[Archived] Rovers v West Ham

[Bobby G]

Would we have won today under Sam? who knows. I really don't think our performance was much different from one we regularly produced under Sam, on the whole it was direct football with an emphasis on set pieces. The usual lack of creativity and poor possession allowing sides to dominate us was also evident.

Early days yet but the only way I can see anything changing is for Venky's to spend some serious money. Even if we got in a flair type of manager I’m not confident they could transform it without some major squad restructuring.

I completely disagree. Defensively we were all over the place. Possession wise we would be passing without any impetus. Chances? I dont think we tested the keeper once other than the goal. This was a home banker under Sam, and we all know it.

The thing was when was the last time we looked like losing at home in the last few minutes of a game, more so than looking like winning against one of the bottom sides?

[alexanders]

How can people say the players looked downhearted?

They battled more than i've seen in a long time.

We stood much longer up the field and won the ball numerous times.

[John]

Can't blame them. They're probably wondering as we all are, who are these fools who have taken us over?

Exactly - oh let's replace the manager who is doing a decent job and put his first team coach, who has never managed before, in his place.

Actually, as Kentaro have told us he is a fine coach who works hard, let's give him a few months to prove himself of doing the top job.

After all, Jerome is one of the family.

[Bobby G]

If I was West Ham, I would be disappointed I didnt get 3 points today based on what went on the pitch. And that is a story on its own.

[joey_big_nose]

Well we don't have the players to play 4-4-2, so that was a mistake. At least he tried it - he switched back to 4-5-1 in the second half. A big part of why West Ham will killing us on the break was because Dunn and Emerton were out on their feet.

I think there was an issue with no midfielder being instructed to sit deep. Dunn, Pedersen, Emerton and Diouf were all driving forward at once which is a daft idea, so when we lost the ball the whole midfield was wide open to the counter. That sort of kamikaze approach was a hallmark of the Ince regime.

I would like to see more attacking football than Allardyce used, but also maintain the soldiarity and shape of the side as much as possible. I just didn't understand why Jones did not start today in midfield as he could have provided a shield for the defence.

[Bobby G]

Exactly - oh let's replace the manager who is doing a decent job and put his first team coach, who has never managed before, in his place.

Actually, as Kentaro have told us he is a fine coach who works hard, let's give him a few months to prove himself of doing the top job.

After all, Jerome is one of the family.

John, don't forget he also worked long hours, so he must be able to be a manager too.

[Exiled_Rover]

How can people say the players looked downhearted?

They battled more than i've seen in a long time.

We stood much longer up the field and won the ball numerous times.

Shush. The sky is falling. Let these Chicken Little's have their day.

[rigger]

People keep saying Sam would have won the game, but the point of his sacking was to get away from his style of play, hopefully sooner rather than later, the players will remember what there main skills are and perhaps we will get some points in the bag, till then I think there has to be a lot of graft put in, and that includes us poor sod's who pay to watch.

[RoverRich]

That game highlighted the fact we have nowhere near enough quality in our midfield to play 4-4-2. The centre of midfield was pretty awful all game I thought and our attackers were much of the same. We needed at least one of Olsson or Hoilett to play today to give us a threat down one of the wings especially as Gabbidon and Ben Haim are hardly natural full backs. And, like many others have already said, why, oh why was there barely any pressure on their keeper all game??!!! Peds should have put those last 2 free kicks we had into the area and see what happened.

I honestly feel that is the kind of game Sam would have won. I know the injuries didn't help but still. I hope after this game Venkys realise they need to spend BIG in this window cos we just cannot play entertain football and get positive results with the quality of our players. I am willing to give Steve Kean a chance, he does sound like a positive coach but that doesn't necessarily make a good manager, and if we drop points from winnable games like we have done today then this could all blow up in his and Venkys face.

[tonyoz]

West Ham the better side in the last 20 minutes. Poor performance. No tactics. We used to win these games comfortably. We especially looked suspect at the back, completely all over the place.

According to the Sky commentator, this is the fifth time on the trot we have failed to win at home against WHU. Suspect at the back? It wasn't 7-1 though!

[vyeo]

Brilliant hardworking coach that Kean is, you must question the thinking of anyone who plays a central midfield pairing of dunn and pedersen? Those two are just not strong enough to be midfield allrounders.

[Tom]

I'm pretty sure this would have been a draw under sam (see we can all do it)

Having said that - crap.

I stand by what I said before kick off, Dunn starting was a shocking decision he is awful these days, hope he never starts for us again.

Poor hoilett can't buy a start even though he deserves it.

[Bobby G]

I didnt mean against West Ham, but against the bottom sides. We were not playing United today, it was a West Ham side that hasnt won in 26 away games, and today they came closer than the previous 26, I guarantee you.

[bigbrandjohn]

Your patience is admirable, but they have so far gone completely the wrong way about it.

It's like that medical saying "first do no harm", they shouldn't have made any changes until they got a real feel for how the club works. The way they've gone about things was only ever going to put some noses seriously out of whack.

Agreed and the simple question that has yet to be answered is what is your plan ? When people make strategic decisions one assumes they have a strategy .

[doctorryan]

Was I hearing things a moment ago or is Radio Rovers not allowed to take callers post-match today?

[Hi Mack]

People keep saying Sam would have won the game, but the point of his sacking was to get away from his style of play, hopefully sooner rather than later, the players will remember what there main skills are and perhaps we will get some points in the bag, till then I think there has to be a lot of graft put in, and that includes us poor sod's who pay to watch.

Ye im sure playing "attractive" football and drawing against the bottom of the league justifies Sams sacking!

[imy9]

We started with Ryan and samba, then Ryan and jones then Ryan and Hanley, is it any wonder that we looked a little off defensively?

[tony gale's mic]

Would we have won today under Sam? Who knows... I really don't think our performance that was much different from type we regularly produced under Sam, on the whole it was direct football with an emphasis on set pieces. The usual lack of creativity and poor possession allowing sides to dominate us was also evident.

Early days yet but the only way I can see anything changing is for Venky's to spend some serious money. Even if we got in a flair type of manager I’m not confident they could transform it without some major squad restructuring.

Well..let's see.

http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/premier-league/2010-2011/versus-bottom-half/home

Of the 4 games we'd played against bottom half opposition at home this season, we had won all of them prior to today.

http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/premier-league/2009-2010/versus-bottom-half/home

Last season against bottom half teams, we won 7 and drew 3 (losing 0).

Considering we were playing the bottom club in the league with the second worst away record, yes, we wouldve won under Sam.

It might not have been that different to Sam in terms of aesthetics, but it was a hell of a lot less effective.

[philipl]

Was I hearing things a moment ago or is Radio Rovers not allowed to take callers post-match today?

They are obviously chicken.

[Exiled in Toronto]

Defensively, given 2 major injuries, I thought we did well. Robbo only had 1 save to make other than the goal which came from an ambitious dribble by Parker. Wolves could have had 6 but for Robbo.

It was also clear that Grant had done his homework on combatting the Sam style. They only gave away 1 free kick in Robbo launch territory and for that one they held a ludicrously high line, much nearer the centre cirle than the 18 yard line. We weren't goign to be able to crowd the keeper.

MGP's long throw has clearly been consigned to history, but since it gained us one goal in 2 years, I suspect we will weather that particular storm.

[Tim Southampton Rover]

Time to think positive:

We've had an awful week, the pressure was really on us to beat a team who are fighting for their lives, we were forced into making 3 changes and despite all that, we weren't beaten by our bogey team.

I know it wasn't a great performance but we can certainly build on this and show some 'bouncebackability'.

I'm still willing to give Kean and also Venky's a chance to prove to everyone why they should be in charge.

[Bobby G]

We were exposed in defensive cover very simply cause our central midfielders were much more about attacking than tracking back so the central area was exposed big-time especially in the middle third towards our final third.

[LeChuck]

We started with Ryan and samba, then Ryan and jones then Ryan and Hanley, is it any wonder that we looked a little off defensively?

It wasn't the centre of defence that was the problem though.

[Exiled in Toronto]

We were exposed in defensive cover very simply cause our central midfielders were much more about attacking than tracking back so the central area was exposed big-time especially in the middle third towards our final third.

You really think we were more exposed at the back than against Wolves?

[LeChuck]

Defensively, given 2 major injuries, I thought we did well. Robbo only had 1 save to make other than the goal which came from an ambitious dribble by Parker. Wolves could have had 6 but for Robbo.

That's ignoring the shot from Upson that hit the post, the free header six yards out from Piquionne, and the shot from Cole after Dyer cut the ball back.