So Thorn, at 0-4 you thought we could win? Snodgrass on as an introduction, hadn't trained with the 1st team for his last 12 days at Hull so 2 days with us. Carroll off to protect him. Makes sense to me.
It wasn't cited, but my take on it is if they were looking for a right back, it's because they acknowledged the need for a right back. There are right backs out there that could improve our first XI (which is what our transfer policy this window was alluded to be) but presumably those right backs are beyond our budget, ergo it's a funds issue.
That's not a dig at the board, by the way, it just doesn't necessarily support the argument that Slav didn't buy a right back purely because he was happy with his options.
Iron herb at 0-1 I didn't think we could win. My point was with Carroll on the pitch why didn't we at least try to put in crosses but with him off the pitch why then keep putting in crosses.
Does anyone else have a funny feeling that the Davids are setting up Slav to fail using crafty PR tricks such as giving the exact impression OCS refers to above?
Every Manager wants to improve his team if there's enough money to do so, The quote attributed to Slav about being happy with the team sounds like he just doesnt want yet another DS stupid bargan basement punt with money yet again and he's been trapped into this quote as a way of saying no to DS's New Year annual cowboy shopping.
I have never liked the way they go about their relationships through public quotes about their employees which owes more to the Trump style than to giving their manager, players and other employess genuine confidence. Bilic knows more about what the team can do than the massed family ranks of the Sullivans and Golds put together so I do hope this isnt the beginning of a Daves campaign on the sly to get him to resign by end season. ;hmm
There are a lot of games you can point to as negatives, but beating Palace 3-0 is not the same as 'hanging on', and if you honestly think Middlesbrough outplayed us I think maybe you got lost on the way to a Spurs forum ;wink
Antonio did really well last night in difficult circumstances, beat Sagna every time. I havent seen the replays, but was his offside goal the correct call? Real time it looked a close one.
I know I should find a way to move on but were we really that pitiful last night or was it just that Manchester City were that good or did we make them look awesome because they haven't got similar results against other teams? ;weep
Has anyone else seen the rumour that cressers may be landed with a 4 game misconduct charge for aiming a punch at sterling??..
The Sun reported it, but nobody esle as far as I could see.
Then about an hour ago they reported that he has ESCAPED a ban.
In fact, the video footage was not deemed by the FA to justify even charging him. So more accurately, he ESCAPED a charge. But is doesn't sound as exciting. ;doh
I think City just don't suit us at present as they press so quickly and and move the ball so quickly, they have players who we would be ecstatic about bringing in were even one of them like De Bruyen possible.
I think the disappointment is because last season we and others showed that there was no longer a gulf between the top four and the rest, well this season it's back bigger than before and clear for all to see, it's not to say they wont have a bad result or two but essentially can make other teams look poor.....and they did last night.
We need some quality and we didn't invest in quality this year but in Fonte and Snodgrass I think we have recognised our error, we will need find the money in the summer to improve our recruitment even further if we have ambition of progressing from a mid table team. For now what with the Dimi saga, the worst summer transfer window imaginable and the settling into the new stadium, I will settle for mid table, but hope the owners are able to match our ultimate ambition which speaking to fellow hammers seems to be a side that has something to play for come February and March, a cup run, a potential top 6 Europe place, just to be looking upwards in the table and something to play for.
Didnt Bilic say we were looking for a RB but we couldnt get one in (that he and the board) that would improve the team/was better than what we had?
That leads me to believe that we will be trying in the summer to bring in another RB. Maybe I am naive, but that seems reasonable to me (bearing in mind Jan TF window availability and current TF price levels)
Oh and in terms of the game, its only in recent weeks our results have improved (2 months with Payets negativity and lack of effort wouldn't have helped the team).Last season I got to a point where I wasn't worried who we were playing because we were strong, pacey and scored goals. That's in marked contrast to the past when I was always worried when we played a top 4 team (or one with the capacity to be a top 4 team). My mindset then was that we needed to have a good day and they needed to have an average to poor day for us to have a chance of winning.
My mindset has reverted to us needing to have a good day at the office to have a chance. Last night we didnt and they did, pretty simple. Man City can rip any team apart on their day. There's no shame in it. However, obviously its disappointing when we are mistaken ridden and make it easier for them.
Man city can rip teams apart but generally it's only us they do. They have lost 3 of their last 5 away games and recently got thrashed by Everton.
Let's face it they looked great because they played us.
They may have expensive players but that is no excuse for the awful way we approach games against them and the schoolboy errors we make in loads of games.
Other teams do not cave in on a regular basis like we do. I don't understand why it keeps happening as we have better players than lots of other teams and really should not regularly get smashed.
Just a silly thought - but for me, our pitch looks too big for us. I know that they train on it week in week out, but can the dimensions not be changed to that of the Boleyn to cut down space exactly for the detriment of the sides that have the players and systems to exploit a pitch like ours. we currently do not - we look lost on it. I am clutching at straws - can we have a clutching at straws emoji please. I feel it would get a lot of use....
BBB, i think you make a good point.
Problem is if it is the same size as the Boleyn pitch the front row would need binoculars, let alone those towards the back....
My mistake: This from the OS: At the Boleyn Ground, the pitch was 100.5 x 68m as ground staff could not make the standard length due to the confines of the Stadium. London Stadium: 105 x 68m.
We've been through this several times and it's not an excuse. This was on the official club site in response to people continually saying our pitch is too big.
"The pitch at London Stadium is the standard size required by Premier League and UEFA Rules, 105 x 68m.
At the Boleyn Ground, the pitch was 100.5 x 68m as ground staff could not make the standard length due to the confines of the stadium."
I personally think that the goal which randy defends is generally bigger than the one the opposition keeper defends and that is why we are letting in so many goals.
The BBC said whilst commentating on our match on Wednesday night that we are now 5 m longer and 4 m wider than the Boleyn and to them that was a major factor as to why we can't close teams down like we used to.
Comments
That's not a dig at the board, by the way, it just doesn't necessarily support the argument that Slav didn't buy a right back purely because he was happy with his options.
Every Manager wants to improve his team if there's enough money to do so, The quote attributed to Slav about being happy with the team sounds like he just doesnt want yet another DS stupid bargan basement punt with money yet again and he's been trapped into this quote as a way of saying no to DS's New Year annual cowboy shopping.
I have never liked the way they go about their relationships through public quotes about their employees which owes more to the Trump style than to giving their manager, players and other employess genuine confidence. Bilic knows more about what the team can do than the massed family ranks of the Sullivans and Golds put together so I do hope this isnt the beginning of a Daves campaign on the sly to get him to resign by end season. ;hmm
There are a lot of games you can point to as negatives, but beating Palace 3-0 is not the same as 'hanging on', and if you honestly think Middlesbrough outplayed us I think maybe you got lost on the way to a Spurs forum ;wink
Then about an hour ago they reported that he has ESCAPED a ban.
In fact, the video footage was not deemed by the FA to justify even charging him. So more accurately, he ESCAPED a charge. But is doesn't sound as exciting. ;doh
*rolls eyes
I think the disappointment is because last season we and others showed that there was no longer a gulf between the top four and the rest, well this season it's back bigger than before and clear for all to see, it's not to say they wont have a bad result or two but essentially can make other teams look poor.....and they did last night.
We need some quality and we didn't invest in quality this year but in Fonte and Snodgrass I think we have recognised our error, we will need find the money in the summer to improve our recruitment even further if we have ambition of progressing from a mid table team. For now what with the Dimi saga, the worst summer transfer window imaginable and the settling into the new stadium, I will settle for mid table, but hope the owners are able to match our ultimate ambition which speaking to fellow hammers seems to be a side that has something to play for come February and March, a cup run, a potential top 6 Europe place, just to be looking upwards in the table and something to play for.
That leads me to believe that we will be trying in the summer to bring in another RB. Maybe I am naive, but that seems reasonable to me (bearing in mind Jan TF window availability and current TF price levels)
Oh and in terms of the game, its only in recent weeks our results have improved (2 months with Payets negativity and lack of effort wouldn't have helped the team).Last season I got to a point where I wasn't worried who we were playing because we were strong, pacey and scored goals. That's in marked contrast to the past when I was always worried when we played a top 4 team (or one with the capacity to be a top 4 team). My mindset then was that we needed to have a good day and they needed to have an average to poor day for us to have a chance of winning.
My mindset has reverted to us needing to have a good day at the office to have a chance. Last night we didnt and they did, pretty simple. Man City can rip any team apart on their day. There's no shame in it. However, obviously its disappointing when we are mistaken ridden and make it easier for them.
They have lost 3 of their last 5 away games and recently got thrashed by Everton.
Let's face it they looked great because they played us.
They may have expensive players but that is no excuse for the awful way we approach games against them and the schoolboy errors we make in loads of games.
Other teams do not cave in on a regular basis like we do. I don't understand why it keeps happening as we have better players than lots of other teams and really should not regularly get smashed.
Thats for the clutching at straw emoji, not the pitch reduction.
Problem is if it is the same size as the Boleyn pitch the front row would need binoculars, let alone those towards the back....
This from the OS:
At the Boleyn Ground, the pitch was 100.5 x 68m as ground staff could not make the standard length due to the confines of the Stadium.
London Stadium: 105 x 68m.
"The pitch at London Stadium is the standard size required by Premier League and UEFA Rules, 105 x 68m.
At the Boleyn Ground, the pitch was 100.5 x 68m as ground staff could not make the standard length due to the confines of the stadium."