West Ham Match Thread - Fa Cup

[Portly]

Some (self-styled) Liverpool supporters were ringing the phone-ins this evening, wailing about Klopp selecting an "under-strength" side against West Ham. In my opinion these people are numpties. It's a fantastic opportunity for the manager to get the measure of the youngsters, which is so important for the long-term. Much more important, in my view, than haggling over the price of a player who has scored a load of goals in the Ukranian league.

It's not until the youngsters get the real test of top-level football that you find out what they are really made of.

 

[Modo]

Today, Stewart looked very much like he belongs at this level. Tenacious, physical, made good decisions – only his shooting was wayward. The question is whether this is a one-off or he can sustain this level.

Brannagan has been excellent in every game he started this season. It's interesting that post-match Klopp didn't mention him alongside other youngsters who did well (Smith, Stewart, Ojo, even Sinclair). I read it as Brannagan is already in a different status to the rest of the youngsters – what's good for them is already par for the course for him.

What impressed me the most with Stewart was that he actually played without fear, like someone trying to prove himself.
Showed composure and maturity in several tough situations.
Loved the turn he made when two West ham players were trying to close him down.

It was honestly a top notch DM performance by him. I sincerely hope we get to see him do that again.
He and Brannagan owned the midfield and did an amazing job protecting the back line.
I know that he's 22 but he also performed the way I expect a 22 year old to perform.

These young lads have waited for years to get a chance and I love the fact that Klopp has come in and noticed players that otherwise went totally unnoticed. I mean who would have thought that we'd see Smith, Brannagan, Stewart and Teixeira start a game?

 

[Modo]

Also, I want Caulker to start every game. Finally a defender with some aerial ability bar Skrtel.

 

[Gary25]

Thought Clyne was excellent. Tireless down the right hand side and his attacking play was much improved. Great to see.

 

[peterhague]

Some (self-styled) Liverpool supporters were ringing the phone-ins this evening, wailing about Klopp selecting an "under-strength" side against West Ham. In my opinion these people are numpties. It's a fantastic opportunity for the manager to get the measure of the youngsters, which is so important for the long-term. Much more important, in my view, than haggling over the price of a player who has scored a load of goals in the Ukranian league.

It's not until the youngsters get the real test of top-level football that you find out what they are really made of.

Quite apart from the fact that they actually looked at least as competent and creative as the overpaid wasters in the first eleven.

 

[Modo]

Quite apart from the fact that they actually looked at least as competent and creative as the overpaid wasters in the first eleven.

Fact.

 

[Portly]

Quite apart from the fact that they actually looked at least as competent and creative as the overpaid wasters in the first eleven.

Exactly. With all our injury problems, I am not convinced that the "first eleven" in its present state would have done any better.

 

[gene hughes]

You're joking, right?

Let me tell you a little something about my life Gary. When I was young my mashed potatoes had to be creamy with no lumps. If it was the least bit lumpy I would be appalled and leave it on the plate.

Today as I enter my middle years, I find that I quite enjoy the lumps. In fact my preference is for a 'smashed' rather than creamed approach.

This has now extended to other vegetables. Jean makes a wonderful thing from mashed rutabaga, parsnip, and carrot. She is from Ireland and thus has an instinct for getting the very best out of roots and tubers.

 

[Modo]

Klopp: "Stewart, 5 weeks ago, he was at Swindon & didn’t play too often. Brad Smith, a big step in the right direction. That’s really cool."



The turn I was talking about at 0:35

 

[Modo]

 

[hamstrung_pigeon]

Klopp: "Stewart, 5 weeks ago, he was at Swindon & didn’t play too often. Brad Smith, a big step in the right direction. That’s really cool."



The turn I was talking about at 0:35

During the game, I thought a few of his passes were rather risky in the places they were made, but otherwise, I'm glad he shut me up (re: my pre-game comments about him being the weak link in midfield).

Look at the sequence at 1:15, starting with Caulker's pass to Stewart. Received the pass, dribbled inwards, and made a forward pass that took out three players, to Teixeira, who had been calling for the ball. Teixera's took a delicate first touch on a half turn, one step and fed Benteke for a one-on-one with a delicious pass bypassing three opponents as well. A faster or more alert striker and that's probably 1-0 or a penalty. The simplicity and efficiency on that play was superb.

 

[hamstrung_pigeon]

This kid continues to impress. If Lucas and Allen move on in the summer, he should be ready to get his fair share of minutes in the league.

 

[cloggypop]

Let me tell you a little something about my life Gary. When I was young my mashed potatoes had to be creamy with no lumps. If it was the least bit lumpy I would be appalled and leave it on the plate.

Today as I enter my middle years, I find that I quite enjoy the lumps. In fact my preference is for a 'smashed' rather than creamed approach.

This has now extended to other vegetables. Jean makes a wonderful thing from mashed rutabaga, parsnip, and carrot. She is from Ireland and thus has an instinct for getting the very best out of roots and tubers.

You would love Dutch cuisine Gene. Have a Google of hutspot and stamppot.

 

[hamstrung_pigeon]

Also - hands up who celebrated a little when Lovren clattered Moses twice.

 

[hamstrung_pigeon]

Anyone know when the replay will be played?

Answering my own question here - Feb 9, 19:45

That's in midweek, sandwiched by our league games against Sunderland (h) and Villa (a).
West Ham play away games against Southampton and Norwich on either end of this game.

 

[gene hughes]

You would love Dutch cuisine Gene. Have a Google of hutspot and stamppot.

Nice. Gonna ask Jean to give them a whirl.

 

[Frogfish]

..........It was honestly a top notch DM performance by him. I sincerely hope we get to see him do that again.
He and Brannagan owned the midfield and did an amazing job protecting the back line..........

It was extremely impressive. Before the game there was wailing aplenty about how Stewart/Brannagan/Allen were going to get totally owned by Obiang, Song, Kouyate and maybe Payet dropping back too. Look what happened, virtually the reverse.

 

[Frogfish]

This kid continues to impress. If Lucas and Allen move on in the summer, he should be ready to get his fair share of minutes in the league.

Everybody should watch that again just to remind themselves how good he was. Comfortably MoM. That was a very accomplished performance worthy of a first teamer. Also our best crosser/free kick taker it would seem (maybe doing Henderson a disservice) !

 

[keniget]

Everybody should watch that again just to remind themselves how good he was. Comfortably MoM. That was a very accomplished performance worthy of a first teamer. Also our best crosser/free kick taker it would seem (maybe doing Henderson a disservice) !

I don't know, Henderson is a pretty average set piece taker.

 

[beejay]

Everybody should watch that again just to remind themselves how good he was. Comfortably MoM. That was a very accomplished performance worthy of a first teamer. Also our best crosser/free kick taker it would seem (maybe doing Henderson a disservice) !

Love the kid but his set pieces started well then he underhit every one. Has to work on that.

 

[Woland]

Surprised everyone is so positive after another load of shite served up at home.

That's three games in the last couple of weeks with no goals for us. Three hundred minutes, at Anfield. Oof. We're fucking useless.

 

[Portly]

You should phone in to TalkSport Woland. 😉

 

[Woland]

I enjoyed the game coz I was in the kop for the first time in ages and the atmos was ace, even heard a Joe Allen song... But from that perspective playing Benteke made even less sense. There was zero plan to get the ball wide and back into the box, so what was he doing there? Were we really hoping someone would smash something in from thirty yards? Is that the game plan? It's fucking woeful.

 

[FoxForceFive]

I enjoyed the game coz I was in the kop for the first time in ages and the atmos was ace, even heard a Joe Allen song... But from that perspective playing Benteke made even less sense. There was zero plan to get the ball wide and back into the box, so what was he doing there? Were we really hoping someone would smash something in from thirty yards? Is that the game plan? It's fucking woeful.

We seemed to get it into position to cross it time & again, but the useless lump of shite rarely got into the box, choosing instead to spend his time outside the area for no apparent reason.

When he did get into the box he was just as illogical, always letting the defenders get goalside of him before the ball came in.

That said I get the frustration, we did that thing where we attacking well at pace from the halfway line, then upon seeing the defence, would stop, turn & play it around the continually, as if we expected West Ham to just let us through after X amount of passes.

That's just as much an issue with the first team though, & a lot of it stems from not having a pacy striker imo. If you have a fast striker running towards goal, always on the shoulder of the defender, then the player running with the ball knows there's an outlet & keeps going. The other player's follow suit.

Before you know it you're doing an impression of a proper football team & getting crosses into the a box packed with players from both teams.

 

[moron]

Surprised everyone is so positive after another load of shite served up at home.

That's three games in the last couple of weeks with no goals for us. Three hundred minutes, at Anfield. Oof. We're fucking useless.

Woland be careful - people will see that as having a dig at Klopp even though you are correct about home performances.

 

[Woland]

I went the Tranmere Torquay game before the Liverpool one, and their keeper would get the ball and hoof it up to the big dude who would hold it up or knock it down to someone in the channels, and when they got a free kick, something similar.

None of that ever happens when we play. I'm not saying it should, but I am saying it should if you play Benteke.

 

[FoxForceFive]

Tbf that needs a keeper who can regularly get the ball over the halfway line & kick with some sort of accuracy.

Mignolet is one of the worst keeper's for kicking in this league.

Bogdan is good at that. Unfortunately he's a bit shit at the stopping the ball going into the back of the net thing though.

 

[My_Blood_Bleeds_Red]

See if Woland says it was a shite game you lot put up with it.

Sometimes I dunno if everyone's watching the same game. I spent 10 mins watching that game and i knew we were poor.

 

[Modo]

[xtable]
{tbody}
{tr}
{td}
2 Feb - Premier League

Leicester City{/td}

{td}

vs{/td}

{td}
20:45
Liverpool

{/td}
{/tr}
{tr}
{td=colspan:7} {/td}
{/tr}
{tr}
{td}
6 Feb - Premier League

Liverpool{/td}

{td}

vs{/td}

{td}
16:00
Sunderland

{/td}
{/tr}
{tr}
{td=colspan:7} {/td}
{/tr}
{tr}
{td}
9 Feb - FA Cup Fourth round

West Ham{/td}

{td}

vs{/td}

{td}
TBD
Liverpool{/td}
{/tr}
{/tbody}
[/xtable]


Rest most of the first team against Sunderland and go for the win against West Ham? Or play our best team against Sunderland and the reserves against West Ham?

 

[hamstrung_pigeon]

Was Reid booked for that really cynical collar pull just outside the box at about 2:12?