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Interesting read , I follow this guys blog SJ Chandos
What on earth were we doing starting with a 4-4-2 formation against
City? City set up with a fluid 4-5-1 and that extra man in midfield was
our undoing in the decisive first 20 minutes. We should have gone
4-5-1 as well and sought to win the key midfield battle. It cost us the
match, a consequence of the latest of a series of dubious tactical
decisions. Yet, we then rejigged it and for the remaining 70 minutes
gave City a real contest. It was disappointing to see West Ham play so
well at both Stamford Bridge and the City of Manchester Stadium and
emerge with nothing. We could have possibly taken a point from both
matches. But it is no good crying over spilt milk, we have to refocus
on the final tree matches, play for all nine points and hope that we can
grab 17th place.
They say that luck evens itself out eventually, perhaps we will get
the lucky breaks to balance up the extreme misfortunate of
being relegated in 2002-03 with a record 42 points. Some supporters
have said that, in truth, we deserve relegation after under-performing
so badly all season. It is hard to argue against that objectively. We
have had the winnable games, we have had the opportunities to get out of
trouble, but have consistently failed to take them. Yes all too true,
but supporting a football club is not an objective experience, it is
deeply partisan by its very nature. And I am deeply fearful of the
consequences for our beloved club, unless the co-owners commit
themselves to financing a concerted, one year, promtion campaign and, in
the process, retain some of the quality in the current squad to
facilitate that outcome.
Who knows, it could prove to be the making of players such as Sears,
Montano, Brown, Spence and Fry. But I really could not stand to see the
likes of Tomkins and Collison cherry picked by Spurs and Chelski, much
like Cole, Johnson, Carrick and Defoe were when we were relegated last
time. If relegation does happen then the club must retain these
youngsters, because they are the club’s future and the integral to our
redemption. Of the established players, we should try to convince
Parker, Noble, Jacobsen, Ba and Cole to stay with us for at least a
year. It may be ‘mission impossible’ to convince Parker to play in the
Championship, but we can at least try. If he is adamant that he wants
to go, then we must reward his loyalty and commitment to the cause by
granting the move. But we should seek to get an auction going between
Spurs, Arsenal and Man City and achieve the best price/deal possible.
Who knows, it may be possible to pick up some good part-exchange or loan
deals as part of the package?
Then there is the need to bring in the players who are experienced
and successful at Championship level. Players like Long at Reading and
Pratley at Swansea (if their clubs are not promoted this season?)
could help us gain promotion; along with one or two more experienced
heads who will give us the necessary ‘know how’ and ‘steel’ to get us
out of the Championship. In my last blog post, I outlined a four prong
strategy that we should pursue to get us promoted in one
season. Inevitably, that would extend to the management and coaching
staff. We need a manager that can not only get us out of the
Championship, but also take us forward on a return to the PL. Paul
Lambert has been mentioned and he does appear to fit the bill. Lambert
has shown that he can get teams promoted, but it is often forgotten that
he previously did very well managing in German football, and the CL,
with Stuttgart. So, he has the future potential as well as the current
substance. Whether we could recruit him from Norwich City is another
matter? Perhaps he would be the right choice even if we manage to stay
in the PL? I cannot see Avram Grant remaining in the manager’s post,
next season, whatever our fate!
Yet, I digress, we still have a chance of saving ourselves. But can
Avram Grant and this fustrating squad muster the ‘where with all’ to
deliver three consecutive victories? That is the key question. It is a
challenging task, but not impossible given the opposition. Two wins
and a draw (7 points) might be enough, but three wins (9 points)
should definitely save us. I very much doubt that Wolves, Wigan and
Blackpool will pick up enough points to match 41 points, although that
supposes their forthcoming opponents, such as Man Utd and Spurs, will
give 100% if the outstanding issues of the PL title and the 4th place
finish have been resolved? And then you have the goal difference
issue. It would typical of West Ham’s luck to be relegated by the odd
goal or two!
The Blackburn match is now absolutely massive. If we lose next
weekend then the game is almost certainly up. There is no room for
error. We must start this game with passion and a high tempo
performance, factors that have been sadly missing for most of this
season. Personally, I would start with a 4-4-2 formation against
Blackburn, with Rob Green, Lars Jacobsen, Wayne Bridge, Manuel Da Costa
and James Tomkins in defence; a midfield of Freddie Sears, Thomas
Hitzlsperger, Scott Parker (who will hopefully be fit) and Luis Boa
Morte; and a strike force of Demba Ba and Robbie Keane. I feel that
we need pace, mobility and guile, up front, against Blackburn’s
lumbering defence and Ba and Keane are probably best equipped to provide
that. Depending on how the match unfolds, it is possible that either
Victor Obinna or Charlton Cole could figure from the bench. I would
also like to see Pablo Barrera reinstated to the substitutes bench
and potentially used later in the match to run at the centre of the
opposition’s defence. As I have stated previously, I feel that Barrera
could still prove to be a asset, not stuck out wide on either flank, but
in more central attacking positions.
I know that many supporters feel that PL survival is now too big a
mountain to climb. Given the apparent tactical and motivational
shortcomings of the management, and the the
infuriating under-performance of the squad, I can well understand those
misgivings. I am afraid that all we can do now is support the team 110%
and hope that we can belatedly scramble out of the relegation zone. It
will certainly be gut wrenching and will probably go to the final day
of the season.
What on earth were we doing starting with a 4-4-2 formation against
City? City set up with a fluid 4-5-1 and that extra man in midfield was
our undoing in the decisive first 20 minutes. We should have gone
4-5-1 as well and sought to win the key midfield battle. It cost us the
match, a consequence of the latest of a series of dubious tactical
decisions. Yet, we then rejigged it and for the remaining 70 minutes
gave City a real contest. It was disappointing to see West Ham play so
well at both Stamford Bridge and the City of Manchester Stadium and
emerge with nothing. We could have possibly taken a point from both
matches. But it is no good crying over spilt milk, we have to refocus
on the final tree matches, play for all nine points and hope that we can
grab 17th place.
They say that luck evens itself out eventually, perhaps we will get
the lucky breaks to balance up the extreme misfortunate of
being relegated in 2002-03 with a record 42 points. Some supporters
have said that, in truth, we deserve relegation after under-performing
so badly all season. It is hard to argue against that objectively. We
have had the winnable games, we have had the opportunities to get out of
trouble, but have consistently failed to take them. Yes all too true,
but supporting a football club is not an objective experience, it is
deeply partisan by its very nature. And I am deeply fearful of the
consequences for our beloved club, unless the co-owners commit
themselves to financing a concerted, one year, promtion campaign and, in
the process, retain some of the quality in the current squad to
facilitate that outcome.
Who knows, it could prove to be the making of players such as Sears,
Montano, Brown, Spence and Fry. But I really could not stand to see the
likes of Tomkins and Collison cherry picked by Spurs and Chelski, much
like Cole, Johnson, Carrick and Defoe were when we were relegated last
time. If relegation does happen then the club must retain these
youngsters, because they are the club’s future and the integral to our
redemption. Of the established players, we should try to convince
Parker, Noble, Jacobsen, Ba and Cole to stay with us for at least a
year. It may be ‘mission impossible’ to convince Parker to play in the
Championship, but we can at least try. If he is adamant that he wants
to go, then we must reward his loyalty and commitment to the cause by
granting the move. But we should seek to get an auction going between
Spurs, Arsenal and Man City and achieve the best price/deal possible.
Who knows, it may be possible to pick up some good part-exchange or loan
deals as part of the package?
Then there is the need to bring in the players who are experienced
and successful at Championship level. Players like Long at Reading and
Pratley at Swansea (if their clubs are not promoted this season?)
could help us gain promotion; along with one or two more experienced
heads who will give us the necessary ‘know how’ and ‘steel’ to get us
out of the Championship. In my last blog post, I outlined a four prong
strategy that we should pursue to get us promoted in one
season. Inevitably, that would extend to the management and coaching
staff. We need a manager that can not only get us out of the
Championship, but also take us forward on a return to the PL. Paul
Lambert has been mentioned and he does appear to fit the bill. Lambert
has shown that he can get teams promoted, but it is often forgotten that
he previously did very well managing in German football, and the CL,
with Stuttgart. So, he has the future potential as well as the current
substance. Whether we could recruit him from Norwich City is another
matter? Perhaps he would be the right choice even if we manage to stay
in the PL? I cannot see Avram Grant remaining in the manager’s post,
next season, whatever our fate!
Yet, I digress, we still have a chance of saving ourselves. But can
Avram Grant and this fustrating squad muster the ‘where with all’ to
deliver three consecutive victories? That is the key question. It is a
challenging task, but not impossible given the opposition. Two wins
and a draw (7 points) might be enough, but three wins (9 points)
should definitely save us. I very much doubt that Wolves, Wigan and
Blackpool will pick up enough points to match 41 points, although that
supposes their forthcoming opponents, such as Man Utd and Spurs, will
give 100% if the outstanding issues of the PL title and the 4th place
finish have been resolved? And then you have the goal difference
issue. It would typical of West Ham’s luck to be relegated by the odd
goal or two!
The Blackburn match is now absolutely massive. If we lose next
weekend then the game is almost certainly up. There is no room for
error. We must start this game with passion and a high tempo
performance, factors that have been sadly missing for most of this
season. Personally, I would start with a 4-4-2 formation against
Blackburn, with Rob Green, Lars Jacobsen, Wayne Bridge, Manuel Da Costa
and James Tomkins in defence; a midfield of Freddie Sears, Thomas
Hitzlsperger, Scott Parker (who will hopefully be fit) and Luis Boa
Morte; and a strike force of Demba Ba and Robbie Keane. I feel that
we need pace, mobility and guile, up front, against Blackburn’s
lumbering defence and Ba and Keane are probably best equipped to provide
that. Depending on how the match unfolds, it is possible that either
Victor Obinna or Charlton Cole could figure from the bench. I would
also like to see Pablo Barrera reinstated to the substitutes bench
and potentially used later in the match to run at the centre of the
opposition’s defence. As I have stated previously, I feel that Barrera
could still prove to be a asset, not stuck out wide on either flank, but
in more central attacking positions.
I know that many supporters feel that PL survival is now too big a
mountain to climb. Given the apparent tactical and motivational
shortcomings of the management, and the the
infuriating under-performance of the squad, I can well understand those
misgivings. I am afraid that all we can do now is support the team 110%
and hope that we can belatedly scramble out of the relegation zone. It
will certainly be gut wrenching and will probably go to the final day
of the season.
) should be a grin
