Rossal 9:03 Thu Aug 24
Re: ⚽ Cheltenham v West Ham - The Official Match Thread FT 0-2

Job done, and a good draw in the next round to give this comp a good go. Travelling support were decent and we came through it injury free it seems

Plus points

Sakho - thats the sharpest i've seen him in a long time. Always willing to run the channels and took his goal well. If and its a big if....he stays fit then he looks good backup to Chicarito.

Rice - Looks a real player, was MOTM for me. A performance like that at 18 was very impressive. He doesnt do anything spectacular but always seems to make the right decision and doesnt shirk responsibility. Happy to take the ball in tight areas, technically is superb and gets around the pitch alot more then Noble it seems. Was on the cover to sweep up alot and for me he starts up at the Toon.

Ginge - Yet again as ive said many times on this forum he came in and was excellent. So solid at the back and a threat going forward. Starts on sat and moves miles ahead of Fonte.

Other mentions - Adrian played well, did what he needed to. Obiang second half i thought looked back to his best and uses the ball much more efficiently than Noble. Ayew after the goal looked to gain confidence and start to play abit more freely. There is a player in there just need to get him away from RW. He cuts in far to much.



Negative points

Full backs - Both of them were pretty poor going forward and still not great defensivly. Arthurs challenge i dont think was a pen but was a typically clumsy no need to make tackle from him

Noble - Moves the ball sideways far to much. Him and Rice playing means we really do lack consistent attacking/penatrive passes from our DM's to our forwards

Fernandes - Was awful, no threatt going forward, heavy touches. Doesnt seem to have got any better since we got him and whats his best position?

Bilic - Disappointed no Martinez and Holland on the bench and then only giving Quina 4 minutes at the end. Why not give him 15-20? Baffled as to why he sent Chicarito on, madness if he picked up a injury

simon.s 2:11 Thu Aug 24
Re: ⚽ Cheltenham v West Ham - The Official Match Thread FT 0-2

It looked a real football ground, and there was a period in the game where the sunset looked more interesting than the the football! Job done though.

WHUDeano 2:04 Thu Aug 24
Re: ⚽ Cheltenham v West Ham - The Official Match Thread FT 0-2

Just got home: real football ground, loved every second of it.

Tomsdad 1:38 Thu Aug 24
Re: ⚽ Cheltenham v West Ham - The Official Match Thread

Even with this result, some players still need dropping for Saturdays game!

Gavros 1:34 Thu Aug 24
Re: ⚽ Cheltenham v West Ham - The Official Match Thread

Fernandez was one of the rare highlights of last season, so give the boy a break.

Takashi Miike 1:33 Thu Aug 24
Re: ⚽ Cheltenham v West Ham - The Official Match Thread FT 0-2

was a job well done tonight and should give the squad a lift for the weakened

claret on my shirt 1:29 Thu Aug 24
Re: ⚽ Cheltenham v West Ham - The Official Match Thread FT 0-2

theaxeman 12:26 Thu Aug 24

agree Noble ahd a very good game tonight, great pass for th 1st goal

Full Claret Jacket 1:20 Thu Aug 24
Re: ⚽ Cheltenham v West Ham - The Official Match Thread FT 0-2

Young players are inconsistent. Whilst people are quick to dig out Fernandez and laud Rice, it could easily be the other way round in the future. The young players need patience and game time. Sometimes it's good to get bad performances out the way or to analyse what these players need to work on.
After watching the first 15mins I was a bit concerned. Had they had any players that could finish then we may have been behind.
Sakho seems to be upping his workrate and looking sharper. This can only be good if he stays fit. We will need options up front and different styles particularly if we shift Carroll at any point.

A potential banana skin avoided, a vital clean sheet and hopefully some needed match fitness into a few players.

the exile 1:13 Thu Aug 24
Re: ⚽ Cheltenham v West Ham - The Official Match Thread

Not a great game but credit to Cheltenham - they didn't have much quality but worked very hard. For us, Ginge was immense and dealt comfortably with just about everything. He really should be a regular starter. Rice looked really classy and Noble was busy. I was actually quite impressed with Ayew - worked really hard and took his goal well. Fernandes was poor - shouldn't be anywhere near the first team.

Pagey 1:08 Thu Aug 24
Re: ⚽ Cheltenham v West Ham - The Official Match Thread

Job done but Fernandes was awful. What the hell has happened to him?

cup of tea 1:07 Thu Aug 24
Re: ⚽ Cheltenham v West Ham - The Official Match Thread

So the real question is who will Rice sign for in January? Man U, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal?

jfk 12:44 Thu Aug 24
Re: ⚽ Cheltenham v West Ham - The Official Match Thread

Ginge was rightfully MOTD,special mention for Rice he looks a mighty fine prospect,Noble was as much that I don't like to say it was shit.
A comfortable win.

joey5000 12:36 Thu Aug 24
Re: ⚽ Cheltenham v West Ham - The Official Match Thread

Nobes and Rice were the best players on the park. I think Nobes will be passing the torch on to Rice over the course of the next few seasons.

theaxeman 12:26 Thu Aug 24
Re: ⚽ Cheltenham v West Ham - The Official Match Thread

I know we all have different opinions but really dont understand how anyone can say noble was pony? In our midfield only him and rice managed to pass the ball and move it in tight areas. Fernandes and Obiang to a lesser extent ball retention is nowhere near good enough.
Great to see Sakho back!

normannomates 12:25 Thu Aug 24
Re: ⚽ Cheltenham v West Ham - The Official Match Thread

Always great for us to see a yoof step up and show what he can do at senior level...and look the dogs.

His maturity is impressive..and I predict he will be a regular starter this season.

That calmness is something only top players possess at that age..just take to it straight away.
Rio had it
Rooney had it
Moore had it.
Rice has it

bruuuno 12:24 Thu Aug 24
Re: ⚽ Cheltenham v West Ham - The Official Match Thread

, 12:18 Thu Aug 24
Re: ⚽ Cheltenham v West Ham - The Official Match Thread



Are you suggesting he is able to manipulate space/time?

, 12:18 Thu Aug 24
Re: ⚽ Cheltenham v West Ham - The Official Match Thread

Rice seems to have more time, when he is on the ball, than most of our players.

alfie romeo 12:17 Thu Aug 24
Re: ⚽ Cheltenham v West Ham - The Official Match Thread FT 0-2

Rice was very good and shows promise. Agree that Fernandes was poor but i think he lacks direction. he looks a bit clueless as well as bambi-legged.

As for Sakho. if he can stay fit and doesn't go off his head again, he's 15-20 goals a season. he's nippy, good with it at his feet and in the air. If we had striker whisperer on the coaching staff, he could really impress.

JAC 12:14 Thu Aug 24
Re: ⚽ Cheltenham v West Ham - The Official Match Thread

Noble looked pony yet again, Rice , Ginge and Byram looked pretty good,but it was only Cheltenham. Still, the banana skin is out of the way, looking forward to Saturday with a stronger squad.

Johnson 12:02 Thu Aug 24
Re: ⚽ Cheltenham v West Ham - The Official Match Thread

Fuck it, Chelsea or the Ys at home, that'll get us going and I'll show up an' all

simon.s 12:01 Thu Aug 24
Re: ⚽ Cheltenham v West Ham - The Official Match Thread

Tricky away game against lower league opposition. Two players score who have been lambasted by plenty on here in recent weeks (me included). And a clean sheet. Let's have a proper go at this cup.

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