Lanzini enjoyed a top game yet again
Bournemouth 3 West Ham 2
Well, that was about as bad as West Ham get.
This was a dreadful performance where we were beaten by our own mistakes and a faster moving and more creative side.
But to have got back to 2-2 with seven minutes left through Ayew before the record signing gave it away by misplacing a shocking intended pass and set up the King winner was sickening.
We never settled, in fact never got started – conceded two clear penalties – one hit wide and the other stroked straight at Randolph before taken the lead, falling behind, equalising and losing.
It was only when Manu Lanzini got on the ball that we carried real threat but we have to sort this awful habit of giving away too much ball and committing cardinal errors for which we are inevitably punished.
Feghouli gave away the penalty early when caught out of possession and the much vaunted Jose Fonte the second when clipping heels.
Feghouli made amends by setting up Antonio’s equaliser but the Fonte/Reid partnership continued to suffer given the Portuguese central defender’s uncertainty and nervousness.
Aaron Cresswell probably had his worst performance in the short, Noble was subbed early, Carroll was largely anonymous and overall you were left with the sinking feeling that the great climax to the most difficult of seasons had stalled and that it might take a lot of hard work to get it started again.
Yes we trust Slav of course. But we need better much much better than this shocking level of performance
Love the bit about Noble being “sunbed” early – on the beach already? Well that’s preferable to his many two-footed challenges.
Can’t help wondering why Bilic persevere with Fehgouli when we have Snoddy and Ayew on the bench or, for that matter, why Lanzini was regularly played out wide until late when we started chasing the game.
Creswell was indeed shocking and Carroll had few crosses to attack. Fonte has been a disappointment – Southampton probably knew something we didn’t.
What does it take to persuade Bilic to START with our best eleven?
So that is our strongest squad? The poor defensive qualities of this side are still there for all to see. Hull won today. I would back Leicester to beat us. Not good enough.
The problem is that our creative players are terrible defenders which means the back room training ground staff needs to take responsibility for. Feggo cannot defend! Ayew cannot defend, nor Antonio or Snodgrass. Noble is too slow putting extra weight on Obiang. Cresswell is having a bad season and was not at the races today.
Look at Chelsea and see how their creative players also defend!! This is a huge problem with us right now. Lanzini needs to play a no.10 Rooney role because he is too lightweight defending also. Major problems that haven’t been sorted is another problem!
Most sense I’ve read since the final whistle!👍
Spindoc you are right that Saints knew something we didn’t. It is how to assess the quality of a player & how to fit him in to your team. Fonte? Gabbiadini? Says it all.
Every passing week I’m not trusting Bilic, it’s a great shame as he’s a fine man but he seems very Zola to me. Sam Allardyce used to play players in their wrong positions to accommodate his favourites and seeing some of the decisions made in recent weeks and this season in general where some shocking decisions all round have been made make me as is itvthe chairman Slaven or both.
Still it could be worse.
So much for Slavs target of 9 from 9 laughable