Manager Slaven Bilic admitted that he and the lads were stunned by this afternoon’s events at the Boleyn as we collapsed to bad defeat on the last Saturday inside the old stadium.
He told www.whufc.com: “It was a very bad result for us and it shocked us. We didn’t expect it. At the beginning it looked really good and it was one of our best starts.
“The only thing that was missing was our finishing product. That made us complacent because they didn’t look dangerous.
“But we made a couple of mistakes and to be fair we were thinking that our colleague behind me will take the ball and let me be in a good position. But if you let their players have a one on one they are very capable of hurting you and we didn’t help our defenders at all.
“We then conceded a goal and then when you concede a second it is very hard to come back. We have done it a few times but we needed to pull the goal back. To be fair we didn’t deserve it.
“With the ball we showed the character and determination but our finishing product was not there today. Without the ball it was simply not good enough in the Premier League.”
Bilic is hoping his players can bounce straight back against Manchester United and make it a night to remember in the final ever game to be played at the Boleyn Ground.
Bilic added: “We have to bounce back. We have two games left and want to finish high. Whatever happens we have had a good season.
“But our aim is to show a good spirit and character that has been with us all season and we hope to show that against Manchester United.
“It will be an emotional night and is a big game when you always play United, but the fact that it is the final ever game makes it even more special and we have to stay cool and stay focused because we want to win the game.
“We have been thinking about a European place since we knew it was reachable and we can still do it. When we give our best we still have a lot to offer.”
Being one of Bilics biggest fans, one reason being his honesty and good manners, this “honest verdict” from him leaves me a bit dissapointed. I think he leaves the players with too much of a responsibility for this defeat. Instead of at least opening up for the question if it was himself that got this wrong with Antonion once again at the back, and playing Lanzini and Payet at the same time both being a bit off form , and playing Moses rather than Sakho.
Bilic has gotten almost everything right this season, and he has brought us to the next level. But I would have appreciated a bit more self scrutinizing from him after this 1-4 defeat.
I, too, find that Bilic’s “honest” verdict is somewhat glossed over. It looked a lot worse from where I was sitting.
His over-reliance on Carroll right now is a little perplexing. It seems the big man has gone form “Plan B super-sub” a couple of months ago to the only striking option in town as things now stand. Make no mistake, Carroll is indeed a potent option but when you insist on starting him every game come rain or shine, the team inevitably look stale and one-dimensional as in the days of Big Sam.
I imagine Bilic had one eye on the ManU match next Tuesday when he picked Mosses to start and left Shakho on the bench. Sadly, in losing the first of these three must-win games, the last ever home game at Upton Park will probably now be significant only at an emotional level.
Agree with both of you,
Why play Moses or have Emineke on the bench both have no loyalty to our club and know they will not be here next year,
Maybe next season the club could leave its party until the job is done,if the results go against us now for the rest of the season we could end up with both Liverpoor and Southampton overtaking us and missing out on Europe,
We did not alter our game at all ,when Payet took 6 really bad corners did no one think about changing the tactics,
Ect you can go on for ever,
Would not be a hammer fan without days like this
The old ground did not deserve this display and I hope the team can perform with more class against Manure
I think it was a case of naivety. From the outset the guys looked like they wanted to put on a good show for the last ever Saturday game at the Boleyn which left us open to the counter attack, something we have done ourselves well away all season. I can understand why, but probably should have concentrated on just getting a win. Can’t knock Slav or the team after the season we have had, just hope they can pick themselves up for Tuesday. COYI!!!