I also thought the major difference today was that we were moving the ball fast, which helped things a lot.

Good result think it's nights like tonight that if we didn't have hazard we'd probably have dropped points that game.First goal definitely a contender for goal of the season.We are F**ked if we lose him in the summer.

 

Elsewhere thought Rudiger was a beast controlling that back line David Luiz looked really off just happy he didn't make any major mistakes.Emerson was very good again.Higuan apart from chasing down lost balls he's just not good enough.CHO wasn't as involved as he was in the Brighton game,but he wasn't bad he's still young lot to learn looking forward to seeing more of him in the future.

 

Up to 3rd happy days.Come on Chelsea?

9 minutes ago, just said:

Nah, I think it's the team selection that's made the difference. 

Hazard was the difference, but the changes have also made a big difference, no doubting it.

Sarri post match interview sounds to me that hazard will be gone.

 

Just now, Jezq8 said:

Sarri post match interview sounds to me that hazard will be gone.

Of course he will. We have to be prepared for that. 

11 minutes ago, abramovich said:

I also thought the major difference today was that we were moving the ball fast, which helped things a lot.

Our movement through midfield was also much better. Jorginho wasn't covered and he was able to orchestrate. Ruben was also great. His power meant we had two extra options. One for him to turn and run at the defence and one for him to hold the ball attract defenders and then release to a player at speed. That broke their defensive lines up. Too often with Barkley/Kova their approach is just to drop and pass straight back to Jorginho without having moved the defence's midfield line at all.

That said I thought Barkley was great when he came on. Slowed the tempo and stopped it being end to end which was suiting West Ham

The Gaffer speaks about the match

 

Great team performance but nearly suffered from not taking our chances. The Hammers fought hard and our midfield lost out for long periods in the 2nd half. Luiz looked knackered even though he had a match off but our defence were solid. CHO is very good despite a few errors. RLC excellent and Barkley's pass was sublime. Thought both Huguain and Giroud were good and were unlucky not to score. Also great to see Emerson improving match by mstch.

Great team performance but nearly suffered from not taking our chances. The Hammers fought hard and our midfield lost out for long periods in the 2nd half. Luiz looked knackered even though he had a match off but our defence were solid. CHO is very good despite a few errors. RLC excellent and Barkley's pass was sublime. Thought both Huguain and Giroud were good and were unlucky not to score. Also great to see Emerson improving match by mstch.

35 minutes ago, DP2 said:

Looked even better on the ball this week. Worrying how bad we are when we turn it over. Still, 3rd place and possible Europa League.

Agreed. Same thing happened with City after Pep’s first season. They worked on it in pre-season and now they look solid at the back.

Look at the faces of the West Ham fans after Hazard’s wonder goal, rollercoaster of emotions among that lot! 

4 minutes ago, ForeverCarefree said:

Look at the faces of the West Ham fans after Hazard’s wonder goal, rollercoaster of emotions among that lot! 

I am sure spuds fans were feeling the same way :Troll_Face:

 

10 minutes ago, EmeraldBlue said:

Great team performance but nearly suffered from not taking our chances. The Hammers fought hard and our midfield lost out for long periods in the 2nd half. Luiz looked knackered even though he had a match off but our defence were solid. CHO is very good despite a few errors. RLC excellent and Barkley's pass was sublime. Thought both Huguain and Giroud were good and were unlucky not to score. Also great to see Emerson improving match by mstch.

I actually thought he was horrendous tonight. He slows everything down and his attitude stinks, he just stands and shrugs his shoulders if he doesn’t get the ball. He’s so slow at running as well. Most of the people around me couldn’t believe it had taken so long to take him off. 

 

He’s incredibly poor. Giroud coming on was night and day in my opinion. 

ENJOY!

 

btw do we all agree that this was a PK?

Probably was, but I think most neutrals would say it's 50/50.

So we are back in the top 4 race comfortably now. A few days ago the Red Café crowd said we wouldn't make it.

We might not yet they didn't see themselves being at no.6 either!

hey @mojo do you have any *.gifs of RLC today? There were some plays where RLC looked a Grown Ass Man vs some boys today

38 minutes ago, ForeverCarefree said:

Look at the faces of the West Ham fans after Hazard’s wonder goal, rollercoaster of emotions among that lot! 

Probably get a retrospective ban for the rest of the season for inciting the fans. 

33 minutes ago, robdog said:

btw do we all agree that this was a PK?

It's a penalty even in rugby union

5 minutes ago, Munkworth said:

Probably get a retrospective ban for the rest of the season for inciting the fans. 

One Hammer who knows quality when he sees it. 

38 minutes ago, EdinburghBlue said:

I actually thought he was horrendous tonight. He slows everything down and his attitude stinks, he just stands and shrugs his shoulders if he doesn’t get the ball. He’s so slow at running as well. Most of the people around me couldn’t believe it had taken so long to take him off. 

 

He’s incredibly poor. Giroud coming on was night and day in my opinion. 

I think Giroud certainly looked more dangerous with the ball.  I wouldn't dismiss Higuain though, his work off the ball in the high press was good. Better than anyone since Diego. That is important as we're now asking him to lead the press rather than having a midfielder do it which has been problematic for our structure. There was a lot less of Jorginho pressing high tonight. He sat deeper to cover which worked well.

47 minutes ago, ForeverCarefree said:

Look at the faces of the West Ham fans after Hazard’s wonder goal, rollercoaster of emotions among that lot! 

4 folded arms, 4 w'anchors, and one twat picking his nose 

 

14 minutes ago, robdog said:

hey @mojo do you have any *.gifs of RLC today? There were some plays where RLC looked a Grown Ass Man vs some boys today

sorry