It’s another overwhelming feeling of the ‘Lame, Pain and Blame game’ amongst the West Ham fanbase this chilly evening.
A dreadful start, yet again, saw us concede within the first 5 minutes, a calamity goal which was thought to have not crossed the line at first, but goal-line technology said otherwise.
A goal that came from us having the corner, in which Emerson took, Brentford won the ball, boot it up the pitch, we’ve got no left-back, Mavropanos and Areola circus and BOOM! 1-0 down.
We would continue in the game to find out that Brentford would have the ball in our net a further two times, but both were ruled out through offside.
Despite boos ringing around the stadium in just the 30th minute, aggravation was quickly swung towards Darren England after not calling for a freekick on a reckless ankle stinger on Carlos Soler, which saw the Spaniard fall to the ground whilst through on goal.
The ground became increasingly more hostile throughout the match as decisions got worse, another dismal yet expectable performance from PGMOL.
Potter wasn’t delighted at halftime, which was shown when we decided to make 3 substitutions at the break. Scarles came on for Emerson, who provided us with more of an attacking aspect. Ward Prowse came on for Tomas Soucek, and Evan Ferguson made his debut appearance through Carlos Soler. Ward Prowse coming on helped the midfield struggle that we’d been suffering from within the first half. His set-piece ability is something we missed, as well as his passing ability; it was a real positive seeing him back on the pitch.
Ferguson had a chance here and there, managing to get a shot on target, but overall, we struggled today as a squad.
Sometimes, you have to bring back the argument; if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Today, we changed the defensive line, deciding to go with a four back, which cost us the first goal, ultimately coasting us the game.
We tried out a new tactic, and it didn’t end up working, very similar to the Crystal Palace match.
Perhaps it’s just wishful thinking, but you can only hope Potters playing around with what he’s got to try and give us the best preparation for the summer and next season.
When you’ve inherited a team that is mentally destroyed in terms of how to play football and a squad that has cracks all over, there’s only so much you can do with the options you’ve got in such a limited time.
Returning to it, the rest of the game would’ve screamed a ‘bore-draw’ as neither team had many clear-cut chances, and it was simply just midfield to midfield football rather than end to end.
Understandable timewasting from Brentford; a few halfhearted attempts from us and two handfuls of interesting calls is all we received tonight.
Not to mention the FIVE added minutes at the end. Perhaps I was sat too far from the pitch to clearly see, but I’m surprised it wasn’t FIFTEEN minutes from the amount of time Flekken took to take a goal kick, not to even mention the injury & VAR decisions!
It’s either me off to Specsavers tonight or someone else.
Comments
Players have to look at themselves
Slow lethargic passive passing no pressing we have seen this all before but blamed Moyes then Loppy and now under Potter and it keeps happening and whilst it is painful to see we are going to have to endure more of it whilst we scrape staying up this season and then a major cull of a lot of players needs to happen and not just the deadwood.
Potter for me should of acted quicker in making the changes and the set up which is down to him just did not work but again so many players with bad attitudes and ability need to be shipped out because this side will just survive this season but cannot see it next time around...if Potter thought he had a big job on his hands before some of the performances we have produced have been as bad as i have seen in a long time.
I bet Moyes thinks he's died
I bet Moyes thinks he's died and gone to heaven, seems to have completely turned them around did they buy a new team in the window.
Give it time
Wait til he dismantles Sean Dyche's team
Lol
You mean that all conquering dyches dream team??
Louis - We must have watched a different game
"......a ‘bore-draw’ as neither team had many clear-cut chances" Brentford had much the better chances. They gave a lesson in how to tackle, how to pass, how to make runs, how to play for either other...... Much the better side IMO
Like a lot of you I watched
Like a lot of you I watched the game courtesy of my German friend Dogge Stich. First thought was the line up was a bit strange. Then when the game commenced I have to admit at being alarmed by what I was witnessing.
God we rode our luck 2 offside, no real pressing. No real shape?
I honestly think Potter had drilled the message into the squad. But what happened once the game started surprised him as much as everyone else watching. These are the remnants of El Loppos set up. I think Potter experimented with players that he did not really fancy to make a point. That being, that they do not fit his system. But he did not expect just how bad they would perform.
I imagine the offsides had stood we would have seen first half changes. However, once half time came. We saw a big improvement. JWP in particular was a class apart from what we had seen earlier. His passing was motivational, he conducted the game set pieces were a constant threat. JWP will start from now on. Soler, Soucek, there days are numbered. As are Rodriguez, we know about him. I expect Todibo to come straight in if we persist with a back 4. Furguson now has to start every game. West Hams right hand side has to be addressed now. AWB, Bowen Kudus. All in each others way. Nothing down the left at all. Scarles has the capacity now to start ahead of Emerson I feel. Whether that will happen against "The Arse" next remains to be seen.
All in all, a 0-1 defeat does not affect the GD but we have to kick on now. With Potter playing who he now wants in the positions he wants. That starting line up is finished and I'll take that as long as things now improve ASAP, the honeymoon period is over. Potter now has to repay the faith from here on in.
Tell u how Potter could have acted quicker
Firstly Brentford hold the fastest record for scoring an early goal this season I think 2 of their games they scored in under a minute did WHU look out for this it didn't look like it when we were 1-0 down after 6mins. Secondly he decided to start with Dino Mavropanos i know his first name is Konstantinos but he likes being called Dino-I know what i was calling him after 10 mins and it weren't Dino- he was an accident waiting to happen and was responsible for Brentford having a field day running through the centre of our our defence and we were lucky it was not 3or4-0 but wait a mo. 2nd half he bought him out for some more- first time I have disagreed with Potters tactics and it showed that this particular 4 across the back did not work we were much better in the 2nd half but the damage was done. Another thing I noticed was all the Brentford fans in the Bobby Moore, no atmosphere like sitting in a library convinced a lot of season ticket holders are just showing up because they have tickets for the game and to see there mates b4 the K.O but personally I think you will see a lot of season ticket holders not renewing next season especially if they do away with the concessions.
We Aint Sitting Down - We Aint Sitting Down- Knees up Knees up Dont get the breeze up- We Aint Sitting Down
The point about season ticket
The point about season ticket holders is spot on Cast Iron, I have lots of mates that still go along purely because they have already paid for the ticket, their expectations are at a record low.
It's all good. Arsenal away
It's all good. Arsenal away next