Today showed one of the key things we were missing last season - Bilic.
I thought he got it totally wrong at kick off, and as if scarred by Fulham's dominance of our midfield last week dropped Krov in when it he wasn't required. With Periera lost out wide, everything had to go down the right, and whilst Phillips and Furlong did their best, it was too easy for Hudds to deal with, and once they got their lead(s) they were happy to close down space and force us to play around between our midfield 3 and patiently await an error.
Bringing Diangana on opened everything up, Periera's passing found space between their lines which Grady and Phillips could exploit, and with Saywers and Livermore focusing on mopping up their midfield and knowing our attacking trio would do the rest we always looked like winning. When Periera, Phillips and Diangana are playing as a trio, there isn't a team in this division who will live with them... they simply have to start when they're all available. Krov-Liv-Sawyers should only be used away from home against sides who'll dominate possession.
For spells today we played some excellent football, and stuck at it against a side that were dogged, but just not that good. What really impressed me was the variety of our set pieces... The short corner for Furlong's goal and then the long one for Ajayi's were really well worked. It's really good to see us adding goals from these scenarios again.
Only frustration was that again we gifted the opposition their goals. We have to cut out these errors as we can't keep getting away with it. For all his good work, I think Bartley showed today why Hegazi needs to come in when fit. He just has too many lapses, and very nearly gifted them a third whilst staring at the bench instead of watching the game.
Johnstone - 7 - No chance with the two goals, distributed well, looks to be growing in confidence despite the boo-boys on his back.
Ferguson - 8 - What a player this lad could be. Does all the simple things right and seems to love defending.
Bartley - 6.5 - Neat and tidy, but one big lapse for their goal, and nearly another.
Ajayi - 8 - Getting better with every game
Furlong - 8.5 - As above
Livermore - 7 - seemed a bit leggy today, but raised his game second half. Think he's better suited to games without Krov, where he has more responsibility to get forward and exploit space FK is usually occupying
Sawyers - 7 - Wasn't as composed as usual - a few sloppy passes, but otherwise what you'd expect.
Phillips - 9 MOTM - Thought he was excellent again today - constant menace, 2 goals and could have had more.
Krov - 6 - First half passed him by, was the right decision to swap him
Periera - 8 - Sublime footballer. Need him through the middle as teams can't live with him.
Austin - 6.5 - Tried hard, but again no goal. Unlucky not to open his account early on, and the keeper made a decent save late on. Shame his best header of the game was the one he put into the Halfords!
Diangana - 8 - Changed the game! Telling every West Ham fan I know he's shit and definitely needs to stay on loan with us, or better yet join permanently...
Zohore & HRK 6 - did what they had to do to manage out the game.
Slav - 8 - Got it wrong first half, but was brave with his changes and turned it round!
Personally I think our game was more affected by how wet the pitch was than by Huddersfield, although they did do well to get numbers around our known danger players.
I felt our usual passing was curtailed by the pitch and it took us the first half to get used to it.
SJ 6
Ferguson 7
Bartley 5.5
Semi 6
Furlong 8
Livermore 6.5
Sawyers 6.5
Phillips 8.5
Krov 5
Pereira 7
Austin 7
Diang 8
Zohore 6
SJ - 7
Furlong - 8
Bartley - 7
Ajai - 7
Ferguson- 7.5
Sawyers - 6.5
Livermore- 6.5
Phillips - 7.5
Krovinovic - 5.5
Periera- 7
Austin - 6.5
Diangana - 8
Zohore - 7
HRK - N/A
Bilic - 8.5
Fans - 4
Thought Sawyers was poor today and Austin was well worth a 7.
Also how often do we seem to be saying "apart from the goal, Bartley did well". Goals change games and unfortunately Bartley isn't good enough
(09-22-2019, 03:44 PM)SW4Baggie Wrote: [ -> ]Today showed one of the key things we were missing last season - Bilic.
I thought he got it totally wrong at kick off, and as if scarred by Fulham's dominance of our midfield last week dropped Krov in when it he wasn't required. With Periera lost out wide, everything had to go down the right, and whilst Phillips and Furlong did their best, it was too easy for Hudds to deal with, and once they got their lead(s) they were happy to close down space and force us to play around between our midfield 3 and patiently await an error.
Bringing Diangana on opened everything up, Periera's passing found space between their lines which Grady and Phillips could exploit, and with Saywers and Livermore focusing on mopping up their midfield and knowing our attacking trio would do the rest we always looked like winning. When Periera, Phillips and Diangana are playing as a trio, there isn't a team in this division who will live with them... they simply have to start when they're all available. Krov-Liv-Sawyers should only be used away from home against sides who'll dominate possession.
For spells today we played some excellent football, and stuck at it against a side that were dogged, but just not that good. What really impressed me was the variety of our set pieces... The short corner for Furlong's goal and then the long one for Ajayi's were really well worked. It's really good to see us adding goals from these scenarios again.
Only frustration was that again we gifted the opposition their goals. We have to cut out these errors as we can't keep getting away with it. For all his good work, I think Bartley showed today why Hegazi needs to come in when fit. He just has too many lapses, and very nearly gifted them a third whilst staring at the bench instead of watching the game.
Johnstone - 7 - No chance with the two goals, distributed well, looks to be growing in confidence despite the boo-boys on his back.
Ferguson - 8 - What a player this lad could be. Does all the simple things right and seems to love defending.
Bartley - 6.5 - Neat and tidy, but one big lapse for their goal, and nearly another.
Ajayi - 8 - Getting better with every game
Furlong - 8.5 - As above
Livermore - 7 - seemed a bit leggy today, but raised his game second half. Think he's better suited to games without Krov, where he has more responsibility to get forward and exploit space FK is usually occupying
Sawyers - 7 - Wasn't as composed as usual - a few sloppy passes, but otherwise what you'd expect.
Phillips - 9 MOTM - Thought he was excellent again today - constant menace, 2 goals and could have had more.
Krov - 6 - First half passed him by, was the right decision to swap him
Periera - 8 - Sublime footballer. Need him through the middle as teams can't live with him.
Austin - 6.5 - Tried hard, but again no goal. Unlucky not to open his account early on, and the keeper made a decent save late on. Shame his best header of the game was the one he put into the Halfords!
Diangana - 8 - Changed the game! Telling every West Ham fan I know he's shit and definitely needs to stay on loan with us, or better yet join permanently...
Zohore & HRK 6 - did what they had to do to manage out the game.
Slav - 8 - Got it wrong first half, but was brave with his changes and turned it round!
Great post as always SW4....
Think your analysis of the game was spot on, i'd change 1 or 2 scores but the game is all about opinions. Never nice to go a goal behind but it was one of those games I always felt we would win and especially when we equalised for a second time. I felt we would go on and get a few and we weren't disappointed. Far better balance to the side with Perreria behind the front man and as you alluded to it allows Livermore to be at it his best.
Johnstone 6.5 not at fault for goals distribution not great
Furlong 8 Played almost as a winger, allowed Phillips to get into the box and support Austin, slightly at fault for 2nd goal
Ajai 7.5
Bartley 6.5 steady but loses .5 for 2nd goal
Ferguson 7
Livermore 7 great second half underwhelming first half
Sawyers 7 distribution to Furlong especially first half was exceptional, needed to link better with Krovanovic
Perreria 6.5 loses a mark for pathetic play acting, needs to cut that out.
Krovanovic 5 anonymous
Phillips 7.5 took goals very well,
Austin 7 needs a goal but I thought played well
Dianganawa 8 his introduction changed game, think we need either him or Edwards in starting 11 every game,.
Game was more difficult than it needed to be. On balance with the first goal I would give massive credit to Huddersfield, well taken and crafted goal, the second was a gift.
(09-22-2019, 03:44 PM)SW4Baggie Wrote: [ -> ]Today showed one of the key things we were missing last season - Bilic.
I thought he got it totally wrong at kick off, and as if scarred by Fulham's dominance of our midfield last week dropped Krov in when it he wasn't required. With Periera lost out wide, everything had to go down the right, and whilst Phillips and Furlong did their best, it was too easy for Hudds to deal with, and once they got their lead(s) they were happy to close down space and force us to play around between our midfield 3 and patiently await an error.
Bringing Diangana on opened everything up, Periera's passing found space between their lines which Grady and Phillips could exploit, and with Saywers and Livermore focusing on mopping up their midfield and knowing our attacking trio would do the rest we always looked like winning. When Periera, Phillips and Diangana are playing as a trio, there isn't a team in this division who will live with them... they simply have to start when they're all available. Krov-Liv-Sawyers should only be used away from home against sides who'll dominate possession.
For spells today we played some excellent football, and stuck at it against a side that were dogged, but just not that good. What really impressed me was the variety of our set pieces... The short corner for Furlong's goal and then the long one for Ajayi's were really well worked. It's really good to see us adding goals from these scenarios again.
Only frustration was that again we gifted the opposition their goals. We have to cut out these errors as we can't keep getting away with it. For all his good work, I think Bartley showed today why Hegazi needs to come in when fit. He just has too many lapses, and very nearly gifted them a third whilst staring at the bench instead of watching the game.
Johnstone - 7 - No chance with the two goals, distributed well, looks to be growing in confidence despite the boo-boys on his back.
Ferguson - 8 - What a player this lad could be. Does all the simple things right and seems to love defending.
Bartley - 6.5 - Neat and tidy, but one big lapse for their goal, and nearly another.
Ajayi - 8 - Getting better with every game
Furlong - 8.5 - As above
Livermore - 7 - seemed a bit leggy today, but raised his game second half. Think he's better suited to games without Krov, where he has more responsibility to get forward and exploit space FK is usually occupying
Sawyers - 7 - Wasn't as composed as usual - a few sloppy passes, but otherwise what you'd expect.
Phillips - 9 MOTM - Thought he was excellent again today - constant menace, 2 goals and could have had more.
Krov - 6 - First half passed him by, was the right decision to swap him
Periera - 8 - Sublime footballer. Need him through the middle as teams can't live with him.
Austin - 6.5 - Tried hard, but again no goal. Unlucky not to open his account early on, and the keeper made a decent save late on. Shame his best header of the game was the one he put into the Halfords!
Diangana - 8 - Changed the game! Telling every West Ham fan I know he's shit and definitely needs to stay on loan with us, or better yet join permanently...
Zohore & HRK 6 - did what they had to do to manage out the game.
Slav - 8 - Got it wrong first half, but was brave with his changes and turned it round!
Accurate, I'd say, SW4. Although it's all about opinions and I think we got some joy 1st half down the right. Diang !!! What a player. Electric.
(09-22-2019, 03:58 PM)Sliced Wrote: [ -> ]Thought Sawyers was poor today and Austin was well worth a 7.
Also how often do we seem to be saying "apart from the goal, Bartley did well". Goals change games and unfortunately Bartley isn't good enough
Agreed with all that.
It was Sawyers who left his runner for their opener as well, not sure he even saw him.
Agree with OP except score for Sawyers. 8 for me. The fulcrum of our team. Composed on the ball, he always seemed to be in the right place to collect Huddersfield's clearances in the second half - and OH!! that pass inside the LB in the first half. It was outstanding.
(09-22-2019, 08:45 PM)chasetownbaggie Wrote: [ -> ]Agree with OP except score for Sawyers. 8 for me. The fulcrum of our team. Composed on the ball, he always seemed to be in the right place to collect Huddersfield's clearances in the second half - and OH!! that pass inside the LB in the first half. It was outstanding.
An outstanding crossfield pass too in the first half. His vision is outstanding and we’ll miss him immensely in games he doesn’t play through injury or suspension.