Manuel Pellegrini isn’t a man to make excuses but today he made an exception following the lack lustre performance at Burnley.
And however you want to call it he has a big point in saying: “Normally I don’t give excuses but today, it was different. The physical difference was clear. We are playing 48 hours after arriving at 2am on Friday. ”
It showed, it really did and is the only serious explanation for a Hammers performance which was as surprising as it was poor.
Freak results are not uncommon over holiday periods and with so many injuries and an inability to rotate the squad maybe we should have expected something like this.
It’s all too easy to get carried away on a tide of optimism given the results we’ve been enjoying but this was a Burnley team rediscovering itself in a way which ensured we suffered big time.
One player who did shine was Ogbonna despite the attacking prowess and that can probably be explained by the fact that he has seen little match action this season.
With Zaba missing, Antonio was again forced into defensive duties which is always a hard watch particularly when the back line generally wasn’t at its best.
Pellegrini declared: “Burnley played better everywhere, they deserved more goals. I am disappointed of course. If we won this game then we would go seventh. They were in a bad moment but they played very well.
Marko worked the whole week with us but more than him, we have ten injuries. Of course one of these games, what happened today but we need to recover again and use the players who are in their best moment. “
Sorry that is is a feeble exscuse the manager knew the schedule weeks ago it was up to him to ensure the players should have been rotated & been in place before Friday even if it meant playing some youngsters
Agreed Claret.He got this one horribly wrong.Obiang dropped for Noble,Perez starts even though he had a mare against Southampton.Antonio is not a R.B.We cannot expect Anderson to bail us out every matchPelle has to take this on the chin and put a team with some energy left in their legs on Wednesday.Thought he might have given Oxford a chance today.
Yes but he didn’y know he would have 10 out and unable to rotate – feeble argument
What a load of tripe. 5 wins in 7. We’ll lose occasionally, it happens.
5 wins out of 7 is great for us whatever and when everyone is back fit we have a squad capable of top 8.
If one day makes such a difference we are in trouble against Brighton, who are normally too good for us anyway. They usually score one goal & that is often enough. So it is vital our creaky defence does not give one away. I am not sure how Chris Hughton gets all his fans in the media. They love him but it can’t be for his attacking football.
That reomFellalk geezer sounds more confused than our defenders were today ………
I haven’t seen it but the excuse sounds fair enough, would have been nice to win but 5 wins out of 7 is a good return lets take our pain out on Brighton COYI !!!
A few players could have done with being rested today. Anderson, Diop, Snodgrass etc were all looking leggy and off the pace.
They looked knackered. Southampton to Burnley in three days is exhausting travelling wise. Hoping to see Nasri play a part on Wednesday. Zabaleta back as well. We know Glenn Murray will score so hopefully we have enough in the tank to get a couple.
Grueling schedule for all teams . Our injury list is effecting us big time . It’s very hard for a full fit squad but for a weakened squad it’s very very tough . It’s a crazy schedule and the FA needs to make some changes . The rest of World football must be thinking we’re mad . Just two games less would be sufficient .
COYHAMMERS .
For those eternal moaners, just a reminder we have won 5 from 7 and scored a shed load of goals on the way, with a DEPLETED SQUAD. Take this one on the chin and move on.