West Ham Online

I'll stick up all the usual match content a bit later, but thought I'd get the thread up:

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This weekend brings what has been in recent times arguably the most daunting match of the season 

Away at the ever fluent, ball-dominating Manchester City...a club that in previous times we had much in common with and a certain kindred spirit, but that in more modern times merely emphasise the difference that getting owners of means with a true desire for sporting success versus barrow merchants with no interest in the Club beyond buying it cheap, taking advantage of circumstance, and like house prices....doing just enough to keep it viable while watching the market trend see it's value appreciate.

We go into this game notably affected by the departure of two largely ever presents to AFCON.

AWB and Diouf are off in search of glory at the International stage. Füllkrug is unlikely to be risked with a move to AC Milan (!) seemingly on the agenda, and with January feeling as far away as ever our lightweight squad and it's meagre offerings take in one of the juggernauts of the North.

Predicted Line-up:

All eyes will be on the full-back slots, as well as if Nuno reverts to a 3 at the back.  Scarles is fit again. Subs: Hermansen, Igor, Myers, Rodriguez, Soucek, Potts, Wilson, Earthy, Irving

Predicted Result:

Man City: 4 - 0 :West Ham

Can't see anything but a heavy defeat in this one after too much PTSD with the Sky Blues. Expect Haaland to run amok as usual.

Hope for the best. Expect the worst. But a 1-0 defeat would feel like a win.

COYI.

I'm still not panicking. I think we play well enough to get something out of the second half of the season. As long as we get some forwards in. I dont care about the defence, I think it's ok tbh. But we just aren't putting chances away. I'd spend it all on Ivan Toney if I could. 
 

Summervile was not in the game today. What annoyed me the most the amount of our players were walking after losing the ball.

The players are showing absolutely zero character and belief in what they are doing.

Nuno serves up the most turgid, negative and fearful football I’ve ever seen.

Well I got that wrong when I said Haaland on for a hat-trick, he only scored 2. What is the point of setting up from the start to keeping the score down. Cowardly, spineless and clueless from all concerned, again. Why would you want to keep Nuno when he sets us up to fail repeatedly. FFS

Could have been better.
Could have been worse.

Massive Attack" wrote: ↑20 Dec 2025, 16:52

fraser wrote: ↑20 Dec 2025, 16:46

Massive Attack" wrote: ↑20 Dec 2025, 16:41 10 minutes to go and he then decides to make FOUR changes all at once and we end up with 4 Defensive changes in total as well as a token disrespectful jog out for Wilson who has little time to really make a difference up top. Respect the 3-0 defeat. Pathetic. 

Sack the useless twat.  

It's the right thing to do at 3 down.. Not much that has led up to it was right though 

 

The issue I have with his approach to subs in the 2nd half is being so late and reactive today. It was clear at half time that at 2-0 we needed to take an element of risk and maybe freshen it up early in the 2nd half which could have given us some impetus for the rest of the half. Maybe I'm wrong for thinking it but I would have been proactive and sent Wilson on around the hour mark to cause them issues in their final third and then Soucek to help out in both boxes. Instead what we did was wait until Scarles was injured, then wait till the last 10 minutes after we conceded another to send a Striker on along with 3 others. It's not for me.

Well, wasn't that fucking awful. Defence co-ordinsted by the Keystone Kops

Massive freshen it up you are right but not when you only have options like Guido, Soucek etc. Wilson maybe but he cant run channels or play as a target man to be an outball. We can only bring on slower players. 

We should put the U21s on the bench. They can freshen things up. Earthy etc and mayers did well I thought

Fauxstralian wrote: ↑20 Dec 2025, 16:49 Top marks to those who travelled to Manchester to endure what is shooting fish in a barrel
Safe journey home



 

Massive Attack" wrote: ↑20 Dec 2025, 16:52

fraser wrote: ↑20 Dec 2025, 16:46

Massive Attack" wrote: ↑20 Dec 2025, 16:41 10 minutes to go and he then decides to make FOUR changes all at once and we end up with 4 Defensive changes in total as well as a token disrespectful jog out for Wilson who has little time to really make a difference up top. Respect the 3-0 defeat. Pathetic. 

Sack the useless twat.  

It's the right thing to do at 3 down.. Not much that has led up to it was right though 

 

The issue I have with his approach to subs in the 2nd half is being so late and reactive today. It was clear at half time that at 2-0 we needed to take an element of risk and maybe freshen it up early in the 2nd half which could have given us some impetus for the rest of the half. Maybe I'm wrong for thinking it but I would have been proactive and sent Wilson on around the hour mark to cause them issues in their final third and then Soucek to help out in both boxes. Instead what we did was wait until Scarles was injured, then wait till the last 10 minutes after we conceded another to send a Striker on along with 3 others. It's not for me.

 

Of course!
Still think it’s all about us
Reckon 38 pts is needed so that’s 25 in 21 games
If you can’t achieve that you can have no complaints 
Without turning it around in the 3 home games & Wolves away that looks beyond us right now with our complete inability to keep a clean sheet

fraser wrote: ↑20 Dec 2025, 16:46

Massive Attack" wrote: ↑20 Dec 2025, 16:41 10 minutes to go and he then decides to make FOUR changes all at once and we end up with 4 Defensive changes in total as well as a token disrespectful jog out for Wilson who has little time to really make a difference up top. Respect the 3-0 defeat. Pathetic. 

Sack the useless twat.  

It's the right thing to do at 3 down.. Not much that has led up to it was right though 

 

Fauxstralian wrote: ↑20 Dec 2025, 16:49 Top marks to those who travelled to Manchester to endure what is shooting fish in a barrel
Safe journey home

Wolves are gone already but need Bournemouth to hold the 1-0 v Burnley & Palace to do us a favour later at Leeds
It’s all about our next 4 games & US doing something.
Need 3 wins or we are close to cooked

 

Top marks to those who travelled to Manchester to endure what is shooting fish in a barrel
Safe journey home

Wolves are gone already but need Bournemouth to hold the 1-0 v Burnley & Palace to do us a favour later at Leeds
It’s all about our next 4 games & US doing something.
Need 3 wins or we are close to cooked
 

Has Soucek touched it yet?  

Massive Attack" wrote: ↑20 Dec 2025, 16:41 10 minutes to go and he then decides to make FOUR changes all at once and we end up with 4 Defensive changes in total as well as a token disrespectful jog out for Wilson who has little time to really make a difference up top. Respect the 3-0 defeat. Pathetic. 

Sack the useless twat.  

10 minutes to go and he then decides to make FOUR changes all at once and we end up with 4 Defensive changes in total as well as a token disrespectful jog out for Wilson who has little time to really make a difference up top. Respect the 3-0 defeat. Pathetic. 

Sack the useless twat.  

Soucek is very good at waving his arms and point where others should be...

All them subs and that cսnt Kilman stays on

Still pathetic I see. Another game and another poor showing. Why do we even bother showing up ffs!

Agree that tge subs coming on will weaken us but guess he’s saving them?  One positive so far is Mayers

Nuno you cսnt, takes off three of our best players. 

Summerville got one on target.  Progress.  Oh nooooo Dads Army 

Only positive today is the inclusion of several youngsters 

Its typical we had to take one if our chances but Bowen didnt. Then we push foraard and get done on the counter.

Give Earthy a run? Is he even on the bench