In the Best Meze cafe uber fans Matt and Lisa have already seen two games in two days with the West Ham kids. They've been suffering from tardy waitress service but have kept open the option of no-meal. Michael the non-Whovian arrives and in Hobbit-like fashion consumes his second lunch. Then Nigel and CQ arrive still reeling from indicative votes and red lines, ready to debate our eight post-match pint options.
We trek to the London Stadium and find a hatted Fraser, Scott and Alison, fresh from a controversial swearing at Mini Mouse incident at Disneyland (you can take the girl out of Essex, etc).The crowd are in good voice after an afternoon in the pub and all seems set for an enjoyable afternoon until the football intervenes.
The Irons start terribly and get worse. We concede a soft goal from a corner after four minutes. Zouma wants it more than Diop and his header bounces down and up over Cresswell's head and into the net.
QUALITY OF MERSEY STRAINS HAMMERS
Everton are breaking at will down the flanks and new captain Cresswell is having a torrid time against Richarlison. Fabianski has to make a fine double save from Calvert-Lewin and Sigurdsson as the Toffees penetrate our right flank. Then he has to make another good stop from Digne on the left. To make it worse Nigel has forgotten his lucky banana.
The second is inevitable as Richarlison and Coleman combine to cross for Barnard to tap home past a static defence. Fabianski has to make a smart stop with his feet to deny Richarlison. This isn't Huddersfield and we can't continue to give teams a two-goal start.
Arnautovic slips when given a half-chance and Lanzini dithers and a chance is gone. Snodgrass shoots wide and that's about it. Arnautovic does at least look vaguely up for it but Perez is a strange selection and has a terrible half, admittedly without any service.
Lanzini is lost out on the left and we womdfer of he will ever be the same player again after his serious knee injury. Obiang is being bypassed and Zabaleta is being exposed for speed. Without the injured Anderson it's clear that the Hammers have little idea how to create, though the lack of desire is inexcusable.
REALLY PEP IT UP AND MAKE IT MEDIOCRE!
At half time Pellegrini exchanges Perez and Obiang for Antonio and Hernandez, though the team is surely demanding some leadership from the unused Mark Noble. It's an easy stroll for Everton with Calvert-Lewin twice going close and Richarlison thumping a header against the bar.
Antonio tries hard but runs into defenders and down blind alleys. Arnie has a strop after being substituted (and it is a bizarre decision by Pellegrini to leave Chicharito as a lone striker) and his replacement Diangana gives the ball away too often, though it's a difficult game to come on in for a youngster. The Vicar's Son's patience is severely strained.
Everton have played well, but there's never a hint of a comeback from WHU and it's easily the worst performance of the season. It could have been 5-0. Had this been under Allardyce or Moyes the fans would have been in uproar, but Pellegrini, for all his attacking intent, has serious questions to answer. He's coached us all season without ever sorting out the defence — and if WHU defend like this next season we'll go down.
The seats empty around us and at the final whistle we take an indicative vote to join Lisa at the Bat and Ball bar in Westfield, our 93rd venue at Stratford. The bar service is as efficient as West Ham, giving Matt an extra pint and a mystery pint that isn't Punk IPA. He bemoans the fact that he has to work an 18-hour day tomorrow and is losing an hour with the clocks changing. Apart from that everything is fine.
Still at least West Ham have made a clear statement on Europe — we are definitely not for joining the Europa League and might be electing to leave the Premier League next season if we continue to play like this.
PLAYER RATINGS: Fabianski 7; Zabaleta 4, Diop 5, Ogbonna 4, Cresswell 4; Snodgrass 4; Obiang 4 (Antonio 4), Rice 5, Lanzini 4; Arnautovic 5 (Diangana 4), Perez 3 (Hernandez 4).
5 comments:
Shocking display, as you say Moyes or Allardyce would have been roasted after that, I say Moyes or Allardyce could have got us to 10th and I'm asking why pellegrini is worth 10 million
He's not been an improvement in terms of positions. I think Moyes would have got us mid-table this season. Manuel's more entertaining, but mainly because we are often chasing games. Pellegrini needs to prove he can take us further next season considering the money he's spent... certainly need a couple of new full backs and a striker and a lot of work still to do.
Hi Pete, yes an uninspiring enigma! Classic West Ham really, its a tough job managing the squad these days. With out Anderson the midfield looked a bit impotent and why was Noble was on the bench. Arnie headspace is troubling and I thought he was largely ineffectual and somehow needs to be got back on track. Everton by contrast were on form and energised by the early goal. at least were are not facing relegation again and have a bit of time to sort this out hopefully. COYI
I fear for us for the rest of the season, I mean have you seen the remaining fixtures. Tony Cascarino in Saturday's Times had us finishing on 45 points. On the evidence of Everton I think he's being over-optimistic.
We could lose all the difficult away fixtures and Leicester look revitalised. We might be able to beat Southampton if they are already safe but it's not looking good. Roll on next season!
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