Fornals was bitterly disappointing
By Hugh Southon
Everton 2 West Ham 0
So we waited a long long two weeks for perhaps the worst West Ham performance in months and months.
Apart from one Ogbonaa point blank shot – brilliantly saved by Pickford – we were dominated from start to finish by an Everton team that were made to look like world beaters.
Let’s not pull punches – we were absolutely hopeless against a team who looked likely to score every time they went forward whereas we barely went forward at al.
After two straight defeats it’s difficult to see where on earth Pellegrini goes from here because today we couldn’t get any of the basics right.
We surrendered possession time after time, created nothing from an expensively assembled midfield and were worryingly inept at the back.
Man of the match ironically was the excellent Andre Gomes who was a big target for Pellegrini, for a long time in the summer, showing everything that we wanted from ANY of our midfielders.
Pablo Fornals was drafted in for Yarmolenko presumably because the Ukrainian was weary from international duty and showed absolutely nothing before being subbed himself with Yarmo coming on.
All the so called pretty pass and move game our manager wants from his team was absent and we were left to watch them unable to provide us with even the basics.
Roberto – with some ‘help’ from Masuaku – was responsible for being beaten at his near post for the first goal from Bernard and Sigurdsson added a late second – thoroughly deserved.
Lanzini didn’t show at all and Haller was again isolated up front.
Ogbonna, Diop and Noble came out with some credit along with the keeper but this was poor…very poor indeed.
And the worry is that we had all thought Palace was a one off as we suffered our first away win of the season!
Noble came out with credit?
What game was you watching Hugh as every pass was misplaced
I think that our weakness is still a lack of energy in the middle of the park – definitely Andre Gomes would have been a better buy than Fornals – I still think that we missed a trick by not going for Isaac Hayden – now all teams will see how to play against us – hopefully we can sort out a response – defeat to Sheffield Utd would indeed be a bitter pill to swallow. We are now closer to the relegation zone than to top spot – and have only played two top 6 sides including Man Utd. We really need to stabilise now without dreaming of top 6
Does anyone agree with me that all the praise for Pelle is misplaced in my opinion,as the gutless performances against The Wombles and Oxford,should be an indictment on his material expertise and be called to task
Him spending £65m on Anderson and Fornals should be questioned not to mention the hopeless Roberto who is an inadequate deputy for Fab
3rd time we had a chance to go 3rd
1st Villa, then Palace and Everton today.
Seems like the players prefer mid table obscurity.
Doesn’t matter how much we spend, we get the same lazy, disinterested losers who have no shame collecting their pay-check. Again the fans were singing at the end. Shame we can’t get them on the pitch.
Yet again missed chance to move up table
Have wasted our money !
Absolutely shocking what’s the excuse for that , can’t be one .
I’m sure Noble will have something up his sleve for his Standard column
Totally agree. This was the worst performance I have seen in a long time and we all know there has been a few😀
Too many of our players disappear when things are not going well Anderson, Lanzini and Fredericks surprised me today. Fornals not up to Prem and if we don’t start supporting Haller he will be gone.
Worrying times but we’ve been here many times before. Keep the faith COYI ⚽️⚒
I have been wondering for a while now , but I am not sure what Lanzini is bringing to the party. Play Anderson OR Lanzini but not both it is counter productive.
Obviously having a goalkeeper who bottled the save ( not for the first time) doesn’t create a good start or confidence, but the team were embarrassing today.
………….and I am by no means a xenophobe……
“………it’s difficult to see where on earth Pellegrini goes from here………”
How about CHINA!
For the umpteenth time, HE sets the tactics and, as good at settling the club Noble claims he is, HIS tactics are totally one-dimensional, transparent and easy to nullify.
The most lightweight midfield ever assembled and suited for exhibition football, at best.
Again, we should get the best BRITISH coach available and preferably one who is not already out to grass.
Worst performance since………….2 weeks ago…………………
Pellegrini judged that a good performance today by the Hammers If you go onto the BBC website.Now that is a worrying statement.
Please no more talk of top 4-6.We are a mid table team end of.
yes,well put.Trust us to make Everton look great.Worrying trend developing in the last 2 games not helped by not starting in form Yarmolenko and Cresswell missing too.Something is out of sync after such a promising start to the season.Why is it Sigurdsson always scores against us and woeful Walcott saves his best for West Ham.? .Better get it right for Sheff Utd otherwise the natives will turn restless very quickly.
I think we got to excited by the early table . To me we didn’t show any passion I keep saying you have to give 100% in any game and we certainly didn’t do that . The players need to realise they have to work for it ,close down and quick accurate passes . Need to buck up lads that was poor . ⚒
Egg on our faces for thinking this game an easy pushover as put on a earlier post ??? After all we are west ham?? Bubbles do burst and history, time and time again shows us never count your chickens till they’re hatched????
Lawrenson was almost right wot a shambolic display apart from Roberto taxi for MP totally clueless last couple of games
You can’t keep playing with one up front, play Rice in defence. Sell Masuaku! I would like to see us play 442. Why do we always seem to lack any intensity and the commitment to battle and fight for points.
Very well put, so much for the big team mentality, carry on like that we’ll be back in the championship!!
Not surprised at all by this pathetic performance. Too many delusional Hammers supporters think we are top 6 “pretenders”, what a flipping joke. We are an average side, please analyse our so called “great wins” against poor sides.
No pace in the side, Rice for pity sake is an up and coming player,nothing more.
We need to stop placing our players on pedestals..
So many weaknesses all over the park. Top 10 at the very best.