Howdy, Stranger!
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Quick Links
Categories
- 1.5K All Categories
- 1 Site Stuff
- 31 Admin (FAQs, rules, queries etc.)
- The Boleyn Arms
- 34 General Chatter
- 7 Member info & Family Album
- 3 Radio Llama (music videos)
- 415 Fun & Games
- 111 BA Predictor Threads
- 34 Word Games
- 4 Quizzes
- 2 Pun Threads
- 299 Magic Minutes
- 3 Other Fun & Games
- 117 Current West Ham
- 200 Men's First Team
- 3 Women's Team
- 12 PL2 & Academy
- 32 Management & Board
- 15 Stadium & Training Ground
- 27 West Ham Miscellaneous
- West Ham Matches
- 401 Match Threads
- 72 MOTM
- 9 West Ham Nostalgia
- 35 Former Players and Staff
- 4 Past Games & Glories
- 37 Transfers
- 46 Transfer Speculation
- 87 Completed Transfers
- 55 Internationals
- 48 Men's Internationals
- 5 Women's Internationals
- 2 Youth Internationals
- 121 Football Chatter
- 43 Football Chatter
- 270 Other Teams & Matches
- 26 Other Players & Staff
Comments
Idk, I guess I just didn’t think we were ever going to challenge for the cup. I didn’t watch it either, so that probably helps me not be as fussed as others today.
I feel generally like I care a lot less than I did a few years ago across the board.
I get that it's difficult for a manager. If Pellegrini played Rice, Anderson and Haller last night and they all got injured, there would be people raging that he's cost us three key players in a meaningless game and jeopardised our chance to finish top six. As it is, he's getting battered for not playing a strong enough team. Either way, he can't really win.
Of course, this is all assuming that there's a genuine interest in progressing in these competitions. I know the manager and the players talk a good story, but the evidence so far suggests that neither Pellegrini nor the players seems that keen to put the necessary effort in, physically or mentally. Is there prize money for a League Cup win? Genuine question, because maybe the club would rather we committed more to the PL and getting a higher league position and, therefore, more money. I just don't know anymore.
As I say, with City, Liverpool and Chelsea still in the competition, out chances of actually winning it would have pretty remote even if we had beaten Oxford, but they would still have been a damn sight higher than they are right now.
I don't really care what the odds are its a trophy.
"I feel generally like I care a lot less than I did a few years ago across the board"
Over the years I've been able to mentally tune out when West Ham lose. I used to care way too much and realized it saddened me more than it should.
When we pick up points, great! But when we lose I'm really not affected (the oxford result made me laugh and instantly realize I couldnt wind my brother up re Spurs).
This I guess will be tested if we actually get close to winning a cup or qualifying for Europe...
We can justifiably bemoan the performance (or lack thereof) but there's no way you can look at the starting line up and think that is not good enough to face a League One team. I disagree that Pelle didn't take the game seriously, and that he didn't expect us to give it a proper go.
OK at first with Holland skinning the full back twice and things looking bright but then we stopped giving him the ball. We were in control but once again could not complete the final pass. Oxford created a couple of chances and hit the bar from a free kick after the ref marched the wall back some 13 yards. It was so funny as he marked the line on the penalty spot but the kick was clearly 3 yards beyond the D. Second half they came out quicker and as they say the rest is history.
Lost count of the number of times that Holland, Snoddie and Ajeti started runs behind their back four but not once did the player on the ball look up to make the pass.
Roberto made one good save but basically just watched as the shots went past him. Balbuena wasn't at the races, Wilshere nice touches but no end product, Masuaka back to his poorest, Ajeti feeding off crumbs, Holland promising start but fell into the general malaise. Zab did ok, Snoddie couldn't beat his man, Fornals was busy and Issa was our best player. Sanchez, who will never win over the fans, was involved a lot but was one of the main culprits in not seeing runs off the ball.
It was the same game we play against lower league teams time after time, especially away. Shrewsbury, Wimbledon, Wigan come to mind. We don't start with any tempo which allows the opposition to settle.
I've seen worse performances, even won one of them, but I do agree with most that we didn't need nine changes. Expecting someone like Holland to play his game with players not used to playing with each other is a big ask, same goes for Ajeti and Fornals.
Beat Bournemouth on Saturday and a lot will be forgiven.
COYI
How do you feel about the reverse of the scenario you posit ....
One bad result will not obscure the positives we have seen?
Of course, ironherb didn't actually say what you have represented it as: we'll 'forget' it, or a win will 'repair the issues'. What he actually said was 'a lot will be forgiven'.
#FactsAreFun
Look at Wolves this season, look at Burnley last season or Leicester the season after they won the title (12th). You need a big squad to play both and we'd be relying on the players who lost against Oxford!
Some fans were even saying after the fallout from Wednesday they would accept relegation if it meant we won a domestic cup. Lets qualify for Europe & then it would be more acceptable to achieve what some people believe is the norm for us and finish between 10th & 16th.
How many of our squad would want to play in the Championship? Rice, Anderson, Diop, Yarmolenko, Lanzini, Haller and others would want top flight football here or somewhere else. We'd be left with Mark Noble, those too old to attract a transfer and a bunch of kids.
I'd rather stay in the Premier League than see us have to start building a team again from scratch. We've had seven seasons since we were promoted and we've not managed two consecutive top half finishes, I've got to the age where I'd like to see some consistency.
13-14 - C - 5th - FA Cup SF
14-15 - C 23rd (R)
15-16 - L1 - 1st
16-17 - C - 23rd (R)
17-18 - L1 - 1st FA Cup QF
18-19 - C 18th
Each to their own, but that's not a price I'd be happy to see us pay for winning a trophy.
#chucks cigs toward mouth til one goes in