West Ham (A) - Sat 27th Apr 2024 (12: 30pm)

[Trumo]

No 'clever' wordplay now. This past month or so has been so incredibly deflating.

 

A Saturday lunchtime game. Again. Yay. TNT Sports have had to make do with the unwanted time slot, and the problem would be solved if that rule about no live football on TV at 3:00pm on Saturdays was ditched. Whatever was the basis for that decision surely is of no relevance today, so sticking to it is like when Americans adhere steadfastly to elements of the US Constitution that were constructed for the conditions of the time but should have no bearing on society today. If they do, then that society has made no progress. The 12:30 time slot is for the benefit of the Far East TV market as it coincides with their peak time, but games in this timeslot tend to be vastly different to the Saturday 3:00pm, Sunday afternoon or any midweek evening slot. Eveything just seems more sluggish. The ONLY good thing about them is that if your team wins, you basically have a whole weekend to enjoy other things.

 

The corresponding fixture took place almost exactly a year ago. We'd gradually started finding a bit of form, especially away from home, and looked more like the side that had gone close to a quadruple the year before. And yet it started in familiar fashion, with us being too easily opened up on our right flank. A nice move (aiding by very little in the way of closing down by us) saw Paqueta fire a fine effort past Ali from 20 yards. Trent was playing that hybrid role and picked up the ball in midfield, squeezing a pass to Cody in a central position 25 yards out. Again, very little in the way of closing down meant that he had time to turn, carry the ball and fire a low effort beyond Fabianski. Diogo had a couple of chances to put us ahead, but got underneath his shot for the first, and didn't quite have enough height to get a header on target for his second. Virg nipped in before Antonio at the far post when a goal looked almost certain. Early in the second half, Bowen was played in down the right, cut inside Virg and shot into the far corner. Virg hardly covered himself in glory with the way he tracked back, and we were fortunate when VAR came down in our favour for once, judging Bowen to be offside. Big Bird was denied a goal after a goalmouth scramble following a corner, but from the resulting corner, he absolutely buried his header into the roof of the net. West Ham argued that they shoulder have had a penalty late on for a handball by Thiago, but the Spaniard's momentum when winning the ball meant that his arm was where it was to check his fall. The ball just so happened to be under him at that very moment. Hardly the same as Odegaard at Anfield, yet that one got less attention by the VAR guys. 2-1 to us in the end.

 

We've been so profligate in attack and so sloppy defensively in recent weeks, it's hard to pinpoint the catalyst. Some people (including Jurgen) have identified the FA Cup tie, and maybe that's true. Or maybe it goes back a little earlier, but was being papered over by the excellence of the youngsters called up. Whatever it is has totally derailed our season to the point where so many players are being questioned as to whether they are good enough. Cody might be available again for this one, and based on the lack of positive impact of both Darwin and Mo in recent weeks, Cody has done more than both to stake his claim for a starting berth. I'd have him in for one of those. I keep saying stuff about motivation, concentration, attitude and application needing to be absolutely on point from first minute to last. It's not me saying it for the sake of it, but because it is necessary. Without it, you let performances and results slip away, and it gets harder to wash off the stink. Whatever remains of this season, treat the games like there is something to gain. Winning begets winning. 3 points please. Get it done!

[Mook]

Hard to really give much of a shit about this.

 

I feel for the people who will be in the away end, with that shitey view and clearly it would be better to win but that's about it for me. I have the kids this weekend & they don't like it when I watch the game so I won't be putting them through it for the rest of the season.

[LFC 6 Times]

Fuck off

[VERBAL DIARRHEA]

Not that arsed play some kids. Drop some fannies. Miss chances and concede first.

 

 

[VERBAL DIARRHEA]

Not that arsed play some kids. Drop some fannies. Miss chances and concede first.

 

 

[Tenfolder]

The first time this season im fine with us having the early slot on a Saturday, play the kids, hope we somehow chance a win, if not least i've not spent any more of my weekend than needed waiting for the inevitable dissapointment.

[bizzle10]

Play some of the kids at least they will run around a bit seasons over we will concede 1st and miss lots off chances 

[Captain Willard]

There will be some poor fuckers out there who bought tickets from tout sites for this and paid £500 plus for what is now a meaningless game in a soulless ground with a shit view. 

[Saintslfc13]

I'm going to ride this thing out but getting my tooth pulled yesterday was a better experience than the game I watched afterwards. Hopefully it's not that dire. If it was up to me I'd pick whoever seems to have the best attitude and go from there, if that leaves us with a team of kids then so be it.

I doubt very much Arsenal drop enough points and it's all but a foregone conclusion that City won't so send a message and work on consolidating our position in the top 4. If by some miracle things look different in a game or two then whatever we do please just keep playing the team that got us there instead of letting others who either can't or won't do the job walk back into the team.

[BeefStroganoff]

fuck them. gonna do something else they will phone it in anyway.

[Juniper]

The team can get to fuck, won’t be watching. 

[Dapower]

1-3 in sitters

[Lee909]

----------------Adrian

Finnan---Kvarme--Kyrgiakos--Insua

 

------------Poulsen---Spearing

 

Partridge--Cole--------Kennedy

----------------Voronin

[AngryOfTuebrook]

Break sweat, keep focus, don't be shit.

 

Just get these beat, Reds.

[JohnnyH]

Fuck off football 

[AngryOfTuebrook]

Some proper shithouse cunts on this thread.  Here's hoping you're men of your word and you'll swerve all the remaining match threads.

[diamondjoe]

I fancy us to win 0-4. Be just like us to turn it on when it's too late. 

Darwin with a brace. 

[Code]

2 hours ago, Captain Willard said:

There will be some poor fuckers out there who bought tickets from tout sites for this and paid £500 plus for what is now a meaningless game in a soulless ground with a shit view. 

I feel more sorry for those who have paid £5000 for Wolves if I’m honest

[KevieG]

51 minutes ago, Lee909 said:

----------------Adrian

Finnan---Kvarme--Kyrgiakos--Insua

 

------------Poulsen---Spearing

 

Partridge--Cole--------Kennedy

----------------Voronin

Bit harsh on Finnan that

[Lee909]

2 minutes ago, KevieG said:

Bit harsh on Finnan that

 

Yeah but you need at least one solid 6/7 out of 10 player in every team

[col06]

[Mook]

1 hour ago, Code said:

I feel more sorry for those who have paid £5000 for Wolves if I’m honest

 

Anyone paying £5,000 for a match ticket for any game either has far too much money or is a stupid cunt.

[niallers]

Bowen and paqueta 2 goals apiece in the last 9. Watch them both bag the weekend.

Battered by Palace and beaten at home by Fulham the last 2 games.

We'll set them back on the road to recovery, as is our wont.

 

[BeefStroganoff]

31 minutes ago, niallers said:

Bowen and paqueta 2 goals apiece in the last 9. Watch them both bag the weekend.

Battered by Palace and beaten at home by Fulham the last 2 games.

We'll set them back on the road to recovery, as is our wont.

 

Tell AOT he seems to think we are being harsh on the wee poor lads.

[Anubis]

The Hammers still have something to play for as they’re chasing the slim possibility of a UEFA ECL spot.

 

So just win and justify Moyes’ miserable little face.