the normal of McGoldrick coming back and another striker – seemingly his only other tactic (oh and going to 4 with 10 minutes to go) and the game just drifted on. Why did he not make other subs? The final one was enforced and defensive. I felt tonight he kind of almost threw in the towel a little bit. I know he cannot be blamed for errors but also try and make something happen when it is not working and it clearly was not as they had completely worked us out and Moyes got it spot on. He got lots of kudos last year tactically but for all the criticism of his signings and senior players maybe letting him down, he has also tactically and coaching wise been well off it and other managers have found it quite easy how to set up and comfortably beat us. It may irk some but teams have worked him and us out as well as the drop off in individuals and the overall intensity.


West Ham – What a turnaround from last season. They were close to the trapdoor and until Moyes came and found a resurgence, it seemed like they may go. It was still very up and down though and it was only late on they kind of pulled away. The previous manager/s (including Moyes!) had spent a fair bit of cash for not so much reward. They still have many of those around that they cannot move on. I still felt the squad and side was very unbalanced although the likes of Bowen, Benrahma and Dawson gave them some British quality and experience. Bowen had done well last season. I still thought Rice, Antonio and even likes of Noble were the key men but we have seen strides from a number of players who maybe looked less than captivating last time out. Soucek and Coufal may not be exciting names but have been so effective. Soucek with goals and man of the match performances and has become a bit of a talisman. I always worried about the defence but a few have improved here too. Lingaard gives them more attacking threat and shows they will still be very competitive with the big wages. They still have lots of expensive talent like Fornals, Lanzini and Yarmolenko who are not regulars and the squad maybe does need to get younger but they have made strides in that direction.

I did not expect them for one minute to be 6th or anywhere near the top. I would have said top half would be a major surprise and expected them to be 12/13th to 17th place really – but just enough to survive. Oddly not having fans may have helped as the atmosphere was not always the best at the London Stadium. They can relax a bit more. Moyes has shown he is a good manager. He may have been characterised as a yesterday man but he has done brilliantly this season so credit to him. I thought his appointment would be short term to get them up, steady the ship and they would move him on but he maybe there a while longer. However, just as last season went poorly and this season has gone well, it can swing the other way as outside the top 6, as we have seen you can be sucked into a struggle any season if you are not one of those juggernauts.

Today they won easily. 3-0 maybe flattered them a bit, but it was definitely a 2-0 game. They had all the chances outside of maybe the one McGoldrick one and Ramsdale made several saves. They broke on us at will and the likes of Lingard and Lanzini caused us problems all game. They were better and more dangerous in general play and on set plays. They looked stronger and more physical but also better with the ball. Oddly they did not have much with it but did not need to have really. They were more effective and economical in everything they did do. Better finishing and they could have had more goals. It was a comfortable win where they just moved us from side to side, watched us lose it or cross it to them and then broke. They pressured us a few times at the back/midfield but after they led, they dropped off their press as did not need to. It was as if as soon as they scored, they did not need to do anymore so just played at a canter.



Opponent Man of the Match – Lingard. Not even close. His little flicks and skills got them into good areas and he ran with the ball causing us all sort of problems. He had a number of efforts on goals and obviously got fouled on the penalty. Cresswell took a few dangerous set plays and Lanzini buzzed around. Rice was accomplished in the middle too. Even the lad Johnson looked good.

Opponent Weak link – Not sure anyone played badly really – all very easy. Maybe Dawson was moved about a bit and showed his lack of mobility and gave a few free kicks away but really it was just an easy win.

Referee/Officials - Simon Hooper. They got the offside right and he was correct to give the trip. The penalty was easy. Not sure I understand the double jeopardy rule – surely it should be if it is an intentional trip which this was it should be a red card rather than an unintentional trip being a red card – it seems the wrong way around or have I misunderstood it. To me that should be a definite red card and the rules should be changed. There was no play on the ball and was a horrible, cynical foul and I would say the same the other way around. Outside of this yellow, Lundstram got one also for a poor foul. A few times we were not even quick enough to foul as they broke!



Coverage – BT Sport. Usual cliches of us needing snookers and how desperate we are looking and a bit of a West Ham/Lingard love in. The only argument I could make was how bad we were and how easy we made it so feel the praise in this sense was maybe a bit over the top. Ian Darke is normally ok but made a weird comment about how you have to be good to wear pink? He also had no chemistry with Karen Carney who I thought was terrible with no informed analysis or anything new brought to the table. I am not saying this in a sexist way. There are some good female pundits like Alex Scott but Carney was awful tonight.

I have to say I have dipped into a few games and I would rank BT maybe last in coverage now, with Sky 2nd – which may have seemed unheard of a few years ago. Sky has Neville and Carragher who are great but even think Martin Tyler has lost a bit of his mojo and seems a bit predictable. I also think likes of Keane and Souness just go in for the shock stuff. Redknapp offers nothing really. They shook things up with Stelling’s mob but I think they looked in the wrong areas. They needed to compliment Neville and Carragher but now they are essentially carrying Sky’s coverage.

BT generally I am ambivalent about really. I think Jake Humphrey is incredibly condescending and quite smug and for someone who is supposedly a Norwich fan seems to lack wider football knowledge of the difference between the have’s and have not’s and seems too fixated on the big clubs. Crouch and Ferdinand are ok but they have some poor analysts such as McManaman and Owen who are to be frank terrible.

I have only dipped into them but now if there is a game on Amazon I will try and watch just because the coverage is so good. I think Amazon Prime’s coverage from how they present to commentators is the best by a long way. Jim Rosenthal and Gabby Logan are smooth hosts and then they have Peter Drury, Jon Champion and Ian Darke amongst others with great co commentators too such as Ally McCoist. They also have Alan Shearer who has improve massively analysing with Logan et al. They have really got all the best bits

McBurnie seemed to go into midfield when he came on. McGokdrick stayed up. I have no idea what that was about!

 

[Swannyblade]

Ratings:

Ramsdale 8/10 – We kept giving him the ball back constantly and they put him under pressure and they had several shots reigning in. He saved a free kick from Rice well and pushed it away and did well to do the same with a shot from Lingard and at least got both out of the danger areas. He saved another at the near post also and kept us in it. They then scored a penalty and a free header which he had no chance with. He made superb save from Coufal – really good point-blank range and then a few more from Lingard. He was our best player today and that sums up how bad we were. Not sure he did much wrong at all. Hugely exposed and the team should be owing him an apology really.

Bogle 4.5/10 – Not a great night and thought we saw little of him attacking wise and not sound enough defensively. Seemed to be caught too far up the field and they broke down here so many times. They kept finding this ball and Lingard got in time after time splitting him and Basham. He was not a factor attacking wise but has to get closer to his man. Players ran through him all game and I thought he was not tight enough to his man at all. He did have a few runs near the end but it was way too late. He and the rest of the team were just not close enough at all. Defensively not seen he can stop a man, stay with runners or deny crosses yet as good as he has looked the other way.

Stevens 3/10 – Thought he looked woefully off it. Poor touch, control, passing and defensively all over the place. Very lucky with the penalty as he was so slow and even old man Dawson was quicker to get there. Ridiculous tackle. After this he continued to give it away and when he had it hit the first man when he got forward. His ball was not great to Norwood on the goal albeit the error after this was worse. Did put a good ball in for McGoldrick second half that was a half chance. Dithered badly and lost it as they nearly got a third. How long does he want on the ball? Continued to make poor decisions on the ball and left his man too much space, the same as Bogle on the other side. Not sure why Lowe was dropped after doing ok recent games – not brilliant but not one of the worst players. Stevens looks a shadow of the player he was and sadly he is one you may have to look to move on. This is 12 months of wretched form now not 12 games.

Basham 4.5/10 – Thought he was all over the place today and lacked discipline. They kept breaking down the area where he should have been. He had to see that the threat was coming down that inside channel and, on the break, but left us horribly exposed. The goal he dived in and maybe on reflection maybe stood his ground. The run back and tackle was desperate and really clumsy. People may say he had no option but he could have not done that! Maybe Ramsdale make a save – it basically gives them a goal. After this he had a few attacking moments but it was all a bit desperate with a shot blocked and looped header. He then started to get a bit desperate and he along with others gave the ball away several times. He tried to keep going but even he was poor tonight in the basics of passing, control and defending and nothing really came from his forays and as I say was undisciplined, I felt.

Ampadu 4.5/10 – In general play he was ok for spells and showed some better touches going forward than most. Time and time again showed that he is not strong enough. We will discuss Norwood’s give aways but him losing header after header from set plays has been as many mistakes. There have been at least 3 or 4 goals like this that have from his lack of physicality and desire. He is not strong enough and was the classic example of men v boys. After this never really saw him as they kept coming running through us. There comes a point when you think about next season as he is not going to be here and we need to look at some other options – even some kids who we can look at? He is too weak defensively but not sure midfield wise he affects games enough either. He has improved a bit but whilst he makes bad mistakes, he won’t be good enough to play centre back at the top level.

Egan 6/10 – Was ok to begin but then gave away a few silly fouls and I felt that he and the defence were not sure when to push and stay back and ended up with some 2 v 2 situations even at 0-0. On the break we were badly exposed. He was one of the better defenders but more due to the fact he did not make any obvious mistakes really. Made a good block to stop a Lingard shot near the end and got injured doing so. Did not look great and when your leg is strapped in a brace then you do fear the worst. Hope it is precautionary but you worry it might be a while till we see him again. The only positive and I hate to say it, is that an injury may see any interested clubs be ahem…not interested. Of course I do not want it to be serious by any stretch.

Lundstram 3/10 – Started ok and involved but then gave it away a few times and looked very leggy as they broke several times through the midfield. He won a few free kicks that got us up the field but overall, on and off the ball did not do enough and as often happens just disappears. Did not create anything and did not stop them running through us. Stupid tackle for a yellow summed up how disinterested he looked 2nd half. He then just kicked it out. The third goal he just stood there. We have so few midfield options but it comes to a point where if he is not staying, do you look at other players even youngsters? I would be saying you sign the new contract now or we move him out of the group – seriously what is the point in him still playing now when we are down if he is not committed to next season? I have defended him at times but tonight he was abject – he never went forward and then when they had it just fouled or ran slowly back. He was as bad as Norwood at times tonight. You go through his season and like with Norwood, Ampadu, Stevens you just recall errors (foul v Wolves, penalty miss v Villa, miss v Leeds, red card v Brighton etc, etc). Time for him to be taken out for me. Not sure what we are achieving by playing him. Give one of the lads a go. We cannot get any worse. I think persisting with him and Ampadu now achieves nothing.

Osborn 4.5/10 – Tried hard but lacking badly in quality but when he is the man we are looking to in order to create then it is a concern. They were just quicker and stronger than our midfield. He had a few runs and won a free kick and then had a low shot but the game passed him by and he lacks top level pace and physicality to impact games. He at least did put a few passes in second half when he got forward and some of the best moments came from his crosses but they were only half chances really. Nice lad but not up to this level by a long way. At this level in midfield, you have athleticism, power, pace or skill. He is neat and tidy but very ordinary. He was probably not as good as any of the West Ham midfield but still our best midfielder by a fair bit. That summed him up

Norwood 2.5/10 – Continued his for the most part, shambles of a season. He must have gifted 4 or 5 goals on a plate at least to other teams! Literally passed it straight to them. He put one great cross in early and a few other ok balls but slowly got worse. His set plays were terrible and then they started running through us and we had no protection at all as he and others just did not have the legs to get back. The goal he was not given the best of ball but he did not look at all. He then started the second half and gave it away two or three times again before he was finally taken off but the game was over at this point at 2-0. You’d drop him and not play him but we have no one we can bring in. Berge is injured and with Ampadu in defence and needed even more with Egan out, you sense that he has to play. I am very unsure whether we keep him as a starter next season. I know he can be effective at the Championship level but his legs just seem to have gone and I think we need to go in a different direction if we are building another team.

McGoldrick 6/10 – Our best outfield player again first half in that he got on the ball and tried to make things happen but he was way too far from goal. He kept coming away and finding space but then as he came deep, we/he had no one to hit. Maybe should have done better with the chances from Norwood’s cross but was on the stretch and misread it. A volley miles over. He kept trying but then had a good chance and maybe should have scored and hit the defender and it went closer after the touch. Had one other better header saved and kept trying to get on it but a chance at the end he took too long. He actually at least got into good areas even if he should have done better with at least one chance. The main threat for us again but he needs some help.

Sharp 5/10 – Not really in it all game but not his fault. He did try and hold it up and early on was involved a bit but as the game went on became less and less involved. He had one run down the side first half and a cross blocked and then another good one to McGoldrick second half but the game passed him by. We did not get it forward quick enough or get it into the box. He had little service at all really. When we tip tap it round and don’t beat the first man not sure what more he can do? We did not even give the front two anything to hold really.


Subs –

McBurnie 4/10 - One weak header but not sure he had many touches as again no decent balls or crosses came in. I have criticised the forwards but tonight if we do not feed them or get in good crosses, then what can they do? He looked a bit desperate as he chased things at the end as did the whole team.

Jagielka – Read one ball but the third goal he just stands there? What is he doing? Has to get out. May have to play for a while now.

Manager Wilder 3/10 – Thought that tactically we played right into their hands. They let us have it and then broke with pace and runners. They kind of defended in numbers when we got into their third knowing we did not have the creativity or individual skill to get through – they then just broke away and attacked us with numbers. We seemed caught between doing neither attacking with purpose as did not cross it, get beyond them or play anything at pace with sitting in and keeping a good shape. We were all over the place when they broke and our midfield’s lack of pace and mobility shown up again. We had a let off but they then got a penalty anyway later on after more individual mistakes. I thought he may change it at the break but had this annoying thing where he readied a change 5 minutes after the break – why not do it there and then (half time)? Then when he made it, it was too late. Ironically McBurnie may have helped at this corner as that is one of the things he does well. After this I thought change it, tactically or personnel but he did nothing. We did the normal of McGoldrick coming back and another striker – seemingly his only other tactic (oh and going to 4 with 10 minutes to go) and the game just drifted on. Why did he not make other subs? The final one was enforced and defensive. I felt tonight he kind of almost threw in the towel a little bit. I know he cannot be blamed for errors but also try and make something happen when it is not working and it clearly was not as they had completely worked us out and Moyes got it spot on. He got lots of kudos last year tactically but for all the criticism of his signings and senior players maybe letting him down, he has also tactically and coaching wise been well off it and other managers have found it quite easy how to set up and comfortably beat us. It may irk some but teams have worked him and us out as well as the drop off in individuals and the overall intensity.


West Ham – What a turnaround from last season. They were close to the trapdoor and until Moyes came and found a resurgence, it seemed like they may go. It was still very up and down though and it was only late on they kind of pulled away. The previous manager/s (including Moyes!) had spent a fair bit of cash for not so much reward. They still have many of those around that they cannot move on. I still felt the squad and side was very unbalanced although the likes of Bowen, Benrahma and Dawson gave them some British quality and experience. Bowen had done well last season. I still thought Rice, Antonio and even likes of Noble were the key men but we have seen strides from a number of players who maybe looked less than captivating last time out. Soucek and Coufal may not be exciting names but have been so effective. Soucek with goals and man of the match performances and has become a bit of a talisman. I always worried about the defence but a few have improved here too. Lingaard gives them more attacking threat and shows they will still be very competitive with the big wages. They still have lots of expensive talent like Fornals, Lanzini and Yarmolenko who are not regulars and the squad maybe does need to get younger but they have made strides in that direction.

I did not expect them for one minute to be 6th or anywhere near the top. I would have said top half would be a major surprise and expected them to be 12/13th to 17th place really – but just enough to survive. Oddly not having fans may have helped as the atmosphere was not always the best at the London Stadium. They can relax a bit more. Moyes has shown he is a good manager. He may have been characterised as a yesterday man but he has done brilliantly this season so credit to him. I thought his appointment would be short term to get them up, steady the ship and they would move him on but he maybe there a while longer. However, just as last season went poorly and this season has gone well, it can swing the other way as outside the top 6, as we have seen you can be sucked into a struggle any season if you are not one of those juggernauts.

Today they won easily. 3-0 maybe flattered them a bit, but it was definitely a 2-0 game. They had all the chances outside of maybe the one McGoldrick one and Ramsdale made several saves. They broke on us at will and the likes of Lingard and Lanzini caused us problems all game. They were better and more dangerous in general play and on set plays. They looked stronger and more physical but also better with the ball. Oddly they did not have much with it but did not need to have really. They were more effective and economical in everything they did do. Better finishing and they could have had more goals. It was a comfortable win where they just moved us from side to side, watched us lose it or cross it to them and then broke. They pressured us a few times at the back/midfield but after they led, they dropped off their press as did not need to. It was as if as soon as they scored, they did not need to do anymore so just played at a canter.



Opponent Man of the Match – Lingard. Not even close. His little flicks and skills got them into good areas and he ran with the ball causing us all sort of problems. He had a number of efforts on goals and obviously got fouled on the penalty. Cresswell took a few dangerous set plays and Lanzini buzzed around. Rice was accomplished in the middle too. Even the lad Johnson looked good.

Opponent Weak link – Not sure anyone played badly really – all very easy. Maybe Dawson was moved about a bit and showed his lack of mobility and gave a few free kicks away but really it was just an easy win.

Referee/Officials - Simon Hooper. They got the offside right and he was correct to give the trip. The penalty was easy. Not sure I understand the double jeopardy rule – surely it should be if it is an intentional trip which this was it should be a red card rather than an unintentional trip being a red card – it seems the wrong way around or have I misunderstood it. To me that should be a definite red card and the rules should be changed. There was no play on the ball and was a horrible, cynical foul and I would say the same the other way around. Outside of this yellow, Lundstram got one also for a poor foul. A few times we were not even quick enough to foul as they broke!



Coverage – BT Sport. Usual cliches of us needing snookers and how desperate we are looking and a bit of a West Ham/Lingard love in. The only argument I could make was how bad we were and how easy we made it so feel the praise in this sense was maybe a bit over the top. Ian Darke is normally ok but made a weird comment about how you have to be good to wear pink? He also had no chemistry with Karen Carney who I thought was terrible with no informed analysis or anything new brought to the table. I am not saying this in a sexist way. There are some good female pundits like Alex Scott but Carney was awful tonight.

I have to say I have dipped into a few games and I would rank BT maybe last in coverage now, with Sky 2nd – which may have seemed unheard of a few years ago. Sky has Neville and Carragher who are great but even think Martin Tyler has lost a bit of his mojo and seems a bit predictable. I also think likes of Keane and Souness just go in for the shock stuff. Redknapp offers nothing really. They shook things up with Stelling’s mob but I think they looked in the wrong areas. They needed to compliment Neville and Carragher but now they are essentially carrying Sky’s coverage.

BT generally I am ambivalent about really. I think Jake Humphrey is incredibly condescending and quite smug and for someone who is supposedly a Norwich fan seems to lack wider football knowledge of the difference between the have’s and have not’s and seems too fixated on the big clubs. Crouch and Ferdinand are ok but they have some poor analysts such as McManaman and Owen who are to be frank terrible.

I have only dipped into them but now if there is a game on Amazon I will try and watch just because the coverage is so good. I think Amazon Prime’s coverage from how they present to commentators is the best by a long way. Jim Rosenthal and Gabby Logan are smooth hosts and then they have Peter Drury, Jon Champion and Ian Darke amongst others with great co commentators too such as Ally McCoist. They also have Alan Shearer who has improve massively analysing with Logan et al. They have really got all the best bits.

I wouldn’t worry too much about the coverage - we’ll soon be back in the comforting arms of Colin Murray and Benjamin Bloom.

 

[pommpey]

McBurnie seemed to go into midfield when he came on. McGokdrick stayed up. I have no idea what that was about!

He was playing him as a 'dropped nine' I think with Dids and Billy more advanced.

Didn't get much time in the area to score though

pommpey

 

[Deadbat]

He was playing him as a 'dropped nine' I think with Dids and Billy more advanced.

Didn't get much time in the area to score though

pommpey

To be honest I stopped properly watching from about the hour mark so maybe take my report with a pinch of salt. I started thinking about what I wanted on my pancakes for most of the 2and half.

 

[pommpey]

To be honest I stopped properly watching from about the hour mark so maybe take my report with a pinch of salt. I started thinking about what I wanted on my pancakes for most of the 2and half.

I'll be tuninig in on your Tuftypod tomorrow whilst WFH. Anything less than pommpeyesque levels of poison is not acceptable, you do know that don't you?



pommpey

 

[coaxingstar71]

Soul destroying.

I could barely bring myself to read your excellent report Deadbat . After games like this, I don't know where you find the enthusiasm to write it up.

Some points of frustration for me:-

1. Wilder keeps bringing strikers on when we're losing but what's the point when we rarely get the ball to them?
2. Lundstram keeps doing his little routine of getting the ball in a promising area, shapes to play a forward ball and then does this turn where he nutmegs himself and then passes it backwards and we lose any momentum.
3. Continual back passes to Ramsdale... AAARRRRRGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!
4. Soooooooooooooooo slooooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. FFS even when we broke (and I use that term in the loosest sense) we pass it sideways or backwards so slowly that by the time we get near their area, they've got 9 men back.
5. Why is it that we suddenly started trying to thread impossible balls through the middle when everyone knows our game is getting it wide to the wing backs?.....
6. maybe because the crossing and final ball in general is utterly shite, tbf to Billy, he's good at that little 'sand wedge' cross that Didzy probably should have buried. I thought Billy did as well as he could but seriously how many touches of the ball did he get in their box, where he needs it?

pommpey 's 'my take' should be corker.....

 

[Klaatu Barada Nikto]

Soul destroying.

I could barely bring myself to read your excellent report Deadbat . After games like this, I don't know where you find the enthusiasm to write it up.

Some points of frustration for me:-

1. Wilder keeps bringing strikers on when we're losing but what's the point when we rarely get the ball to them?
2. Lundstram keeps doing his little routine of getting the ball in a promising area, shapes to play a forward ball and then does this turn where he nutmegs himself and then passes it backwards and we lose any momentum.
3. Continual back passes to Ramsdale... AAARRRRRGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!
4. Soooooooooooooooo slooooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. FFS even when we broke (and I use that term in the loosest sense) we pass it sideways or backwards so slowly that by the time we get near their area, they've got 9 men back.
5. Why is it that we suddenly started trying to thread impossible balls through the middle when everyone knows our game is getting it wide to the wing backs?.....
6. maybe because the crossing and final ball in general is utterly shite, tbf to Billy, he's good at that little 'sand wedge' cross that Didzy probably should have buried. I thought Billy did as well as he could but seriously how many touches of the ball did he get in their box, where he needs it?

pommpey 's 'my take' should be corker.....

He brings strikers on because we don’t have any options to change the midfield.

 

[Barney]

He brings strikers on because we don’t have any options to change the midfield.

Which is Wilder's fault

 

[coaxingstar71]

He brings strikers on because we don’t have any options to change the midfield.

My frustration is more to do with our inability to get the ball to our strikers in decent areas, rather than the ironic frustration of bringing more strikers on.

Not true anyway. Arguably he could play Robinson at LCB and bring Ampadu into midfield and isn't Rodwell supposed to be fit now, so bring him in to either play midfield or push Basham into midfield. Frankly, it's got to the point where he might as well try anything.

 

[Revolution]

It was as poor and as predictable as it was boring.

What a miserable team we have. Once we get that twelfth point (which won't be in the next 2 games I'd wager) I will have to think long and hard about watching this death march. the players and the manager just went through the motions today.

 

[BrisBlade]

Was anyone else shooting "Just cross it!" repeatedly at the tele? It's like there is an invisible barrier forming a 25 yard semi-circle from their goal that we are not allowed to take the ball into.

 

[Stegosaurus]

My frustration is more to do with our inability to get the ball to our strikers in decent areas, rather than the ironic frustration of bringing more strikers on.

Not true anyway. Arguably he could play Robinson at LCB and bring Ampadu into midfield and isn't Rodwell supposed to be fit now, so bring him in to either play midfield or push Basham into midfield. Frankly, it's got to the point where he might as well try anything.

Hi, Stegosaurus here

Rodwell being a suggestion to come on speaks volumes. I'd rather Captain Blade be given a run out.

 

[Champagneblade]

I think I the ref just got it wrong on the penalty. Complete mystery to me why he stayed on the pitch

View attachment 105682

It was at least consistent. Very similar to Targett when he fouled Basham.

 

[Blade59]

Spot on with the report. Some people may want to dress it up on the basis we had plenty of the ball and had a few attempts on goal but the reality is apart from a ten minute spell at the start of the second half it was comfortable for West Ham who did not need to do a lot to secure the victory. Maybe 2 0 would have been a fairer reflection. Couple of things that really annoy me with this team.

Sideways passing - it is not even as if we pass the ball sideways in front of the player. It is always slightly behind forcing the receiving player to turn back to collect the ball slowing us down even further.

Shooting - on the rare occasions we do have a shot have we ever had a collective of players with such poor shooting technique. Nearly every shot lacks power, direction and is either sliced or scuffed. Only Brewster appears to be able to strike a ball cleanly with power albeit usually in a straight line in whatever direction he is facing.

 

[Bladesince59]

Last night just highlighted how inept Wilder is with his tactics, buys, selection and substitutions. Not impressed.

 

[guancheblade]

Your anti-Ampadu bias shining through again.

 

[Espania blade]

Good read as always DB.
I'm lost for words on last nights performance, utterly crap, not sure where we go now? but things need to change whether it's the players (yes) or the manager ?

I think you were a bit harsh on Bash' he was trying to get things going but he looks tired, and why wouldn't he!

Fulham a big match, not for the result but the performance and tactics - it' goin' to be interesting

 

[Webding]

Your anti-Ampadu bias shining through again.

I don’t think he’s being overly harsh on Ampadu. I think he looks really good at times, and is good on the ball, but he really gets outmuscled, out-jumped and generally outdone in a lot of one on one defensive situations.

But that’s why kids get sent out on loan - develop and make their mistakes elsewhere...

 

[coaxingstar71]

Hi, Stegosaurus here

Rodwell being a suggestion to come on speaks volumes. I'd rather Captain Blade be given a run out.

He seriously couldn't be any worse than Norwood at the moment.

 

[guancheblade]

I don’t think he’s being overly harsh on Ampadu. I think he looks really good at times, and is good on the ball, but he really gets outmuscled, out-jumped and generally outdone in a lot of one on one defensive situations.

But that’s why kids get sent out on loan - develop and make their mistakes elsewhere...

Ampadu won all his headers bar one. Cos it led to a goal shouldn't count double against him (put a man on the post FFS)
He anticipated the West Ham play tremendously well, especially 1st half reading the play stepping in and intercepting the ball, and then was always immediately looking to progress us up the pitch
All our decent attacks first half came through him
Seemed to be the only player capable of breaking the lines

How Egan is 1.5 marks higher is baffling when he spent most the game chasing shadows and putting his own team mates under constant pressure with terribly placed passes. Ampadu's the main reason we were still in the game before the first goal. To give him a paltry 4.5 on that performance just wreaks of a personal grudge.

 

[benn5712]

Shooting - on the rare occasions we do have a shot have we ever had a collective of players with such poor shooting technique. Nearly every shot lacks power,

Exactly.

 

[Deadbat]

Your anti-Ampadu bias shining through again.

Not at all. He has improved and started the game well last night but to say he is the main reason we were still in the game is not true. I cant recall many interceptions, tackles or clearances. He did ok with the ball on one or two attacks but certainly was not kick starting brilliant attacks. He was neat and tidy but defensively there were gaps all over when they broke down both sides.

Sadly in a key moment he was found wanting. To say we should have had someone on the post does not excuse his weak effort to stop the goal and it was blantantly his fault for the 2nd goal. If he wants to be a centre half he needs to be physically much stronger. That has happened half a dozen times and directly cost us 3 or 4 goals. We had looked like getting back into it possibly but that was nearly as bad as Norwood's error. Its basic stuff. Get touch tight and if you cant win the header stop him winning it cleanly.

He has been much better but big errors cannot be made. I cant downgrade Norwood and not him for costing us at vital times last night.

 

[bakeblade]

Soul destroying.

I could barely bring myself to read your excellent report Deadbat . After games like this, I don't know where you find the enthusiasm to write it up.

Some points of frustration for me:-

1. Wilder keeps bringing strikers on when we're losing but what's the point when we rarely get the ball to them?
2. Lundstram keeps doing his little routine of getting the ball in a promising area, shapes to play a forward ball and then does this turn where he nutmegs himself and then passes it backwards and we lose any momentum.
3. Continual back passes to Ramsdale... AAARRRRRGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!
4. Soooooooooooooooo slooooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. FFS even when we broke (and I use that term in the loosest sense) we pass it sideways or backwards so slowly that by the time we get near their area, they've got 9 men back.
5. Why is it that we suddenly started trying to thread impossible balls through the middle when everyone knows our game is getting it wide to the wing backs?.....
6. maybe because the crossing and final ball in general is utterly shite, tbf to Billy, he's good at that little 'sand wedge' cross that Didzy probably should have buried. I thought Billy did as well as he could but seriously how many touches of the ball did he get in their box, where he needs it?

pommpey 's 'my take' should be corker.....

I seem to remember 1st half Billy getting the chance of a breakaway, but we then passed it around and the ball finally finished with Ramsdale

 

[bakeblade]

Good read as always DB.
I'm lost for words on last nights performance, utterly crap, not sure where we go now? but things need to change whether it's the players (yes) or the manager ?

I think you were a bit harsh on Bash' he was trying to get things going but he looks tired, and why wouldn't he!

Fulham a big match, not for the result but the performance and tactics - it' goin' to be interesting

I can see Fulham blowing us away

 

[Bladesince59]

It makes you wonder what they fuck about at at training sessions, the number of set-pieces we screw up. And Fulham will shaft us.