Watford vs West Ham United - 19.11.17 - Match Thread

Barney

Whilst Moyes would not have been my first choice, i do think we need to give him some slack to get his methods across to the team and to sort out the shape of the first 11. my big fear is that he will not get full backing in January and that will mean we are fighting relegation all season. there were some positives yesterday and the result could have been different but sadly some of the team are just not up to it. for me Caroll has to go, Noble on the bench and we need a young CB or two. understand the vitiol towards the Board but we really need to get behind Moyes and the team.

Lukerz

I get that but being outplayed was always likely and no surprise. We’re missing 5/6 first team regulars, we’re in the bottom three, away from home and just not very good. Watford weren’t missing players, sitting in 8th, at home and are quite decent. You can’t expect instant success. I’m not saying it doesn’t happen, some managers experience an immediate win. But we aren’t that good and are woefully short on confidence. We weren’t going to just turn up and knock the ball around and win the game. To start with we need to show some desire, work ethic and game management. That side had loads of PL experience in it, especially the back five. But we are also an ageing side.

Lukerz

And the things is you can watch the players knock the ball around as much as you want on Mon-Fri, but Moyes will have learnt far more watching us yesterday, and will hopefully target those areas this week prior to Leicester. But our record against them is pretty awful.

TheMadcapLaughs

We need to play two up front, and despite being a big Carroll fan, neither should be Big Andy. Any two from Hernandez, Sakho, Ayew, Martinez or Antonio. We need pace up top and a little bit of skill, otherwise the ball just comes straight back at us. I would love to see us play in a similar way to how we played when we had Sakho and Valencia running at defences, running the channels and pulling defences out of shape. The best period for us over the last five years, and that includes the Payet era (IMO). We haven`t got the technical ability to play possession football and the tippy tappy stuff. Either a 4-4-2 or a 3-5-2, I don`t care. Or perhaps we should re-visit Allerdici`s famous "diamond" formation.
I`m with Luke and Jorderz, I don`t think we were as bad as some make out yesterday. Sure Watford played the better football (shudders and shakes head), but we created the better chances. I would love us to go something like:

............................Adrian............................
.................Rice......Reid......Ogbonna..........
Byram..............Noble....Obiang.........Masuaku
...........................Lanzini..................................
.....................Sakho.........Ayew........................

I know that Moyes generally plays four at the back, but we do seem a little more fluid playing a back 3/5.

In the words of another poster..................

Ho Hum.

;scarf

Cuz1

So Moyes tells sky sports most people would expect that yesterday cus that’s the way it’s been recently, real confidence boost for the team similar to his statement after two games with Sunderland, also in the report which I thought was a good one from the reporter it’s his job to change it not to oversee a continuation

SuzanneClaret

Would you preferred that he lied Cuz?

Cuz1

I’d have preferred it to come across more positive, the point I was making was is admission previously by saying Sunderland were in a relagation fight after two games, it was obvious we struggling for whatever reasons this season were I’d just expect more of I will get them out of this, more positivity to get the fans inside,when big Sam said what is the West Ham way look at the reaction to that on here

Kuchinghammer

How we managed to create 4 clear chances is a mystery. But we did, which means we should create more as the team improves. But defensively... 4 at the back from this squad doesn't work, Kouyate was meant to be the box-to-box man and had a miserable game. But but, so did Masuaku the other day (and Arnie all season) and they did much better. My main worry is that Moyes doesn't have time to mould this squad into his tactics, he needs to use the tactics that suit the players, and introduce young legs for energy & enthusiasm.

MrsGrey

cuz, I think you are latching on to one statement in what he said and ignoring the rest of it. What about...

-hopefully I’ll get the chance to work with [all] the players over the coming weeks and it will make a difference.”

- I thought we started the second half playing better than we did at times in the first half. We have things to work on and, hopefully, things to improve on.

- “We have to try to win games and get results and pick them up as we go along and I believe we will do

Cuz1

MrsGrey/ suze I stand corrected on that post now I didn’t see those but that sounds positive enough, to be fair on my part I have posted I would give him a chance as a hammer to turn things round, he doesn’t inspire me but I wish him all the best because if he does a good job we stay up

MrsGrey

;ok

Of course, often the papers skew the reporting to give it a particular angle.

Vorselaarhammer

Uninspiring first game for Moyes, nothing to get excited about or to think we are moving forward.

Running around a lot without a purpose is no better than not running around a lot...

IronHerb

Did I not hear we covered 10km more yesterday than our seasons average? There's a start.

grey_til_I_dye

Herb ;ok

115.58km (4.4 km more than next highest) compared to 106.5 ave.

IronHerb

Thanks Grey.

jay_in_cpt

Sadly tho most was backwards and sideways...

TheMadcapLaughs

I think 4 of those kilometres can be attributed to Arnautovic. When he was rolling around the floor with a broken thumb (nail) his little legs were going like the clappers.

Hammerex

Did those figures include getting the ball out of the back of the net. ;biggrin

IronHerb

What's the point. ;hmm

grey_til_I_dye

Madcap

So you don't think Arnie was in pain?

TheMadcapLaughs

I think it seems fairly obvious he was in pain. Its just the fastest I have seen him "run" was when he was lying prostrate.

grey_til_I_dye

Then I don't get the dismissive (nail) - as though it was nothing serious.

grey_til_I_dye

Fade_n

You don't think you are being just a touch previous in your dismissal of Moyes?

TheMadcapLaughs

It was a flippant comment for which I apologise, having watched the rugby chaps earlier that weekend I thought that Arnautovic may have over reacted somewhat to someone standing on his hand. This was further evidenced by the fact that Arnautovic wanted to continue to play. It has been mentioned on a number of occasions that "Arnie" appears to be a lazy player, a "Big Time Charlie" who has failed thus far in his West Ham career to track back, put himself about or look particularly interested. For a "lazy player" I thought he looked remarkably animated whilst lying prone and it amused a portion of my brain that may well be unique to me and this amusement certainly should not and will not in future be shared on a public forum.
For the record I thought this was Arnies best game for us and it was a shame when he went off.

grey_til_I_dye

Madcap

You can share whatever humour/thoughts/brainstorms you like (within site rules.)

It's just sometimes you may be asked to clarify what you mean.

It's never easy to determine subtleties of 'tone' on a forum.

TheMadcapLaughs

;ok

I do have an odd sense of humour. Anarchic, some might say......................

MrsGrey

;run

TheMadcapLaughs

;run

I`m right behind you.........................

;scary

MrsGrey

But I'm a mod, and therefore have motorised transport ;scooter

TheMadcapLaughs

;sub

But you just don`t know where I might pop up..............................