West Ham 2 - 1 Aston Villa Post Match

[eamonn]

Problem is our players aren't used to playing two away games in two and a half days. Sanson had to start, maybe Emi for one of Ings/Watkins too.

[Steve67]

Until we have some physicality and proper leadership in the centre of the park, we will be a nice side but not an imposing side.  Gerrard is right in saying we need more of a profile, although, I think he might have rested a couple today, that said, we'd won three on the trot and no-one was complaining at that point. The two holding midfielders for West Ham is something we need to replicate.

[Dave P]

Same old inconsistent Villa, nothing ever changes!

Surely that makes us consistent 😉

[Chico Hamilton III]

Disappointed today and The London Stadium is a soulless bowl.

It was shocking. Imagine having to go there every other week to watch your team. Give me Upton Park any day

[Ads]

I cant get past how woeful an exprience it was. Even dire grounds like Goodison still have some character and personality, an atmosphere and a sense you're involved. You might has well had been on the moon. The tourists, the time wasted queuing, the logistical pain in the arse walking back and the absolute shiteness of it. It's proper left a sour taste, even if we'd won. Utterly depressing.

[dorsetvillian]

Very poor today from 1-11. Such a missed opportunity as West Ham were equally inept for most of the game. Was really surprised that Gerrard didn't rotate a couple of players after Thursday. Really crap ground, in a shit location. I would hate to watch Villa every other week at such a dump.

[dorsetvillian]

Good to see you outside Ads. Completely agree about the stadium and match day experience.

[Risso]

The only two tiny plus points for it:

I could get a 5G mobile phone signal, and getting served at the kiosks was pretty quick.

[KevinGage]

It's reassuring (and depressing) in a way, that muck like that can be anywhere near the top of the table.

Based on the few times I've caught them this season, the transition for ourselves to top 4-6 shouldn't present any significant difficulty, if that's the benchmark.

They're a typical Moyes outfit, all elbows and boofball. The only thing they have close to a footballer is Rice.

We're still naive in regard to the off-the-ball stuff, which is weird for a Gerrard side. I'm sure that will change in due course.

Interesting that the ref today was an Aussie. If he's OK with elbowing off the ball, smashing opponents in the face, gouging and all the rest of it as per Ausisie Rules/ Gaelic football that's fine. Let each captain know before kick off he's going for a very liberal interpretation of the modern rules.

Looks like that approach has ultimately hobbled them more than us with the amount of injuries they suffered.

Shame.

[Des Little]

Disappointing day today, the progress made in the previous three games halted by some industrial challenges and a lack of creativity from us going forward. Not sure why our out ball was so frequently at Watkins in the air, he was comfortably dealt with by their defence all afternoon. As others have said, Rice is exactly the type of number six that we (and many others) would hugely benefit from having, strong on the ball and good distribution...let’s see what this summer has in store for that particular area of the team. Let’s hope that when we return to that soulless white elephant of a stadium next season, we’ve addressed the areas where we fell short today and turn this lot over.

[Havencheese]

Interesting that the ref today was an Aussie. If he's OK with elbowing off the ball, smashing opponents in the face, gouging and all the rest of it as per Ausisie Rules/ Gaelic football that's fine. Let each captain know before kick off he's going for a very liberal interpretation of the modern rules.

Looks like that approach has ultimately hobbled them more than us with the amount of injuries they suffered.

Shame.

Having watched Aussie Rules for nearly 40 years, I can assure you that these days there are AFL umpires actually stricter than Gillett was on West Ham.

The standard of officiating in the A League where he originated has as one would understand been parlous at times, I’m surprised one has made it through the ranks. I remember there was a ref from Scotland who moved over here for a season or two.

[ROBBO]

Thought Luiz was poor but Gerrard should take some of the blame, ten minutes into the second half they got on top of our midfield and that's when he should have made changes. Ings can only play 45 minutes after that he is stuffed. Unlike most I thought both subs made a difference but again far too late.

[brontebilly]

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.

How good were Rice and Soucek really? Rice did brilliantly for the second goal but that aside I thought both teams were poor. How many times did WHU pass the ball out of play under little pressure? What I thought Rice did really well throughout was sit in front of both centre backs. So whenever we went direct to Watkins, which was far too much, Watkins risible first touch meant Rice picked up some amount of handy ball. I thought Cresswell was very good until injury. Yarmolenko made a huge impact, that aside it was dreadful fare. That guy Johnson at left back was pub league standard.

[Exeter 77]

A Villa fan has posted a video on Twitter of him being racially abused by a home fan during the game. How can anyone believe that is an acceptable way to behave?

[Hillbilly]

I don’t know if it’s just me but over the past few games it feels like when the play breaks down from a challenge the ball never falls to a Villa player. We’re either really unlucky or our players just don’t anticipate well enough.