Honest Slaven Bilic made it clear Chelsea were “better than us” but remained bitterly disappointed at seeing a point slip away so late.
The manager – talking after the game – said: “When you concede so late it’s always disappointing. They were much better on the ball, pressed and were more aggresive than us.
We were okay for the first 15 minutes and we controlled things when we went to 1-1 so that’s why it was so frustrating to lose a soft goal at the end!”
He explained that the club won’t know the situation on Andre Ayew’s injury until he has been scanned in the morning but insisted he won’t be rushing into the transfer market.
Andrew went down in the 32nd minute holding his thingh and the manager said: “You don’t do that on the strength of what may be just a small injury!
Come on Slav. You really hung Michail out to dry tonight – you bought him off after another defensive error and had your back to him. That’s humiliating; even Gary Neville pointed it out. He’s not a full back and doesn’t want to play there. You might as well slap me back there for all the good I’d do. He’s an incredibly gifted forward player and you are killing him with your insistence that he can do it. You’re ruining the man’s confidence now and I’m starting to get ****ed off with you about it. I know I’m not alone.
Definitely not alone…
Why we didn’t play last seasons 4-2-3-1 I will never know…
3 central midfielders and Antonio right back doesn’t work.
For a start… There was no support for Carroll because we didn’t have a man playing behind him.
We played too defensive and it didn’t work.
Not to mention too much hoof ball!
On tonights performance Slav,seriously you need to watch the video of the match,at times we were embarassing.There are weaknesses int he team and I think you know what they are,but they need sorting,rather than saying we won’t be signing any more players.Thats one thing you were short of tonight-PLAYERS.
Agree 100%.’Byram looked ok and should start at RB on Thursday and Antonio further forward. I can see Antonio doing a Sakho, but I think it would be justified.
Slav did not give any reason why he once again forced Michail Antonio to play at RB, exposing the expected weakness in that area. In addition after Antonio gave away the penalty, Slav reacted rather heavy-handed by subbing him.
Byram (who played quite well when he was used), should have started the game at RB, allowing Antonio to begin the game at RW. This would have allowed Antonio to provide more support to Andy Carroll, who was isolated for much of the game.
I am sure that the senior/experienced players in the squad can see the stupidity on what Slav is doing with Antonio, In the process, the longer Antonio plays at RB, the greater the likelihood of him losing confidence. I turn, his play will be adversely affected, and before we know it, he will become the ‘scape-goat’ for all that goes wrong.
Shame on you Slav!
slav you cost us the match tonight bad team selection,antonio is not a right back everyones except you,byron not inured,payet fit,and turning your back on antonio,is being insulting if he asks for atransfer i would not blame him,your fault tonight dont blame players man up.
If anything good comes from it Antonio will never again be used as a right back, I saw a sign once either in South Africa or Australia and it said please dress for the body you have not the body you want, or something similar and football is like that, the reason we as a team hurt our opponents was because we drew them onto us and counter attacked at pace, with Andy Carroll in the team we cannot play that way and he should only start against certain opponents eg Arsenal, Liverpool and Bournemouth he tried hard tonight not faulting him for effort but he was completely isolated most of the night so even when he won his aerial duel mostly Chelsea were able to pick up the second ball and they punished us again and again if they had won 4 1 it would probably have been a fair result.
Agree with everything said.Antonio is not a right back.Why did Slav buy Byram and then insist on playing poor M.A. at right back where he has already been exposed badly away At NK Domzale and again tonight.Is Feghouli injured?.as he has been our stand out player in pre season.Sorry to say we also look lightweight up front.Surely a striker and right back need to be signed before the end of the month.
Back from the bridge **** performance but nearly got something out of it. Costa shouldn’t have been on to score, Kante should have gone and we made Terry and Cahill look ****ing world class by oofing the ****ing ball forward all the time. As for Antonio stick him back on the wing Slav Byram RB and don’t be scared to drop Nobes who was utterly ****ing useless tonight and we’ll be fine.
One thing you can bet you’re life on Slav !! You will get praise from us when credited and you will get battered when you are wrong !!!
I saw a side I didn’t like tonight ! Shame on you for the way you treated Antonio ! Shame on you , tonight was down to arrogance , not Antonio !! Only you !!! YOU made Chelsea look good with you’re tactics ??? A reality check needs addressing with a couple of players also,
They stood out tonight big time ?? Come out and hold you’re hands up ! You would get our backing , I never thought you would hide ?
West Ham forum nutcases are out in force tonight I see.I was at the game tonight & it was disappointing but I will tell you what the lads & lasses there were not moaning like some of you pussies.Some of you would make great pantomime dames.
And because you were there your point is more valid ?
Pantomime dames is actually not a million miles from what I witnessed tonight, albeit only from my synthetic sofa.
If you wasn’t gravely concerned by what you saw tonight, I suggest you give those claret and blue goggles a thorough cleaning.
Don’t worry Whitehp I nust be a pantomine dame as well.It’s okay for some who are fortunate enough to get to the game.At the moment I’m in Philippines waiting to go back to Australia.My.main source of WHU news is C&H.For that I am grateful.
From what I saw tonight, Tore looks like another Moses.
Expensive and useless loan. I pray that I am wrong, but he was far from impressive.
Yeah can’t say I saw much that impressed me about him. Not sure if feghouli has the required pace either. Our best winger is still Antonio by some way. Let’s hope Slav realises it. And the chairman buy better players not just freebies/cheap loan deals!
The required pace? He was voted the quickest player in La Liga last year!
I suggest you go and watch him play. He struggled to beat domazle players for pace! Antonio beats him for acceleration every day of the week! Quickest player in la liga?! Not Bale, Suarez, Ronaldo (ok he has got slow since being out there) or messi? This wasn’t a vote organised by Valencia for Valencia fans by any chance?
Well I read the same about him being the fast in that league.Guilleme Balague the Sky Spanish fella said his greatest weapon was his pace.But I guess he knows nothing compared to the Hammer fan experts.
I’ve had a rant last night. Now I’ve slept on it…
All I can say is… Even though we didn’t play well..
It could’ve been worse, and we were mugged off..
Costa shouldn’t have been on the pitch to even score their second… And even Kante was playing with fire.
Let’s get behind the boys! And hope for a better showing on Thursday and Sunday! And get two W’s!! Come on you irons!
FORTUNES ALWAYS HIDING! I’VE LOOKED EVERYWHERE! I’M FOREVER BLOWING BUBBLES! PRETTY BUBBLES IN THE AIR! UNITED UNITED UNITED!
Bilic, you got is so badly wrong last night I just don’t know where to start but I also think the players were way below par. Firstly I am not going back to the Antonio debate. I hope that is sorted after last night. Secondly Oxford has to come into the team asap. Need Cresswell back asap. Nordsvelt on last nights showing offers absolutely nothing. He has no strength, no pace, cannot tackle – just cannot see why we bought this player on last nights showing. Noble deserves respect. Kouyate was my man of the match. Enner I love you but you did not have a great second half my friend but again played out of position. But in the first half he was the best of our front 3. This is where our problem is. Carroll cannot play in a 4-3-3 system, I am not sure what the manger is seeing that we are not seeing. He has no pace for this system, in the first half he won a ball and there was a chance of a 1v1 but he just did not have the mobility. If you are playing Carroll it has to be in a 4-4-2 system. Next I come to Ayew, on last nights performance he probably was the worst player on the pitch, I cannot believe we went for him instead of Bacca. I personally said I was worried before we signed him and I am even more worried now. Overall I was not impressed with any of our new signings which does not go well for the season ahead.
You think Noble deserves respect?.I’m surprised how he is untouchable amongst some fans.To not beat about the bush I thought he was dog sh#t last night.
I think Masuaku had a good game..
Atleast that’s one signing that did well!
Ffs we are one game into the season & you have decided Nordtveit is sh1t,Tore is sh1t & Ayew is sh1t.Welll done lads,you will be competing with the Wet Pants experts soon,it only takes them one game to decide on a player usually.FFS