My opinions on yesterday

I've already mentioned the policing in another thread viewtopic.php?f=2&t=120854
Now to the game itself, I think we come up against a very good team yesterday, they'll do well this season, they're tactics were spot on and our defence couldn't cope nor are they experienced enough. Im not going to count Turner out after one performance but id prefer to see how the cool head of Hudson plays alongside Caulker, who wasn't great himself yesterday. I don't feel Declan Johm had alot to do, so I won't judge him, but Connolly at right back looked very out of place.

I think our midfield set up has some potential. Its a nice setup, Gunnerson had a shocker, probably down to lack of preseason training, no doubt he will learn alot from the classy Medel, who stood out for us yesterday.
Kim looked skilled but got bullied by the West ham players, and looked frustrated to me. Whitts is going to be a stand out player for us, he looked good to me yesterday, I heard some people on my bus slating him, so perhaps others will disagree, but his attacking play will be very important for us this season. I hope Bellamy hasn't lost the yard on pace he appears to have, didn't impress yesterday at all.

Campbell didnt have many chances, so I wont judge him yet.

West Ham thought us a lesson, they're tactics were spot on, and i see us employing similiar tactics when Cornelius is fit, fair play to him for his appearance amoungst the fans yesterday. Whitts, kim and Bellamy need to press the opposition defence alot more, we hsd the ball out wide a couple of times yesterday and the West Ham 18 yard box was a ghost town.

I just hope Cornelius is a very good target man, because thats the only way I see us getting in the goals judging by yesterday.

I dont normally sit anywhere near the away fans, but I sat in my designated seat yesterday and it happened to be on the end of the row, right at the police line, quality banter with WH throughout.

They singled out a young city fan who was 'giving it large' all game, I honestly thought I was gonna have to pass him a tissue, they destroyed him

Good day out that was a learning curve for Malky and a reminder for me to avoid future bubble trips. Im crossing Chelsea straight off my list. Its a shame we have to play Man City next week, pack that defence.

We stopped in the very affluent Rickmansworth on the way home, poor shopkeeper didn't know what hit him.

need full backs of quality and pace - quickly.

was embarressing watching them go past and around our full backs all afternoon!

You should never play players out of position - and bloody never in the best league in the world!

I never went to the game yesterday, had it on the radio and i have also seen it on the TV, Connolly did look out of place, i can see him missing out next week, Gunnarsosn is lacking match fitness, but i think he'll will learn from yesterday and push on. Campbell worked his socks off being the loan striker, i think we could do with another striker, 100% need a winger...can see brayson starting on Sunday too

Before their first goal we were definitely the new side in the league. We were pressed back but did have a chance with Kim on the break.

Then they got their goal and after that decide to take their foot off the pedal. That allowed us to get into the came and we held possession for quite some time. When we lost possession it was through the boot of Marshall. From that you could see WHU plan. They got their goal, allowed us possession knowing they were going to hold us on our attacks, when they regained possession they waited for an opening mainly by attacking at Connelly which was our weak point. The positive point here was they only had one real chance and that was a shot from their winger that flew pass the far post due to a deflection.

The second half we played better but not where it was really needed, up front. Their substitutions was enough for them to finish us off. Personally I think they just edged it in the second half but then again I don't think they played in top gear. We certainly were not dominated.

For me the team lacked balance yesterday and whilst we had a lot of the ball in reality West Ham were happy for us to play the ball around in front of them.

Despite having spent £25m+ it was clear we lacked pace in crucial areas, in particular out wide, with our fullbacks busy defending there was little or no opportunity for them to get forward and provide width and pace. I'm struggling to think of a single time when either of our fullbacks got beyond thier fullbacks and when we are playing with a packed midfield and no widemen it's vital our fullbacks get forward. Taylor will replace John, who did little wrong, but he will replace him and surely Brayford must replace Connolly.

Sorting out our defence must be a top priority for MM because in my opinion unless Cornelius turns out to be something very special we are not going to be scoring loads of goals this season. We need to be more clinical at set pieces and again in my opinion MM needs to get a hook around Bellamy whenever we get freekicks which provide an opportunity to get the ball into the penalty area, Whittingham first them Kim and after yesterday pretty much anyone other than Bellamy who sadly is looking a shadow of the player he once was.

I don't think we lacked belief yesterday but on reflection the biggest disappointment, besides losing, was not scoring and worse not having the pace in any area to hurt West Ham.

I've already mentioned the policing in another thread viewtopic.php?f=2&t=120854
Now to the game itself, I think we come up against a very good team yesterday, they'll do well this season, they're tactics were spot on and our defence couldn't cope nor are they experienced enough. Im not going to count Turner out after one performance but id prefer to see how the cool head of Hudson plays alongside Caulker, who wasn't great himself yesterday. I don't feel Declan Johm had alot to do, so I won't judge him, but Connolly at right back looked very out of place.

I think our midfield set up has some potential. Its a nice setup, Gunnerson had a shocker, probably down to lack of preseason training, no doubt he will learn alot from the classy Medel, who stood out for us yesterday.
Kim looked skilled but got bullied by the West ham players, and looked frustrated to me. Whitts is going to be a stand out player for us, he looked good to me yesterday, I heard some people on my bus slating him, so perhaps others will disagree, but his attacking play will be very important for us this season. I hope Bellamy hasn't lost the yard on pace he appears to have, didn't impress yesterday at all.

Campbell didnt have many chances, so I wont judge him yet.

West Ham thought us a lesson, they're tactics were spot on, and i see us employing similiar tactics when Cornelius is fit, fair play to him for his appearance amoungst the fans yesterday. Whitts, kim and Bellamy need to press the opposition defence alot more, we hsd the ball out wide a couple of times yesterday and the West Ham 18 yard box was a ghost town.

I just hope Cornelius is a very good target man, because thats the only way I see us getting in the goals judging by yesterday.

I dont normally sit anywhere near the away fans, but I sat in my designated seat yesterday and it happened to be on the end of the row, right at the police line, quality banter with WH throughout.

They singled out a young city fan who was 'giving it large' all game, I honestly thought I was gonna have to pass him a tissue, they destroyed him

Good day out that was a learning curve for Malky and a reminder for me to avoid future bubble trips. Im crossing Chelsea straight off my list. Its a shame we have to play Man City next week, pack that defence.

We stopped in the very affluent Rickmansworth on the way home, poor shopkeeper didn't know what hit him.

Watched it on the net, your opinion of the game is just about spot on, but what really baffled me was no out and out right back playing or even on the bench, brayford was the best full back in the championship last season and was no where to be seen yesterday, instead we have a centre half playing out of position, what was that all about??? see you all at the everton game

I can remember losing 4-2 to the Wurzel's last August and thinking it's going to be very long season.

However, we went on to win the league and they got relegated.

MM proved several times last term that he can bounce the side back and use adversity as motivation. I'm backing him to do that again this season bring on Man City

What was the stat I heard this morning?? Was it nobody outside the top 7 won at Upton Park last season.

What was the stat I heard this morning?? Was it nobody outside the top 7 won at Upton Park last season.

Yes - they only won 3 away games last season but still finished 10th. Its ironic really because their poor home form in the championship the previous year nearly spoiled their chance of promotion, (which they did easily via the playoffs)

What was the stat I heard this morning?? Was it nobody outside the top 7 won at Upton Park last season.

So that tells us we'll finish 8th

What was the stat I heard this morning?? Was it nobody outside the top 7 won at Upton Park last season.

they lost 4, i think arsenal, everton, spurs & liverpool.

They thumped southampton 4-1 at upton park last season so its not the end of the world.

We'll just have to dust ourselves down and go again Gav

We'll just have to dust ourselves down and go again Gav

Im gonna try and block out next sunday first....then dust down

We'll just have to dust ourselves down and go again Gav

Im gonna try and block out next sunday first....then dust down

We'll beat Man City 1-0. Believe.

We'll just have to dust ourselves down and go again Gav

Im gonna try and block out next sunday first....then dust down

We'll beat Man City 1-0. Believe.

get nathan blake on for a one off game!

We'll just have to dust ourselves down and go again Gav

Im gonna try and block out next sunday first....then dust down

We'll beat Man City 1-0. Believe.

I base this prediction on the defending a saw yesterday, we will lose 4-1

If the players didn't realise how tough this season would be, they do now. A opening loss was always on the cards, dust themselves down and go again. That little more wiser. Good Times

Unfortunately Whitts is typical of our team as a whole no pace, the premiership main ingredient and at the moment we are lacking. Malky needs two wingers and two full backs who can actually beat people and go past them.

Goals aside we can take a lot of positives against West Ham. They are a very organised, well balanced team and nobody outside the top 7 last season couldn't manage to take 3 points from them! I think we could of sneaked a draw if Cornelius, Brayford, Hudson & Taylor were playing yesterday afternoon. Considering we were playing away from home we had more possession of the ball & our passing accuracy was a lot better than theirs. Tough game now next week against Man City a draw against them would feel like a win!
Declan John - Thrown into the deep end due to Taylor suspended and handled it very well for a 18 year kid, He has so much potential and a player who will attract a lot of interest from bigger clubs.
Matt Connolly - Did not impress me at all, Surely Hudson will replace him when Brayford is fit?
Craig Bellamy - Poor, poor game for his standards looks off the pace and moaned a lot.

I was impressed with Gary Medel, Whittingham & Caulker. Considering Medel hardly knows the squad/players he was immense and can only get better when he understands and links up with the other players.

Unfortunately Whitts is typical of our team as a whole no pace, the premiership main ingredient and at the moment we are lacking. Malky needs two wingers and two full backs who can actually beat people and go past them.

I think Taylor & Brayford will be an improvement on what we had yesterday. Not saying they are good enough as we haven't seen them in the PL yet but they would definitely be an improvement. John is young and maybe not quite ready to be 1st choice & Connolly isn't a natural RB where as Brayford is so be interesting to see how these 2 do.

I have to be honest I am not one to slag off the team but I was not impressed yesterday. Yes it is a step up in quality etc and maybe my expectations were to high, but I expected a much better performance. Very disjointed, passing was shoddy, I have never seen so many long balls (mainly from turner) knocked long and high for campbell. He didnt have a chance yesterday. Impressed with campbells work rate, medel did OK, nothing overly amazing. Bellers was very very quiet. Can see turner, connolly, john & whits dropped for next week.....

Yesterday done us no favours with what some people call us cardhoof

The biggest problem for me yesterday was our formation. couldn't understand why we used the Christmas tree formation instead of the 4-5-1 we have been using in pre season. we gave west ham to much space out wide and had no width In attack which ment our attacks came from centre, which is in my view was west ham strongest area. but still got time to Learn from this so no need for panic just yet

I think Whitts will be ok while he has Medel as a minder. Hopefully, Medel,tackles and wins it and Whitts delivers the killer passes.