West Ham United 25/26 relegation thread

[muskie]

Odds slashed from 5/1 to 7/2.

Watch this space.

I think we're fucked.

[Manuel]

Even if we win tonight I won't be too hopeful of catching Leeds, looking at their fixtures they have winnable games coming up and have a kind run-in, I don't see them imploding unfortunately. They have Wolves, Burnley, Brighton, Brentford all at home.

[threesixty]

 

They're a different kettle of fish at Anfield and we were pretty unlucky. I still think we need to drop the keeper tomorrow though, I guarantee you he will cost us a goal. 

 

Yeah Anfield is different for everyone.
Also, Areola gets 2 or 3 of those goals.

3 of those deflected goals?

 

 

 

 

The first one definitely. The second one probably. Areola is actually a very good shot stopper. His reactions and athleticism are pretty top notch. Just doesn’t command his area as well and go for crosses confidently. 

Also we want more possession and Hernansen helps with that more so I understand the choice. Just comes with some pretty big downsides. 

[Vexed]

We gave them far too much space around the box, AWB being the biggest culprit from where I was stood.

That said, I wouldn’t mind betting we turn up tomorrow night and get 3 points, then it really will be panic stations for the 3 around us. 

I get the feeling we're gonna blow it  tomorrow as usual. 1-1 all day long. 

[smartypants]

We gave them far too much space around the box, AWB being the biggest culprit from where I was stood.

That said, I wouldn’t mind betting we turn up tomorrow night and get 3 points, then it really will be panic stations for the 3 around us. 

[Massive Attack]

Our result at Liverpool is concerning based on how they’ve been playing of late. How the fuck we let them score 1 never mind 5. 

 

They're a different kettle of fish at Anfield and we were pretty unlucky. I still think we need to drop the keeper tomorrow though, I guarantee you he will cost us a goal. 

 

Yeah Anfield is different for everyone.
Also, Areola gets 2 or 3 of those goals.

3 of those deflected goals?

[threesixty]

Our result at Liverpool is concerning based on how they’ve been playing of late. How the fuck we let them score 1 never mind 5. 

 

They're a different kettle of fish at Anfield and we were pretty unlucky. I still think we need to drop the keeper tomorrow though, I guarantee you he will cost us a goal. 

 

 

Yeah Anfield is different for everyone.
Also, Areola gets 2 or 3 of those goals.

[Vexed]

Our result at Liverpool is concerning based on how they’ve been playing of late. How the fuck we let them score 1 never mind 5. 

 

 

They're a different kettle of fish at Anfield and we were pretty unlucky. I still think we need to drop the keeper tomorrow though, I guarantee you he will cost us a goal. 

[Massive Attack]

Our result at Liverpool is concerning based on how they’ve been playing of late. How the fuck we let them score 1 never mind 5. 

We just forgot how to defend

That and kamikaze football at Anfield of all places.

So naive to try and go toe to toe with Liverpool at their gaff. Had to make sure we defended for our lives then see where we were later in the 2nd half just as Wolves did.

[onsideman]

Our result at Liverpool is concerning based on how they’ve been playing of late. How the fuck we let them score 1 never mind 5. 

We just forgot how to defend

[threesixty]

I may have misheard this ( Im old ) but I heard that the percentage of goals scored via set pieces this season is at an all time high. I thought I heard 80-90% quoted but that cant be right. Anyone know if this was fake news? I can believe that set piece goals are now at an all time high percentage but have no idea on the scale. Point is that goalkeepers and a team’s ability to defend set pieces are now more important than ever. Shame we were the worst at it until Nuno rocked up. How much is “Mads whathisface” a factor in that? We will soon know if the Liverpool game was just an off day or a return to the early season horror shows when facing corners, free kicks, crosses etc. 

 

 

I think they need to sort out all the boxing in of players and the keeper for corners. It can only happen because the ref doesnt want to keep blowing the whistle or yellow card everyone. But I feel like it must be all against the rules surely? Grabbing shirts is a foul for a start. Let alone deliberate obstruction of the keeper etc. 
A lot of these goals you could find some offence committed somewhere. Just shows how desperate our league is where the biggest teams with players worth 100m are relying on shady ways of winning.

[smartypants]

Our result at Liverpool is concerning based on how they’ve been playing of late. How the fuck we let them score 1 never mind 5. 

[Massive Attack]

Exactly how I wanted us to play against Liverpool in a smash and grab so to give us the best chance of getting a result. Also helps this result is in my 4 fold acca too with all the other results going for me too for £112 squid return.

[Tomshardware]

Wolves 1-0 against  Liverpool.

[onsideman]

Good result that Leeds defeat, they'd have been expecting to win that, the tide might just be turning on them with undeserved defeats, late equalisers in games they've been winning and struggling to put the ball in the goal. I keep hearing dickheads saying Leeds ain't in this scrap and that they want Leeds safe before we play them - fuck that, I want to drag everyone down into the shit and would take a chance to win on the final day to stay up. 

​​​

Agree completely.

Also heard some pundit or ex-player on the radio before last weekend's games saying that Man City were as nailed on to win at Elland Road as anyone could be because Leeds had achieved their goal, ie safety, and were more or less on the beach. Couldn't believe it... they're still in it (if we win tomorrow)

[Vexed]

Good result that Leeds defeat, they'd have been expecting to win that, the tide might just be turning on them with undeserved defeats, late equalisers in games they've been winning and struggling to put the ball in the goal. I keep hearing dickheads saying Leeds ain't in this scrap and that they want Leeds safe before we play them - fuck that, I want to drag everyone down into the shit and would take a chance to win on the final day to stay up. 

​​​

[Come On You Irons]

Great result for us with Sunderland winning at Leeds.

Burnley losing at Everton keeps them at bay too.

What an opportunity we have tomorrow to finally get out of the relegation zone.

[onsideman]

Bad 2 minutes for dirty Leeds
Goal disallowed... by VAR and then penalty awarded against them... by VAR

[Mad Ferret]

Leeds losing.

[Mad Ferret]

That is one of the most hilariously insane starting XIs I’ve ever seen Sunderland put out.

Rookie keeper making his debut, Luke O’Nien right back in a Premier League fixture, Xhaka on the bench.

[goose]

Tomorrow could be the kind of result that turns momentum. 

[Sir Alf]

I may have misheard this ( Im old ) but I heard that the percentage of goals scored via set pieces this season is at an all time high. I thought I heard 80-90% quoted but that cant be right. Anyone know if this was fake news? I can believe that set piece goals are now at an all time high percentage but have no idea on the scale. Point is that goalkeepers and a team’s ability to defend set pieces are now more important than ever. Shame we were the worst at it until Nuno rocked up. How much is “Mads whathisface” a factor in that? We will soon know if the Liverpool game was just an off day or a return to the early season horror shows when facing corners, free kicks, crosses etc. 

[Outer Cape]

Sorry to prolong the goalkeeper discussion but that role has become crucial over the past couple seasons. 
With the increasing use of corners, long throw ins and free kicks to settle matches, goalkeepers with physical stature and the ability to dominate the box are at a premium. So are large defenders that protect the goalkeeper.

The risk for the defending team is always higher, with handballs, fouls on opposing players (who fall into them) and of course the knock-on and the unfortunate re-bound. Areola does make saves but who knows where the ball is going after the event? Hermanson doesn't have the stature in a crowded penalty box. His distribution however is more intelligent. Neither keeper is good enough for the current Prem. 

[Massive Attack]

Everyone connected to Spurs receiving urgent medical attention right now...

(Severe choking is no laughing matter LOLZ!)

The pressure is really get to them.

[onsideman]

I see Spurs have written to the PGMOL, believing that they have been on the wrong end of some recent refereeing decisions, citing their disallowed goal against Arsenal and the Fulham goal that was given against them. It appears to have escaped them that this can't possibly be TWO wrong decisions.

If Harry Wilson's goal should have been disallowed - as Tenpole Tudor is maintaining - then Kolo Muani's second goal against Arsenal was also quite right to have been chalked off

[onsideman]

We have a good record against Fulham and could arguable be called a bogey team of theirs, so there is that. Although I do remember they smashed us 5-0 there in Moyes' final season!

We are generally in better form than Tottenham so we should give them more of a game. Whether we can defend well enough to keep them at bay is the big doubt. Especially after defensive confidence took a pasting at Liverpool.

I agree with every word of this... and it's not often I can say that, so there you are