gdp's Comments

West Ham Till I Die : Match Thread: West Ham v Middlesbrough

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 19:30:12 +0000

It's more of a narrow, pinched, 5-3-2 isn't it? Two strikers is good but no width and no creativity in midfield is bad. BFS has now become obsessed with playing a defender in midfield. In the first part of the season he was doing it away from home but now he's doing it every week. Tomkins is in midfield to make up for the deficiencies of Nolan.

West Ham Till I Die : Vote: Player Performances v Leeds United

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 22:27:41 +0000

I agree with your last sentence 100% I fear it is too late to completely change the way the team plays though.

West Ham Till I Die : Vote: Player Performances v Leeds United

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 19:33:02 +0000

5 for O'Neil is generous bordering on crazy. He's absolutely hopeless. His hopeless hoof into the stands when we had that break late on made me want to weep.

West Ham Till I Die : Vote: Player Performances v Leeds United

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 19:29:52 +0000

Oh, and you might be right about Roberts, but if he had been our only January signing imagine the howls of protest from the fans.

West Ham Till I Die : Vote: Player Performances v Leeds United

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 19:28:01 +0000

I don't think we actually disagree with each other. The real problem is a lack of a clear plan as to what tactics to use rather than a lack of investment in players. My point is that we can't complain that other teams are outspending us in the league because they are not. It may well be that they are spending better, but that is because they have a clearer idea of what they are trying to do. You're right about Maynard. I happen to think he is a good player but he's being made to look like a bad one by the way we are using him. Good managers make average players look like world beaters. BFS seems intent on doing the opposite. I think Vaz Te should play on the wing and Maynard should play up front with Cole. As much as possible the same players should play every week, in the same positions. It's not rocket science.

West Ham Till I Die : Vote: Player Performances v Leeds United

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 18:15:31 +0000

Well, Southampton signed Billy Sharp in January who is a decent player but with no better a record than Maynard. Other than that they captured Tadanari Lee from Sanfrecce Hiroshima (a deal we are all jealous of, obviously) and Yago Falque (who?) on loan. None of those players played for them today. Reading signed Karl Sheppard, Thomas Cywka and Mathew Connolly (all on loan) and Jason Roberts (the kind of mid 30s striker we've been complaining about West Ham signing for years). Of these only Roberts played today. I'm pretty sure we spent more than any of them in the January window. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/16377058

West Ham Till I Die : Vote: Player Performances v Leeds United

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 17:55:09 +0000

I'm not sure I agree with this. Maynard, Morrison and Vaz Te were quality additions by the standard of this league. Maynard and Vaz Te were tearing teams up with their previous teams but have been blunted by Allardyce's tactics. Morrison hasn't had a chance. I think the board have given BFS a squad to win this league but he's not delivering.

West Ham Till I Die : Match Thread: Leeds United v West Ham

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 15:55:55 +0000

They were a bit more boring but a hell of a lot more succesful.

West Ham Till I Die : Match Thread: Leeds United v West Ham

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 14:55:07 +0000

You've nailed it. He's constantly tinkering with team selection and formations to try to show how clever he is. The players often look bewildered by it all and I think they fall back on the long ball stuff because it's simple. We've got better players and a deeper squad than anyone in this league and yet still we are scratching around and looking over our shoulders. Players like Baldock have had their confidence wrecked by being in and out of the side. Nolan and Collison seem to play however bad they've been the week before.

West Ham Till I Die : Twelve Things We Learned From the Doncaster Game

Sun, 11 Mar 2012 20:07:04 +0000

That won't be far wrong. Teams look good against us because we let them.

West Ham Till I Die : Twelve Things We Learned From the Doncaster Game

Sun, 11 Mar 2012 15:00:01 +0000

Let's see what happens when they play Reading in mid-week.

West Ham Till I Die : Twelve Things We Learned From the Doncaster Game

Sun, 11 Mar 2012 14:57:53 +0000

Hall's injured.

West Ham Till I Die : Match Thread: West Ham v Doncaster Rovers

Sat, 10 Mar 2012 14:38:43 +0000

I reckon Lansbury will be covering at right back. That makes it quite an attacking line up. Plenty of attacking options on the bench as well. Would love to see Morrison.

West Ham Till I Die : Match Thread: West Ham v Watford

Wed, 7 Mar 2012 19:18:08 +0000

That's pretty much exactly the team I would have gone for (may have preferred Vaz Te to Faubert on the right). Usually when the manager picks the team you've been arguing for it leads to an ignominious defeat and proves he was right all along. Hope it's not like that tonight.

West Ham Till I Die : Ten Things We Learned From Today

Mon, 5 Mar 2012 15:20:39 +0000

I agree with this. I didn't like him playing in midfield but I hoped it would improve his composure on the ball and his passing (which have been the weaker aspects of his game as a centre half). Even after just three games you could see how much more confident he is coming forward with the ball.

West Ham Till I Die : Ten Things We Learned From Today

Mon, 5 Mar 2012 15:18:46 +0000

I think Vaz Te's problem was that he didn't really know what he was supposed to be doing. Was he the second striker? Attacking wide man? All round midfielder? He didn't seem to know and often looked a bit lost. It looks like his best position would be as a wide player in a 4-4-2, given plenty of licence to run at full backs and cut in and shoot but that's not how BFS sets up the team.

West Ham Till I Die : Vote: Player Performances v Cardiff City

Sun, 4 Mar 2012 15:52:50 +0000

Nolan's best game for us. Noble was excellent again, as were Faye and Tomkins. I thought McCartney played well as well. Collison and Lansbury were anonymous, Vaz Te didn't seem to know what role he was expected to fulfil and just looked lost most of the time. To be fair, he worked hard. I thought Maynard had a decent game although he will be criticised for missing chances. He looked lively and quick throughout, and was constantly putting their defence under pressure, especially in the second half. His pass to create Nolan's goal was first class. I thought it was a shame he was taken off shortly after he missed a chance but just as their defenders started to tire. I would have liked to see Vaz Te come off and Maynard play with Cole.

West Ham Till I Die : Match Thread: Cardiff City v West Ham

Sun, 4 Mar 2012 14:31:33 +0000

I never thought I would say these words - our best two players are Nolan and McCartney!

West Ham Till I Die : Match Thread: Cardiff City v West Ham

Sun, 4 Mar 2012 13:31:10 +0000

Amazing what happens when you play some football - great pass from Maynard, quality finish by Nolan (who's having a decent game).

West Ham Till I Die : Match Thread: Cardiff City v West Ham

Sun, 4 Mar 2012 13:30:02 +0000

I think he's not really sure what he's supposed to be doing. Is a winger, is he a forward, is he a midfielder?