West Ham United v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[tomd2103]

Zero creativity in midfield for about the 3rd season in a row. How can we have failed to score in 6 out of 10 games?

3rd season in a row that our squad is beginning to look very threadbare and weak as we approach Christmas. 

Edit - make that 4th season in a row. 

[PaulWinch again]

Currently our passing simply isn't good enough.

[Legion]

From Pravda:

Paul Lambert felt his side could have snuck the three points at Upton Park - but he was also more than satisfied with the draw.

Lambert pointed to clear-cut chances for forwards Christian Benteke and Andreas Weimann during the 90 minutes.

But Villa boss Lambert was happy to leave the capital with the 0-0 result, considering the determined nature of the opposition and his own team's injury list.

He said: "I thought in terms of chances, we had the better ones.

"Christian had two in the second half and Andi had one in the first half.

"I think we had the best chances.

"It was always going to be difficult because it's a physical game but all credit to the team.

"Considering the injuries we have, I thought we stood up to a man and competed brilliantly.

"I was delighted with the lads because of their attitude. It was a clean sheet too. Last season, that might have been a game that would have got away from us.

"But the resilience I thought was excellent.

"They have come on leaps and bounds. We have started the season pretty decent considering the games we've had.

"It's another massive point for us away from home. It's a big point for us. The resilience and attitude, I don't have a problem.

"If we keep going we will have a good year."

Lambert was somewhat aggrieved by Ravel Morrison's challenge on Andreas Weimann in the first half, with the pace ace through on goal before being tugged back.

Lambert felt it was a clear foul although he accepted the decision of referee Howard Webb was made in good faith.

He added: "I saw it. I had a good chat with Howard. I had my view. Howard has his.

"I respect him because it's a difficult job. But I certainly think there was a tug on him.

"But Howard called it. Andi isn't a lad to stop when he's through."

[PaulWinch again]

From Pravda:

Paul Lambert felt his side could have snuck the three points at Upton Park - but he was also more than satisfied with the draw.

Lambert pointed to clear-cut chances for forwards Christian Benteke and Andreas Weimann during the 90 minutes.

But Villa boss Lambert was happy to leave the capital with the 0-0 result, considering the determined nature of the opposition and his own team's injury list.

He said: "I thought in terms of chances, we had the better ones.

"Christian had two in the second half and Andi had one in the first half.

"I think we had the best chances.

"It was always going to be difficult because it's a physical game but all credit to the team.

"Considering the injuries we have, I thought we stood up to a man and competed brilliantly.

"I was delighted with the lads because of their attitude. It was a clean sheet too. Last season, that might have been a game that would have got away from us.

"But the resilience I thought was excellent.

"They have come on leaps and bounds. We have started the season pretty decent considering the games we've had.

"It's another massive point for us away from home. It's a big point for us. The resilience and attitude, I don't have a problem.

"If we keep going we will have a good year."

Lambert was somewhat aggrieved by Ravel Morrison's challenge on Andreas Weimann in the first half, with the pace ace through on goal before being tugged back.

Lambert felt it was a clear foul although he accepted the decision of referee Howard Webb was made in good faith.

He added: "I saw it. I had a good chat with Howard. I had my view. Howard has his.

"I respect him because it's a difficult job. But I certainly think there was a tug on him.

"But Howard called it. Andi isn't a lad to stop when he's through."

The effort might be ok, but the quality definitely hasn't come on leaps and bounds and it has to improve.

[mr woo]

Wasnt even a foul for me. Thought Weimann was done for pace and had to lean into the defender in order to keep ahead. Looked like he just lost his balance to be honest.

[eastie]

Come on in leaps and bounds - oh dear - how depressing if he really believes that

[john2710]

That is quite possibly the worst midfield we have put onto a pitch in a long long time. Individually, none of these players are good enough for the Premier League, collectively they offer next to nothing going forward. Can't fault the effort, but you get what you pay for & we pay next to fuck all. We have less quality than we had a year ago & granted the quality we had was seriously suspect, we needed quality and experience. I don't expect us to do any business in January.

With a bit of luck we'll scrape through the season, but it's painful to watch.  Surely we can't be that skint we can't afford some experience / quality?

[PaulWinch again]

Come on in leaps and bounds - oh dear - how depressing if he really believes that

If he means from a defensive perspective he's right, but from an attacking perspective we have gone badly backwards.

[Stu]

Anyway, I refuse to let villa ruin any more of my weekend. Off to watch some proper football in the arsenal - Liverpool game

Fill your boots then.

I must have been hallucinating when I saw us put 3 past Arsenal. Thank fuck they were playing proper football though, otherwise it must have been a dream sequence.

Eh? We played very well that day. I don't see how that makes today's performance any better though. And I don't see why I should feel ashamed about liking watching good teams play football either, thanks.

Who said you should feel ashamed? I didn't. If you're cheered up by watching Arsenal play Liverpool, have at it.

[E I Adio]

Only saw the last half hour, but that was enough. Many of our forward passes were 'kick in the general direction of a team mate and hope it reaches him', which a good deal of the time it didn't. Cue several minutes of defending and trying to win the ball back. Then repeat the exercise. Dire stuff to watch.

Losing at home and playing for a draw away is not necessarily a good strategy.

[mr woo]

That is quite possibly the worst midfield we have put onto a pitch in a long long time. Individually, none of these players are good enough for the Premier League, collectively they offer next to nothing going forward. Can't fault the effort, but you get what you pay for & we pay next to fuck all. We have less quality than we had a year ago & granted the quality we had was seriously suspect, we needed quality and experience.

Quite agree.

Please can we take off those 'young and hungry' blinkers this January.

Im not for a minute suggesting we should sign these two, but I thought both Stewart Downing and Joe Cole gave examples of what we miss today.

Its that little bit of knowhow, the extra bit of class, the weighted first touch that gives you the space to get a shot away.
Things you just dont find in the English third division.

[David_Nab]

That is quite possibly the worst midfield we have put onto a pitch in a long long time. Individually, none of these players are good enough for the Premier League, collectively they offer next to nothing going forward. Can't fault the effort, but you get what you pay for & we pay next to fuck all. We have less quality than we had a year ago & granted the quality we had was seriously suspect, we needed quality and experience.

Quite agree.

Please can we take off those 'young and hungry' blinkers this January.

Im not for a minute suggesting we should sign these two, but I thought both Stewart Downing and Joe Cole gave examples of what we miss today.

Its that little bit of knowhow, the extra bit of class, the weighted first touch that gives you the space to get a shot away.
Things you just dont find in the English third division.

Downing cost WHU more than our 3 CM ..there's your problem right there.

[Monty]

Wasn't it interesting that the one time we actually passed the ball Benteke hit the bar? Every game we have like that, with shite passing and a slightly cowardly attitude on the ball, we tend to have one move or even spell in the game where we pass it and look good. Perhaps we could look at those times and attempt to replicate it for longer than 3 minutes a game.

[mr woo]

That is quite possibly the worst midfield we have put onto a pitch in a long long time. Individually, none of these players are good enough for the Premier League, collectively they offer next to nothing going forward. Can't fault the effort, but you get what you pay for & we pay next to fuck all. We have less quality than we had a year ago & granted the quality we had was seriously suspect, we needed quality and experience.

Quite agree.

Please can we take off those 'young and hungry' blinkers this January.

Im not for a minute suggesting we should sign these two, but I thought both Stewart Downing and Joe Cole gave examples of what we miss today.

Its that little bit of knowhow, the extra bit of class, the weighted first touch that gives you the space to get a shot away.
Things you just dont find in the English third division.

Downing cost WHU more than our 3 CM ..there's your problem right there.

I know what you're saying, but let's also not forget that Downing cost less than our new bench warming centre forward.

[pauliewalnuts]

Wasn't it interesting that the one time we actually passed the ball Benteke hit the bar? Every game we have like that, with shite passing and a slightly cowardly attitude on the ball, we tend to have one move or even spell in the game where we pass it and look good. Perhaps we could look at those times and attempt to replicate it for longer than 3 minutes a game.

What did my nut in today was how often we'd play two passes and then what would be at best a 50/50 ball, usually long.

Like you said, today, we finally put together a passing move and nearly score.

That is exactly what happened against Man City and it culminated in KEA's goal.

Ultimately, some of the players really need to start to up their game or be replaced with others more capable of passing. I know I have just mentioned a goal of his, but KEA is really the epitome of an "all fart, no shit" player.

Swans around with that air of "look at me, I'm a playmaker" about him, looking the part as he drifts into space, but provides nothing for weeks and weeks on end.