Following the 0-0 draw at Craven Cottage, all of the media attention has been focused on Tomas Soucek's ludicrous red card, awarded in stoppage time, by 'Mike Pearl & Dean' in keeping with his profligate ability to dish out red cards. As a result of his 'Specsaver Moment' of the highest order, Hammers lamentable performance against Barclays Premier League strugglers Fulham went generally unnoticed.
West Ham were as bad against Fulham as they were good against Everton earlier in the week, David Moyes's team looked 'leggy' to a man including the ever present Declan Rice, it was as if the frenetic schedule of games coming one after another had finally begun to take it's toll on the team, in a similar way as to what has happened to all the other 'top six teams' contesting the coveted European Cup competition places.
The performance against Fulham was bad enough, but David Moyes's choice of substitutes had conspiracy theorists thinking that he may have had a 'side bet' with a far eastern betting syndicate as to the most unlikely subs to bring on, Yarmolenko, Noble and Fredericks, come on what was in Moyes's mind at the time, playing for a point against Fulham?
The hectic schedule West Ham have had to endure is no different to all the other top six clubs, but injuries and potentially damaging suspensions might just derail any hopes of Europe. - Ed
Comments
The subs were again well off
The subs were again well off the mark and not conducive to winning all 3 points...I'm so over the refereeing in English football...its as if they've given in to european football antics and its shite. We all know it will be recinded, but seriously, these days, will it ???
Looking for a big Cup win against there red mancs that's for sure COYI
Yesterday's team was tired,
Yesterday's team was tired, without ideas, even Moyes with those sensational mistakes in substitutions, he should have included Fornals or Lanzini, there was too much detachment from the midfield in attack. Antonio didn't have the balls. There was also a need for another striker. It looks like Moyes wanted to play for a draw. Mike Dean is ashamed of the expulsion in Soucek.
Going to have to up our game
On Tuesday,they did look tired & if fulham could convert they could have had 5....
Point gained more than two lost
We are still a work in progress and yesterday showed that we should all keep our feet on the ground and as poorly as we played yesterday i prefer to applaud the way Fulham made us play....they were on the front foot from the off had good pace and movement and we coped JUST.....only thing i disagreed with was the MOTM award as i think it should of gone to Loftus Cheek and if i was Moyes i would make him a target in the summer because i do not see chelski keeping him....in the past we would of lost this game and if you look at the spuds and gooners performances of late i think we did ok...forget the top four nonsense just enjoy the fact that it is February and we don't have to get the abbacus out and figure out equations on a Hawking level as to how we will stay up!
Good post Mac
We are still right up there,they'll be blips along the way & we would have lost that in previous years,always rated loftus cheek & would be ideal for us
The Endurance Season....
The red card certainly detracted from our level of performance, but if the truth be known this "Endurance Season" is just that and as supporters, it is easy to forget the relentless rate of games, their importance and the size of our squad at times. I'm sure there will be a few more games that we'll have to write off before the season comes to an end.
I think we have a good team,
I think we have a good team, but still not good enough to keep it going week in week out,as the likes of Citeh does,thats what makes the top four teams different from the rest,theres still a few adjustments needed to get there,but we are hard to break down which is something we havent been for years.
Spot on Essex
Teams like Fulham are fighting for their lives,we are still 5th which is incredible for us at this stage of the season,dont play great sometimes but like you say we are still hard to breakdown & as Mac says it's a work in progress
yes agree
and on the bright side one more point and we are safe from the drop yipeee
All teams are having their
All teams are having their moments ... there will be bad nights ... but if you get past those nights with a point then you can take stick and recoup ....
Ive no doubt the dreadfull
Ive no doubt the dreadfull conditions played a part ,its different for a team fighting for their lives but when your used to relegation seasons being so near the top must have a laxy daisy effect .
I loved the way Vlad took the red personally ,standing in front of Torvil for about 5 mins after the match defending his mate and fellow countryman