Barclays Premier League West Ham United v Fulham Boleyn Ground 01-09-2012
Andy Carroll
Watford 2 Irons 0
Diafro Sakho’s absence after taking a knock in training showed how integral the striker is to West Ham’s system of play against Watford this afternoon.
Two bad defensive lapses by Andy Carroll and James Tomkins saw Watford collect three thoroughly deserved points against an Irons team off of it’s game all over the pitch.
Things became considerably worse when Collins got his marching orders in the 83rd minute for a horrible challenge on striker Ighalo.
But Sakho’s relentless running of the channels to open up spaces for Dimi Payet and Manu Lazini was the biggest problem to a team who were offered little space in which to operate offensively by a well organised Hornets outfit.
Carroll handed the hosts their first goal when trying to play his way past an attacker in front of goal when he should have put a hefty boot behind it.
The ball was worked into the middle and the helpless Aaron Cresswell could do nothing but put through his own net.
It had been a lifeless first half from the Hammers with Victor Moses – back in the team – proving particularly ineffective with Zarate taking his place whilst Lanzini – a notable victim of Sakho’s absence – also coming off for Valencia.
But any hopes of a recovery were halted three minutes after the break when James Tomkins allowed a cross from Anya to pass under his boot and Igahalo rammed home the second.
The Irons had a real chance to get back into it when a terrible back pass from Cathcart’s poor back pass was intercepted by Valencia who struck a first time shot against the post. Carroll couldn’t control the rebound and the chance was gone.
Although both teams held 50 per cent of the possession Watford managed 20 efforts on goal to our eight and had seven corners to our two.
It was a very bad day at the office and a wake up call to a team who maybe had become a victim of their own publicity.
Slaven Bilic has warned that a bad day would come along and that we have to guard against complacency – expect a different story against Everton next weekend.
ClaretandHugh was told that Sakho’s injury is only minor and that he should be fit to return for next weekend’s match.
Ratings: Adrian 6; Jenkinson 7, Collins 5, Tomkins 5, Cresswell 6; Noble 5, Kouyate 6 Lanzni 5, Payet 6, Moses 4, Carroll 4. Subs: Jelavic 5, Zarate 5, Valencia 5
I would like to make a serious point here.
I have been dismayed by the amount of support for the man Collins, who was one of the main architects of our downfall last Season, and a poisonous influence to boot.
I hope that this incident will see the end of his patchy career here – at best – and opens Slav’s eyes as to the real nature of the man.
He has absolutely no place in our “new” Hammers in my honest opinion.
Sorry. Rant over.
Can you really justify calling Collins ‘one of the main architects of our downfall last season’? Let’s be fair he had a right shocker today, but for a 4th cb he’s not bad – and he had earned his place in the line up today.
Please can you also explain his ‘poisonous influence’??
Bit harsh Merry,i aint his biggest fan but i aint into all this ‘poisonous influence’ stuff.Well OTT if you ask me fella.
Off your bonce fella – there is no truth that you can pin you allegations on – all total fabrications.
Actually, the stats say that Collins was our best defender last year. There are always supporters who who hate a player. I am surrounded by Noble haters where I sit…Weird, but there you go; nothing will change their mind…
The fact is Collins is deservedly a great favourite, and for good reason. He puts in a shift. They don’t call him the Ginger Pele for nothing. He might make some mistakes, but what about all the brilliant stuff he does? Who was there last week to cut off Fabrigas after he was dangerously put through? You guessed it.
So carry on hating him, but at least recognise you are big time ine the minority… Hmmm…Oh dear; like the crazy Noble haters around me, that’s just too much to ask of you. Well, all I can say YOUR LOSS. Bilic recognises Collins value: Ginge will be with us till the end of the season, thank God. Reply over!
Well, stats lie then cuz our best defenders last season were Tomkins and Reid. Collins served us well, but looks like his time has gone. CBs should support each other and Collins doesn’t provide such kind of support for his partners.
Just a bad day at the office, it happens to all clubs even the billionaire ones, if anyone’s to blame, it’s all of the players, but I’m not blaming them or any individuals, on the positive side, everyone will learn something from today, just because we are matching the top 6 in our displays we don’t have to act like their fans and start crying about losing an away game to a team of players we hardly know anything about, take it on the chin and move on ⚒
Tactically we got wrong today . You can’t blame Carroll for it . It’s a team effort and they failed miserably . Just why we changed our style so much is a question for Bilic to answer .
I can’t see it being because Sakho was unavailable , that would make no sense . We looked like we were playing nervously at home . But , Players and Owners should not go giving it all that because we are doing well , it only invites days like today .
Hope we have learned something and return to our newly introduced style . Couldn’t stand a repeat of last season by slipping from the top group over Christmas .
I was in the pub for the game on Saturday and the second Carroll was named in the starting 11 a collective groan went around the place….
I already said this on another site at half time and have said it many times already. Carroll’s value to us is as an Impact sub when his totally different style can play havoc with a tiring defence but he is a square peg in a round hole as a regular starter.
I have a distinct feeling Slav is being pushed to play him by the owners because they want to get some of their money back. Hope I’m wrong but Slav had better options today.
I did mention on here last week amongst all the euphoria to remember that moment when we fall against an opponent we should beat easily. Didn’t expect it to come that fast though. Does though explain why pundits like Lawro hesitate to endorse us as a top team yet.
Haha,well done Camchaz,you got your mate Lawro into your comment,good work 😀
canchaz – I fear you could be right my friend…. why else would Carroll have started when as you rightly say there are far better options available.
Bad collective display,it even happens to the best of them.Move on to The Toffees next week.Leave the autopsy to the Wetpants 😉
Surely the whole point of a blog like this is to discuss things, why are you suggesting the only place for a postmortem on yesterdays game is to leave this site and go and visit another one?
This is a great time to be a hammer , the stuff dreams are made out of and i truly believe we can beat anybody on our day but by the looks of it we are fast becoming one trick ponies that only know how to counter attack. When we have the opportunity to take a game by the scruff of the neck against smaller sides we run out of ideas …ie bournemouth , leicester and now watford . I still believe we are a mid table team but i would love to be proven wrong. Im hoping the introduction of song will give us more composure on the ball and i hate to say it but unfortunately noble will be the fall guy