West Ham named an unchanged side for the third straight game after the Arsenal rearguard and the Leicester stroll. Playing at home, against a Newcastle side understandably with their eyes on Wembley on Sunday, West Ham failed to offer a goal threat going forward with, at times, seven in a low block, conceding space in the first half and at times defending on their own 18 yard line.
Apart from a surprisingly bright first few minutes when Soucek nearly scored, West Ham settled back into a defensive performance more akin to Moyes’ era. Too ready to collapse back into a line of seven across the back – the lack of ambition was clear. Just Bowen and Kudus up front looked isolated and detached from their own midfield who were busy being auxiliary defenders.
That became the theme of the half, West Ham dropping back into a line of seven, giving up space. Maybe without a decent attacking midfielder, this is West Ham’s planned first half strategy – just blunting their opponents.
In the second half this same strategy caught West Ham out, Soucek backing off and allowing Barnes too much space.: Guimarães nipped in and hit the ball in with his sole.
The limited ambition continued even after Paquetá came on along with Soler. No spark of creativity, Ferguson came on and had nothing to feed off.
West Ham were just huffing and puffing without a plan to actually create. Very frustrating to watch with the Hammers just hoofing it long from Areola expecting Kudus or Bowen to perform magic even though they are not target men.
Takeouts? Potter needs a midfield. The selection showed limited ambition, just two up front both isolated is the kind of set up you’d be happy to see go away to Arsenal- but setting up with seven behind the ball at home? Where was the number ten, linking the attacking duo with the midfield?
Areola made two brilliant stops – but- just hoofing it long when there is no target man makes no sense. Stop it!
A line of seven defending deep is not an aggressive formation. No creativity and no tactics to create chances.
Disappointing. Bad mood now. Newcastle were only average and West Ham failed to match them.
At least Michail Antonio looked good, being presented to the crowd before the game. On present performance levels, he’ll waltz back into this side.
This was a good opportunity to move up the table blown out the water by Potter. It was Moyes all over again with negative tactics . I lost count of balls played back to keeper. With no relegation fears it was a good opportunity to concentrate on an attacking line up. I can understand players can have a poor game, but not for the manager to keep them on the pitch for so long. Alvarez was such a player and should have come off at half time.
Back to the drawing board, poor performance, like watching a Moyes team. Newcastle were there for the taking and instead we rolled over, shambles.
The performance and result were disappointing – but at least under Potter we have stopped shipping goals – two seasons back (the year we won the Conference League) Newcastle put 5 past us at the London stadium
The important thing this season is to avoid relegation – we are almost there – and then we can hope for something better next season
Yes, I agree with a little of these comments.
I am bitterly disappointed with what I’m seeing. This was classic Moyes-ball, and I do think the negative mentality and lack of ambition, with or without the ball, is a legacy from the Moyes days. But Potter, far from beating that out of the players, is allowing them to sit back in the comfort of it.
And it worries me that Potter seemed to have watched a different performance than we all did. At least Moyes was brutally honest sometimes about poor performances.
I really don’t know what the fuss is about with Kilman. Like Mavrapanos, he’s a mistake waiting to happen, and very tentative on the ball. No authority. The two of them are like Keystone Cops. And don’t forget, one of Areola’s great saves was from a Kilman complete mis-kick.
I totally agree with your comment about Areola kicking long to two diminutive forwards. Stupid. And, please, please, someone appoint a throw-in coach. Just watch it back, if you can bear it or watch the next game and see that nearly every West Ham throw-in results in them losing the ball. Throw-ins are supposed to give you an advantage, not guarantee that you lose the ball.
We made a very average side look good. If Newcastle can be intense, there is no reason why West Ham can’t. On the couple of occasion when we pressed the goalkeeper and a pretty poor defence, they were rattled, so why not see that and press more. Pathetic.
Too much Moyes, too little to surprise the opposition (Newcastle or any other one). This was the 8th game directed by Potter and he has 10 points to show for it. Against these same 8 rivals Lopetegui collected 8 points. Improvements yes, but nothing earth shattering so far.
I am sure most of us agree with you Martin. I am rapidly losing patience with Potter, he talks better than the last idiot but then sends out a team with 5 defenders and three defensive midfield players. The team tonight has very few goals in it and would be favourites to go down next season.
The season is already over so why not be more adventurous and try things.
To be honest Martin any half decent midfielder would waltz into that team. So frustrating to see that negative formation with 7 at the back and a midfield who wouldn’t have a hope of being picked for any top 10 team. We had 2 shots on target in 96 minutes yet Potter has just said the players put in a committed performance and gave everything! Sorry but if that’s a committed performance then perhaps everyone else watched a different game. The thousands of empty seats said it all. Nowhere near good enough.
Well Potter feels the players were committed ….. I think as a fan that’s the least we expect isn’t it ?
He felt we were worth a draw ?
Did he see Areola’s 3 great saves ?
Pope didn’t have a save to make all night !
Since Potter’s been appointed we have had less shots per game than any team in the premier league ….
There’s a lot of work to do and I for one want to see him playing some youngsters between now and the end of the season and start playing a brand of football we all want to watch ….
No point in playing
Ings , Alvarez , Rodrigues , Soller ,Malvapronos as thry will all be leaving end of season
Give Casey and Orford some game time …..