Pathetic or just bad luck? Man City 3 - 0 West Ham United
Today’s game against the blues was nothing short of pathetic, Noble getting himself a red card left a struggling Hammers side in an even worse predicament.
The Hammers were very reminiscent of the second half of last season which proves that more players are needed. So what do we need? without doubt we have to get a creative midfielder who can at least get some balls into Ashton or Bellamy when fit, we definitely need a striker, somebody with a proven record that will compete for place with Bellamy and Ashton.
If we stay as we are now with the players we have i cant even see us reaching 10th place, it is still early days yet and we may beat Blackburn 3-0 next week.
I did not expect a win today, but i did expect to see a fairly good performance which i am sure would have made us all happy, but instead we played rubbish football, rubbish passing and we was very lucky to only suffer a 3-0 defeat.
Curbishley cannot be pleased with his tactics on this game and will probably blame the loss because we have players out injured, and then i dare say he will say he needs judging only when he has a fully fit squad.
This post was submitted by Jimmy MillerJ.
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August 24th, 2008 at 7:09 PM
On the second half performance of the Wigan game and todays joke, I don’t see any goals next week.
August 24th, 2008 at 7:19 PM
A complete joke! Just when you think they can’t get any worse, they do. ”Pathetic” is too soft a word to describe it. And I’m sure Curbishley will blame the injuries. But he started with 11 so called Premiership players on the pitch and they played as though they had just met one another for the first time. I’m sorry, but that’s not injuries. That’s poor training and poor tactics. And that’s down to - oh, I know who - THE MANAGER!
August 24th, 2008 at 7:40 PM
Dave i will publish your post in an hour.
My son went to the game today, he phoned me at work and said he is seriously thinking about stopping going to away games, and to be honest i wouldnt blame him, why should he waste his hard earned money to watch a game like that, he might aswell pay £15 and watch our local club Gillingham in 5 minutes and save himself around £180
August 24th, 2008 at 7:42 PM
Correct
We were pathetic against a very average City side missing some of their best players -Job, Dunne, VassellIts got to change - bring Bilic in now or it’s gonna be a tough & painful season for us.
August 24th, 2008 at 7:45 PM
Cant agree more with the above comments and surely Curbishley and the rest of the management team must see this. It was obvious last year and still nothing has been done. The midfielders don’t get into the box enough and don’t look like scoring. This was more evident today when we didn’t have a single attempt in 90 Minutes and is becoming a worrying trend. In hate to be negative so early on but I am really worried. Every tackle or fall you’re worried about injury’s and when you look around the team we are full of injury prone players and i cant see the situation improving, and to be honest that’s why a number of them are playing for us. Are Bellamy, Dyer, and Ashton play 20 games in a row together? It don’t look likely!We lack goals big time and when you’re not creating them then you will end up in a relegation battle. We have got know one who beats anyone and Ashton needs someone to create for him. Everyone else has improved around us and there have been a number of signings that would of done as a treat. Kocompany looked good today they looked like they pick-up him for similar money for what ferdinand will be sold for why aren’twe looking at these players. Fubert was better today but Etherington isn’t good enough, we are full of runners with know one to play them in. So come on the hammers add a bit of creativity, play a bit of entertaining football and lets challenge the top ten because if we don’t another very frustrating season lies ahead.
August 24th, 2008 at 8:06 PM
The game was a disgrace Joe. I can’t see a way forward with what I saw today. It was a gutless display,not even close to the way we like our club to play.
August 24th, 2008 at 8:18 PM
Hammers weren’t up to much today. Did you put together any moves at all?
August 24th, 2008 at 8:26 PM
@MCFC Your team was in for the kill from the kick off, i guess you had a lot to prove because of your defeat last week, i just hope we take it out on Blackburn next week like MCFC di with us.
@Dave a comment i read a few days ago said what is wrong with our team as did the author of this post. we have no creativity in midfield, and only Ashton with attacking and striking power in front, today Ashton was backfooting due to lack of passes to him, its becoming a fact now that if we do not score first, then we do not win.
August 24th, 2008 at 8:32 PM
We was all over the place Joe,couldn’t get going anywhere. I just want to see the old West ham we are use to. If we go into the game next week like today we are going to get wiped out. Just hope we can turn it round hastily.
August 24th, 2008 at 8:41 PM
Disgusting, disheartening and demotivating are what springs to mind. Either 3-4 players in the positions already mentioned are brought in in the next week or we are in serious trouble. Get it sorted AC, Nani and BG or get someone in who will.
August 24th, 2008 at 8:57 PM
There really is only one man that can make a real difference to the team we have (assuming nobody else comes in over the next week), and that is Bilic. A man of extreme intelligence and a love for our club. It would make a major difference, just look at the way a team of average players perform for him (Croatia).
As for today’s game, I am shocked at just how bad we were. Second game of the season and already the lack of belief is evident. I strongly believe that the defence has no confidence in Neill. The man is a complete liability. I thought the other 3 at the back weren’t TOO bad, but they had to constantly try and bail Neill out. I personally think that Upson/Davenport is a potentially decent pairing, and Behrami is a vast improvement on Neill or Panstsill at RB.
The treatment of Sears was apalling. How is the boy going to improve if he is treated this way. The only way we were going to get anything from this game was starting the second half with a 4-3-2, or 3-4-2 formation, with Etherington making way for Mullins or Bowyer (Matty had an absolute shocker). That would have left us with a midfield made up of players that could defend (supposedly) and rotate. But Curbishly has no tactical acumen.
I still cannot believe what I have just witnessed. Shame on you Mark Noble. Shame on you Alan Curbishley. Shame on you West Ham!
August 24th, 2008 at 9:10 PM
I notice all those who were only two weeks ago spouting crap like “give Curbs a chance with a full squad” and “we are gonna have a great season top 8 finish” seem to be decidedly quiet now……based on the last 1 1/2 games you can rest assured that this isnt going to get any better with the current management in place. Hopeless tacticless (is that a word?) not a clue small club minded doesnt have a clue (did I mention that already??) no hope of ever acheiving anything idiot of a manager. Oh and look another injury, all down to the what goes on at the training ground, that would be the manager wouldnt it!!! All these problems started when that bloke took over as manager….we’re heading for the championship if Curbs doesnt go soon…..Christmas will be too late!!
August 24th, 2008 at 9:18 PM
I agree with most, what was displayed today against an avg team was not good. I’m only seeing this on tv so i’m not able to get a better picture on developing plays, width and movement. As I mentioned in earlier posts I do not see a creative midfielder in the two games i’ve seen. I can only hope someones on the way by next weekend. Please tell AC to quit talking about pushing for a place in europe this season.
August 24th, 2008 at 11:03 PM
While I don’t agree or appreciate being called an average team, I will say that you lads are being to harsh on your club. However, being a City fan, we do it all the time.
I’m sorry to say it, but West Ham was never really in the game. Cole was the only real threat, and once he was off and you were down to 10 men, it was all but over. You did only concede three when it could have been more.
It’s not my place to comment about AC, but you guys do have a lot of talent on the team, certainly enough to stay up. I do think you need to bring in more players, and stay healthy, but you should not be relegated. It was only one bad game, EVERY team has them, relax, you could be Tottenham!
August 24th, 2008 at 11:45 PM
Blue moon, appreciate your comments but this is not just based on one game but the way we have been playing since the second half of last season. You fully deserved your win today and I wish you all the best for the rest of the season, you have a decent manager in Hughes, but we need at least 4 decent players in within the next 7 days or the commercial “caution” being shown by the board will not matter as they will be anxciously looking over their shoulder at The Championship. We were relegated with a much better team than this and that is what worries me. our Booard supposedly has a 5 year plan to get us in to the Champions League, we are just about half way through that and as far away as ever. The only truth there is in this league is that if you do not continually invest you will be left behind and that is what we are risking happening.By the way hope Micah is ok, very good player.
August 25th, 2008 at 12:37 AM
Guys chill out, it was just a bad game and yes we have had a run of about 20 bad games. Unfortunately we have been duped into believing we are moving towards top 6. That aint going to happen, quite simply the money is not going to be made avaialble this year. Prob payout to, Brown, Joorachabin, Llundberg, EM and Sheff utd was close to 40M which was the transfer kitty. We have accepted 8m for ferdinand and have circa 2m from Zamora giving us a total of 10m to spend this week. Quite simply this aint enough and sacking Curbs and paying him off wont resolve anything. I think we have to write the next 15 games off, wait till XMas when the harsh FINANCIAL realities of relegation hit BG and he spends his cash again (spend 30M now to save 50M next year), hopefully the credit crunch will of eased a bit by then. Every post I read says the same, too many average players, too many injury prone and dire need of creative midfielder and striker of quality. we have not been linked with either all summer so it is unlikely to happen now. With everyone saying the same I cant believe that the Board don’t agree therefore they have made a conscious effort not to resolve this. Why Nani was brought in can only be political and what deal did we actually do with joorachabin re new talent from S America???? I think we have to get behind what we have, make constructive criticism in a format where we are listened to and not before a game when it is clear most players have no confidence at all. rather than berate individuals why not organise a on-line petition asking the Board for clarification over1. What is the financial situation. 2 What was the final agreement with Sheffield UTD. 3 Confirmation and clarification of funds available and players we genuinely tried to sign Lets get some facts and clear understanding of what our expectations are based on, finances available and then perhaps we wont be expecting to see a top 6 performance and get upset when we see a bottom half one. If Curbs goes and to be honest I no longer care as any new manager, without funds is going to have little chance of changing anything with the squad we have. LBM is not suddenly going to be the best thing since sliced bread because Curbs goes and Cole has proved he is not a striker for 6 years now under at least 5 different managers so why will that change?
August 25th, 2008 at 1:23 AM
@AussiHammer I always find your comments interesting and informative.
Some facts about West Ham and its finance.
(1) West Ham United is now the 22nd richest Football/Soccer club in the world.
(2) The Value of West Ham United is now £195m which is a 25% increase and a £48.75m increase since last year.
(3) Curbs is slowly losing the right on decisions on what player stays or goes (Proof is Ferdinand)
August 25th, 2008 at 1:48 AM
Thanks for that, after following them for years both home and away we moved to Australia last November which obviously makes it harder to get to games. My thoughts are therefore restricted to what I read and Foxtel games every week which I know is never the same as being at the game. you dont get to see off the ball and players reactions etc.Not sure how our value has approciated and whether this relates to cold hard cash or even improved borrowing ability, on evidence clearly not. I do believe that Sheff have done a deal as has Brown, EG, Llungberg and joorachain all to no obvious benefit to WHu.Whilst not a lover of Curbs I am not a basher either, I suppose I am old fashioned and love the game, irrespective of tactics I just can not see why every player does not give 110% every game. Compared with us mortals they earn so much doing something one has to presume they love and maybe thats why they are so complacent. Too much money for some so young and these days no real pressure. You can obviously fail and then get rewarded, Lungberg case in point. Will a new manager make them tackle more run faster and think, probably not which is why I dont think the revolving door policy ever works long term. What is apparent is that young guys without Ferrari’s seem more honest about the workrate required and sometimes I prefer watching 11 with something to prove rather than 11 stars going through the motions. Are half the team bothered whether we win or lose, probably not. I can remember the year before last when we were struggling with relegation. I happened to be in a club at circa 3 in the morning. WHU had a game 2 days later and I bumped into Carlton Cole. Although sobber I wondered why he was there and how being upto 4 in the morning was going to help in his preparation, I asked him and at the time he said ” we are pretty much relegated already”. At that point I wondered if it was worth spending my money watching the last 7 games with that attitude from a “‘Professional”. We did stay up and he stayed collecting his 30K a week, perhaps however it may explain why he doesnt score and should go. I am happy he hasn’t because I believe he will disappear as the Sears and Bellamy stake their places and he will be discarded rather than move and get a 10% bonus signing on fee and improved terms. With his mentality are we really right to put all the blame at Curbs door?
August 25th, 2008 at 4:58 AM
Didn’t Curbs bring in the likes of Bellamy. I’m tired of hearing about the yes he saved us from relegation, and yes we were safe last season. What the point is, that I don’t want to see us go through what we have been through last season. As I said I am not a Curbs basher, but lets be honest, regardless of finances, today we were abbreviated into SOS…and I don’t mean help…I mean a shower of s..t!
August 25th, 2008 at 1:22 PM
From a technical point of view, if you look again our 2 central midfield players, Mullins and Parker were walking back to get ‘goal side’ of the MC players when they were on the edge of the box, this is totally unacceptable, as these 2 should be working tirelessly ‘box to box’ or as we seem to play with Mullins as ‘the holding player’ this meant that we were outnumbered in defence, which led to them having players in space. What also surprised me was that U[son was so badly out of psostion for some of their goals.This result was very poor and inexcusable, with 1 player down the best that would give them was 1 of their players pushing on from the back, but we appeared to be unable to pick up their players either in defence or midfield.With regards to the Ferdinand saga, I almost feel sorry for AC, he is obvioulsy beng sold ‘above his head’ which means that we will get a possible £4m replacement while they profit by the other £4m. What concerns me most and very few readers have picked up on this and I have said it repeatedly is that if Berbatov goes to MU, then Ashton could well go to Spurs for approx. £12-14m with Pinto coming in. This board are ‘looking at the pennies’ don’t expect too much, it’s going to be a frustrating season.
August 24th, 2008 at 11:08 PM
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