West Ham United 25/26 relegation thread

[muskie]

Odds slashed from 5/1 to 7/2.

Watch this space.

I think we're fucked.

[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. 

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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. 

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[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

[Massive Attack]

Don't do what Spurs did roll over and die, otherwise we will lose. Take the approach we had at Liverpool instead of going to just pick them off with a smash and grab goal defending deep the majority of the time. I fear he'll do the opposite though and hope Paco is ready for a tear up on the touchline to demand we go balls out to win. 

[Manuel]

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.

Sure, we can go there, just saying not-over confident. Apart from the late winner at Spurs we have only beaten promoted sides since early Nov. Silva fucking hates losing and will have them fired up under the lights.

[Come On You Irons]

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.

[Manuel]

Would be great to go into the break with a big win, but can't say I'm too confident though, unless someone can give a logical reason why we would go to Fulham and roll them over?

I think if Spurs lose at home to Palace on Thursday I will start believing that they are deep in the brown stuff and have fully imploded. Heard a loose rumour that they may even fire the hapless Croat.

[dealcanvey]

Opta now has us at 69% likely for relegation. An improvement on last week despite losing to Liverpool. 

A win tomorrow would change that stat even further! 

[southbankbornnbred]

Can someone give me a shout when you all stop talking about fucking goalkeepers??

Ag ag ag!

It's just another of our problems, Manny! There are too many.

[southbankbornnbred]

was Mads that bad at Anfield to cause such a bashing on here?   Van Dijk header dont think anyone could of done better.  3 of the other goals were deflections. 

Yes, he was abysmal. Watch the first three goals (including the half-cleared corner for the first). But don't watch the ball - watch our keeper. All from corners, and he never leaves his line. He's like a little boy lost and he spreads fear among his defenders. Watch the second goal and tell me what the fuck he's doing with Gomez.

He doesn't have a clue how to deal with physicality. And he's a keeper.

You can't have a goalkeeper like that in England. It's really not a coincidence that we have been so poor at dealing with set pieces when he's in the side. Everybody has seen it with their own eyes since he joined. We can't keep just hoping he'll get better. Put him in the stiffs and tell him he won't play in the first team until he learns how to cope with it.

The first one he maybe could have come from. But he didnt and we clear the ball.  Few phases later deflection and in. 

second one no keeper comes for that, and the fact he is battling with Gomez as Van Dijk heads it should mean he is interfering with play and offside given. 

Third one no keeper would ever come for that. Ball recycled and great finish, don't think too many complaints about the save. 

Then the final two goals are deflections again.  

I don't love the bloke, just don't see why such a pile on after Sat. 

He's stuck, frozen to his line on all three goals. His movement is poor, he can't clear even one defender out of his way (at one point, he actually grabs Gomez and can't see the ball because he's got his hands on the man in front of him). He doesn't know what he's doing at set pieces and he's terrified of physicality. If that's Ludo or Parkes, they attack at least one of those crosses - and the twat in front of him on the line gets a solid knee in the back as the keeper jumps for it. You've got to be brave, and you've got to be physical enough to clear players out of your way. Make the ball - or the line of vision - yours. Don't stand still and hide behind their players. His effort was non-existent.

[Manuel]

Can someone give me a shout when you all stop talking about fucking goalkeepers??

[Rossal]

was Mads that bad at Anfield to cause such a bashing on here?   Van Dijk header dont think anyone could of done better.  3 of the other goals were deflections. 

Yes, he was abysmal. Watch the first three goals (including the half-cleared corner for the first). But don't watch the ball - watch our keeper. All from corners, and he never leaves his line. He's like a little boy lost and he spreads fear among his defenders. Watch the second goal and tell me what the fuck he's doing with Gomez.

He doesn't have a clue how to deal with physicality. And he's a keeper.

You can't have a goalkeeper like that in England. It's really not a coincidence that we have been so poor at dealing with set pieces when he's in the side. Everybody has seen it with their own eyes since he joined. We can't keep just hoping he'll get better. Put him in the stiffs and tell him he won't play in the first team until he learns how to cope with it.

The first one he maybe could have come from. But he didnt and we clear the ball.  Few phases later deflection and in. 

second one no keeper comes for that, and the fact he is battling with Gomez as Van Dijk heads it should mean he is interfering with play and offside given. 

Third one no keeper would ever come for that. Ball recycled and great finish, don't think too many complaints about the save. 

Then the final two goals are deflections again.  

I don't love the bloke, just don't see why such a pile on after Sat.