West Ham Vs Tottenham: Match Thread

[davidmatzdorf]

All I remember of last season is passing around the back 4 waiting for an opportunity to come and hoping we'd get a penalty/free-kick.

I'm struck by how many people quote this example of why our football was depressing and frustrating to watch last season. That never bothered me much.

What I remember with teeth-gritting annoyance were the scores of attacking moves that progressively slowed down as they approached the opposition's defensive line, ending with three or four Spurs strung across the pitch in the attacking third, with the man in possession looking for a gap, then changing his mind and passing sideways across the edge of the penalty box to a teammate, who would look for a gap, then pass sideways across the edge of the penalty box to a teammate, who would ... and on and on until (1) we lost the ball to a sloppy pass or a tackle, or (2) someone would try a through ball through a gap that didn't exist in the general direction of a striker (usually Soldado) who had long since given up on making a run, or (3) someone (usually Townsend) would run out patience and hammer a shot in the general direction of goal from 20-25m.

I don't care if we keep the ball for 2 minutes in defence, as long as there is a decisive, organised attacking move at the end of it, including movement off the ball and a change of pace as we approach the opposition's defence. The most notable change in our attacking play yesterday was the inclination of Bentaleb, Eriksen and sometimes Capoue to make an early vertical pass up to Adebayor or A. N. Other. It didn't work out with Adebayor, who didn't look fully fit or focused, but eventually that is exactly what got the ball to Kane, who was able to deliver an effective through ball in between West Ham's depleted and rather tired defensive line. Last season that through ball would have been delayed so long that it would have always bounced off a defender's arse or knee.

 

[Supersi32]

I'm struck by how many people quote this example of why our football was depressing and frustrating to watch last season. That never bothered me much.

What I remember with teeth-gritting annoyance were the scores of attacking moves that progressively slowed down as they approached the opposition's defensive line, ending with three or four Spurs strung across the pitch in the attacking third, with the man in possession looking for a gap, then changing his mind and passing sideways across the edge of the penalty box to a teammate, who would look for a gap, then pass sideways across the edge of the penalty box to a teammate, who would ... and on and on until (1) we lost the ball to a sloppy pass or a tackle, or (2) someone would try a through ball through a gap that didn't exist in the general direction of a striker (usually Soldado) who had long since given up on making a run, or (3) someone (usually Townsend) would run out patience and hammer a shot in the general direction of goal from 20-25m.

I don't care if we keep the ball for 2 minutes in defence, as long as there is a decisive, organised attacking move at the end of it, including movement off the ball and a change of pace as we approach the opposition's defence. The most notable change in our attacking play yesterday was the inclination of Bentaleb, Eriksen and sometimes Capoue to make an early vertical pass up to Adebayor or A. N. Other. It didn't work out with Adebayor, who didn't look fully fit or focused, but eventually that is exactly what got the ball to Kane, who was able to deliver an effective through ball in between West Ham's depleted and rather tired defensive line. Last season that through ball would have been delayed so long that it would have always bounced off a defender's arse or knee.

With Dembele being the main culprit here.

 

[THFCSPURS19]

It just occurred to me that Naughton's red card was a massive blessing in disguise. We never would have scored if Dier wasn't moved to RB.

 

[faymantaray]

It just occurred to me that Naughton's red card was a massive blessing in disguise. We never would have scored if Dier wasn't moved to RB.

Because of the nature of causality, the whole game would have been different. We might have scored earlier, we might have won 5-0. We might, also, have lost 10-3.

 

[faymantaray]

It just occurred to me that Naughton's red card was a massive blessing in disguise. We never would have scored if Dier wasn't moved to RB.

There is also a parallel universe where Naughton himself scored the winner with a last minute overhead-kick golazo.

 

[Don_Felipe]

Sir Chris Hoy better not look at twitter today..

and surely enough....

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/row-zed/6-very-angry-spurs-fans-4060168

although

Although of course, this has become such a well-known meme that half the tweets today are fans of other clubs pretending to be North London dimwits.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/row-zed/6-very-angry-spurs-fans-4060168#ixzz3AlFkjwda
Follow us: @DailyMirror on Twitter | DailyMirror on Facebook

 

[faymantaray]

and surely enough....

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/row-zed/6-very-angry-spurs-fans-4060168

although

Some fans are absolute scum..

 

[parklane1]

Some fans are absolute scum..

Who would have thought it, morons on twatter.

 

[chris_theo]

I'm struck by how many people quote this example of why our football was depressing and frustrating to watch last season. That never bothered me much.

What I remember with teeth-gritting annoyance were the scores of attacking moves that progressively slowed down as they approached the opposition's defensive line, ending with three or four Spurs strung across the pitch in the attacking third, with the man in possession looking for a gap, then changing his mind and passing sideways across the edge of the penalty box to a teammate, who would look for a gap, then pass sideways across the edge of the penalty box to a teammate, who would ... and on and on until (1) we lost the ball to a sloppy pass or a tackle, or (2) someone would try a through ball through a gap that didn't exist in the general direction of a striker (usually Soldado) who had long since given up on making a run, or (3) someone (usually Townsend) would run out patience and hammer a shot in the general direction of goal from 20-25m.

I don't care if we keep the ball for 2 minutes in defence, as long as there is a decisive, organised attacking move at the end of it, including movement off the ball and a change of pace as we approach the opposition's defence. The most notable change in our attacking play yesterday was the inclination of Bentaleb, Eriksen and sometimes Capoue to make an early vertical pass up to Adebayor or A. N. Other. It didn't work out with Adebayor, who didn't look fully fit or focused, but eventually that is exactly what got the ball to Kane, who was able to deliver an effective through ball in between West Ham's depleted and rather tired defensive line. Last season that through ball would have been delayed so long that it would have always bounced off a defender's arse or knee.

Agree with all of that really. To be honest it hard to see the attacking intent as you say through the lack of movement. That I said above. We would pass horizontally and then remain in the same position. We may well of had intent to attack, as all teams do, but I felt they didn't know how last season. Everyone goes out to attack and score but it's practice that forms know-how, sadly, it looked like we practised naff all the whole of last season.

Nevertheless the past is the past......and I'm sure most of believe that MoPo may just be the one to help build us up again. At least we feel more united as fans than last year.

 

[Gbspurs]

Are we appealing the Naughton red?

 

[Jamturk]

Are we appealing the Naughton red?

No

The club feel that it's easier than telling him he's being dropped.