Burnley 2 West Ham Utd 1 (06/02/10)

[kthammer]

I didn't think Green was placed badly for the free kick, just was a very very good free kick.

He had to be ready to come for the cross if the right footed player came for it as well. Has anyone mentioned the much maligned Collisons pointless foul to give the free kick away in the first place?

agreed. jack is looking increasingly out of sorts.

[Oldun]

I just watched the game on Football first and i am amazed how we managed to lose to a team that only had 2 shots on target in a home game.
Im even more convinced that we are going down now after watching it because if we cant win that game ,we are ****ed.

[the oldham stripper]

let down by 2 of our supposedly big 4 players imo
coincidentally the same 2 who think they are not being paid enough, if either of those 2 play for england we can forget about the world cup
c***s

[Chuck D]

The problem with Jack, Junio, and James is that due to the "bigging up" they got last year people expect them to turn in Prem level Performances week in, week out.

Anyone - Zola included - who expected anything better than erratic performances from these young men in just their second full seasons was deluded.

They are young players finding their way in the best league in the world, the pressure placed on them by senior staff at the club is pathetic.

[prophet:marginal]

Prophet, don't be ridiculous...

Watch the strike...it was spectacular...Fox should be proud, and Green could do nothing. It was struck sweetly, at pace and in the top corner. No need to try and make him the scapegoat. It's hardly a routine catch...you make it sound like he's hit it like a corner...

I don't see it that way, having watched it repeatedly already. He was stood way too far to the left of his goal.

I agree that he could 'do nothing', but that was because of the position that he adopted before the ball was kicked. Nobody was challenging it as a cross. Other keepers would have saved it.

As for scapegoating. Snore. This is a forum. If you don't like contrary opinions of our players, don't read them.

[prophet:marginal]

do behave

jensen was never getting that free kick had it been four inches lower and gone in

green was positioned as any keeper would be as the near post is his the far post is the walls job, if it goes over the wall and into the top corner, you hold your hands up acknowlegde a good free kick and try and get back in the game

this where there a claim theres blame culture on everything west ham is just pathetic as is every thread after we lose

grow a set of balls west ham united fans, the players need you especially now

The wall was constructed to cover the near post from the footage I've seen.

Why is it pathetic to worry about this, or even remark on it? I can see a point if people are boo-ing or moaning inside the ground, but this is a forum for discussion. Should contrary opinions about the effectiveness of these players not be posted?

I choose to blame them now, whilst they're still at the club - you know for the next 3 or so months.

[w4hammer]

The wall was constructed to cover the near post from the footage I've seen.

Why is it pathetic to worry about this, or even remark on it? I can see a point if people are boo-ing or moaning inside the ground, but this is a forum for discussion. Should contrary opinions about the effectiveness of these players not be posted?

I choose to blame them now, whilst they're still at the club - you know for the next 3 or so months.

im with you mate. how on earth was he ever going to get it over the wall and down into the near post- he aint ****ing ronaldo I think green got stranded, thinking he was going to chip it for a header, in the end he wasnt in the right position for any of the options.

9 times out of 10- the chances in those positions go into the top far corner- as i told everyone around me just before he scored. it aint that difficult!

same as for sunderland etc etc...there is a pattern emerging here

[Alf Garnett's (Ex) Missus]

Great away day, result aside, thanks to Thwaites Smooth

Zola and Clarke tactical genius again shone through................2 - 0 down lets lump on every striker we have and hope for the best!

Mido looked pretty good to his credit and did more in a half than CFC did all game, Parker aside our midfield was poor - overrun and no width. I'm no Ilunga fan but if he is fit why is Specs in front of him? Upson and Tomkins didn't really have much to do but in my view were caught the wrong side of players too often and the communication between Green and Upson for the first goal was terrible.

Behrami played his usual 'puppy running after ball' game but little else.

In my mind we have the players to get out of this, but not the management. Losing is one thing, but the way weplayed against Blackburn and yesterday was without direction or tactics and IMHO that is unforgiveable.

[il_martello_di_genovesi]

I'll read what I want Prophet...I'll also say what I want. Your response is pathetic...give up. Other keepers would've saved it? Like who?

Where was he supposed to position himself to stop it then? All you keep saying is "Moan Moan, his positioning, Moan Moan'...without even saying how he should've positioned himself.

All I'm seeing you do is whinge about players...when the free kick was unstoppable, and we were very unlucky. Funny how your opinion differs from most on the subject .

[Chuck D]

Bad luck again?

****ing hell, Zola must have broken some mirrors.

Why is it that when Zola's teams dont perform, its somehow not his fault? When his signings dont work out, its bad luck, and not his fault? When he gets it tactically wrong, its not his fault?

He is teflon, for sure.

[bubbles1966]

Am I the only person on the planet who thought the defender toe-poked it towards his own goal as McCarthy was about to shoot, and that McCarthy didn't actually get a shot off?

[Puff Daddy]

That was one piss poor result from a game in which we had to be looking to get all 3 points. It is easy to look for excuses, by blaimg Robert Green or Upson for their goals, but what about Benni McCarthy's shocking miss from that underhit shot after doing the hard part, Mido's softly hit shot near the end and Collison's needlessly conceeded free kick which led to their second goal ? No, the truth is, that Zola must take the blame. What does he say to the players in his pre game rallying cry that we seem to strart every match on the back foot? Also, I am getting fed up of his blaming referees for bad decisions or goals wrong ruled out. That is always the hallmark of a manager under pressure

[stuarttampin]

yes you are !

[Pop Robson]

Anyone know why was Cole sitting on the bench at the end of the game, looking like he was nearly in tears with the Italian Doc/fitness bloke?

[ageing hammer]

I misread the title and thought we were being treated to a picture of Benni's bird.

[il_martello_di_genovesi]

Didn't perform?

See, this just sums you up really. We battered them in the second half...they had two shots on target, and both went in. Yet we should say it's a bad performance?

Seriously, I'm sure you do it all on purpose.

[libero]

I didn't see the game but the result and the performance doesn't surprise me in any way. We are simply not winning the games we should be winning and, as Chuck says, it's just absurd to put that down to bad luck.

So what's left if we rule out bad luck?

Bad players? I don't think our squad is worse than the other teams in the bottom half of the table. A little unabalanced perhaps, lacking quality in certain positions, of course - but that's the same everywhere. We have a squad that should be mid-table.

Fitness? We often finish the games strongly and, aside from the perma-crocks at the club, the injury issue seems to be clearing up (fingers crossed, because I've said that before )

So that leaves Zola and Clarke. I like Zola's enthusiasm and the football we have occasionally played with him in charge. But I don't see much evidence of tactical nous, an ability to change the dynamics of a game, an idea of what his best eleven/formation is or the down to earth ability to grind out ugly points from ugly fixtures.

So, I'd give him 2 or 3 games to turn things round and then I'd replace him. Because the club is more important than any individual employee

[Muddy]

Was in the pub looking at the match updates on me phone. It looked terrible. I've just Seen the hightlights and we didn't play as bad as i thought we did. So many shots off the bloody crossbar, bloody ell. How did mido's shots stay out?
Just av to focus on birmingham on weds now. Gawd 'elp us.

[prophet:marginal]

I'll read what I want Prophet...I'll also say what I want. Your response is pathetic...give up. Other keepers would've saved it? Like who?

Where was he supposed to position himself to stop it then? All you keep saying is "Moan Moan, his positioning, Moan Moan'...without even saying how he should've positioned himself.

All I'm seeing you do is whinge about players...when the free kick was unstoppable, and we were very unlucky. Funny how your opinion differs from most on the subject .

Perhaps he should take lessons from Paul Robinson. He caught a very similar delivery from Diamanti last week.

I make my own opinions - which are that Green was at fault for both our goals yesterday.

[Haza]

Birmingham and Hull are now absolutely crucial, less than 3 points from those games and we are most probably for the drop. Mido must start against Birmingham if fit enough because McCarthy didn't look up to anything yesterday. Also dare i say drop Green, we have a more than capable replacement in Stech who i believe would take the oppourtunity with both hands and it might also be a kick up Green's arse to start performing, it is world cup year after all and right or wrong he's a top candidate for the England number 1 jersey.