" WESTHAM HOME/AWAY "

Its never really been discussed.

Westham home/away play offs last season.

Were we unlucky ?

Were we never ever good enough to compete with them ?

Were we out classed ?

Did we have the desire ?

The 2nd leg were our players really up for it or were we just out classed/unlucky ?

We just weren't good enough

Its never really been discussed.

Westham home/away play offs last season.

Were we unlucky ?

Were we never ever good enough to compete with them ?

Were we out classed ?

Did we have the desire ?

The 2nd leg were our players really up for it or were we just out classed/unlucky ?

Overall west ham were better but lady luck did shine on them. Also in 2nd leg with score at 0-0 we were denied a fairly blatant penalty. Had that been given and we scored west ham would have been under huge pressure.

West Ham had the rub of the green but overall over the two legs we were out played by the better team.

We looked tired, let's hope Malky has a larger squad to rotate next season.

Being fairly neutral here, I only saw highlights of the first leg where it seemed you had your chances. I don't think you can deny that West Ham were the better team over the two games though, so no, not unlucky.

The first goal in the second leg killed the tie dead for me, I wouldn't have said your players lacked the desire. From where I was watching though, they looked dead on their feet by the second half.

In all honesty, with the squad they had, West Ham should've been in the top two, when they only made the play offs, you had the misfortune to meet them in the semis, Wembley might've been a different story? For me, your players just looked very tired over both games against a slightly better team.

Its never really been discussed.

Westham home/away play offs last season.

Were we unlucky ?

Were we never ever good enough to compete with them ?

Were we out classed ?

Did we have the desire ?

The 2nd leg were our players really up for it or were we just out classed/unlucky ?

I've though this myself Annis - a major game(s) and virtually not discussed at all.

I thought we were very poor in both games, and whilst I've been a massive Malky fan (and remain so), it was the first time that I started to have some doubts about him, as we showed so little passion in either game.

Let's hope it was a blip and the new season is back to the way we played in the first half of last season (or even better)

Last edited by Die Walkure on Sat Jun 16, 2012 8:49 am, edited 1 time in total.

West Ham were the better team over both legs ...

We were out played by a better team, who spent in January.....that may well of been our down fall

Glad to hear that Malky has a decent budget to work with and hopefully keeps some/gets more for transfers in January if needed.

Essentially, West Ham should have cruised the Championship finishing top with relative ease.

However, they messed it up, and unfortunately we had to suffer because of their mistakes and lack of home form throughout the season. They were superior in more ways than one, we can't deny that.

Its never really been discussed.

Westham home/away play offs last season.

Were we unlucky ?

Were we never ever good enough to compete with them ?

Were we out classed ?

Did we have the desire ?

The 2nd leg were our players really up for it or were we just out classed/unlucky ?

West Ham had way to much for us over two the two legs Annis but there were moments in both games where we didn't get the rub of the green. We could have had a penalty in both legs, at Home Thompkins dragged Gunnarsonn over and in the away leg I think it may have been the same player who tripped Kenny Miller in the penalty area.

If we had scored first in the 2nd leg it could have made for a closer game but overall it's grasping at straws because there was a big gulf in the quality of both squads. West Ham had a squad with a budget of £50m+ so when you think about it we gave it our best.

MM is now working on the next stage of development of our squad and I have no doubt we will be stronger come the start of the season than we were a year ago or even during those playoff games. But I also think it is only the next stage of MM building the squad that he wants and not a squad which will see us storm the division.

We need to be realistic as all 3 clubs relegated from the PL have £18m in parachute payments, Blackpool and Birmingham have £12m in parachute payments and Burnley have £8m in parachute payments. We had a fantastic season last year and MM and our players got us into the playoffs against the 3 teams relegated from the PL the previous season. All did business during January, Reading and Southampton did business during January, we didn't and that lesson must be learned this season.

Having said that I'm convinced that we will break our club record for a transfer fee paid during this window and if we truely want PL football then we must do that.

Exciting times ahead.



Normally clubs with a squad like West Ham had last season get automatic promotion the fact they didn't was just bad luck

Being fairly neutral here, I only saw highlights of the first leg where it seemed you had your chances. I don't think you can deny that West Ham were the better team over the two games though, so no, not unlucky.

The first goal in the second leg killed the tie dead for me, I wouldn't have said your players lacked the desire. From where I was watching though, they looked dead on their feet by the second half.

In all honesty, with the squad they had, West Ham should've been in the top two, when they only made the play offs, you had the misfortune to meet them in the semis, Wembley might've been a different story? For me, your players just looked very tired over both games against a slightly better team.

Fair assessment I'd say, but as well as looking tired, I'd say that we were very predictable in both games, especially with our rigid 4-5-1!

I'd certainly have to agree about the getting West ham over 2 legs bit, as I'd have fancied our chances at Wembley, given the performance we put in against Liverpool!

West Ham outclassed us, once they found their form at the end of the season there was no beating them IMO.

Its never really been discussed.

Westham home/away play offs last season.

Were we unlucky ?

Were we never ever good enough to compete with them ?

Were we out classed ?

Did we have the desire ?

The 2nd leg were our players really up for it or were we just out classed/unlucky ?

As others have said, its a bit of all of them.

West Ham were much the better side, but all the key decisions wnet against us.

2 penalties and a disallowed goal (if I remember correctly) all at key moments. Might have turned it, but as it was they seemed to have another gear, were more physical, quicker and sharper -and more clinical.

it was men v boys , totally outclassed in every department...

We got bullied off the ball too much. Players were tired and we couldn't cope mentally or physically after the long season (apart from brum we played the most games in the champ). Personally I think we missed Rudy against West Ham. Would've been one of the few players that could match their physicality.

Some of our players looked knackered in both games, plus we were not strong or good enough to win either game. Not bringing in players in January bit us on the arse big time!

We matched West ham at beginning of the season [1-0-win] but we looked worn out against them in the play off`s, no fight, and they bullyed us, just showed with a long season, Carling cup final, and a small squad that was n`t strengthened, we fell short Opposed to West Ham who had strengthened with a bigger squad, and had more stamina and more fight.

Its never really been discussed.

Westham home/away play offs last season.

Were we unlucky ?

Were we never ever good enough to compete with them ?

Were we out classed ?

Did we have the desire ?

The 2nd leg were our players really up for it or were we just out classed/unlucky ?

I think we were just outclassed Annis, Nolan and Noble bossed the midfield and were well on top of Whitts and Gunnarsson. Although in the home leg, Collisons' 2 goals were lucky IMO, we didnt have luck on our side in either games.

Another thing i think is that because our squad was thin and lacked the strength in depth Malky would have wanted, we suffered burn out towards the end of the season, and coupled with the CC run, the tiredness was there to see.

West Ham were also more up for it and wanted to prove they deserved to go up, especially after missing out on automatic promotion at the hands of southampton. I can see it being OUR year this year, just have that feeling!

long forgotten about,but now you brought it up, think we had played to many games at that point and w spam were a class above us

We got battered and West Ham fully deserved to get promoted.

If they turned up with their A game we were never going to win. They did. No shame as their league position warranted promotion as they we many points clear of 4th compared to some years. Luck can account for a few points over a season between teams but west ham deserved to go up IMO

So are most are u saying we were out classed and never had enough class in the team/squad ?

We had the desire most of the season in my opinion, but did we v Westham h/a ?

So are most are u saying we were out classed and never had enough class in the team/squad ?

We had the desire most of the season in my opinion, but did we v Westham h/a ?

I think even if we were at our best, West Ham would've beaten us. They were too strong for the Championship.

So are most are u saying we were out classed and never had enough class in the team/squad ?

We had the desire most of the season in my opinion, but did we v Westham h/a ?

We lacked total class all season.

We started the season well because of our desire and the fact most other teams were not clicking. As the season carried on those most other teams started to click and overtook us. The fact we were chasing autos in January only to scrape into the play offs in the end is proof of that. The West Ham play off games is the conclusive evidence of my opinion.

So are most are u saying we were out classed and never had enough class in the team/squad ?

We had the desire most of the season in my opinion, but did we v Westham h/a ?

We lacked total class all season.

We started the season well because of our desire and the fact most other teams were not clicking. As the season carried on those most other teams started to click and overtook us. The fact we were chasing autos in January only to scrape into the play offs in the end is proof of that. The West Ham play off games is the conclusive evidence of my opinion.

good points.from an outsiders view cardiff were hard to beat.the second time you played sides in the season i,d say they would have formulated a way of combating you.the play off semi final cardiff looked very tired.as the goals went in it almost looked like the air was being taken from the players lungs.to say the team didn,t have desire would be unfair.perhaps when the first w.h.u goal went in at the c.c.s some of the belief slipped away.a few descions going your way might have resserected the believe.all if,f and buts but the west ham players seemed a lot stronger as the games wore on.physically and mentally.does make me think if the squad had been rotated a bit or if a few more loan signings had added if the outcome might have been different?all in all though a good first year for m.m

5-0 aggregate flattered us.

As soon as we went 1 down at the ccs it was game over.

5-0 aggregate flattered us.

As soon as we went 1 down at the ccs it was game over.

I thought exactly the same and reading many other fans comments, they feel we were out classed.

So are we mostly saying that Malky will have to buy some class players this season if we want promotion ?

5-0 aggregate flattered us.

As soon as we went 1 down at the ccs it was game over.

I thought exactly the same and reading many other fans comments, they feel we were out classed.

So are we mostly saying that Malky will have to buy some class players this season if we want promotion ?

Yes, we need some class definitely.
We basically got battered by WHU at each leg.
We had the hard work earlier in the season but it petered out after the Carling Cup final.
We need some more flair as well as the guts which was well shown last season.

5-0 aggregate flattered us.

As soon as we went 1 down at the ccs it was game over.

I thought exactly the same and reading many other fans comments, they feel we were out classed.

So are we mostly saying that Malky will have to buy some class players this season if we want promotion ?

Class and numbers Annis, options so Malky can change things.

We especially need attacking options...
a target man for when we are chasing the game, or holding on (someone we can welly it forward to who can win the header and hold the ball up, taking the pressure off), some pace so we can exploit an opposing side with a slow back 4, whether it be a winger, full back or centre forward.

Options on the bench and in the squad, people to come in to change things when plan A isn't working.

They don't have to be world beaters, of course they need to be good, but they need to offer something different.

5-0 aggregate flattered us.

As soon as we went 1 down at the ccs it was game over.

I thought exactly the same and reading many other fans comments, they feel we were out classed.

So are we mostly saying that Malky will have to buy some class players this season if we want promotion ?

Class and numbers Annis, options so Malky can change things.

We especially need attacking options...
a target man for when we are chasing the game, or holding on (someone we can welly it forward to who can win the header and hold the ball up, taking the pressure off), some pace so we can exploit an opposing side with a slow back 4, whether it be a winger, full back or centre forward.

Options on the bench and in the squad, people to come in to change things when plan A isn't working.

They don't have to be world beaters, of course they need to be good, but they need to offer something different.

Tim, so I honestly dont see how suddenly Malky can say Earnie figures in his plans for next season, Malky will need at least a quality striker/wingers etc.