What went wrong vs West Ham?

[felmani26]

There was nothing flattering about the result. At all.

And that is by far the most worrying aspect!

 

[HodisGawd]

We didn't play our best team, maybe because we underestimated West Ham. We were too complacent. It's not with hindsight that I say Soldado should have started because it was blindingly obvious that he should! Ok, he hasn't scored but he's played well and the team has won - so start him! Defoe, much as I love the little fella, isn't as much of a team player so when he doesn't score/play well he can be a bit of a liability. Similiarly, Siggy may have been scoring goals but he's not a left winger - so don't play him there! Bad decisions based on, I believe, complacency.

 

[EnfieldYiddo]

Re OP, didn't Lamella come on at 0-0?

Disappointed in his performance.

Maybe he did, apologies if so.

Agreed, I'm a huge, huge Lamela fan and watched him a fair bit for Roma so I know what he's about. He was very poor today, same goes for Thursday.

The worry is he hasn't shown much in his cameos, aside from the assist.

I want to see the confident Erik where he takes on the man and gets a shot away; that will come in time.

 

[spurs-r-us]

AVB mainly through accumulation...icing out BAE and being forced to play Naughton at LB, playing first teamers in joke competitions, team selection, subbing so late because he can't admit he got it wrong...This has been coming, we've been riding our luck, everything from last minute goals to being outplayed at home by Chelsea to pantsing players and not getting a penalty against us or red cards, etc.

Sigurdsson started, Defoe started, Eriksen played probably one of the worst games of his life, Walker looked like he left his legs in Russia.

Fair point tbh.

 

[ItsBoris]

There was nothing flattering about the result. At all.

To them there was, the first goal the ball bounced off the legs of their player straight to the feet of another who happened to have a clear shot at goal. That is lucky.

The 2nd, Lloris saved it well, it then bounced off their player's knee and rebounded into the goal. Lucky as well. We never get breaks like that, for us it is usually the exact opposite.

 

[shelfboy68]

I've been very guilty of some truly outrageous comments today, most were in the moment and in jest.

Here is a place to SENSIBLY and without knee-jerk; discuss what went wrong today vs West Ham.

Given we'll be sitting on this result for two weeks, I'm stumped today as to what ACTUALLY went wrong.

Personally, I've kind of decided it was a mixture of 5-6 factors, all of which led up to this shocking performance

Here they are (in no particular order)

All of the above is true but it's the manner of the defeat today well and truly beaten by a very average side really not good enough.

1) Defoe over Soldado - Soldado would of made more of the through balls and not been offside so much, he also is the far more intelligent footballer
2) Siggy and Naughton on the left - A recipe for disaster and ruins our balance
3) Taking most of our first teamers and playing a load of them away in Russia
4) Big Sam gave AVB a lesson in tactics today - Packed the middle and knew that's where our strength lay.
5) AVB's stubbornness to be proactive with the subs, we all saw what was needed - Why doesn't he?!
6) Michael Dawson - Need I explain?

Special mentions to Eriksen for an anonymous performance, Lamela looked pretty inept but we were already defeated by then and Paulinho with a really mixed bag.

 

[SteveH]

There was nothing flattering about the result. At all.

Very unflattering day indeed SB

 

[EnfieldYiddo]

AVB mainly through accumulation...icing out BAE and being forced to play Naughton at LB, playing first teamers in joke competitions, team selection, subbing so late because he can't admit he got it wrong...This has been coming, we've been riding our luck, everything from last minute goals to being outplayed at home by Chelsea to pantsing players and not getting a penalty against us or red cards, etc.

Sigurdsson started, Defoe started, Eriksen played probably one of the worst games of his life, Walker looked like he left his legs in Russia.

Great point.

Although football is about luck I did sit there thinking, well Cardiff was literally won with the last kick of the match.

Chelsea we were arguably saved by the Torres red.

Although I'm taking a lot from West Ham today, we weren't unlucky to lose... They fully deserved it - We were just plain awful.

 

[Syn_13]

Well quite simply, we didn't play our best players. Sandro, Lamela and Soldado should all be starting.

Having two inverted wingers without overlapping fullbacks is awful as well. The pitch was congested enough in the middle without having Sigurdsson and Townsend cutting in as well. Until Rose is back we have to play Townsend on the left and Lamela on the right.

I'd fully agree with this. Inverted wingers provide little width and you need your full backs overlapping to give the full backs headaches. One of the best moves of the match for me was when, in the first half, Townsend cut inside and Siggy overlapped (no bloody idea why he was doing Walker's job!), Andros made a lovely reverse pass and Siggy cut in a low cross....which nobody attacked. Notheless, the move was probably the best all match and Walker should be looking to make those runs behind the full back.

On the other side you had Naughton just hanging back too afraid to actually make any move forward, which I reckon is because he knows he hasn't got a right foot and is uncomfortable on the left. On the right I reckon he'd have done a lot better. Siggy was like a headless chicken, why he was appearing on the other side of the pitch I have no idea. We do need a winger to play there and hopefully Chadli or Lamela will be given the chance.

Our real issue today was just a lack of movement up front, as usual, when trying to break down a team that's packing the centre. It's time like this when I wonder why we don't just try and go with Holtby and Eriksen together as they both have good movement.

Defoe should've buried his chances. I'm not a Defoe hater at all, but I do prefer what Soldado gives to the team even if he isn't scoring. His movement and link up play is miles better.

 

[felmani26]

AVB has to be accountable as this is not the first time this season his lack of tactical acumen has cost us points but ultimately, we had a side that was more than good enough to wipe the floor with Wham yet turned in such an abject performance in every single department that it's hard to feel anything but annoyance.

Soldado for Defoe is the obvious argument but it doesn't excuse piss poor defending, poor awareness and lack of nous in the final third.

So hard not to be knee jerk after such a pathetic display against a side who will bring out a collectors DVD edition over this game but some hard decisions need to be made now if we are to push on long term.

 

[Spurs_Bear]

To them there was, the first goal the ball bounced off the legs of their player straight to the feet of another who happened to have a clear shot at goal. That is lucky.

The 2nd, Lloris saved it well, it then bounced off their player's knee and rebounded into the goal. Lucky as well. We never get breaks like that, for us it is usually the exact opposite.

Oh stop it. Fucking hell.

 

[Misfit]

People stealing the bang I've been drumming for weeks now about the lack of width from the FBs. I saw that at least a month ago after I read about it in some article.

 

[felmani26]

Rose, Kaboul, Sandro and Holtby - players with fucking balls - need to be brought in ASAP!

 

[EnfieldYiddo]

Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas: "I think they scored in a moment when they were very, very strong - through set plays, they got first to the second ball.
"It can happen in games like this. We didn't have that quick reaction to get back into the game because they scored the second soon after.
"The game started 100 miles per hour for both teams, with both looking threatening. They had good spells and so did we. The second had we were not first to the ball in the 50-50 duels. They were a bit more aggressive and punished us.
"We have conceded three goals today but before we were the team who conceded the least chances. This time West Ham managed to surprise us and we have to bounce back. This would be a good goal for us.
"It is [a wakeup call]. This fixture was a bit dangerous. If we won everything would be spectacular but if you draw or lose you drop into a position you don't want to be. Either way we have done well so far."


Poor from AVB.

I like a manager who can admit his mistakes,he's taking a lot away from West Ham by suggesting they won it through set pieces. They played it perfectly and whilst we seemed to dominate large parts, there was little to no quality end product.

 

[WiganSpur]

No Rose no balance
No holding player
Dire individual performances, some possibly due to the Europa
Shit tempo made it easy for them to hold their positions, again possibly because of a few tired legs
West Ham were actually good

 

[amathews3416]

For supposedly a master tactician, AVB is so simple minded when it comes to many decisions.

First 11 dominates Norwich at home, lets continue to pick that first 11 in each league game even though it is clear that should not be the set up against certain sides.

Defoe scores a few goals against shitty squads, must insert him into the line up.

 

[OmarsComing]

Well quite simply, we didn't play our best players. Sandro, Lamela and Soldado should all be starting.

Having two inverted wingers without overlapping fullbacks is awful as well. The pitch was congested enough in the middle without having Sigurdsson and Townsend cutting in as well. Until Rose is back we have to play Townsend on the left and Lamela on the right.

How is Lamela one of our best players? He's been poor at best in every game he's played thus far and the only good thing he has done was the assist for Paulinho

 

[The Apprentice]

Shit happens. We'll be fine.

 

[EnfieldYiddo]

No Rose no balance
No holding player
Dire individual performances, some possibly due to the Europa
Shit tempo made it easy for them to hold their positions, again possibly because of a few tired legs
West Ham were actually good

The holding player problem I've overlooked massively and I'm still not convinced by it - Many of you seem to believe it is one though?

Perhaps for away games we need Sandro involved but we've dominated teams using two box-to-box players - I didn't see a problem then?

I'm normally v. happy with the Paulinho/Dembele pivot and today I think they were the least of our problems. They were crowded out on purpose.

Be great to hear your view on it mate

 

[Rout-Ledge]

Lamela, to me, looks quite timid and weak when he's out there. He doesn't exude the confidence or energy or desire. Maybe he's just adjusting.