17-09-2016, 21:54
(17-09-2016, 21:30)Slick_Footwork Wrote: We were not bad, but the result flattered us. We started reasonably well, but the first goal was a complete fluke with the defender handling the ball under no pressure at all. After that we just sat back and hit them on the break, which we did reasonably well in the first half, although did ride our luck with Foster saving from Antonio at 1-0.
Chadli adds that bit of quality going forward and with Field dropping out for McClean, we had a bit more purpose on the break. I'm not a fan of McClean, who I generally regard as a headless chicken, but he played well today.
West Ham bossed the second half with a couple of positive changes. Payet was running the show while they really got at Galloway, who looks absolutely shocking defensively. However, Pulis' changes bringing on Nyom and Mozza for Galloway and tiring Chadli did make the difference. Nyom looked miles more solid at the back while Mozza did a really good job helping to close the game out. To be honest, we probably should've had a 5th at the end if we were a bit more incisive. Phillips missed a pretty good change towards the end where he took an eternity to get a shot away...
On the subject of Phillips, he puts a good cross in and a decent defensive shift, but what has happened to the pace he had during his Blackpool days? Doesn't look like he could beat an egg, so no chance of beating a full back...
Be interesting to see if Galloway plays again. We all know TP likes his defenders to defend first and foremost but this guy is Liam Ridgewell all over again when anyone runs at him. Wingers must be looking at him and thinking it's a free lunch. The guy does look going forward but his positioning defensively is horrible.
