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West Ham United (A) Everything goes wrong at the hands of the resurgent Hammers

Adam

Active Member
Feb 23, 2004
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There is a school of thought that suggests that by delaying the analysis of an event, you are able to shake off any reactionary judgments and examine the incident through a more rational eye. The lateness of this match report has absolutely nothing to do with that. In truth, the thought of having to reconsider the mistakes of Saturday afternoon filled me with such dread that any menial task I could possibly find for myself seemed far more appealing. However, the time has come and there is a job to be done, so here goes.....
West Ham is one of those games that you rarely enjoy. It usually consists of some hairy moments, some decent football and three points at the end of it. After Tom Huddlestone blazed wide with the goal at his mercy, I felt even more certain that Saturday was going to be one of those days-keep it going like this and we WILL score eventually. However, when all things apart from the score seemed to be grinding into place, the curse of the substitution (that has blighted us on too many occasions already this year) struck again, and any impetus established since West Ham’s goal was obliterated; good players were replaced by average ones and average players replaced by rubbish ones-whichever way you look at it, that formula is a recipe for trouble.

Unsurprisingly given their gradually improving results, West Ham started the game brightly, clearly wanting to test our makeshift back four. Whilst they had a fair amount of possession and set-pieces, they actually created very little for themselves, relying more on a lack of concentration by both Bassong and Huddlestone for their only real chances of the opening exchanges. Having negotiated a tricky twenty minutes we then actually began to knock the ball around quite well, with Modric and Van Der Vaart combining nicely in front of the West Ham defence. Although we lacked genuine penetration, the presence of the Dutch maestro gave us an extra dimension in attack, namely that we now have someone who can shoot with power and accuracy from range, an attribute that may have changed the outcome of the numerous frustrating home games we had last year where we were unable test the opposing keepers from anywhere outside of the box.

After a number of shots had stung the palms of Rob Green in the West Ham goal, it seemed as if it would be a matter of time until we opened the scoring. However as always, we conspired to our own downfall after half an hour, allowing Frederic Piquionne to glance home from 8 yards from the Hammers’ billionth corner. Ultimately, whilst the marking wasn’t great, our inability to play the percentage game proved costly. As everyone is taught from an early age, you really must have a player on each post when defending corners, and whether this shape has been devised by Redknapp, Tony Parks or even Carlo himself, one would hope that this goal sent a message to the managerial team to sort this situation out; there really is nothing more frustrating than conceding a goal through a lack of common sense.

If there is one positive to take from the game, it is that we responded to the goal as well as I can remember. Efforts from Modric, Crouch and Van Der Vaart were brilliantly saved by either Rob Green or the West Ham full backs, and on another day we could have gone into the half-time break three-one up. This pattern of play continued after the break and we created the kind of chance that decides games. In this instance, the usually ice-cool Huddlestone seemed to panic under pressure and as players and supporters watched the ball sail high-and-wide, you couldn’t help avoid thinking that it wasn’t going to be our day.

As if to compound this feeling of deflation, Harry then decided to make three of the most baffling changes imaginable, replacing Lennon, Van Der Vaart and Crouch with Gio, Keane and the Pav in the space of fifteen mad minutes. As well as greatly weakening the personnel on the pitch, these changes destroyed our shape completely as a wide and expansive 451 was transformed into a 442 with a diamond midfield. Although the theory behind this made sense as it would give Bale and Hutton space to move into, Upton Park is a narrow enough pitch at the best of times and with so many players crammed into the middle of the field, they sat deep and made it impossible to break through. In truth, we had been completely nullified and could have fallen further behind had it not been for some excellent work by Carlo in goal. I am one Cudicini’s biggest critics and probably will be until he hangs his gloves up, but he has made some really good saves recently; sadly for him very few have actually resulted in us improving on a result due to poor performances from the men in front of him.

This being Tuesday it seems futile to examine too closely what the negatives were of the game on the whole. The one thing I would like to point out with a touch of trepidation is the attitude that is seemingly creeping into the squad and management team that the Champions League is the most important competition this year and everything else is a bonus. I have become really frustrated in the past few weeks with interviews either before or after league matches that continue to harp on about the top table of European football, as if to say that the league is secondary and will sort itself out providing things go well on the continent. In my opinion, this is a really dangerous attitude to adopt and I fear a situation occurring where we get knocked out of Europe in February, realise we are well behind in the league but don’t have enough time to rectify the problem. This may be an unpopular idea but I would far rather put full strength sides out for ninety minutes on a Saturday afternoon and rest players in midweek than the other way round.

In saying that, the Twente game tomorrow gives us a great chance to bounce back from what has been a fairly awful week and give us some form and confidence before the equally big game against Villa on Saturday

COYS
 

spud

Well-Known Member
Sep 2, 2003
5,850
8,794
Nice report, Adam, and somewhat more balanced than most of the vitriolic responses that we saw immediately after the game. I didn't watch it live but saw it, in full, a few hours afterwards. Expecting our worst performance since relagation in '77, I was pleasantly surprised with what I saw. After weathering the early storm we largely controlled the game, but displayed our customary inability to penetrate a packed defence and the latest worrying tendency to allow opposition chances at set pieces. So not what you would call a great performance but, barring the result, not exactly terrible either.

Work certainly has to be done - and quickly - to generate and convert more chances, and to ensure that our league form improves. Like you, I believe that it should be our priority, with CL involvement viewed as a learning experience and progress beyond Christmas in that competition considered a bonus. Yes, try to win it, but prioritise the league.
 

Yidownunder

Member
Sep 25, 2009
268
0
Problems are Defence, Attack and an identity crisis....

Defence we can do nothing about, chances of having 5 centre backs injured is remote. Like to see how ANY team in the premier league would cope with that.

Leaking goals just highlights our poor stiker situations because we are unable to turn games around, I love/d Keane but lets be honest he's well past his best. Pav's wet spell has dried up, not sure he has the class to play for a top 5 team. Crouch i like but he isn't a lone striker. Missing Defoe big time.

And our new formation just isn't working, we tend to pass it to death then give it back to the opposition because our stikers don't make intelligent runs. We are relying heavily on the midfield to come up with the answers.

This with out of form players like Lennon, Corluka, Placious, Hudd (in last few games) and all the stikers is why we are struggling, not the fitness side.

Tonight i'd like to see us revert back to 442, Crouch and Pav up front. Bale, Modric, Hudd and VDV in Midfield. Sorry Lennon but you havn't played anywhere near your best for 9 months now.

3 points tonight would really set us up, cmon spurs, raise your game, pride and confidence, these games don't come around too often!
 

Adam

Active Member
Feb 23, 2004
2,556
82
I agree with most of what you said, apart from the formation bit-if you look at the Werder game, we were simply brilliant playing 451, but it just relies on having the right players in the right positions, namely Bale wide left, VDV in the hole behind Crouch, and i'm actually going to stick up for Lennon and put him in the team on the right hand side too-i know he hasnt been great, but a) he holds his position well which stretches teams b) does his defensive work extremely well, something that he doesnt get the credit he deserves for and c) is gradually improving, as shown by a better performance on Saturday. If we have him and Bale playing high on the flanks, we can get away with Crouch up top by himself as we will be able to supply loads of crosses to him and give enough space in the middle for Modric VDV and Hudd to keep the ball and move it quickly.

Just an opinion obviously, but id like to see us try it with a full front 6 before shutting it down completely
 

JimmyG2

SC Supporter
Dec 7, 2006
15,014
20,779
No reports yet of 'suspicious ' betting patterns in the light of Harry's after match comments and his odd substitutions.
If this was cricket then the papers would be full of 'Did Harry throw the game?' headlines.

I'm joking, I'm joking. Lighten up people.

What did we learn?
Crouch is not good enough to play up front on his own in the Premiership.
Lennon is seriously out of form and should be used as an impact sub for the moment.
We cannot play in the Premiership with one eye on the Champions' League.
Not having cover for Ekotto means that Bale cannot play in his most effective position.
Not having a player on both posts cost us the game. Who's fault? Management or players.
Whatever day it is the mistakes need close scrutiny by someone. This forum is as good as any.

Good report Adam
As you say we didn't play that badly, we just didn't play that well.
Goalkeeper again 'Man of the Match'. Arguably both goalkeepers.
We should have drawn it at least but I don't think we can make much of a case that we should have won it.
'Penetration' is the key word here. Wedon't have it despite the probings of two of the most gifted players in the Premiership. Three if you include Tom.
 

Paxtonite

Active Member
Nov 28, 2004
1,956
32
It is clear to me that the management team have decided that with our abundance of midfielders, the need to play wide players such as Bale and Lennon (even tho the latter is woefully off form atm), and the fact that we have issues in attack, that we have to persist with 4-5-1. It will bear fruition eventually, however in the meantime our performances are "bitty" (hoping i don't conjour up images of David Walliams by saying that...probably have now)!

We are not playing with any great fluency in my opinion and i just knew that we would get the "same old spurs" at West Ham, where they, needing their first win, would get it against us!

Our opening sequence of EPL games has not been difficult, well not as difficult as it could have been. 8 points from 6 games is a poor return. Granted we are missing Defoe in attack and no one can legislate for the defensive injuries, but we have dropped 10 points so far and meekly went out with a wimper in the carling cup.

I think the problem is "in the head" at the moment. Both of the management team and the players. Spurs have always done complacency well and we are slipping into bad habits. Emphasis on CL "glory" at the expense of all else is misguided. If we do not make top 4 again this season then all the efforts of last year would have been wasted. We cannot afford to have a one time only visit to the CL. No flash in the pan please. We need consistency in the league, and with confidence that will generate it will bring progress in CL too.

I agree with the OP about Keane (past best by long way), Crouch (not a lone striker) and Pav to a degree, although i think the latter can still score goals for us (and has done this season). The strikers seem to be suffering through an underperforming midfield (flashes from VDV, Modric and Bale aside). Is it coincidence that these midfielders seem to be getting the majority of chances in recent games rather than our strikers?

We need to step up our game. Redknapp needs to step his up in particular. We need to rediscover the free flowing football we displayed at the start of last season that built the foundation of our success and we need to discover it quickly. Sadly though i am not sure Redknapp is clear as to his best team or formation any more.
 

danny

New Member
Apr 17, 2004
4
1
Great report. Nice to see these match reports being given the coverage they are due!
 

alamo

Don't worry be happy
Jun 10, 2004
5,046
7,226
Great report again fella.

One thing though, were the substitutions really that baffling?

We were chasing the game and with time running out the obvious thing to do is bring on fresh legs in an attempt to liven up the attack and snatch a goal.

So, Harry took off Lennon first who has been desperately out of form and reverted to 4-4-2 to add numbers up front.

He then took off VDV which Harry has said is due to the fella having played a lot of football and is still on the return to full match fitness. On paper Gio should be a quality creative replacement and should have been able to attack up the wing effectively (I'm assuming VDV was moved to the right when we went 4-4-2).

And finally, Pav for Crouch - nothing wrong with that.

So, unfortunately whilst it didn't work out I really can't fault the logic behind any of the changes.
 

Fantasticlee

Member
Jul 20, 2005
237
15
I watched the extended highlights on Football First and the commentators kept banging on about how well West Ham were playing and how they deserve the lead etc.
It appears they started well then we took over and had a few chances.
They then scored the goal to lead at half time.
We again started ok but then seemed to run out of ideas and WH finished off the game on top.
I know we tend to be biased but I thought a draw would've been a fairer result.
Not sure what game the commentators on Sky and Match of the day were watching with their high praise of WH. Perhaps its more to do with the fact they beat us and they discuss as its a big win for any team to beat the top sides now.

I'm quite annoyed that we've lost to 2 teams who at the time have been bottom of the league at the start of each match.
Looking at the WH starting line-up I have to say that they have a pretty poor side which makes it even harder to take.

IMO we have still to hit form this season and its becoming a real worry.
1st half against Man C & Werder Bremen aside that is.
I know we beat YB's but I didn't think we played as the result made it look, probably down to nerves of what the match meant.

I pray it goes well tonight but I expect its gonna be pretty tough. Prepare to go through most emotions tonight.
Fingers crossed though.
 

Fantasticlee

Member
Jul 20, 2005
237
15
One other thing regarding the corner situation.

This has been going on since at least last seaon with only having one player on a post.
We're not the only team doing it but its something which does annoy me.
It seems to be the trend at the moment to do that and also pull everyone back which I can't understand the logic of!

This gives 2 more people in the box to defend but doesn't seem to make much difference.
I'd rather have 2 on the posts and keep one up front so if the ball gets cleared there's half a chance it doesn't come straight back!!
 

Adam

Active Member
Feb 23, 2004
2,556
82
Great report again fella.

One thing though, were the substitutions really that baffling?

We were chasing the game and with time running out the obvious thing to do is bring on fresh legs in an attempt to liven up the attack and snatch a goal.

So, Harry took off Lennon first who has been desperately out of form and reverted to 4-4-2 to add numbers up front.

He then took off VDV which Harry has said is due to the fella having played a lot of football and is still on the return to full match fitness. On paper Gio should be a quality creative replacement and should have been able to attack up the wing effectively (I'm assuming VDV was moved to the right when we went 4-4-2).

And finally, Pav for Crouch - nothing wrong with that.

So, unfortunately whilst it didn't work out I really can't fault the logic behind any of the changes.

Ive bolded that bit because I think its absolutely crucial, and the main reason why I think we lost it for the last half an hour.

There is certainly an English attitude that more attackers means the team is more attacking, but I just don't buy it at all. This, combined with the English yearning for 442 was the driving force for the decisions in my opinion and HR thought that by reverted to 'the ol' trusty shape' we'd eventually find a goal.

Personally, I think that the proof was in the pudding as as soon as we went two up top, we immediately became extremely narrow which nullified any attacking threat we had-watching it on Saturday I thought that the only move to make was to give everyone a bit of a shuffle, pushing Bale to left mid, Modric inside and maybe stick Corluka at LB and Hudd at centre half; at that stage they were offering absolutely nothing going forward and we really didnt need to be so defensive. Obviously that would have been a risk, but had we got the goal that im sure we would have scored with Bale and Lennon on the flanks, we could always have switched back to a more orthodox line-up later in the game.

With regard to the players, I also see where you're coming from, apart from the fact that for me, we took off players who might not have been doing particularly well but are actually good and replaced them with dross. I know its harsh, especially on Pav who can have flashes and Keane who I still love and has been a fantastic servant to the club, but at the end of the day we finished the game with a midfield diamond with Gio at the top playing off Keane and Pav. In all seriousness, I don't think that trio would be capapble of scoring against many if any defenses in the League at WHL, let alone at the home of our rivals who were doing everything in their powers to stop us from levelling the score.

As i say, its all my own opinion, but i really do think the changes hindered far more than helped
 

alamo

Don't worry be happy
Jun 10, 2004
5,046
7,226
As i say, its all my own opinion, but i really do think the changes hindered far more than helped

I very much agree with you in that respect but I still think it was the right idea to try and mix things up and reverting to a more attacking formation which served us so well last year would have seemed the logical decision to make at the time. Hence I don't find them baffling. They just unfortunately proved to be counter-productive :wink:

We'll just have to disagree on that one. And thanks again for the top write-up.
 

Krafty

Well-Known Member
May 26, 2004
4,768
2,099
The reports a truer reflection of the game than most responses in the aftermath, but I think the sheer frustration of the performance, result, and inability to create meaningful chances in the second half when we had tons of possession and ten men to bypass (a la the entire Wigan game) caused people - myself included - to go a bit nuts.

We lacked pace and width in our attacking play in that second half, making the removal of even an off form Lennon ridiculous. The fact Gio came on having been told to take a central position, pushing Jenas into a slightly right sided position, shows that tactically we were poor.

Bad day at the office, but lessons we need to, finally, learn.
 
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