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Mr Polite 10:31 Thu Jan 1
The Positive and Negative Thread - WBA

Positive - this thread is back

Negative - We are still managed by a stubborn club ruining cunt!


Ok, so back by popular demand is this wonderful thread that everybody loves so much. There is much to be positive about this season so I thought it was a good time to return. Not to mention the hundreds of WHOmails begging me to... And when aged promised to increase my payment by 25% i couldn't refuse!


Positives:

After receiving player of the month for December, Adrian continued his decent form. I was worried for a time that he wasn't good enough but he has done very well recently and continued that today.

Song put in another decent display, not his best by a long stretch but is head and shoulders our best player. A pleasure to have a player so comfortable on the ball.

We're unbeaten all year

Another point to safety - I don't mean that flippantly, but have this many points at this stage is fantastic and even though he game was disappointing, we played badly and didn't lose which many say is the hallmark of a good team.

Jarvis looked lively when he came on and was unlucky not to have an assist. I've always thought that our style doesn't really suit Jarvis, but today he came off the bench looking like he wanted to prove he was good enough to be in the side - he went some way to doing that I think. At home I could see him and Cresswell linking up well.


Negatives:

Inability to keep possession even against a poor team like WBA was alarming and we were fortunate we didn't pay completely. It seemed every time our defence cleared the ball it went back to the opposition. Reid sadly was one of the worst culprits.

Collins defending for the goal was embarrassing and I feel he always has a bad mistake in him. The attacker was so one footed and yet Collins showed him in on his stronger foot - all around me were screaming for him to show him out side but sadly we don't speak Welsh.

Apparently our managers number 1 striker is 'unplayable' according to some, but nothing could be further from the truth. He is actually very easy to play against and having him in the team seems to make us play worse football. Ask any defender what they'd prefer to play against, an immobile lump with balls played high to him or a fast, tricky forward running at them or Bala played through to him.

I picked up a couple of times today Song getting frustrated with the lack of quality around him. They were even a couple of times when he had the ball he was pleading and pointing at players, telling them where to go. Reason I put this as a negative is I worry if the lack of quality around him will make him want to move on.

I think we have the makings of a decent team, however when you look at our bench today it shows a real lack of strength in depth. Apart from Valencia there was nobody you'd look at and think hey could turn a game or make an impact. Maybe a little unfair as I've already said Jarvis did well and to be fair, Cole did as much in 10 mins as Carroll did in 80, but there was no real match winners to call upon. Which makes it all the more annoying Zarate has been frozen out. I don't think there is a fan in the world who would t have preferred seeing him come on over CFC.

I think the biggest negative/disappointment for me today was the lack of Tempo. We all know we play best when we are up and at a team. Today with a god start we had the opportunity to put them to the sword and yet we seemed to sit back and almost invite them into the game. Whether that's a player on field issue or a negative message the manager sends out about soaking pressure I don't know - I just know we arent very good at it.


Over all a frustrating day and one where it feels like we dropped 2 points rather than gained 1. Having said that we didn't lose and are still in a cracking position for this time of the season - but a horrible sense that our best part of the season is now behind us.


Thanks for reading


(¯`v´¯)
.`·.Mr Polite ♥
`•.¸.´¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)

, 2:34 Sat Jan 3
Re: The Positive and Negative Thread - WBA

Injury means tha right now our best strike force is Carroll and Valencia and this will stay until perhaps mid February. I wonder if anyone will be brought in during this window or Zarate can get his head straight?

JayeMPee 1:19 Sat Jan 3
Re: The Positive and Negative Thread - WBA

Many on here called the three holiday games as those which will show us if we really are top six (or even top four) material. We have our answer with our least favourite club stuffing the team that gave us a runaround whilst the Saints did to Wengers lot what we failed to do.

As for Albion we were back to our creating chances and missing them ways. It seems that our earlier goal of finishing in the top ten was far more realistic so a cup run really is needed. As for Allardyce perhaps he should remember that it was the side without both Carroll and Nolan which really set us off, great pity the Africans cup will now provide him with excuses not to return to our best eleven.

, 12:58 Sat Jan 3
Re: The Positive and Negative Thread - WBA

I don't reckon our defending has been as good as last season but then it has not needed to be. We seemed to be playing rope a dope last term and we got away with it to an extent. The next month will be interesting.

Hammer and Pickle 12:56 Sat Jan 3
Re: The Positive and Negative Thread - WBA

It's all going very STRANGE.

Mr Polite 12:55 Sat Jan 3
Re: The Positive and Negative Thread - WBA

He didn't cover himself in glory that's for sure, I just saw it as Collins completely failing to close Sessingon down when it was pretty obvious what he needed to do.

SDKFZ 222 12:21 Sat Jan 3
Re: The Positive and Negative Thread - WBA

In my opinion their goal was more down to Reid. My son and I watched Reid and Berahino run up the pitch, Reid being slightly in front of Berahino ( we sit in the west lower. ) both of us shouting 'watch Berahino' as if he could hear us. Several times Reid looked over his shoulder but then inexplicably shifted sideways towards Collins as he reached the penalty area when Seesegnon crossed into the box, leaving Berahino with a simple and unhindered stroke home. Had he kept his position then he would have been in Berahino's way.

normannomates 11:20 Fri Jan 2
Re: The Positive and Negative Thread - WBA

The fat cunt has failed when it came to good management over the Xmas period.
He said himself that this period was a test as such. He failed. Miserably.
Team was on crest of a wave going into CFC..the fucker ruined it dead right there.

Willtell 11:16 Fri Jan 2
Re: The Positive and Negative Thread - WBA

Three games in a week is hardly flogging and in the first game he cam off before an hour was up. I think AC is just so sure of his place but he wasn't the only one...

Iron2010 1:37 Fri Jan 2
Re: The Positive and Negative Thread - WBA

All that talk of resting players and then flogging big Andy was very strange

appyhammer78 1:04 Fri Jan 2
Re: The Positive and Negative Thread - WBA

agreed stirling

point I was trying to make was the pressure was off due to racking up points before we went away to Chelsea

we should have been so much better on the day, played with fear

stirlinghammer 12:36 Fri Jan 2
Re: The Positive and Negative Thread - WBA

all this ''bonus'' talk of winning against the 'bigger' clubs has only been introduced to west ham since the arrival of BFS. He also enjoyed trashing our history, the academy and the west ham way. yet, some fans think he has the clubs best interests at heart.

please refrain from using BFS favourite spin ...over achievement is dangerous, bonus points,,,, all bullshit that west ham fans should not accept from a midlands dinosaur

appyhammer78 12:25 Fri Jan 2
Re: The Positive and Negative Thread - WBA

the games against Chelsea and Arsenal were bonus games due to our good run of results

we should have gone to Stamford bridge with nothing to lose and give it a real go, instead we went there to try not to lose heavily

Arsenal were there for the taking but our bottle went again

me personally i'm not a fan of Andy Carroll and the Valencia/Sakho partnership for me was great to watch

shame we will probably never see it again under BFS

, 11:29 Fri Jan 2
Re: The Positive and Negative Thread - WBA

+ve, plight has brought this thread back.

-ve, plight has brought this thread back.

Iron2010 11:27 Fri Jan 2
Re: The Positive and Negative Thread - WBA

I don't think the change in our style in as drastic as people say. We just aren't playing as well which is of course possible. However, Valencia and Sakho are both out and out forwards where Carroll has many other defensive responsibilities under Sam meaning our threat on the break is reduced. Carroll also feels he has to challenge for every aerial battle anywhere on the pitch, often getting in other players way (Jenkins many times yesterday) this also means he is out of position.

Carroll should be allowed to play up top and just concentrate on scoring goals.

Rossal 11:24 Fri Jan 2
Re: The Positive and Negative Thread - WBA

We've had 1 bad result.......1 game we should of maybe got more from and we was beating by the possible future champions

The bigger picture is to be in the prem when the OS arrives and for me BFS is the man to achieve that. It may not be pretty at times but realistically no-one with a midfield of Noble, Amalfintano, Nolan and downing for the next month is going to piss the ball around half the league and win 2 or 3 nil each week

Reality check is needed here, we are on a bad run we haven't turned into a shit team overnight

Mr Polite 11:16 Fri Jan 2
Re: The Positive and Negative Thread - WBA

I have a horrible feeling OM is right and that he'll be offered another 2 year contract as he is seen as someone who will keep us in the division which they are desperate for especially with the new stadium coming.

Sadly, if they don't renew his contract I just don't trust them to get the rightbt replacement. Saying that by the end of the season Rodgers and Martinez could be available and I'd take either of them!

COOL HAND LUKE 11:15 Fri Jan 2
Re: The Positive and Negative Thread - WBA

Rossal

Almost anybody, with the current squad.

Let's hope the Daves choose wisely.

JGW1 11:11 Fri Jan 2
Re: The Positive and Negative Thread - WBA

I've said for longer than I can remember that as a team we don't do enough off the ball. There's so little intelligent movement to make themselves available for a short pass. Song covers that up by holding and moving well on the ball but when he's closed down there just aren't enough options. The only other quality player who does his job in this department is Cresswell and for me the full backs have been the biggest difference this year.

But it's painfully obvious that the team isn't being coached to play that way and the first option is still the early ball upfield - except now it's got the extra dimension of being useful down the channels as Sakho (and Valencia) have been a big threat there. And again that was the big improvement when they both played before the lump was fit. Lots of balls down the channels.

Put simply we are still a very limited team due almost entirely to the lack of quality coaching and tactics. Shameful stuff.... and Jarvis is fucking hopeless. Don't claim he had a decent game please!

Rossal 11:08 Fri Jan 2
Re: The Positive and Negative Thread - WBA

People calling for Sam's head make me laugh....

We are 7th....7TH !!!!

Who could we get that would improve our league position ?

Dapablo 11:07 Fri Jan 2
Re: The Positive and Negative Thread - WBA

Positive - Nobodies picking on Valencia

ATBOG 11:01 Fri Jan 2
Re: The Positive and Negative Thread - WBA

sg


"To return to the approach that saw poor results last season and the beginning of this can't be to do with ego, it's just absolute, outright stupidity."

There's plenty of circumstancial evidence to support the alleged stupidy. Hamper gate, the supposed property he's bought around the corner from ted..

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