West Ham Utd 2 Liverpool 3 (19/09/09)

[Up the Junction]

Once I was not allowed in a pub though (one very close to the ground).

We need more details!

No dogs or Septics?

[Hambrosia Stu]

Just read the match report, and it seems, despite my obscured view and severe dose of the shakes, I'm not the only one who feels we were shafted by the ref. From what I saw (can remember) the match report was absolutely spot on. ****ing disgraceful performance by the joke of a ref

I do wonder if Zola's meester nice guy approach does us a diservice at times. Sure, it's refreshing to have a manager who doesn't rant about officials, but it seems we've had more than our fair share of being shafted by poor officialling. Maybe the refs know that whatever they do, they won't get a slagging from West Ham (and on this occassion know that the opposition will be whinging non-stop), so feel less inclined to give us important match changing decisions?

[Scaloni Is The Messiah]

Don't think that really follows, because the people who do moan about it get just as many bad decisions against them.

[mickfbrown]

Just read the match report, and it seems, despite my obscured view and severe dose of the shakes, I'm not the only one who feels we were shafted by the ref. From what I saw (can remember) the match report was absolutely spot on. f***ing disgraceful performance by the joke of a ref

I do wonder if Zola's meester nice guy approach does us a diservice at times. Sure, it's refreshing to have a manager who doesn't rant about officials, but it seems we've had more than our fair share of being shafted by poor officialling. Maybe the refs know that whatever they do, they won't get a slagging from West Ham (and on this occassion know that the opposition will be whinging non-stop), so feel less inclined to give us important match changing decisions?

I disagree.

There is a home bias and a big 4 bias but I dont think managers who moan get more decisions because of it.

[Hambrosia Stu]

Don't think that really follows, because the people who do moan about it get just as many bad decisions against them.

Do they though?

I'd imagine Liverpool get far more contentious decisions go their way than we do. I'm not really suggesting Zola should start laying into officials. Just a bit pissed off that we were so royally ****ed over by the ref. I can't remember a game where we had as much go in our favour as Liverpool did on saturday. Sure, you get the odd decision, but it's very rare that we seem to have the ref on our side for the whole game

To be honest, I think it has more to do with the pressure put on him during the game, Gerrard constantly in his ear, for example

[hammer]

Once I was not allowed in a pub though (one very close to the ground).

We need more details!

No dogs or Septics?

[westhamerica]

Can I ask why there are people complaining about the way we didn't prepare for attacking fullbacks? We have been the first side to really make Glen Johnson go missing for long spells, and the only real memory I have of Insua doing anything was him stepping up to intercept the pass from Hines which he played forward for the goal -- but that was all Torres, and even Belhadji could have read and intercepted that pass.

Let's be real here, we were beat by a world class striker. Unfortunately it's as simple as that.

[Chuck D]

on a separate note, mods, could we get Chuck D his own dedicated fishing forum?

Why Hamz? Did I disagree with you?

[Chuck D]

Even those that clapped Johnson are partial ones ....

To be fair to Johnson, he had to be persuaded to sign for Chelsea, we urgently needed to sell him for financial reasons.

Bit like Collins, and Bellamy.

[Chuck D]

Can I ask why there are people complaining about the way we didn't prepare for attacking fullbacks? We have been the first side to really make Glen Johnson go missing for long spells, and the only real memory I have of Insua doing anything was him stepping up to intercept the pass from Hines which he played forward for the goal -- but that was all Torres, and even Belhadji could have read and intercepted that pass.

Let's be real here, we were beat by a world class striker. Unfortunately it's as simple as that.

Or, because we gave the ball away in poor positions, and couldnt get it back?

Some teams have an out and out star player (Liverpool have a few) and in order to stop him playing, one thing you can do is cut off the supply.

We actually helped Liverpool by giving them the ball when our players were headed up the pitch, and they quickly turned that around before we got back in position. I'm not talking about outstanding tackle, or interceptions, just us giving the ball away.

Its a flaw in playing that "many short passes" game, and one which you would hope that over a period of time would be eradicated. Quite how long it takes is another thing.

[Cuenca 'ammer]

You obviously have been to coaching school..

OR we take the Fat Sam alternative route and just wallop it forward..Wait isn't that how Drogba scored yesterday ???

[Chuck D]

Its actually something that we have a nasty habit of doing anyway. Just without the formation to accomodate it.

So when it gets up there, it comes straight back, and puts us under pressure.

There is nothing wrong with playing short, long, direct, or back passes. So long as you do it in the right place, at the right time.

Which is the bit that we sometimes fall down on.

Both goals vs Spurs came from poor choices by our players, as did certainly the first goal vs liverpool.

[sendô]

You obviously have been to coaching school..

OR we take the Fat Sam alternative route and just wallop it forward..Wait isn't that how Drogba scored yesterday ???

I thought we were already doing that?

[Cuenca 'ammer]

No that was the PREVIOUS manager.. This one plays sexy football...

Trouble is we don't have any sexy players (well U.G. would disagree) but in general then...

[rare as rockinghorse shat]

Its actually something that we have a nasty habit of doing anyway. Just without the formation to accomodate it.

So when it gets up there, it comes straight back, and puts us under pressure.

There is nothing wrong with playing short, long, direct, or back passes. So long as you do it in the right place, at the right time.

Which is the bit that we sometimes fall down on.

Both goals vs Sp*rs came from poor choices by our players, as did certainly the first goal vs liverpool.

This is all correct.

[West Dan]

found a pic

I've just spotted myself in that pic...what a day that was

[westhamerica]

Or, because we gave the ball away in poor positions, and couldnt get it back?

Some teams have an out and out star player (Liverpool have a few) and in order to stop him playing, one thing you can do is cut off the supply.

We actually helped Liverpool by giving them the ball when our players were headed up the pitch, and they quickly turned that around before we got back in position. I'm not talking about outstanding tackle, or interceptions, just us giving the ball away.

Its a flaw in playing that "many short passes" game, and one which you would hope that over a period of time would be eradicated. Quite how long it takes is another thing.

Shhhh Chuck, now everyone knows our weak spot. Just ask King Hippo what happens once everyone knows your weak spot.

You're right though, we definitely give up most of our goals on the counter...

[JesusShoes]

Or, because we gave the ball away in poor positions, and couldnt get it back?

Some teams have an out and out star player (Liverpool have a few) and in order to stop him playing, one thing you can do is cut off the supply.

We actually helped Liverpool by giving them the ball when our players were headed up the pitch, and they quickly turned that around before we got back in position. I'm not talking about outstanding tackle, or interceptions, just us giving the ball away.

Its a flaw in playing that "many short passes" game, and one which you would hope that over a period of time would be eradicated. Quite how long it takes is another thing.

LOL with us being so far in the back of the pack..... I figured most everyone knows this by now.

[Claretandblueyank]

Once I was not allowed in a pub though (one very close to the ground).

We need more details!

No dogs or Septics?

At least they left a bowl of lager near the door so we could quench our thirst.

I even showed them my season ticket. It must be said, however, that an Irish mate was with me; so that may have had something to do with it too

As for the pub, I will not disclose its name, but I will say that it was not the wakefield, the black lion, the queens, or the lord stanley.

Point being, none of you are safe in those pubs.

[JesusShoes]

Shhhh Chuck, now everyone knows our weak spot. Just ask King Hippo what happens once everyone knows your weak spot.

You're right though, we definitely give up most of our goals on the counter...

Poor Poor King Hippo