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Yarmouth 11:08 Sun Aug 19
Why are we so lethargic as a team?

I’ve long since thought this, but we just don’t ‘look’ like any other prem team when we play.

Acknowledging that MOTD is just highlights, but every team, literally every team has pace, energy, quick running off the ball, power and creates chances. When you watch live games on TV or at the ground it’s the same.

It’s quick, powerful, penetrating football - we just don’t have any of these qualities consistently.

This is not just a knee jerk reaction because of yesterday, I’ve thought this for many years now.

I honestly thought that we had the opportunity to change this when we pushed the boat out in transfers this season and on top of that with Pelligrini as manager we may break away from the mold of dire, dull managers with no flair that may have stifled the players.

But no. Still laborious, slow, no energy, no movement, no pace – we just look unfit and lethargic. There’s no athleticism, no power, the players just don’t move into positions to give each other options.

Why is this? Is it training methods, poor attitude through the club, motivation methods, no team spirit?

What is fundamentally wrong with our club that causes this?

Yarmouth 12:13 Tue Aug 21
Re: Why are we so lethargic as a team?

Peterboroughiron -

took my ex to the LS last year. Her one and only game and she asked me why WH don't seem to want to run about.

I left her shortly afterward but she had a point.

w4hammer 11:07 Mon Aug 20
Re: Why are we so lethargic as a team?

at least half of the slowness is down to awareness, speed of thought & confidence.

Pick any part of our game which involves an action ( throwin/corner/ free kick) and it laughable how poor we are. Was there anyone in the ground who didnt think their 2nd was going in a soon as the free kick was given- we didnt set, didnt ever look like we working hard enough to stop them- we had 11 in the box FFS!

Add to this how we just kept dropping deeper, turning our backs on players and pinging the ball towards the CB's- noble constantly did this- and then you wonder why other teams grow in confidence.

I see very few grounds for optimism i the problems we have arent fixed over time, or after " gelling" ...

GreenStreetPlayer 10:26 Mon Aug 20
Re: Why are we so lethargic as a team?

In training they should all line up and have a race. The quickest eleven play.

J.Riddle 4:01 Mon Aug 20
Re: Why are we so lethargic as a team?

Excellent thread Yarmouth, this thread should be pinned permanently until the team become fit, quick and energetic for 90 mins over a full season.

This thread pinpoints the exact problem we have had for many years. Fabianski distributes the ball out quick, but our defence slows it down straight away passing sideways back and forth with Noble coming deep to collect and doing the same sideways passing then back to the defence or even Fabianski with no movement in front of them from our midfield with the exception of Wilshere who still isn't the quickest and can't do it alone. More often than not we lose possession at this point dithering under pressure from the fitter and more energetic opposition midfielders.

Once the opposition gain possession their midfielders do exactly what ours don't by moving the ball quickly to one another and through to the quick alert strikers, our pedestrian defence stand like statues half asleep whilst they nip in and score over and over.

As the bloke about 5 rows back behind me shouted on Saturday after the equaliser went in "WAKE UP WEST HAM"! Unfortunately they seem deaf as well as lethargic.

Barty 2:24 Mon Aug 20
Re: Why are we so lethargic as a team?

I'm forever blowing bubbles is a curse...

"I'm forever blowing bubbles,: Pretty bubbles in the air,: They fly so high,: Nearly reach the sky,: Then like my dreams,: They fade and die."


That and the small time mentality from many West Ham fans doesn't help either...

"oh this is so west ham etc. etc"

Capitol Man 1:52 Mon Aug 20
Re: Why are we so lethargic as a team?

The fitness level was truly concerning. We just faded and they grew stronger.

HairyHammer 1:06 Mon Aug 20
Re: Why are we so lethargic as a team?

Last season we had just one player who showed passion for the fans and club Arnie.
I seriously thought a lot last season about the way our players tend to walk through games as the opposition bust a gut well at least it looks like that to me anyway, it looks as someone below said as if the players are not fit and that quite a few are just not good enough for this tough league .

I think the manager has little choice but to accept that what he wants the team cannot do and surely must change tactics.or change the bloody players but God being a West ham fan is hard.

chedylan 2 10:18 Sun Aug 19
Re: Why are we so lethargic as a team?

Unfit players / no confidence / no leaders / not too bothered / no idea what the plan is/ too many of the wrong players?

A combo of the above?

All looks a bit slaven 2.0 at the moment im sorry to say.

HairyHammer 10:13 Sun Aug 19
Re: Why are we so lethargic as a team?

I agree that there are few teams we look better than and that every team looks fitter and faster than us, last season was similar.
If they play professionally they should look decent I do not get it they are quite decent players maybe its the manager, who knows what it is.

David L 9:16 Sun Aug 19
Re: Why are we so lethargic as a team?

It won't happen lars.

We'll be lucky to finish 15th provided Pellegrini can stay awake and interested long enough - which I doubt. He always looks to me as if he's about 10 seconds from saying "oh fuck it I don't need this"

Sir Alf 9:09 Sun Aug 19
Re: Why are we so lethargic as a team?

Lack pace in central midfield and physical strength but fitness too

Need players that can run their nuts off for 90 mins but also more importantly they need to know and want to work as hard off the ball as on it

Bournemouth like Pool were collectively more mobile all over the park and thus able to close and press to restrict our attacking efforts but also expose and stretch us at will when they had it

Our players all need to work relentlessly for 90 mins. What Pellegrini and preciously Bilic did not seem to understand is that you need pace and movement. We will need another transfer window to fix what should have been fixed in midfield

Just hope Pellegrini can find nd a way to get us enough points b4 then to not be sacked

PwoperNaughtyButNot 5:28 Sun Aug 19
Re: Why are we so lethargic as a team?

They probably fail to motivate themselves when they see that Andy Carroll earns more than them all and does nothing for it.

Thanks Sam

lars 4:27 Sun Aug 19
Re: Why are we so lethargic as a team?

Played as individuals yesterday, not much team spirit. Players didn’t want to take on the opposition in one-on-one moves. But it’s early days. Pellegrini has forged winning teams everywhere he’s managed, and he’ll get them organised. Top half finish I predict.

goose 3:26 Sun Aug 19
Re: Why are we so lethargic as a team?

We
Lack
Leaders

On and off the pitch.

Mike Oxsaw 3:24 Sun Aug 19
Re: Why are we so lethargic as a team?

AnotherDay_SameShit 12:34 Sun Aug 19

We need another Pat Holland; always in the shadow of his more illustrious team mates, but always ran his socks off creating outlets for them to work off of.

Vastly underrated contributor to "The West Ham way".

threesixty 2:08 Sun Aug 19
Re: Why are we so lethargic as a team?

I think the reality of West Ham is that managers of our club have relied on a specific player rather than impressing a tactical system of play.

We often have a payet, an Arnie, a carol etc.. that through their individual skill gets us something and we carry on. And then we as fans keep thinking the problem is spending because we’ve been brainwashed into thinking that football is all about expensive players.

What we need is a plan and that plan to be drilled into the players. You don’t need a huge a amount of expensive star players for that. You just need a coach with good ideas and the personality to impose them.

I think Moyes could do that, but people just didn’t like his style / reputation. Personally I would have stayed with him because it’s the only coach I’ve seen actually change the way we’ve played without buying anyone.

But that’s done now. I just hope Pellegrini doesn’t think he’s still in Spain or at the richest club in the world. He’s in east London, in the prem and you can’t fuck about here. You’ll get found out very quickly.

Alex V 1:50 Sun Aug 19
Re: Why are we so lethargic as a team?

stewie griffin 11:37 Sun Aug 19

AnotherDay_SameShit 1:44 Sun Aug 19
Re: Why are we so lethargic as a team?

mike - A player like that also needs to have quality too in todays PL otherwise you would just pick up a grafter like that from the lower leagues. Maybe Sanchez will be the answer or maybe we should have kept Kouyate? Obiang?

Takashi Miike 1:39 Sun Aug 19
Re: Why are we so lethargic as a team?

anotherday, in comparison to west ham type players like brooking/devonshire/peters/bishop? no he wasn't, but not being them didnt make him a headless chicken. every team needs a player who is commited, unselfish and always gives 100%. who in the current choice of central midfield players can you rely on to get the same performance week in week out? there isn't anyone, so how can a manager plan anything if he has no cornerstone to build on?

master 12:55 Sun Aug 19
Re: Why are we so lethargic as a team?

Noble, Ogbonna, Masuaku, snodgrass.
Sanchez, Diop, Cresswell, yarmolenko.
Instantly less lethargic.

LeroysBoots 12:48 Sun Aug 19
Re: Why are we so lethargic as a team?

As i said countless times look no further than the midfield.

Different voach, new players, same mistakes

Surely players that have remained are the problem ?

Noble cant cover the ground we need in midfield

Has to be 3 at the back for the next game with a new DM partnership

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