Stoke City 0 Irons 0
Absolutely no complaints about that performance which for the most part was disciplined and brilliantly well organised as the Hammers collected another precious point and second clean sheet on the trot.
And but for some sensational goalkeeping from City keeper Jack Butland we would have walked away from the Bet 365 Stadium with three points.
After saving a brilliant overhead kick from Andre Ayew, the returning Potters keeper made two more sensational stops as the Hammers put their foot on the pedal.
The Hammers still hurting from numerous injuries fielded a team one could barely have considered a few weeks ago but were more than comfortable against Mark Hughes’ outfit.
They were driven on by Cheik Kouyate and Manu Lanzini and look solid at the back where Jose Fonte – improving game by game – Winston Reid and James Collins again performed admirably.
Arthur Masuaku again had a great game but was withdrawn on 45 minutes presumably to protect the knock he apparently took during the game against Everton.
With Calleri leading the attack and Ayew attempting to become the goal scoring edge the Hammers are starting to look a hard side to beat although the cutting edge so badly needed still isn’t emerging.
The point takes us to 39 points and although not mathmatically safe we can no assume the team will be performing as a Premier League side next season.
This was another performance based on a strong defence and with a couple of outstanding saves from Adrian thrown in it’s easy to see why there is more confidence in the back line.
COYI
No complaints other than what we already know!
No attacking threat apart from Lanzini and he can’t do everything himself.
Whilst five at the back may work against the likes of Stoke and Everton, I fear that won’t be enough vs Spuds and Liverpool.
Substitutions today, Masuaka aside which was an injury I assume, were baffling and left us more vulnerable.
We simply have too many players who aren’t of the required standard, and a major rebuild of the squad is needed in the summer, and Bilic needs to move on too. Who we get in to replace him, god knows!
The only thing that matters how is that Man Utd best Swansea. Preferably by a few goals.
Also hope for Chelsea win & Aresenal win. Spurs will then be 7 behind & Chelsea have an easy run in then. Therefore possible Spurs will ease off. A draw would surely sort it even if Swansea win all three. But I have a feeling They may get a draw tomorrow. United must be knackered.
I think some of our newer players are shaping up well at last, and are making the squad look stronger.
In the summer we need to sort the right back problem out at last, and also bring in 2 good strikers. Perhaps Antonio is also right about us needing a decent dominating center back.
With those adjustments, I would be reasonably confident about a big improvement next season.
No complains ?
You are such a club stooge mate.
How about despite outplaying the opposition again We don’t win.
again. Still the same 2 glaringly obvious weaknesses in an already weakened side. Striker & rb/ rwb bilic didn’t sort out in jan, we would have been safe months ago. Why does Fletcher never get a look in despite Callieri being clearly not good enough and out the door soon? Why play a midfielder out of position AGAIN at rwb when it’s byrams best position ?
Nothing to say about the bizarre replacement of Ayew with Noble that killed our only goal threat and immediately put us under pressure with 20 mins + left to play. Tactical substitutions are supposed to improve the team not make it perform much worse.
Scrapping over the line in 14th with a manager who keeps making the same tactical errors isn’t where we should be.
Bilic needs to go.