That Martin(the latest sufferer of the injury curse)has not injured himself the same way Fabianski did but it looked very similar and i that happens surely we cannot play Roberto!!! had one sleepless night already just thinking about that.so lets all say a prayer and hope for a swift recovery.
It was great to look at the lineup and see that Pell was finally going to play 2 up front and it worked. Mick the Mighty playing alongside Haller and playing to his strengths worked a treat to give us a much needed win. Antonio ( definately the energiser bunny in disguise) played his guts out as per usual and it gave the rest of the team the lift they needed. Bad refs decisions cost us a definately penalty when Haller was taken down, I know people are saying it's var but it's intimately the video ref that interprets the video. The goal that Antonio scored was a more accurate decision as the ball did hit the hand and was always going to be disallowed.
The thing that really makes me wonder about whether Pelligrini can sustain his change was his decision to send Sanchez on and take Haller off. I understand the need to protect a lead but Sanchez, was Pell trying to get himself sacked with benefits or what, as soon as he came on Southampton seemed to lift and if not for the posts we could have snatched defeat from the jaws again. If you want to go defensive why not Diop for Haller and a back 5. I don't know what he see's in Sanchez but for me his best position is back in London providing fodder for the under 23s.
We have twelve days before our next match and anything can happen but let's prey for a miracle and get Fab back because Martin didn't look good at the end and with the teams we face in the next few matches we can't afford Roberto. Only a couple off weeks to go until the Jan transfer window and the circus will start again when we will be linked with every reasonable player on the planet and as usual buy a few cheap imitations of footballers but that's the life of a West Ham fan. That's why we are the most passionate fans in the league.
Back in the day when we relaunched the Org, James Mad Hammer and I wanted wanted to have 21st century schizoid man to sound off as soon as you logged in, unfortunately dear old Bob Fripp, a distant colleague is fiercely protective over the rights to the track and we were unable to use it, however even dear old Bob won't mind us paraphrasing some of the lyrics*.
"Cat's foot, IRON'S claw, neuro surgeons scream for more, at paranoia's poison door, 21st century schizoid man". There couldn't be a more apt description of how it is to be a West Ham United supporter, player, or even owner. How is it that a team can be so utterly inept one match, and then outrageously sublime the next, a team that can be so paradoxical that you know it will put you through the same roller coaster of anxiety, and yet you still support them, is it an illness?
The answer is quite simple, this is West Ham,VAR somehow deprived Manuel Pellegini's side of the two goals that would have really reflected his side's overall performance, it is not a new phenomena, it has always been thus, and is one of the reasons that the club, despite all that is thrown at it, is, and always be unique, exasperating, annoying, infectious and occasionally rewarding, it is the way it has always been, and is probably the way things will always be.
Antonio is in danger of getting called up for England, and you know how bad things usually end up in that scenario, and of course David Martin had to get injured, possibly fairly long term, there's nothing left to do other than promote Joseph Anang, or get Doris to dust off her socks!
Is this the West Ham Way? - Ed
Southampton: McCarthy, Cedric, Stephens, Bednarek, Bertrand, Djenepo, Hojbjerg, Ward-Prowse, Redmond, Ings, Long. Subs: Gunn, Yoshida, Vestergaard, Adams, Romeu, Armstrong, Obafemi.
West Ham: Martin, Fredericks, Ogbonna, Balbuena, Cresswell, Rice, Noble, Antonio, Fornals, Snodgrass, Haller. Subs: Roberto, Zabaleta, Diop, Masuaku, Yarmolenko, Sanchez, Ajeti.
When West Ham United signed Jack Wilshere there were those who thought it was a wonderful bit of business, although eyebrows were raised at the terms of his contract, three years on £100,000 per week for a player with a hideous injury record? The management team, especially the medical people, have almost run out of reasons as to why Jack Wilshere will not be playing each week.
There's more chance of finding Dianne Abbot when she goes missing than there is of seeing Jack Wilshere kick a ball in anger, no one doubts his desire to play, he even pays for his own fitness 'guru' in order to enhance his recovery from injuries! Herein though lies the issue, injuries are plural rather than singular, and in Jack's case they just keep coming. It must be soul destroying having to spend so much time in recovery, but that does leave him time to plan his future using the £5 Milllion per year that the club gives him.
Apparently David Sullivan was aghast at the prospect of giving such an injury prone player a three year contract, but that was the player's agent's pre-condition for Wilshere's signature, it was a move heavily sanctioned by Pellegrini. Perhaps because the Hammers manager hadn't endured year after year of the 'Andy Carroll' syndrome he was oblivious to the danger, but for whatever reason he got his way, and the club are paying dearly for it now, it's not just about the money, Wilshere also occupies a registered squad place that might have been used to much more effect by a fit player.
Unfortunately Jack Wilshere will never 'suddenly' regain his fitness, because he has rarely had any prolonged injury free spells in his entire career, and there is nothing to suggest that things will change any time soon. At one point there were rumours that Manuel Pellegrini was thinking about building the team around Jack following the long term injury to Manu Lanzini.
Ironically Lanzini has recovered, got injured again, twice, and will still be back ahead of Jack Wilshere. If any club does show an interest in signing Wilshere during the transfer window, Hammers should bite their arms off before they come to their senses.
Finally, there are a disturbing amount of fans wishing for a defeat against Southampton this evening, in the fairly deluded view that Manuel Pellegrini will get the 'tin tack' as a result of the loss. This would be a highly improbable course of action for a Hammers hierarchy known for their penny pinching, just look at the training facilities at Rush Green and Chadwell Heath compared to other 'less wealthy' team's facilities! - Ed
Doesn't have a clue but believes he did a good job but ultimately failed in spectacular fashion and soon to be out of a job if we can get him on a free he sounds like the perfect fit for us:-)
“I am delighted to welcome Manuel Pellegrini to West Ham United. He is one of the world’s most respected football coaches and we look forward to working with him," joint-chairman David Sullivan told the club's official website. “It was important that we appointed someone with knowledge and experience of the Premier League, who already has an understanding – not only of the teams and players we face – but of West Ham United and our ambitions." What could possibly go wrong?
Well, plenty actually! Despite his vast experience Pellegrini, just like current Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, is being found out. It is one thing to guide a team of super stars to the top, it is another thing entirely to mould a team on a relatively restricted budget, that is not to say the task is impossible, Eddie Howe is a classic example of a manager who can do so.
However this is West Ham United we are talking about, a club that snatches defeat from the jaws of victory on a constant basis, both on and of the pitch! The 'car crash' that is unfolding at the London Stadium is similar to the BBC's hugely expensive TV flop Eldorado, in which the BBC tried to move Eastenders to the Costa Del Sol, they moved in to an old spaghetti western set, well suited to that genre, but hopeless for trying to film a soap series, there was a complete impracticality as the set was not fit for purpose, an enormous 'carbuncle' of detritus was left when the plug was eventually pulled. 'Fish out of water',was one of the kinder comments as the reviewers savaged the 'useless story line, the participants and especially the location', does that seem familiar?
The truth is, whichever kind of positive spin you put on events currently unfolding at the 'Soulless Dome', the club is in turmoil, a busted flush! Having sold what was one of the most intimidating football grounds in Europe, in order to reach the next level by moving to the Olympic games stadium, the current owners inadvertently set the club on a collision course with disaster.
It would be churlish to suggest that their intention was to end up in this state of affairs, but by trying to 'box with the big boys', they have metaphorically had their pants pulled down, they have created a club that has had it's charisma sucked out of it. The 'Pellegrini' experiment has definitely failed, whether because he wasn't backed to the terms that were originally agreed or for whatever reason, the fact is the club is in serious danger of being sucked further in to a long hard relegation battle.
To anyone with a pulse it is clear that Pellegrini has 'lost the dressing room', that is not to suggest that the players don't respect the 66 year old Chilean, it is just that his methods aren't working and his recalcitrant attitude is not helping the players or fans, his insistence on his 'my way or the highway' approach is having a collaterally negative effect on the entire first team squad.
The great experiment failed, now the club need to lick their wounds, consolidate, and then rebuild. Unfortunately the rebuild will be extremely costly due to the need for a complete replacement of the managerial 'foundations', such a course of action will cost in the region of £22 Million in compensation just to start from scratch, and then there is the matter of 'acquiring' a top manager.
On paper Eddie Howe is the best possible option, due to his current contract running down, the fact that it has not been renewed by Bournemouth is one of the reasons that Howe is the Bookies favourite, especially now that Rafa Benitez has ruled himself out of the running. Although Howe would be highly unwilling to leave the Cherries mid season, and if by any chance he did, Bournemouth would be entitled to compensation.
Make no mistake, Manuel Pellegrini and his staff will be on their way well before their contracts were due to end, it is not a case of if, but when they go! - Ed
it appears he's been given more time. usually when SSN announce a club is in 'a meeting' with their manager, the next headline is so and so has been sacked. Nothing of the such from us, so I'm guessing they told him to improve and that he has x number of games to do so?
I am all for standing by your manager and giving him time. However, modern football management has become far more about inspiring your players than anything else. yes, its sad that footballers today have to be 'encouraged' to give their all, especially in light of their pay. the old days when players simply knew it was a given that when they donned the shirt and went out to play, they must give it all ala Alvin Martin, Mad Dog, Dicks, Cottee etc.
today, a player will simply go through the motions if he isn't given a cuddle and told how great he is. there are also limits to how long the same manager can do that with the same players - ask Pochettino.
the point is however, Pellegrini isn't a young manager. he commands respect yes, but he appears to totally have lost the inspiration, energy etc of the players. in short, they aren't motivated to play for him or his system.
call it the players fault and I will agree, but sadly that is modern football for you. also, Pellegrini himself is on millions a year so what's his excuse for coming into work with a face like a doormat?
at the end of the day, you need an inspiring coach these days, you need energy in the training ground and then it transpires onto he field. Is Pellegrini capable? especially now that he seems to have lost any inspiration he had with the players? I don't think so.
so how long do we keep him? pretty sure our owners are 'standing by him' simply because the pay out to sack him is heavy but my view is he has to go, he's not a man who is suddenly going to become Mourinho or someone with some passion and energy is he?
Your not West Ham anymore that's become a familiar taunt from the terraces by opposition fans and can we really disagree with them?...3 London derbies two at home and one away what a difference when we play away and no i do not mean just the results i mean the atmosphere spuds/gooners at home two of our biggest games and the grounds like a mausoleum chelski away a different animal and atmosphere because it is our traveling support who really come together and win lose or draw they give it there all and shout and scream and cheer the team on no matter the utter dross we are serving up.It is shameful what has happened to the club that i grew up with move to a new ground so we can compete with the big boys and yet here we are down the line still struggling while clubs like Leicester/Wolves/sheff utd/Burnley/Brighton/Palace all above us all doing a hell of a lot better than us and not one in a sixty thousand arena nope just regular clubs with ground capacities under forty thousand....Wolves/Blunts/Brighton are the clubs that really prove our board got it so wrong as the move was only ever about money in there pockets and screw the fans.We are a joke of a club and when we go down and that is a serious possibility does anyone believe we would bounce back like last time because i for one do not.I used to love this club with a passion like no other but it is slowly being eroded away and i just do not no if it will ever come back to how it used to be.
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