The West Ham Tactic

[job16]

I thought it after we played them last year but just let it go because they had a new manager but this season he has had time to changes things.

West Ham as ssssooooooooo denfensive.

I would be annoyed if I had a local derby at home and my team didnt really even go to try and play attacking football. The tactic was 10 men behind deep into their half when we even got a sniff of the ball. And then when they won the ball whack it up to cole (who looked good imo) on most occasions and see what he can do.

On zola's record i thought he looked a promising manager but to play like that constantly is embarassing. I know the excuses will be no funds and making the best of what hes got but it was just so boring to watch today because of it. That is prob why keane and modric could not make much of a difference and the match winner was a byline player

 

[shleespur]

They did love to hoof the ball up to Cole, who IMO played very well. But I think the fact we are starting to play so high up the field, and pushing the defenders down the pitch really forced them to play deep. When you've got the likes of Defoe, Keanoe, Modders and Lennon (let's be honest, they arne't exactly slow!) all running at you applying pressure it really makes it hard to get the ball up the pitch.

 

[Rackybear]

Wait till crouch starts a game for spurs..

 

[SoulDog]

Wait till crouch starts a game for spurs..

When he came on in the Liverpool game all we did was hoof it up to him. Would much rather they tried and passed the ball to him, he is better than that.

 

[shleespur]

When Crouch came on today, there were some glimpses of amazing link up play between Defoe... and the rest of the team for that matter.

 

[jamesc0le]

infact crouch didn't like the ball being lumped onto his head (against liverpool), and we made him look like a player from a couple of divisions below.

we as a team, need to learn that about crouch, and quickly. play to his feet, especially dinking little crosses for him to volley in the area. only lump it up to him when we need to relieve pressure, or if our attacking options are not coming off.

 

[Rackybear]

Exactly. The thought of us banging the ball upto him at every oppurtunity really worries me...unless we are REALLY struggling to create chances or find a way through the opposition defence, then hoofing the ball up should be a last resort tactic or something that we intentionally use because we feel it may be the oppositions weakness.

However, we must try and breakthrough the opposition by first and foremost playing our own brand of football - on the ground, quick passing, slick interplay between the 4 midgets. Crouch, is good on the ground too..so he can add to that, dont give into the temptation of lofting high balls to him!

 

[mackay59]

Can anyone give me directions to Barcelona ?

 

[Coalhada]

Can anyone give me directions to Barcelona ?

http://maps.google.com/maps/mm?ie=U...n,+UK&daddr=barcelona&geocode=FXjUEQMd5BL-_w;

 

[Donki]

I really dont think it is fair on the team, on Harry as a manager or even Crouchie for that matter to assume that we will be punting the ball long every time Crouchie steps onto the field, he has payed about 20minutes for us. I think considering how highly Harry rates him the team as players know how to use him successfully.

West Ham and Zola were obviously concerned about the counterattack and did really well not to get caught, in Cole they have a perfect target man and I thought their tatics worked well against us. They didnt have the individual players to compete with us on the deck so they didnt really have another option.

 

[lishiyo]

I believe quite a few teams will try to play that way against us, particularly at the Lane. It'll be important for us to figure out ways around that, or else we'll end getting found out like Villa (I think we have a lot more versatility in our options though).