Aston Villa 1-4 West Ham Post match debacle.

[jwarry]

Suppose what I’m trying to say is that I don’t think it’s all Deano’s  fault, some of it is, but he’s the manager and has to find a way to fix it, else it’s cheerio.

I agree

[ChicagoLion]

For me,the fact that we had the likes of Targett,Young,Hause El Ghazi and Nakamba on the pitch at the end says it all for me None of these players are anywhere near good enough of the standard to compete in the Premier

Targett was close to an England call up towards the end of last season. He’s started this season like the start of last season. I like him and still thinks he’s a good player, asking him to play wing back has really done him no favours at all.

In fact I think that system has knocked the confidence out of Konsa and Mings as well as Targett.

I agree.

Konsa and Mings were sound in a back 4, and Targett was decent on the left. He was never a wing back. Matt Cash can do it on right side.

I agree, changing the formation has fucked cohesion and confidence.

With so much change to players and personnel he really did not need add further uncertainty.

It’s probably cost Smith his job.

[ROBBO]

Whats happened to the defence? we have scored more goals than half of the teams in the premiership but the defence which was being lauded as the best we have had for decades has suddenly looked slow and disorganised. We try to play out of defence but a hard press makes us look slow and cumbersome usually leading to a long punt at the end of a succession of either sideway or backwards passes. Players are pointing at each other but in truth they all are responsible.

[sid1964]

When we try and pass ball the ball out of defence why do we then launch it up field after 2 passes between our defenders

If we are going to launch it we may as well get Emi to do that for us!

[Lsvilla]

Whats happened to the defence? we have scored more goals than half of the teams in the premiership but the defence which was being lauded as the best we have had for decades has suddenly looked slow and disorganised. We try to play out of defence but a hard press makes us look slow and cumbersome usually leading to a long punt at the end of a succession of either sideway or backwards passes. Players are pointing at each other but in truth they all are responsible.

John Terry ?

[nick harper]

Whats happened to the defence? we have scored more goals than half of the teams in the premiership but the defence which was being lauded as the best we have had for decades has suddenly looked slow and disorganised. We try to play out of defence but a hard press makes us look slow and cumbersome usually leading to a long punt at the end of a succession of either sideway or backwards passes. Players are pointing at each other but in truth they all are responsible.

We can’t get the ball into the midfield any more. None are good enough to take the ball off the back four to break the press. Painful as it is to say, Grealish invariably made that happen, either by his ability to keep the ball under pressure and link the play, or by being fouled.

[django]

Good post. You can see factors beyond Smiths control have contributed to our loss of form, in some ways he’s been unfortunate.

Including today’s games there are moments which could possibly have gone the other way and could have got us more points and Smith under less pressure.

But that’s true of almost every team on a poor run, we need to somehow stop the rot and get some results before the players become resigned and lose all belief.

There are signs that Smith is focusing on those moments of misfortune and difficult circumstances, understandable maybe, but it won’t help us or him get out of the current rut.

[Mortimer's Bear]

Please stop the long throws, they are hideous.

[kippaxvilla2]

When is the last time West Ham had such an emphatic result at VP?

Never is the answer.

Last season.

[cdbearsfan]

1926/27. They beat us 5-1 home and away.

[ROBBO]

John Terry is a pont of difference that is hard to overlook. He had defensive responsibilities and during his tenure we definately became a solid defensive unit. Do we have a defensive coach anymore? if not why not, we should have defence midfield and forward coaches each having responsibility for their area, anything less is unacceptable.

[Duncan Shaw]

That new attacking coach (not McPhee, the other one whose name escapes me) seems to have contributed nothing either.

Anyway, my West Ham supporting boss has just come in and he didn't think we were that bad at all and was worried at 2-1.  Funny old game innit!!

[brontebilly]

John Terry is a pont of difference that is hard to overlook. He had defensive responsibilities and during his tenure we definately became a solid defensive unit. Do we have a defensive coach anymore? if not why not, we should have defence midfield and forward coaches each having responsibility for their area, anything less is unacceptable.

We were also rubbish defensively with Terry on board in our first season up. His influence is possibly overplayed bar getting in duds from Chelsea like Drinky and Barks.

We still have four more than capable centre halves, goalkeeper and two decent full backs. All are struggling for form individually and as a unit are all over the place. Its likely to be Tuanzebe/Mings on Friday night, another change. The last thing Deano needs to do is try Hause at RCB again.

[Ad@m]

When we try and pass ball the ball out of defence why do we then launch it up field after 2 passes between our defenders

If we are going to launch it we may as well get Emi to do that for us!

Because without Luiz in there there's zero options for the defence to play it short.

It's utterly baffling that with three central midfielders on the pitch none of them can provide an option for a pass. It's difficult to conclude it's down to personnel more than tactics.

[Drummond]

Yesterday wouldn't have felt so bad given all the circumstances of we hadn't been so dire against Arsenal, in the latter part of Wolves, v Spurs, Watford and the draw with Brentford.

But it all adds up.