Graffito

Doubt there is much in this episode but what I dont quite understand is this. Jim Steele was allowed entry but at some point was then asked if he was a member. What isn't clear is why the young kid asked him that. Would the staff generally recognise all members and question anyone they thought wasn't a member?

A thoughtful post. Agree with most of it. I fear for Lambert in this pressing from the front. Attacking does suit us. I disagree slightly regards moving the ball quickly. This doesn't mean necessarily an early ball but moving teams around though if we play a quick one up front in place of Lambert then it makes sense to hit early. High defensive line - yes definitely need more pace in centre of defence. Full backs are fine. On the general point about the squad as a whole, we don't have the players throughout to play this way. We've been a squad in transition this season which is why Adkins has needed to be pragmatic rather than dogmatic about 443 and why he's paid the penalty. Getting the right players in is vital.

Here's Fat Sam crowing about his methods and West Ham's league position in the London Evening Standard in November: "Last season, for example, we came in for some criticism. The opposition considered us the top dogs in the Championship and went that extra mile to try and beat us. Not many West Ham fans were worried about the things which concerned me when I took over, though. We were a football club on our knees, with no soul. None of that mattered. “We are West Ham”, I was often told by supporters, “we should do this and do it in a certain way”. http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/sport-comment/sam-allardyce-injuries-are-the-main-threat-to-reaching-our-target-in-phase-two-of-the-season-8371247.html?origin=internalSearch When we didn’t ‘do it’, such as when we drew too many consecutive games, we were criticised. I didn’t mind it so much as that’s my job but the players felt it on occasions. This time it’s different. It’s our first season back and we’re not expected to be at the top of the Premier League. After all, we only came up through the play-offs but look where we are compared to Reading and Southampton."

You could debate the ranking of the other teams but I would agree with SAints at 13. They are indeed smaller than those above and bigger than those from 13 down.

Find the right answer. 200 pesetas to the first person to re-arrange the above words so they are in the correct order.

I agree they defended high because Saints played a high line. I would say that's different from attacking down the flanks.

He wants the No2 shirt.

May have been so in other matches but tonight I think Clyne was reluctant to get too far forward. Remember what happened at Goodison.

Said so myself. Shaw has compared favourably in consecutive matches with Cole and Bains. Phenomenal player especially for 17 years old.

We didn't give him a run out because he wasn't fit and his head went west. Seems to have got his bearings now. Some good performances lately and is beginning to inspire confidence. well played tonight.

We know his name's not Jose.

Anichebe caused him a few problems.

Couldn't see a difference, it's nigel's team playing pretty much as before but impressed that new bloke was aware of everton's strength down the left. so whereas shaw got forward on the left, clyne rarely got out of position. ramirez was up for it first half, maybe one benefit of having a spanish speaking manager. anichebe turned yoshida a few times. that won"t go unnoticed by the centre back. lambert was blowing out of his @rse at the end.

Family club eh?

We know why he sits on his own now... wearing that girlie anorak.

There was no thank you in Cortese's statement.

What are you on about. How's a kids banner or a thank you to our former manager going to affect the result.

London Liverpool St to Norwich. Now gone up to £24 or £28.50 if you want to get a return earlier than 8pm. Got to gamble on these or the or the rare bargains are lost.

I fear Lambert's days may be numbered due to the way in which Po likes his teams to play. Would be a sad day when he goes to be replaced by a runner.

I see Mo Po has Jes'us as his assistant first team manager. That's quite a coup.

This is exactly how it is not. You only see in retrospect that Adkins replacement of Pardew was a good decision. Your evaluation is influenced by what is sometimes called outcome bias. It's even more tenuous to extend outcome bias to the current situation, i.e. Cortese was right with Pardew/Adkins so he must be right with the current sacking. Consider the current replacement of Adkins by new bloke and tell me it's not a monumental risk.

Formation may have been a factor in the sacking but I don't agree that failure to play 433 or playing 442 made the sacking inevitable. However we lined up, the team tried to play between the lines. There's a place for pragmatism with even the most dogmatic adherents to 443 until perhaps you get to the level of Barcelona. Many of us were saying earlier in the season that we didnt really have all the players required for 433. Maybe Nigel was simply experimenting with variations to get the best out of the players available in a period of transition.

Fans didn't forfeit rights when the Leibherrs took over. We never had any rights as is clearly demonstrated by the debacle that preceded the leibherr takeover. Shareholders had rights but what use were they in preventing the shambles of the plc era? You are probably right that there is no point in protest although I'm not so sure that Benitez won't be removed at Chelsea if the protests at home games continue to affect results. We dont have the luxury of that kind of sustained protest, being 3 points above the zone. Ultimately we can vote with our feet. Potentially that can have a major impact but few will do so because we have no wish to damage the club.

No certainties. All the more reason to manage the risk. On the face of it the risk has increased with this appointment. Needless to say I hope I'm wrong. Taxes fair point. much easier for some to manage - amazon, Starbucks.

I think you are over simplifying. Recruiting hiring and firing football managers is very different to backing a product.