West Ham London - 1 Aston Villa - 1 The Post Match Thread.

[coreyfeldman]

Imo we're a couple of players away from being an excellent team. Some really great passages of play today, we need to defend from direct situations better though. We got done with balls over the top and set pieces too often

[Bad English]

Balti Traoré and Eric Korma for me.

[Matt C]

Disappointed not to win but I’m increasingly encouraged by our play - a real identity is emerging, very clearly defined patterns of play and I like it. If Emery can add 2-3 players of his liking in the summer I have no doubt we’ll kick on next season.

[dorsetvillian]

The improvement under Emery is obvious to see. We controlled large parts of today's game with some lovely periods of possession. I'm really excited to see the continued development under Emery. I really hope West Ham go down as I really don't want to go back a third time to the most soulless football stadium in Britain.

[Matt C]

I don’t think Rice has been as good this season, mind elsewhere maybe

Thought his antics when standing over Buendia were a bit unsavory too. Lucky not to get booked.

[JUAN PABLO]

Swap Bowen for Bailey . Villa win that easy

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

I really hope West Ham go down as I really don't want to go back a third time to the most soulless football stadium in Britain.

Have you been to Kenilworth Road ?

[LeonW]

No matter where they are in the table, we consistently struggle against this physical west ham team. Thought the game plan from Emery was spot on to draw West Ham out and make it a more stretched game. Unfortunately, when you have clowns like Bailey making idiotic decisions by giving the ref something to think about by putting his hands all over someone in the box, a penalty was inevitable. The penalty changed the game because at that point west ham were getting stretched earlier by having to come out, the crowd we’re getting restless and West ham were clearly rocked.

Thought McGinn was excellent again. Ditto Luiz. Moreno a big threat in the first half going forward. Great to see Bertie T back and he did more in the time he was on the pitch then Bailey. Great goal from us and well done again Ollie. A good point.

[olaftab]

Rice,Soucek and Coufal have all had poor seasons - hence the relegation battle.

I would take all 3 off them if they went down though, plus Bowen if the price was right.

Never take players from relegated teams unless they are super special. These players have a losing mentality and are comfortable with it.

[Pat McMahon]

I thought Luiz and McGinn were our best players today and we did better against their midfield than we have done in recent times. I was really annoyed at the penalty as it seemed daft by Bailey but having seen a replay I think it is an incredibly soft decision. It came at a time when their fans were getting onto their players and that would have increased if we had kept the lead for longer. All in all I think today was a missed opportunity to beat a bogey team.

Despite it being easy for me to get to it really is one of my least favourite matches to attend. There is a double security check to enter the ground and the stadium itself is exactly what you expect, namely a good athletics stadium converted into a shit football ground. Long distance from the pitch, big gap between upper and lower tier of away fans and abysmal atmosphere. Plus they pump out poxy bubbles. I hope they go down.

[rougegorge]

I thought we did quite well in spells although sometimes it was hard to see from the distant view.

I think McGinn, Watkins and Luiz did well again, and as has already been said, they were three in the fans' firing line. Emery has done very well with them. However, the same cannot be said of Bailey.

Moreno is clearly better attacking than defending. Bowen seemed to go past him at ease and it's a pity we never signed him.

I would take a chance on Benrahma as well as he was good today and has been out of favour this season.

[ChicagoLion]

Bowen is the one I would take.

[ChicagoLion]

I thought Luiz Mcginn Ramsey Mings were very good today.
Cash was disappointing Bailey awful.

[adrenachrome]

I thought Luiz and McGinn were our best players today and we did better against their midfield than we have done in recent times. I was really annoyed at the penalty as it seemed daft by Bailey but having seen a replay I think it is an incredibly soft decision. It came at a time when their fans were getting onto their players and that would have increased if we had kept the lead for longer. All in all I think today was a missed opportunity to beat a bogey team.

Despite it being easy for me to get to it really is one of my least favourite matches to attend. There is a double security check to enter the ground and the stadium itself is exactly what you expect, namely a good athletics stadium converted into a shit football ground. Long distance from the pitch, big gap between upper and lower tier of away fans and abysmal atmosphere. Plus they pump out poxy bubbles. I hope they go down.

Spot on.

Poxy bubbles, though? They've gone a step too far, and the authorities must surely clamp down on this practice.

[BC Villain]

A big opportunity missed, that said we'd have lost that under Steven.

Was probably as bad a performance as in the home match, but got away with it this time