when I watch other sides it's clear they go out to play their game and for the vast majority of premier league sides that is an attacking game; we seem to manage this in our own way against "smaller" clubs but when we play a "rival" club like Liverpool we seem to think we need to try to frustrate them first before we do anything ourselves, maybe if we truly played to our strengths things would start feeling a bit better. I can't remember when we last took to the field against a top 4 side and grabbed the game by the jugular   

13 minutes ago, ForeverCarefree said:

Blimey, it's a wonder you was even able to type that considering how dark the blue tinted specs you're wearing.

There's no way our XI is better than theirs, as much as it pains me to say it.

Their team looks balanced, which I don't think we do but more than that they've got quality depth.

Who do you think has the strongest XI in the Premier League if not City? 

Nice ad hominem.

I am talking about the XI I listed that played today, not their best 11.

And yes our strongest XI on PAPER is stronger than that team fielded today, in my opinion. They had Iheanacho filling in, and Kolarov in center defence ffs -- with fullbacks no better than ours. It is Guordiola who is making them play at the sublime level though.

It's a testament to Guordiola and City that even without some of their best players they are able to play with such fluidity. I mean when the likes of Delph and academy players look like they are world beaters, you know you have a great manager. Similar to Koeman at Everton, his arrival has had a clear impact on their play and they picked up the new way of playing very quickly.

 

Edited September 17, 20169 yr by Saru

5 minutes ago, carrickblue said:

when I watch other sides it's clear they go out to play their game and for the vast majority of premier league sides that is an attacking game; we seem to manage this in our own way against "smaller" clubs but when we play a "rival" club like Liverpool we seem to think we need to try to frustrate them first before we do anything ourselves, maybe if we truly played to our strengths things would start feeling a bit better. I can't remember when we last took to the field against a top 4 side and grabbed the game by the jugular   

So true.

I remember in Mourinho's first stint here we always used to start so strong, and it was our opponents who would be sluggish and not be able to keep up with our intensity. Seems like it has reversed now. Mourinho developed a reputation of playing negative football during his first stint, but it was literally because we started so strongly and then could afford to defend the lead...

Edited September 17, 20169 yr by Saru

WestHamfanTV and chill.

 

I've given up hope of winning the league this year. Manchester City are too good. I can see them going undefeated. We're so much better than last year but not good enough.  

We've been cursed by getting rid of de Bruyne. I'm starting to think that Jose doesn't have the eye for young talent. Froze out de Bruyne yet spends £90 (or was it 100?) on Pogba. 

I think we have a great chance for top 4, but it sucks that our goal this year is top 4. That's like Arsenal, aim for top 4 not higher. 

Really hope I'm wrong 

6 minutes ago, offside said:

I've given up hope of winning the league this year. Manchester City are too good. I can see them going undefeated. We're so much better than last year but not good enough.  

We've been cursed by getting rid of de Bruyne. I'm starting to think that Jose doesn't have the eye for young talent. Froze out de Bruyne yet spends £90 (or was it 100?) on Pogba. 

I think we have a great chance for top 4, but it sucks that our goal this year is top 4. That's like Arsenal, aim for top 4 not higher. 

Really hope I'm wrong 

At the start of the season i said that all i wanted from us was to be competitive, make the top 4 and get back to enjoying watching us play football again, anything else like a cup run or a chance at winning the title will just be a bonus to me. We were so far off last season, it's unrealistic for any of us to think we would challenge for the title again only a season after finishing 10th. The whole squad was a mess last season, it's not going to mend itself in a few months. It doesn't help that the squad is almost the same as last season's squad. If you had told me at the start of the season that Ivanovic, Matic and Oscar were all going to start the first 5 league games and Fabregas would be benched, i would have been a bit concerned by that. 

30 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

At the start of the season i said that all i wanted from us was to be competitive, make the top 4 and get back to enjoying watching us play football again, anything else like a cup run or a chance at winning the title will just be a bonus to me. We were so far off last season, it's unrealistic for any of us to think we would challenge for the title again only a season after finishing 10th. The whole squad was a mess last season, it's not going to mend itself in a few months. It doesn't help that the squad is almost the same as last season's squad. If you had told me at the start of the season that Ivanovic, Matic and Oscar were all going to start the first 5 league games and Fabregas would be benched, i would have been a bit concerned by that. 

I do agree with this. We've had a mixed bag of results so far but I do need to remind myself regularly that this is a team that finished tenth last season. Tenth.

Other than Kante, I don't really believe that any of our other signings are nailed-on, first XI starters so this is in effect the same team. To qualify for the Champions League would be a very successful season in my view and I believe it will be a very tough challenge too. The two Manchester clubs are nailed-on to finish first and second which leaves us, Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool and to a certain extent Everton and Leicester all battling for two places. It certainly won't be easy. Despite this, I do have a lot of confidence in Antonio Conte.

The minimum expectation I have from this team is to be competitive (the first half against Liverpool is the only time I can say that we haven't been so far) but I do look at our squad against our rivals and think that the top four will be very difficult this season.

Edited September 17, 20169 yr by Huttsey

4 hours ago, Scott Harris said:

Burnley are going down again this season, they look completely out of their depth in this league.

I was thinking about this last night, that the Burnley owners are satisfied with being a yoyo club.

Paradoxically, bouncing back and forth indicates a type of stability. They don't make major upgrades to their behind the scenes setup or staff (that includes manager and players) when they get promoted, so when they get relegated there's less chaos and little financial panic. The lack of chaos when they get relegated allows them to immediately challenge for promotion again. 

Bad for the fans but not a bad business strategy and let's face it, for the owners this is a business. 

1 hour ago, Charles Ryder said:

WestHamfanTV and chill.

 

 

Rofl that guy is hilarious. Wish I could hear his commentary live for the West Ham games. 

1 minute ago, Huttsey said:

The two Manchester clubs are nailed-on to finish first and second which leaves us, Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool and to a certain extent Everton and Leicester all battling for two places. It's certainly won't be easy. Despite this, I do have a lot of confidence in Antonio Conte.

Hmm I'm not so sure about Manchester United. Cracks are already showing. They spent so much of the transfer window and transfer budget on getting Pogba Pogba who has done f**k all.

Jose has already shown signs of negativity to the press and blaming the players, suggesting he's letting the pressure get to him. He doesn't seem that confident himself. 

This could be the year Arsenal don't qualify for Champions League. Wenger cracks under pressure, and this year there's more pressure from other teams than in the past. 

I'll be shocked if Leicester challenge for top 4. Then again I was shocked  by them last year. 

11 minutes ago, offside said:

I was thinking about this last night, that the Burnley owners are satisfied with being a yoyo club.

Paradoxically, bouncing back and forth indicates a type of stability. They don't make major upgrades to their behind the scenes setup or staff (that includes manager and players) when they get promoted, so when they get relegated there's less chaos and little financial panic. The lack of chaos when they get relegated allows them to immediately challenge for promotion again. 

Bad for the fans but not a bad business strategy and let's face it, for the owners this is a business. 

is it bad for the fans of a club like Burnley? it means they are almost guaranteed drama every season - that's what we remember, who remembers finishing 10th?

29 minutes ago, offside said:

Hmm I'm not so sure about Manchester United. Cracks are already showing. They spent so much of the transfer window and transfer budget on getting Pogba Pogba who has done f**k all.

Jose has already shown signs of negativity to the press and blaming the players, suggesting he's letting the pressure get to him. He doesn't seem that confident himself. 

This could be the year Arsenal don't qualify for Champions League. Wenger cracks under pressure, and this year there's more pressure from other teams than in the past. 

I'll be shocked if Leicester challenge for top 4. Then again I was shocked  by them last year. 

I understand what you're saying about Man U. I don't think they've fully clicked yet but looking at the other teams I'd also say that I cannot see anyone else surpassing them, other than Man City, so they'll still finish second in my view.                 

the sale of Kevin de Bruyne is going to haunt us for years

3 minutes ago, carrickblue said:

the sale of Kevin de Bruyne is going to haunt us for years

It makes me want to bloody cry. He is just different class. Clearly a world class player.

Seriously I can't think any lower than Jose right now. I remember most Chelsea fans tipping KDB to be the next Lamps but obviously we were so loyal to Jose, he could do no wrong. We were bloody duped, with tinted spectacles.

City are different class with him and Pep.

it's a sorry chapter in the club's history. we're all grumbling about the buying decisions being made now but whoever picked out de Bruyne, and Lukaku, knew what they were looking at 

2 minutes ago, carrickblue said:

it's a sorry chapter in the club's history. we're all grumbling about the buying decisions being made now but whoever picked out de Bruyne, and Lukaku, knew what they were looking at 

That was Emanalo, credit where credit is due.

yeah, fair enough - would make you wonder how our talent spotting machine seems to have gone off the boil

3 minutes ago, carrickblue said:

yeah, fair enough - would make you wonder how our talent spotting machine seems to have gone off the boil

Well there is just a lack of general talent over all. There are at least 10 super clubs (including us) and only a lucky few will unearth one of two young gems. You'll have your chance eventually but it goes in cycles with everyone benefiting over time. It's just a case of making the most and developing them whilst you have them. Utd are doing this with Rashford and Spurs with Ali and City with Ineacho to name a few.

We had Lukaku and KDB and similar to Pogba, gave them no chance and got rid. We had our opportunity and Jose blew it due to his ego.

 

we can't lose to these bums - one minute Wenger out the next he is the best - then to talk smack about DC? - who is the Leading scorer in the EPL at the moment? straight bums need to recognize whose their daddies!!!

I see that Liverpool fans are getting upset with Martin Tyler's commentary on Sky. They think he hates Liverpool because he didn't show excitement for their goals 

I agree with them that he is a poor commentator who only get's excited about goals that have some sort of story behind it, but he doesn't hate Liverpool. They need to realise that they aren't the only ones has had to suffer delayed reactions and monotone commentary from Matin Tyler over the years, every club in the Premier League goes through it. 99% of goals he has commentated on is met with the same monotone response.

3 hours ago, Scott Harris said:

I see that Liverpool fans are getting upset with Martin Tyler's commentary on Sky. They think he hates Liverpool because he didn't show excitement for their goals 

I agree with them that he is a poor commentator who only get's excited about goals that have some sort of story behind it, but he doesn't hate Liverpool. They need to realise that they aren't the only ones has had to suffer delayed reactions and monotone commentary from Matin Tyler over the years, every club in the Premier League goes through it. 99% of goals he has commentated on is met with the same monotone response.

Jesus wept. Is there anything that lot don't get offended over?

1 hour ago, Blue Exile said:

Jesus wept. Is there anything that lot don't get offended over?

I hear they're rather miffed about ourselves, Arsenal, Leicester, Leeds, Blackburn, Man City and Man United conspiring to stop them from winning the league for nearly three decades.

I hear they're rather miffed because some people have said hurtful things about their new stand and how ugly Anfield is

10 hours ago, carrickblue said:

the sale of Kevin de Bruyne is going to haunt us for years

Just get over it. No player is bigger than the club. sh*t happens. This woe is me eulogising of past players is embarrassing past first the couple of months, everything has been said rehashing every time something happens is just winding yourself up.

Finally got over a post every time sturridge or lukaku looked in the general direction of a goal net now we move on to the next thing to constantly beat ourselves down with. Just move on! You are only depressing yourself. Like a bitter ex.

Edited September 18, 20169 yr by Stim

Watford miss a basically open net lol