22 Jul 2020 20:00:10
well I keep getting told its all about league position, and that's us 3rd .

1.) 22 Jul 2020
22 Jul 2020 20:09:44
Yes but that was the best opportunity to get a foothold in top 4 going into the last game. We have left it in the hands of the other teams now to see how much they want it. Hopefully they are less bothered than we are about it.

2.) 22 Jul 2020
22 Jul 2020 20:11:11
And we only need a draw in the last game. Pole position.

3.) 22 Jul 2020
22 Jul 2020 20:14:28
Indeed it is, whether we finish there is another question. The last 4 or 5 games don't fill me confidence. Hopefully, we find some performance level on Sunday.

4.) 22 Jul 2020
22 Jul 2020 20:14:32
Jred I take it you watched the game. Have you got an honest opinion on our last 2 games we played.

5.) 22 Jul 2020
22 Jul 2020 20:15:33
It is, but that was dire.

6.) 22 Jul 2020
22 Jul 2020 20:15:40
Exactly jred. Can't lie I was annoyed and shouting at the TV, wife, kids, dogs and everything else through that match but I would have bitten your hand off to be in this position 4 months ago!

It is clear and obvious we need reinforcing at the back especially left back. Williams is young and has potential but no end product as yet. Centre half needed. Maguire redeemed himself tonight and I do believe he has the potential to be a utd and England great.
Midfield we had no width and opposition know this so swamp the middle knowing we will play it wide were it will either be lost or played back. So a winger definitely needed. Up front we have a deadly strike force which have really only had a few games to gel. Greenwood is better than most out there and will only get better!
I said it before on here about Declan Rice he was everywhere tonight and hot the shot that pogba tried to catch! I still think he would be a great centre half for us!
Leicester now on Sunday to secure CL football will be a nightmare 90 mons!
GGMU!

7.) 22 Jul 2020
22 Jul 2020 20:22:09
Jred - I think we should all feel absolutely livid by that performance!

What I saw tonight was a complete lack of intensity and desire. There was no appetite to press the ball and put West Ham under pressure and that kind of apathy is the reason we've been languishing outside the top 4 for most of the season.

Pogba is completely wasted playing so deep. He strolled around the park tonight like it was a testimonial. From a defensive perspective he doesn't sense danger or track runners and he can be laboured and ponderous in possession. He needs to move forward and play alongside Fernandes where he can influence the game in the right areas rather than dwelling on the ball and losing possession in his own half.

I think we've been found out already and Ole has not reacted. If you press us high we struggle to get Fernandes into the game and if you defend narrow and let our full backs have the ball they invariably give it away.

Ole must change to a 4-3-3, he must demand that his players do more and work harder when they don't have possession of the ball.

The key to success in modern football is pressing. Working hard to recover possession, you must demonstrate a hunger and desire to hunt the ball and put the other team under pressure.

I accept fatigue may play a part and things have improved lately but we still don't hunt the football like our lives depend on it. If we want to compete with Liverpool and City we've got to be near perfect and play with that hunger every game.

I think we can applaud Ole for the recent good run but we mustn't accept mediocrity and we can't let history repeat itself. Excuses of fatigue don't sit right with me. We've got virtually a fully fit squad and I don't think we've been good enough without the ball in a lot of games despite the good run.

As we improve we must demand more and what I saw tonight worried me.

8.) 22 Jul 2020
22 Jul 2020 20:23:51
Leahy
Chelsea was poor awful performance, today we looked a bit flat never really got out of 3rd gear .
Teams are playing a lot of games and there has been a few performances like that last few week .
Plus there is a lot on the line at the moment that time of the season.
A game like that shows imo why grealish would be a good signing, creates space for others, can beat a man and makes yards everytime he gets the ball .
Same for sancho add him to a front 3 of rash martial and greenwood.

9.) 22 Jul 2020
22 Jul 2020 20:27:06
Leonard agree on williams, looks a good prospect but a work in progress will improve when he fills out a bit . Gets a lot of stick on here but I think we have missed shaw .
Maguire played well tonight, was due a good game, had a good season imo but hasn't been great since the restart .
I like rice as well going to be a very good player.

10.) 22 Jul 2020
22 Jul 2020 20:32:56
I would rather have some momentum going into the last game of the season. Performances have dropped off since the Southampton game, maybe it is fatigue after 10 games in 30 days, but we have to go to Leicester and avoid defeat, it will be squeaky bum time come the weekend.

11.) 22 Jul 2020
22 Jul 2020 20:35:17
Dlib
We give away an awful goal pogba should be embarrassed.
Teams are sitting on bruno and pogba and allowing matic to have it . Playing well matic but he slows it down a lot.
They are filling the areas in front of the back 4 and keeping the back 4 really narrow . Not allowing the front 3 space a conceding area to our full backs . I think we have really missed shaw he counters that better than our other full backs .

I think fatigue and the time of the season with the pressure on is a factor as well.

12.) 22 Jul 2020
22 Jul 2020 20:36:35
It will fine secure top 4 on Sunday then a bit of a break before we win the EL.
Its very obvious over the last 4 games we have tightened up. Very nervy and been less aggressive and attacking. Its a cautious approach maybe some of it sub conscious but slow and steady won't win races but it might get us 4th. We have been a cup team for the last 4 years now we need to not lose a final. We do even have to win it.

13.) 22 Jul 2020
22 Jul 2020 20:41:04
Can someone explain where the manager plays pogba. Deeper than matic some tactics from the manager there.

14.) 22 Jul 2020
22 Jul 2020 20:41:12
I think Grealish would have come on for Pogba this evening. Probably even started ahead of him. Either way, squad depth will define next season I think, and that’s what I have the least confidence in - not the manager or current starting XI.

Sunday is going to be nuts.

15.) 22 Jul 2020
22 Jul 2020 20:44:20
DLIB I agree with you. Teams have worked us out. Cram midfield and defence and sit deep and we are too slow and no width. Then they hit us on the counter.

Pogba will never be a Pirlo player who or even a Carrick. He is just not a defensive minded player. It's another case of round pegs in square holes if he is played too far back. We need a kante type player to sit in front of the back four and Pogba has to be played forward where he can do real damage to the opposition.

We desperately need width bit I feel that with the right coaching AWB and Williams can get a lot better but we will still need a genuine wide player who can play off either wing to stretch teams.

16.) 22 Jul 2020
22 Jul 2020 20:45:49
Big game on Sunday.
Game of the season.

17.) 22 Jul 2020
22 Jul 2020 20:47:28
Is that the issue though Ken, going into the game with the mentaility we only have to draw usually creates nerves and increases mistakes.

Leicester go into the game knowing they need to win, will we end up sitting back the whole game letting them attack?

18.) 22 Jul 2020
22 Jul 2020 20:48:39
Grim if we complain when we don't win every game then we are barking up the wrong tree.
West Ham are not in the correct league position, they are a better side than that and were playing to secure PL football next year so do not detract from who we were playing.

West ham beat Chelsea which in turn gave us the opportunity to be third in the league going into the last game!
Who, honestly, on this site would have not taken this pre lockdown!
This has been a season like no others and I do believe we can kick on next year and I agree re momentum.
We have August to look forward to for europa which will help mould and develop relationships on field.
Its not all bad people!

19.) 22 Jul 2020
22 Jul 2020 20:53:15
We play 2-3-5 when when the ball is in the last third the top 4 all do s variation on it .

Thats one of the reason pogbs is playing that position, there's several others.

20.) 22 Jul 2020
22 Jul 2020 20:54:35
Leonard some good points in there.

21.) 22 Jul 2020
22 Jul 2020 20:58:00
Leonard, West Ham are in the correct league position, as is everybody else, trust me.

22.) 22 Jul 2020
22 Jul 2020 21:11:08
I don't like Pogba so deep he should be further forward linking with Fernandes and the front 3.

If your the opposition that's exactly where you want him. Dawdling on the ball in his own half where's he's more likely to gift you possession in his own defensive third than create something further forward.

It's where Mourinho wanted to play him and he finally became exasperated by his lack of defensive responsibility and tendency to dwell on the ball and lose possession in dangerous areas.

In my opinion he's completely wasted playing so deep and there are numerous midfielders that can play that deeper role better than Pogba. Play him higher where he can influence the game, drop Fernandes deeper and let them link up so we have a dual threat.

I'm still supportive of Ole but I think we've seen in recent games an inability to make sound tactical decisions in order to influence the game from the bench.

I think if he persists with 4-2-3-1 and doesn't implement more of a pressing game we'll see more of these games and any progress we might have made will level out pretty quickly.