West Ham Post Match Thread

[dww]

The problem is though that he offers none of the things the first XI are lacking - pace, goalscoring and natural width. He is a good player but he isn't better than other players we have and while a slight change in style to our other players he isn't a natural impact sub and in games like last night I think he lacks the incision to really warrant dropping the likes of Kuyt.

I agree with your comments re: his lack of strength not taking away from sticking his foot in but the problem with it are two fold - for all his attacking intelligence he doesn't get blocks in to prevent people getting to out muscle him and he gives away some daft freekicks rather than running with players.

[Slinky Skills]

The problem is though that he offers none of the things the first XI are lacking - pace, goalscoring and natural width. He is a good player but he isn't better than other players we have and while a slight change in style to our other players he isn't a natural impact sub and in games like last night I think he lacks the incision to really warrant dropping the likes of Kuyt.

I agree with your comments re: his lack of strength not taking away from sticking his foot in but the problem with it are two fold - for all his attacking intelligence he doesn't get blocks in to prevent people getting to out muscle him and he gives away some daft freekicks rather than running with players.

I sometimes wish we had a John Barnes type player playing in this team. We'd be savage with a guy of his type.

We do despertaly need a ball carrier who can go out wide, cut inside and run through midfields right from the middle.

I appreciate Yossi is not that type of player but he does have a lot to offer. He hasn't really been given a crack in the starting eleven where he's been given a consistent run of games.

[DannyMan2006]

Hmm.........

First of, Dossena played very well and answered all his critics (me included) with that display. Keep it up.

Secondly, I must be the only one who thought N'Gog did well when he came on. He seemed quite bright and did look a threat, all be it he was guilty of trying to do it on his own. In the only game he started I also noted that He had some good efforts on goals and was played through a couple of times by some neat Robbie Keane passes. Maybe some of you have forgotten that.

My biggest problem with last night is that clearly Kuyt and Keane do not mix well together against the lesser teams. Fine against good teams as their hard work and pressure pays off. I must say that I thought had Keane stayed on, with N'Gog playing off him I thought we would have caused problems. Those two to me look like a good partnership.

Are main problem last night was that neither Kuyt or Keane wanted to stay in the box and be the figure head for the team. Both wanted to drop deep and cause problems that way. N'Gog looks like he would hold the line.

Benayoun was once again poor and once again wanted to come inside to often, but that is his game. Riera on the other hand would start out wide, but would come in when he realised there was no one in the box for him to cross to.

Ryan Babel was obviously brought on to late and it's about time Rafa put his faith in a maverick style player such as he. I'd have him on from the start personally. I have a feeling he'd be another to drop deep however and couldn't see him working with Keane or Kuyt. Therefore I'd have him on the right.

In hindight I would have started with Riera on the left, Babel on the right and Keane and N'Gog up front. Failing that I'd have Kuyt on the right and Babel up top, with El Zhar and N'Gog on the bench to bring on if nothing was happening.

EDIT:

I'll also add I was disgusted with the Anfield crowd. Not with the booing, I don't condone but could understand. It was the morgue like atmosphere that really got my back up. They were far to tense and this transferred onto the pitch. Where was the support and loud voices and singing?

Terrible and I was ashamed. My mate asked mehow Liverpool could claim to have the best fans in the world after the West Ham game. I could not answer or put up a reasonable argument. We had a great crowd in the 70's and 80's when we were the best around. Since that time we have only raised our game for the BIG games such as Man Utd and vital European games.

If we don't win the league we will get exactly what we deserve, **** all.

[Guest]

Hmm.........

First of, Dossena played very well and answered all his critics (me included) with that display. Keep it up.

Secondly, I must be the only one who thought N'Gog did well when he came on. He seemed quite bright and did look a threat, all be it he was guilty of trying to do it on his own. In the only game he started I also noted that He had some good efforts on goals and was played through a couple of times by some neat Robbie Keane passes. Maybe some of you have forgotten that.

My biggest problem with last night is that clearly Kuyt and Keane do not mix well together against the lesser teams. Fine against good teams as their hard work and pressure pays off. I must say that I thought had Keane stayed on, with N'Gog playing off him I thought we would have caused problems. Those two to me look like a good partnership.

Are main problem last night was that neither Kuyt or Keane wanted to stay in the box and be the figure head for the team. Both wanted to drop deep and cause problems that way. N'Gog looks like he would hold the line.

Benayoun was once again poor and once again wanted to come inside to often, but that is his game. Riera on the other hand would start out wide, but would come in when he realised there was no one in the box for him to cross to.

Ryan Babel was obviously brought on to late and it's about time Rafa put his faith in a maverick style player such as he. I'd have him on from the start personally. I have a feeling he'd be another to drop deep however and couldn't see him working with Keane or Kuyt. Therefore I'd have him on the right.

In hindight I would have started with Riera on the left, Babel on the right and Keane and N'Gog up front. Failing that I'd have Kuyt on the right and Babel up top, with El Zhar and N'Gog on the bench to bring on if nothing was happening.

EDIT:

I'll also add I was disgusted with the Anfield crowd. Not with the booing, I don't condone but could understand. It was the morgue like atmosphere that really got my back up. They were far to tense and this transferred onto the pitch. Where was the support and loud voices and singing?

Terrible and I was ashamed. My mate asked mehow Liverpool could claim to have the best fans in the world after the West Ham game. I could not answer or put up a reasonable argument. We had a great crowd in the 70's and 80's when we were the best around. Since that time we have only raised our game for the BIG games such as Man Utd and vital European games.

If we don't win the league we will get exactly what we deserve, **** all.

How could you 'not condone the booing' ? It is a myth that people paying for their ticket should have the right to abuse players. This is a ****ing disgrace; let these same 'supporters' do whatever they want because they have paid for their ticket.

[DannyMan2006]

We are lucky as ****. Teams like Boro, Wigan, Citeh, Fulham and West Ham should have punished us this season for our inadequacies but only Spurs have. We are top by the skin of our teeth, very lucky to be there, and will not be there for much longer if we continue in this vain of form.

Not one of those teams you mention were better than us. Indeed, against Spurs we should have scored 5 or more. If you are saying that every team we play should score their one or two chances they get and that they should all be able to defend against sustained pressure for 90 minutes then you are having a laugh.

The only reason we did not score last night was down to two good saves by Robert Green and an otherwise rock solid performance at the back by West Ham. It is clear we lack invention in our team, but the majority of teams we play this season will bucle under the pressure we offer.

Anyhow your post is based on what teams could or should have done. I could counter by saying Gerrards goal against Stoke SHOULD have stood and that Keane had a gilt edged chance against Fulham nd SHOULD have scored. We would be here forever going down those roads.

It is clear we will not be raiding down the wings like Man Utd, be as inventive as Arsenal or be as great in possession as Chelsea. We offer something else and it has got us to the top of the league. We have also done this by and large without Torres, who is one of our best players and arguably the key to our title hopes.

If we are still top of the league by the time Torres comes back then we really can get our hopes up.

[Guest]

Not one of those teams you mention were better than us. Indeed, against Spurs we should have scored 5 or more. If you are saying that every team we play should score their one or two chances they get and that they should all be able to defend against sustained pressure for 90 minutes then you are having a laugh.

The only reason we did not score last night was down to two good saves by Robert Green and an otherwise rock solid performance at the back by West Ham. It is clear we lack invention in our team, but the majority of teams we play this season will bucle under the pressure we offer.

Anyhow your post is based on what teams could or should have done. I could counter by saying Gerrards goal against Stoke SHOULD have stood and that Keane had a gilt edged chance against Fulham nd SHOULD have scored. We would be here forever going down those roads.

It is clear we will not be raiding down the wings like Man Utd, be as inventive as Arsenal or be as great in possession as Chelsea. We offer something else and it has got us to the top of the league. We have also done this by and large without Torres, who is one of our best players and arguably the key to our title hopes.

If we are still top of the league by the time Torres comes back then we really can get our hopes up.

[Reece]

Not one of those teams you mention were better than us. Indeed, against Spurs we should have scored 5 or more. If you are saying that every team we play should score their one or two chances they get and that they should all be able to defend against sustained pressure for 90 minutes then you are having a laugh.

The only reason we did not score last night was down to two good saves by Robert Green and an otherwise rock solid performance at the back by West Ham. It is clear we lack invention in our team, but the majority of teams we play this season will bucle under the pressure we offer.

Anyhow your post is based on what teams could or should have done. I could counter by saying Gerrards goal against Stoke SHOULD have stood and that Keane had a gilt edged chance against Fulham nd SHOULD have scored. We would be here forever going down those roads.

It is clear we will not be raiding down the wings like Man Utd, be as inventive as Arsenal or be as great in possession as Chelsea. We offer something else and it has got us to the top of the league. We have also done this by and large without Torres, who is one of our best players and arguably the key to our title hopes.

If we are still top of the league by the time Torres comes back then we really can get our hopes up.

To post

[Craig_H]

How could you 'not condone the booing' ? It is a myth that people paying for their ticket should have the right to abuse players. This is a ****ing disgrace; let these same 'supporters' do whatever they want because they have paid for their ticket.

I think you're confusing 'condone' with 'condemn'.

I dont condone the booing at all, i condemn it.

[Finnish_Red]

That explains Stevie's airball, knew there was something dodgy going on...