Despite only being 1-2, thought this was one of our poorest performances of the season.
The simple comparison, again, is that every time opponents around our box, you fear the worst, every time we're around opponents box, you know if we do actually manage to get a shot off, will probably be off target.
From back to front, Meslier is keeping the score respectable, but defence in front of him is simply not effective right now and to me that is a combination of coaching and personel.
Bold changes at half time, but made little difference Alioski and Harrison just weren't effective and Shackleton and Costa offered little more, and really felt we needed a bit more from Rodrigo and Raphinia.
Love Bamford's work rate, but with poor service and a reversion to not making most of chances we're looking toothless up top and without alternatives.....did Roberts even touch the ball once he came on?
Is this the end for Pablo, on the bench but looking like he's a bit out of favour, I might have chosen to replace Bamford with Hernandez and pushed Rodrigo up top.
The second half in particular was worrying, looked completely lacklustre. Without Harrison it feels like there is no outlet for that diagonal ball out of midfield, we just really did not look ourselves, passing wasn't the same, pressing wasn't the same and an aimless Dallas lob into box near the end was indicative of a team bereft of ideas.
Re the penalty, I actually felt it was a bit of a dive from Bamford, but it was a penalty. The retaking of penalty because keeper comes slightly off line is a stupid rule and we were extremely lucky to get that goal as Klich's soft penalty was awful.
At this point 64% possession is counting for nothing if there is no real end product. How does the coaching team turn around the defensive frailties and start getting more effective chances on target.
Thoughts from tonight
posted on 11/12/20
West Ham could easily have had 2 or 3 more if it wasn’t for Meslier. We have real frailty at the back without Koch and Llorente. We were exposed on the left all night long and it’s hard to know how to address this with the players we have.
Would Pablo have made a difference? He certainly would have added more than Roberts, but our lack of imagination against sizable Hammers back line was very disappointing, summed up by Rodrigo’s miss at the end.
Overall, a worrying performance in many ways, with too many players below par, or simply not good enough.
posted on 11/12/20
We would never go for Smalling. He is a good defender but Bielsa clearly doesn’t want the big strong defensive type
He wants a ball playing central defender who can start the move and fit seamlessly into his attacking team
Llorente will be similar to Stones in style if we can ever get him fit
posted on 11/12/20
comment by steross17 (U6898)
posted 1 minute ago
Completely agree Jonty.
Worst performance of the season, lucky it was only 2-1.
We are in dire need of a central defender with some presence, even Andy Carroll must be salivating for Wednesday...if he’s fit. Where was the midfield? Acres of space for them to run into. I’m not seeing any noticeable improvement from our new signings. Koch not as good as Ben White, Rodrigo so far no better than Roberts and Rapha probably as effective as Costa. I mentioned getting John Stones in before, but we might be better going for Chris Smalling. Lots to play for this month, very disappointing not to get anything from a game I thought we’d win.
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There was no midfield. KP just in front of back 4 then Klich, Rodrigo, Raphinia Harrison all wandering around forward and poor old Bamford having to come deep trying to get a kick. We were all over the shop tonight. A well organised team (note not a good team) handled us quite comfortably. Meslier kept the score down and Fabianski had some welcome catching practice.
I hope (please!) that we perform more like ourselves against the Geordies. Lose that one and I am really starting to worry we are doing a Norwich of last season
posted on 11/12/20
I’m not too worried about Raphinia, I think he will grow into a great player. I do feel Rodrigo has a lot to prove due to his price tag.
I was pretty happy after Villa match but this is an entirely different team and the same problems of lack of effectiveness up top and easy to attack us if you have right plan are still there.
For me the worry is 2 really flat secondl halves. There is a tangible drop off going on. I dint believe the players who did so amazingly v Liverpool abd Villa suddenly became so impotent and that’s what Bielsa and team have to solve and I’m not sure Jan window is the solution.
But tiday we did not look
posted on 11/12/20
"Koch not as good as Ben White," Not true. He's been very good for us so far.
"Rodrigo so far no better than Roberts" Are you kidding me? Roberts so far has not shown anything to suggest he's able to take the step up
posted on 11/12/20
I agree with Loidis on both points. Once Kock found his feet, he's been solid. Rodrigo is way more effective and adventurous than Roberts. I really don't know how Roberts gets a place on the bench - for me he should be on the transfer list.
posted on 12/12/20
Jobty makes a telling point about Pablo. One wonders if Birlsa is so unforgiving that it can cost the team in the long run
posted on 12/12/20
The game was crying out for the quality and inventiveness of Pablo but we bring on Roberts. With him on Klich could maybe have dropped back into midfield and stopped WH cutting through us as easily.
As it was we just swapped the bodies around in the same failing system.
posted on 12/12/20
“Meslier is keeping the score respectable”.
👍 I’ve got to say, he’s surprised me with his abilities. Very pleasantly surprised and pleased for the lad. He is one of the main positives for us so far this season.
posted on 12/12/20
I really don’t understand the comments about how we look frail at the back without Koch and lorrente. We look frail at the back whoever we play and lorrente has played once.