Slaven Bilic finds himself under pressure to get a big result at Arsenal given the events in in Romania last night.
But the Irons boss refused to back off from his decision to play a “shadow” team against FC Astra and said: “We would want a result (against Arsenal) anyway.
“When the Premier League starts, we have a game and of course we are looking to get a positive result.
“Do I need to justify the result here? I told you it was my decision. I have spoken with the people from the club about the Europa League and about next season, which is a huge one.
“I made this decision, not only for this game but for the game in Malta (in the second qualifying round against Birkirkara). “I wanted to go through. I believed that we could go through with this team.
“I’m very proud of the effort they put in and disappointed with the result.Of course we are out sooner than we wanted to be, sooner than we expected to be.
“But the beginning of the Premier League will show us if we got the right balance (with the team) and see if we can cope with it – I think we are ready.”
I totally disagree with Slaven. We have a big enough squad to have played a mixture of squad players and youngsters to have seen us through. To play virtually a youth team is disrespectful to the Team, its supporters and the competition. Compare our amateur approach to that of Southampton. I am gutted at the way we have treated this match. I support West Ham through thick and thin win or loose but it doesn’t change the fact that this was totally unprofessional. Slavan has put himself under a tremendous amount of pressure for the Arsenal game that didn’t need to have been there. We lose against Arsenal on Sunday or get thrashed and it would have been for nothing. I do feel he has lost a lot of support he had from supporters that now have a bad taste in their moth.
Totally agree EUG.
I’m gutted.
These games were great for getting fans like me back watching.
Now I won’t bother.
Ogbonna and Obiang who both need more game time, Amalfitano, Burke and Samuelsen all could of played a part.
I agree any ofthe first XI could of stayed but the subs should have gone.
Just how can Bilic say ” we are out ” sooner than expected to be ” , or ” wanted to be ” ?.
We have just witnessed the Bilic we are going to get for All Cup Competition’s .
We have not been in Europe for ages , and it looks like it’s going to be a long time before we are again . The picture West Ham have painted suggest’s that they won’t be taking the FA Cup or League Cup seriously either ( which is a route to Europe ) despite the Promise’s of David’s Gold & Sullivan . So , now , we must rely on our Final League Position to qualify again , because with this set up we can forget slipping into Europe by Fair Play .
To say I am unhappy with Bilic and the Chairmen at the moment is a massive understatement . In my view they have let us down miserably and should be ashamed of themselves . It doesn’t matter if we win or lose to Arsenal because Arsenal will definitely win more games than they lose . But that didn’t enter the head of Bilic . The Fans expected more from this Europa League opportunity .
I dont agree that Bilic will do tyhe same for the other cups. He will be going for them both. We will have a bigger stronger squad than last season, and playing better football. The league cup will give the likes of the 2 reeces, Cullen, Page, Lee, and others the chance to sine again in the ealy stages. They are easily good enough for that.
Europe is a much bigger draw on recouses then our cups. We just played 3 rounds in 6 weeks, from the beginning of pre-season. We got 3 sent off, and 5 injured, all in the middle of preparations for the new season. We are supposed to be learning Bilices new methods ( which are looking good ). All that was disrupted.
I’m not happy to be knocked out, but there is a bigger pictrue.
With you on this sleeps.
There were 7 non-youth team players in the stating line-up last night , but yes there were a few more youth players than expected.
Although I was ****ed off to see us slip out on basic mistakes, ( embarrasing more than anything ) I don’t condem Bilic for his decision. For me Europe on this occasion was just a side show, albiet a very interesting side show. The real business is always the Prem and that starts on Sunday, so I am already looking forward to it.
What europe has shown is that we have a lot to learn from it, but also that many of the youth teamers who played in any of the rounds, should be part of the basis of what we do in the next 5 years. For that I can’t wait.
give Slav a chance ffs its the poxy europa league not champions league. so if he had put outa first team & they got beat or Iinjured then it wouldve been why did you play em as for Arsenal Sunday do you want West Ham to win if not go follow another club. give Slaven a chance he was left with players like Nolam O’Brien Maiga Jarvis champiomship players at best slowly slowly catchy monkey. COYI its nearly 2 months hes been in charge window shuts 1September give him a chance at least he gives youth a game not like hippo head
I think you have missed the point completely there , rickthehammer .
At Christmas last season we were sitting 4th ,, then due to a load of injuries the youth players were given their chance and we slid right down the table . Even before Christmas some youth players were tried . So to say they were not given a chance is nonsense .
I want West Ham to thrash Arsenal on Sunday , of course I do , but I also expected a more serious Bilic in the Europa League ,, which , by the way , is Not a Poxy cup ., at least not by Southamptons reckoning .
If West Ham had finished 6th last season you would be singing a different tune today .
Time to wake up rickthehammer , old chap .
B*****cks. What we saw was sitting 4th before Christmas, then on Boxing Day at Chelsea dropping Sakho for Carroll and Song for Nolan. There was no youth team product in that line up. Same against Arsenal a couple of days later.
When before Christmas did youth feature? One solitary League Cup game? Again over the months after Christmas in the league no youth featured until Oxford was named as an unused sub at Liverpool in late January. Then a couple of youths were on the bench a handful of times until Burke made the starting line up away to QPR at the end of April. And Lee got a sub appearance at Newcastle on the last day. So no, not really giving the youth a chance.
We’re out, get off Slav’s back. He had to make a decision. We could have gone out with a full strength squad. What’s done is done. They guy has only been the job a couple of months and has to rebuild a team and system.
It was a nonsense being in this competition in the first instance, ie through fair play, could have gotten relegated and because had best behaviour record end up in this competition, what a joke, and we most definitely were not ready for it. I am glad we are out and now can concentrate on our domestic season, including the cups which I do expect to see a different approach than to the Europa League. We have made some good signings, still need at least one striker, and don’t understand why we would be looking at Hernandez over Austin; just go and pay the sodding money and it will be returned massively by Austin; there really is no risk!! As for him putting himself under pressure for the Arsenal game, what rot, I think he has stopped them from seeing exactly how we will line up and there will be an element of surprise when the first team plays this weekend, in a game we are not expected to win anyways. Payet is going to be big for us but we need someone on the end and it will not be Carroll or Maiga. A pairing of Sakho and Austin would be the ticket.
We are the biggest nunch of hypocrjtes. Everyone would soon change their tune if we put out a weak squad for gooners due to fatigue or injury from this europa game. I totally back Bilic on this one, the whole competition has been a massive distraction from the start we should Have declined the opportunity. Too much too soon for a new manager.
You have to wonder , therefore , on the decision to change the Manager !,
Sorry , there now I’ve said it .
P***s off Kevin. 3 wins in 2015, that good enough reason?
Nah Kev loves us not winning away in the Prem since the first week of December.Its clearly what floats his boat.Ffs,what the hell is wrong with you Kevin!!
I stand by what I said about Bilic ,, just as he stands by his decision to let us down miserably . The fringe Bilic supporters are now thinking again , and you can’t blame them .
Letting the Fans down right from the off is not the ideal start . We deserved more .
Southampton took it seriously and will still have a very good season ,, why couldn’t we .
Kev f##k off you **** go & lick hippos arse
Kev tell me the youth players he played apart from Burke now run along you ***** as your an armchair fan go spew your crap about the pikeys over the river in fact yawn yawn yawn yourso boring I cant bbe bothered with a arse wipe like you. In Slav I TRUST COYI
You really think it was Bilic ( or Slav )who made this decision ?
The writing is on the wall look through the fog,
We are being fed rubbish again,how do so many of our transfers fail just as they are done ?
We have reached the money hinted we will spend now it’s all excuses,the player wanted to much money other clubs have come in behind our backs,we need a permit,he was not fit enough,
Same as last 2 windows that’s why Carroll is being rushed back,that’s why the deadwood is not being moved on
And Kevin don’t talk Like a dick,
There I said it Dick Dick
Thanks , rickthe hammer ,,, not much point in trying to talk to someone who’s only response is ” f@@k off . Hope we have a great season , but you can P@@s off . Bye bye .
ha ha ha Kev your getting slaughtered now go & play with your train set like a mummys boy
I though Lanzini and Cullen were great going forward, but there was just nobody up front making space or making runs. I was a tad disappointed with Lee…although, a player like him relies on playing off another striker, so he was always going to struggle playing alongside Magia (he’d do great with Carroll)! Poyet also looked like a decent commanding player.
It’s just really REALLY unfortunate that we got into Europe in what is the most critical season we maintain PL survival. Disappointing, but I can see why Slav chose to prioritise(I initially though that he should at least have played our first team bench, but that would include Jarvis and O’Neil and I’m not sure they’d have been the answer).
All will unfold as the season is played out . Then we will see who is talking rubbish .
So for now , this armchair fan that has spent a small fortune at Upton Park will sign off .
But while I am signed off please check your facts in future . It’s sad that nobody saw the youth players playing last season . And I see no reason to Name Them . You should know who they are without me haveing to tell you .
See above. I went through them.
Get used to Magia,Jarvis,Nolan,JOB that’s what we are going to be stuck with,
They are not going to spend another penny,and Slav will be the scapegoat,
Why have Palace,Villa,Stoke,Watford,Bournemouth got more money to spend than us
Why are they not restrained by fair play rules on wages and spending,
There will be no Austin or Hernandez and if Sakho gets a knock we are stuck with Magia,
If Jenkinson gets a knock we are stuck with JOB
Not moaning it’s a Fact
Wow,you lot are just wetpants2 these days.Used to enjoy coming on here because you could have the crack.Probably worse than wetpants with the crap on here today.Sammerettes talking rubbish.People who a few weeks ago were telling us we were going to have a superb attacking team.Now just negative,negative,negative.Season aint even started in the Prem & you have us dead & buried.Shame on you as you seem to tell everyone else regularly bubs.
Kevin the pressure was put on the Manager by the board because Cordon,Shepherd,BFS,
Redknapp and others all wanted us out of Europe because of the fear factor,
Just as the Hippo fans ( they can’t be hammer fans ) wanted their club to loose and get knocked out of Europe,don’t sell you really pub down the road just to try and prove a few right that Hippo should have stayed,
If we were going to exit this cup then we may as well pull out of the other 2,
Hippo did it when he sent the boys out at Forrest,
We have become a laughing stock over night
I doubt BFS would have taken the Europa League any more seriously…
Has we were going to have a good attacking side but they are being rested for the season,
The only negative people were the ones that dreamed of what happened last night,
Did you see those poor lads on there knees last night, how much damage was done to their confidence ?
Someone email me when you have all stopped acting like a bunch of miserable old grannies.This place is depressing at the moment.Should have guessed it wouldnt take Kevin long to start rattling on about Hippo again.Unbelievable.