Steve P 8:24 Fri Jul 24
Re: Birkirkara v West Ham - Official Match Thread

Plus Carroll and Valencia to come in. Maybe.

You would still have backed our squad players to be better than that pub team. That's the most difficult thing to take.

Sven Roeder 8:22 Fri Jul 24
Re: Birkirkara v West Ham - Official Match Thread (WHU win 5-3 pens)

Obviously over half that side shouldn't start in Premiership games.
But the fact remains we struggled to create anything or score against a team from the Maltese league. The players who can't do that either had a very bad day, were short in their individual preparation or need to be playing at another club at a lower level.

Fivetide 8:20 Fri Jul 24
Re: Birkirkara v West Ham - Official Match Thread

BBC points out: "None of the club's seven summer signings played, while Enner Valencia and Winston Reid both missed out at a hot Ta' Qali National Stadium."

stewie griffin 8:12 Fri Jul 24
Re: Birkirkara v West Ham - Official Match Thread

Eh? We lost the game. End of.

As for importance, the only thing that's important is that we bring in more new players, and try to get rid of some of those that played last night.

Steve P 8:11 Fri Jul 24
Re: Birkirkara v West Ham - Official Match Thread

No, the final result wasn't as important as how individuals performed, only because we got through though.

Based on last night, we are still a long way away from having a decent squad. I'm concerned about Bilic giving Nolan a game. Bilic needs to be man enough to do the obvious.

ironsofcanada 8:07 Fri Jul 24
Re: Birkirkara v West Ham - Official Match Thread

stewie griffin 8:03 Fri Jul 24

Bit like saying we lost the half, not good at all but ultimately not what is important.

East Ham Bull 8:06 Fri Jul 24
Re: Birkirkara v West Ham - Official Match Thread

Still playing Allardyce football with Allardyce players. See very little of Bilic's mark in this yet.

stewie griffin 8:03 Fri Jul 24
Re: Birkirkara v West Ham - Official Match Thread

Sounds like an excuse to me, P son?

We've just played the 3rd best team in malta and been deservedly beaten over 120 minutes.

ironsofcanada 8:00 Fri Jul 24
Re: Birkirkara v West Ham - Official Match Thread

After a night's sleep, I think we have to take this as the type of game that a decent team needs to win and yet learn a lot from.

Bilic talked about us being very naive and surviving a couple of teams that should teach us that should help.

Some people have got their clean slate chances, by this time.

Bilic also talked a lot about character and the second half on showed some of that, little quality up front but some character.

Hopefully there were some lessons learned for players and manager.

Steve P 7:45 Fri Jul 24
Re: Birkirkara v West Ham - Official Match Thread

*shakes head


I suppose, looking back, it's probably funny. I used to love the yids getting embarrassed in Europe, now we're doing it against pub teams, far worse than the yids oppo.

It just goes to show the enormous gap in class there now is. Any Club not regularly in Europe is going to struggle

Private Dancer 7:39 Fri Jul 24
Re: Birkirkara v West Ham - Official Match Thread

'Is the two footed tackle from behind still legal in Albania then?'


There are a hell of a lot worse things than that still legal in Albania, P.

Someone on here compared Kouyate to Vierra after the Southend Game!

Mr Polite 7:36 Fri Jul 24
Re: Birkirkara v West Ham - Official Match Thread

It finished too late and I couldn't be arsed.


Agreed with most you said although tad harsh on O'Brien, was clearly Collins at fault for goal, looked like he was running in honey.

O'Brien has been a positive overall in these first few games. Don't want him starting many games mind

Steve P 7:32 Fri Jul 24
Re: Birkirkara v West Ham - Official Match Thread

ag, couldn't find someone busy on a positives etc thread so put it on here.

Forgot Jarvis, who was a bit better than usual, and the ref. Is the two footed tackle from behind still legal in Albania then?

Mr Polite 7:17 Fri Jul 24
Re: Birkirkara v West Ham - Official Match Thread

You been down to get the paper yet P?

Steve P 7:02 Fri Jul 24
Re: Birkirkara v West Ham - Official Match Thread

Fucking dismal watching that. Hardly anyone looked like they were worthy of the shirt. The biggest joke by a long way was Nolan. Can't leave him on the pitch against what would be the worst team in the Championship, didn't make any contribution at all, but still managed his trademark toppling over the ball because he's got it stuck under his feet.

Hard to see any value in O'Brien. In the first half, he needlessly got involved in handbags with their centre half and was spoken to, took a foul throw, failed to pick up the fattest bloke in football who scored, and got booked for something off the ball.

Tomkins, words fail me. The ref was three feet behind him. Why didn't he allow himself to be pushed so he could buy a decision? Must have thought it was OB in Sugar Hut? We have a free kick in a dangerous position, and have someone sent off?

Noble. Another senior player who couldn't work out that the spics were trying it on,.

Kouyate. Couldn't achieve even the simplest of passes. Much better out of the way at centre half.

Collins. Proved why Ogbonna is at the Club.

Alfie Tarno. Looked ok in flashes, but mostly looked like he wanted to go somewhere else. Let's hope his is, soon. Maybe there isn't a French word for effort.

The goalkeeper, Cresswell. Poyet, and to an extent Zarate didn't do too bad. Bilic must be the only bloke at the Club who thought Zarate up front on his own wouldn't be a total disaster. Maiga added a bit up front when he finally got on, and justified about £250,000 of his £5 million transfer fee. The sooner they farm him out the better.

So, four matches and two red cards. From a side who qualified through fair play.

If these Romanians are any good, we must play our best 11 or we could well be going out. I bet that wouldn't please the board.

icwhs 6:22 Fri Jul 24
Re: Birkirkara v West Ham - Official Match Thread

One Raducioiu! 12:38 Fri Jul 24
Re: Birkirkara v West Ham - Official Match Thread


My sentiments exactly....

Darby_ 6:20 Fri Jul 24
Re: Birkirkara v West Ham - Official Match Thread (WHU win 5-3 pens)

I said right from the beginning that the expectation level for these games was absurd. Cup games against weak opposition are almost always a lot tougher than they should be, but people seem to forget that.

We'll play very differently against Premier League teams.

Coffee 6:01 Fri Jul 24
Re: Birkirkara v West Ham - Official Match Thread (WHU win 5-3 pens)

Is that a third bite?

Private Dancer 5:54 Fri Jul 24
Re: Birkirkara v West Ham - Official Match Thread (WHU win 5-3 pens)

Coffee - This is the match thread where people come to give their analysis on said game, save your personal, chilidish shit for other threads. Don't clog this one up. I know that you have an inflated opinion of yourself but the match thread isn't here for your self amusement. Next time count to ten and try to resist behaving like a silly cunt.

I know you can do it.

Lovejoy 5:50 Fri Jul 24
Re: Birkirkara v West Ham - Official Match Thread (WHU win 5-3 pens)

Credit to Kouyate. Immense when moved to defence.

Coffee 5:18 Fri Jul 24
Re: Birkirkara v West Ham - Official Match Thread

One hook, two bites. An excellent start to the day.

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