West Ham UNITED away to Boro - Sat 21st Jan - 3pm Kick off

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Comments

  • IronHerbIronHerb
    ;biggrin
  • MrsGreyMrsGrey
    AC:
    "I didn’t train all week and had a couple of days off, so I didn’t want to risk anything."I'm all good, looking forward to the next game. "
  • SuzanneClaretSuzanneClaret
    ;wahoo
  • LukerzLukerz
    ;wahoo
  • PengemanPengeman
    edited January 2017
    Ogbonna is out for the rest of the season. Needs knee surgery for an injury that he ahs been carrying for a while. That explains the acquisition of Fonte. Good team performance against the Boro. We had good team balance and now need to avenge that defeat against MANC.

    http://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2017/january/21-january/bilic-reveals-ogbonna-injury
  • IronHerbIronHerb
    Oh! I though Atkinson had a good game. He let players tackle and compete. Could have dished out a few more yellows but didn't.
  • MrsGreyMrsGrey
    I thought he was inconsistent.

    Let a challenge go, but blew for it the other way, etc.

    (Not saying one side was advantaged more than another, just thought he missed/misjudged)
  • claretandblueskyclaretandbluesky
    That was a great performance, it wasn't the play that was necessarily great but the desire, cohesion and resilience was first class. The Boro manager has said he is proud of their performance and has no criticism of his team which tells you they played well, yet we limited them to few real chances and took our own. I feel earlier in the season they would have put three past us with Triore in the team.

    Reid once again masterful, reads the game so well. Obiang not foot perfect but maintained intensity throughout which we need as Kouyate is away, whilst Carroll is quite simply the difference between the beginning of the season and now. Disappointed in fegouli once again however.

    Great three points which coupled with the three from Palace must now dispel any fears for now and allow the team to play with confidence.

    I also agree that the ref had a good game, the difference being he was not looking to make a big decision just because he could have where as recently we have had big calls made for marginal stuff, for me the big calls need a ref to be certain.
  • FortuneseekerFortuneseeker
    That's fine I still think he's hopeless. Yes he scored and I'm happy that he did but he looks clueless to me. That goal was jam on toast.

    That's the type of player we have crying out for. ;whistle
  • HantshammerHantshammer
    Last but one game on match of the day tonight
  • SuzanneClaretSuzanneClaret
    Really ;doh
  • IronHerbIronHerb
    Aargh! Mid table obscurity
  • claretandblueskyclaretandbluesky
    I actually think he would have missed the goal as the keeper looked to have it covered until the deflection, like Zsa Zsa he tries however.

    Now Andy Carroll, there's a striker. ;bowdown
  • IronHerbIronHerb
    Thing is he got the shot away while being closed down. That's half the battle.
  • FlorinRaducliousFlorinRaduclious
    c&bsky - You surprise me with your opinion on Feghouli. I thought he had a good game, some decent runs down the right, and his passing was generally good. He put in a lovely ball over the defense putting Antonio through (where he should have at least got a shot on target if not scored, however was let down by a bad touch). Also he was covering for Byram well when we were under the cosh and put in some nice one touch passes when we were trying to break. He wasn't perfect by any means, some passes went astray and a couple of tackles missed but his overall contribution I felt was overwhelmingly positive. In my opinion the last two games he has really got up to speed with both the league and his team mates, and hopefully can continue, being that 'name' player I expected when we first signed him.
  • claretandblueskyclaretandbluesky
    I would agree he has improved a little and got up to speed but I just find he doesn't really penetrate in the way you would hope and the way someone like Antonio does. I also feel his basic stuff such as first touch lets him down more than it should a Premiership player. I would keep him in the hope he comes good unless offered a sum which is hard to turn down as some of the figures rumoured were.

    What I have found is that sfter watching a match I never find myself think Fergouli played well, at best I say he was better than he has been. He may come good Florin but I don't think he is likely to really get a long enough run in the side to do so once the African players are back.
  • FlorinRaducliousFlorinRaduclious
    Fair enough c&b, just a slight differing of opinion then (I still feel he was decent today). I fully agree that I hope there is further progress to come from him though, especially once he is more on wavelengths with our usual first teamers ;ok .

    I do think though that unless we bring in a new top end winger or there is some miraculous u-turn in the Payet situation, even when the African boys return, Feghouli will still very much be in contention for starting.
  • FortuneseekerFortuneseeker
    It will be interesting which team Slav puts out once the ANC finishes, we might be in for a surprise or two. There are some people who are of the opinion that certain players cannot be dropped (Noble ;whistle). Starter for Ten -

    Randy
    Sam Jose Reidy Aaron
    Feg Cheik Pedro Manu Mikhail
    Andy C

  • TwistandShoutTwistandShout
    I love this guy:

  • SuzanneClaretSuzanneClaret
    edited January 2017
    Fortune

    Bilic has dropped Noble.
  • OldCastleSwiftOldCastleSwift
    edited January 2017
    Biblical ;lol

    Good manager, him ;wink
  • SuzanneClaretSuzanneClaret
    I don't know what you mean ;whistle
  • jay_in_cptjay_in_cpt
    Just watched the goals again, our 2nd goal was pretty unreal, did anyone notice how many touches our players had in the build up to it, apart from Valdes save, there was loads of passes ;footie ;scarf
  • LukerzLukerz
    edited January 2017
    Thought some of our passing was very good all game, jay. ;ok

    Some incisive, quick, accurate passing to open up space and get in behind.

    It was a great result. Boro are one of the best defensive units in the league and we could've had 5 goals.

    I felt the third goal slightly flattered us as Boro played well, but we were worth the 3 points.
  • ASLEFshruggedASLEFshrugged
    Fortuneseeker said:

    There are some people who are of the opinion that certain players cannot be dropped (Noble ;whistle).

    We drop Noble, we don't win (unless its Accrington or FC Lusitanos). He's our lucky charm, illogical but true.
  • WHU_Champo_league_in_7_yearsWHU_Champo_league_in_7_years
    Think we won't really know untill he is dropped

    The only 2 games this season if I recall from the list someone posted was Tottenham away and United at home, neither games we expected to win

    Also worth mentioning for 88 mins it was one of our best games against Spurs and likewise against United we started on fire and we're it not for the red card the game would've been so much different

    I like what Noble brings in his tenacity and leadership skills but in purely football terms Obiang and Kouyate are superior central midfielders

    Imo Obiang and Kouyate is our strongest pairing and it I'll only be after they've had time to play together we will can see if Noble is THAT important

    Randy
    Byram - Reid - Fonte- Cressy
    Feghouli- Obiang - Kouyate - Lanzini
    - Carroll- Antonio-

    Imo that's our best team come February....and I doesnt exactly lack leaders...Reid, Fonte, Kouyate, Carroll
  • ASLEFshruggedASLEFshrugged
    We've tried Obiang and Kouyate together before, against Man U (Feghouli sent off, 0-2) and Astra Giurgiu (0-1) this season, against WBA (1-1) and Liverpool last season (0-0).

    Logically there's no reason why dropping Noble to play Kouyate with Obiang isn't a good idea and I'm a huge fan of logic but until we win one without him I'm advocating he starts whenever he's available.

    It get my stats of the interwebby thing, a bit of digging and its amazing the rubbish you can find.
  • FlorinRaducliousFlorinRaduclious
    Here comes an unpopular opinion (I'm expecting no 'agrees' here!):

    I kick off by saying I love Kouyate, his tenacity, energy, tackling/hassling, drive, etcetc are fantastic and I want him at my club - top player.

    However, for me, on the presumption we play a 2 man centre mid (either for a 4;2;3;1 or 3;4;2;1 or 4;4;2) then the best available are Obiang and Noble. For me although Kouyate offers so much his greatest let down is what I want my CM's to be top at: passing. Yes both Ob and Nobes make erroneous passes a few times per game but K usually makes just as many and on top just doesn't spread the play anywhere near as well, or have the ability to play a 'technical' quick short passing game that many of us like to see.

    As I didn't see the Fonte transfer coming, in my head I was seeing him as Reids partner on return from Africa (had felt Ogbonna was poor) and deputising as third choice CM when Ob or Nobes were unavailable. Now however I believe Fonte should rightfully take the other CB slot, so that leaves Cheik on the bench for me, coming on when we need his drive or when the other two are out/ not in form.
    (Please don't hate me ;lol , ;puzzled )
  • SuzanneClaretSuzanneClaret
    Food for thought certainly ;hmm
  • IronHerbIronHerb
    As you will know I'm not the greatest Noble fan but I thought his display yesterday was his best of the season. His lack of pace will occasionally put him in trouble but the silly backward passes disappeared which then improves the momentum of the team. He was tackling and organising to good effect.
    I do think Kouyate and Obiang are the way forward but for yesterday, at least, hats off to Nobes.
This discussion has been closed.