West Ham 2 - 1 Aston Villa Post Match

[ChicagoLion]

This giving the ball away persists.
The big difference between the teams was the fact we had to fight to regain possession and they didn’t.

[SaddVillan]

Douglas, Watkins and Chambers all got clattered in the face and Cash copped one full on from a cross.

The foul count was 7-3.

The ref seemed to me to be pretty lenient, something they adjusted to but we didn't - that's where game awareness comes in  and is something we need to improve.

As an example: a subtle/simple block on Rice 60yds out by McGinn (instead of a totally ineffective tackle attempt) would have stopped the move for their 2nd in its tracks. We might still have lost, but a draw would have been that much easier.

[Beard82]

Think Ollie needs to improve his hold up play - we play narrow and don’t think he’s probably right for that system.

Against better sides we never get into the wide areas in the final third which is a real shame as think both Ings and Watkins would benefit from it. 

Thought Bailey looked better - maybe try him with ings

[Risso]

Funny how differently we see things, at the game I thought Bailey was terrible. The difference between the two teams today was the midfields. Soucek and Rice really are excellent and make all the rest of their players look better.

We had nobody to break their lines today. Loads of sideways passes and then back to the defence.

[Jon Crofts]

Another shit afternoon of refereeing.

[ez]

We matched them in the first half. They stepped up a gear in the secondhalf and we didn't. Watkins and Ings were poor again. Ings was knackered on 60 minutes without having done much. For the man leading the attack his hold up play was awful. However, we don't have much at stake now so i'm less bothered by the result.

[ChicagoLion]

We matched them in the first half. They stepped up a gear in the secondhalf and we didn't. Watkins and Ings were poor again. Ings was knackered on 60 minutes without having done much. For the man leading the attack his hold up play was awful. However, we don't have much at stake now so i'm less bothered by the result.

they were the better team both halves.

[pauliewalnuts]

Funny how differently we see things, at the game I thought Bailey was terrible. The difference between the two teams today was the midfields. Soucek and Rice really are excellent and make all the rest of their players look better.

We had nobody to break their lines today. Loads of sideways passes and then back to the defence.

Soucek and Rice are a brilliant pairing.

They've basically built their team around those two in the middle, and it's working well for them.

We are basically a team which sorely misses that sort of strength in the middle, hopefully something that will get put right in the summer.

[darren woolley]

Disappointed today and The London Stadium is a soulless bowl.

[Ads]

I think if we'd have scored first, we'd have won that. Such a frustration not to mix the team up, as the game was played in treacle, in 2nd gear by both sides.

[Risso]

Everybody thought that Ings effort was in. And then miraculously, it wasn't.

[N'ZMAV]

Funny how differently we see things, at the game I thought Bailey was terrible. The difference between the two teams today was the midfields. Soucek and Rice really are excellent and make all the rest of their players look better.

We had nobody to break their lines today. Loads of sideways passes and then back to the defence.

Soucek and Rice are a brilliant pairing.

They've basically built their team around those two in the middle, and it's working well for them.

We are basically a team which sorely misses that sort of strength in the middle, hopefully something that will get put right in the summer.

they were the difference today 

[Allan C]

Funny how differently we see things, at the game I thought Bailey was terrible. The difference between the two teams today was the midfields. Soucek and Rice really are excellent and make all the rest of their players look better.

We had nobody to break their lines today. Loads of sideways passes and then back to the defence.

I agree. I thought Bailey did nothing when he came on. Clearly Rice was told to kick our talented players which he was clearly quite good at. They’re an awful side to play against but we need an element of that “nastiness” in our game next season.

[sendō WHU]

I was surprised when I saw the lineups that Gerrard had opted for two up top away from home. Had it worked of course it would have been a brave decision, playing the game the right way - exciting attacking football that in fairness Villa have been known for of late. If Fabianski hadn't have pulled off a worldy of a save from Ings second half the game might have ended differently with Gerrard getting the plaudits, and in the first 10 or so when the game was a bit open I was worried it was.

Nonetheless what ultimately happened was West Ham through Rice and Soucek in particular being allowed to control the midfield and thus the tempo of the game. Ings and Watkins were a lonely pair barely getting a sniff, and Coutinho seemed to be well shackled by Rice. Gerrard seemed Moyes-esque in his refusal to make substitutions before the 60th minute.

Still, both teams seemed to play with an element of tiredness from Thursday night games and largely unchanged teams, with sloppy passes and poor decision in the final third on both sides. It was nonetheless good to see West Ham being professional grinding down the opposition rather than snatching at speculative passes or pot shots given our wastage in front of goal of late.

Great to see Yarmolenko of all people getting the opener. The touch and finish was reminiscent of the player we signed before his injury.

I thought a 2-0 home win would have been a fair result on the balance of play and the way the game played out, but we nonetheless had to brainfart into giving away a consolation and a nervy last 10 or so.

Still, it was clear to see Villa are much improved from the team that capitulated 4-1 at Villa Park earlier in the season and merely had a poor day rather than being a poor team. The spine of a good team is there, but as much as I rate McGinn and Luiz as decent players you seem to lack legs and dominance in midfield. Part of why I was surprised Gerrard didn't sacrifice Ings and put an extra man in there.

[LeonW]

West Ham have got a very strong centre so that even if they’re not playing well they’re tough to break down. They can then nick something if needed. That’s what we need in order to go into the next tier of teams.

They caged us fairly comfortably today and SG was slow to change things up, especially when they lost Antonio and Cresswell. However, I would have kept the same starting line up after the previous 2 games. Thar line up had won together as a team and deserved to start the game today.