By Hugh Southon
Manuel Pellegrini is going to have to take almost total responsibility for a defeat which sees the Hammers plunge into the bottom half of the table for the first time in weeks.
After both Watford and Wolves were beaten this afternoon the chances looked good for the Hammers to rise into seventh place – we bottled it and now lie 11th.
Pellegrini is reputed to be an attacking coach but today saw his team create one shot on goal in 90 minutes after selecting a starting X1 which turned out to be what it looked – a mess.
Arnautovic – a lifeless figure
How he came to select Lucas Perez as a partner to the lifeless Marko Arnautovic is a mystery best forgotten but the mistake was admitted at the interval when he was taken off.
On came Chicharito – last week’s two goal hero unbelievably left out of the team this afternoon. It made absolutely no sense.
He was joined by Michail Antonio who spent the second 45 minutes running into positions where he didn’t appear to know what he was doing himself.
At the back we had Zaba and Cresswell playing nearer the halfway line which allowed Everton’s wide players to move into acres of space behind them.
And quite why Balbuena – now fully fit – spent 90 minutes on the bench with his replacement during injury Ogbonna being beaten with boring regularity is inconceivable.
The whole game plan was a nonsense and after going two down there was no way back for a team which made far too many meaningless passes and lost possession in seriously dangerous places.
Yes it was a shocking performance from the team with the notable exceptions Fabianski and Rice but the bottom line is that the Tinkerman boss got it all wildly wrong.
What beats me even more than the lack of Balbuena time is why we haven’t seen Xande Silva or Nathan Holland tried as part of the advance planning for next season. As for Cresswell, let’s see Ben Johnson – he ain’t gonna be any worse!
Based on Moyes last game against Everton and today’s shambles it is hard to claim that we have moved forward – teams are able to rip us apart at will – even AFC Wimbledon. We have no shape and it seems no consistent plan – Pelle does not seem to know what our best team is – it is good that we got enough points earlier in the season so barring a miraculous escape by Cardiff we are safe from relegation – because I cant see where our next point will come from
I give Pelle 2/10 for today’s performance
I think we do have a plan
It’s to not pass forwards, for the attacking players to just stand there
Well just have to agree with what’s been said it was a embarrassing performance what is Pelle up to hard to understand the roller coaster continues
Well the manager well and truly lost the plot today.Cannot wait to hear how on earth he justified that team selection.Its not hindsight either as any Hammers fan will surely think the same.Why is Balbuena still not getting a game?.We all know that supporting West Ham is a giant roller coaster ride every season with great performances against the big boys and then something that resembles a Sunday league team but it now looks like Pellegrini has caught the bug.Huge changes in the Summer me thinks and half that lot today should see this as their final game in claret and blue.Fabianski and Rice are our standout players as they have been all season.The Arnoutovic saga has certainly upset the applecart too.Surprised if he remains next season.
What was that what a shocking performance try showing up . We are not good enough to a man we were poor . No closing down , no defence , midfield and defence not joined up that is not an acceptable performance . Will never get 7 th playing like that you all looked like you were on holiday , sort it !
I don’t want to say I told you so but…………… Now when MR TOXIC is involved it seems the rest of the team down tools. Pelegrinis biggest mistake is not selling him in January, his value now is probably 2 bob but his attitude since January will cost us a few mill in league position.
Well said.My sentiment exactly.Once a player has done what he did in January there is no coming back and we should have got rid as we did with Payet.
Win, LOSE or draw, I repeat: Pellegrini is not a good fit for a club like West Ham.
It doesn’t matter which team he selects, the on-field attitidude is always the same and if the opposition happens to be comotose, we might stumble upon a win.
I cannot imagine any other coach tolerating such attitudes which means he does not convey the right attitude in the first place.
WHERE was Pellegrini before West Ham!!
How many goals have we conceded in the first 5 minutes?
How many goals have we conceded straight from a corner?
Who is responsbile?
That’s bang on 4ff
Why Pelligrini didn’t start Antonio & Hernandez and chose to play Who he did is a mystery only he can answer , but one thing is for sure , he blew any chance we had of getting into Europe . Anautovic should never play for West Ham again and the look on Nobel’s face said it all . When Watford or Wolves lose we never take advantage . We literally don’t deserve to be in the top half of the table yet alone 7th . We were shambolic and totally detatched and disappointing . Pelligrini has to take some responsibility for that performance , not just the team . It seems selecting Anautovic has a completely negative effect on the team in general. We only started to show signs of life when Antonio came on . But it was already too late .
And Noble we really should of had mid 3
Noble Rice Lanzini
Snodgrass Chicharito Antonio
What’s I would of done we got ran over in mid & Obiang has wanted a move & hasn’t been great when he played. Noble had weeks off & usually shows up for these type games.
Was horrible. Been even worse if it wasn’t for Fabianski who made 7 saves
Noble didn’t play because he’d had a family bereavement.
P45 for MP he’s been found out as for today what a load of crap were safe that sums us up as for renewing not what I’ve seen this season absolutely gross West Ham should be done under the saying of entertainment
I’ve been slowly going of m.p for a while now and today has made it s o much more , wtf is he doing ,we have started slowly all season yet we do not learn from our mistakes after last week against Huddersfield you would think it may be different but no it was worse, these things are down to the manager and then he starts Perez who imo isn’t good enough for the championship let alone prem and obiang who wants to go home..
I mean what is he doing.. I really don’t want to hear ,well let’s forget this one and move on , because we have been saying that for the last half season.
All the money spent and we have gone backwards not forwArd
We had 1 shot on target at home against a team who has been struggling for confidence apart from there Chelsea win ..
I’ve never seen a West ham team pass backwards so much
Absolutely awful performance AGAIN and another major fu??? Up from our manager AGAIN …not sure where we go from here, the team just do not learn from there mistakes and neither does our manager…RUBBISH
I think everyone was surprised to see Perez. I thought MP didn’t even think he was a footballer.
And no Noble we need a mid 3 bc we got run over & Obiang when has player hasn’t been great but Noble shows up for these games & had weeks off.
I’d of had Snodgrass Chic & Antonio up front Lanzini Rice Noble mid bc Snod will work & put in a set piece Antonio would cause Coleman trouble & for all the talk of Chicharito isn’t a lone CF he has been the best if the lot playing alone or with partner he just dies better if he has a #10 to pkay off like with Mexico Vela.
Another bad day at the office say Creswell. Well i`ve been a football coach for 21 years and it`s not rocket sience to defend corners. 0-1 after 5 minutes and uphill for the team.
Not the best start to a premier leauge game. Why are not the team up for it at the start of the game, not the first time this season. The manager have the team every day to work with. My cuestion is what is the problem, why can they don`t sort this out?
00ach for 21 years a at youth level and it is not rocket sience to defend corners, you just have to make