A must-win, 3 points only keeps us in 6th but means only 2 points to the Gooners in 3rd, and with us having a decent run-in. Lloris, Walker, Dier, Vertonghen, Rose. Bentaleb, Mason. Lamela, Dembele, Townsend. Kane. Eriksen is rested on the subs bench, think it's a good decision given his last few performances and Townsend's strong showing against Fiorentina.
0-1 Dembele loses the ball cheaply just outside our penalty area, as soon as that happened could see us getting punished. Now we have a problem, especially as West Ham setup with packed midfield.
Dembele and Lamela have been poor on the ball, trying to be too cute when West Ham are well organised and packing the midfield. Eriksen and Chadli two options to replace them.
No EL, no cup, 4th place gone. Could be a season ending week if we fail to beat Fiorentina and Chelsea. I thought this can only happen at Arsenal.
2-2 In the grand scheme of things, a point is not great, but miles better than losing to these scumbags again Fantastic spirit to keep going to the death.
Allardyce moaning about the officials when decision-wise West Ham got very lucky. Their second goal was clear offside. When the offside player challenges for a header on the cross against the CB and the leftback is deliberately playing him off, then he's active. Also should have been second yellow for Noble, subbing him off right afterwards doesn't excuse keeping 11 players on the pitch when it should have been 10.
I thought we were poor in the middle of the park. Demeble and Mason were very poor in my eyes. I think Mason is a solid backup, but we need to go out and get a solid starter to partner Bentaleb who has been a steady Eddie. Demeble and paulinho gone so we need to get someone in who is going to have steel in there game and be able to fit just our system as those two guys are very good players but they aren't cut out for how we are starting to play. Also depay is a must-- u can't for the life of me understand why benji was not out there today. It was incredibly confusing.
When the pressure mounts, it seems that Mason cracks more than others. Starter, but for a mid-table team. Paulinho has flashes of quality, and it almost seems he is getting time to either try and get back into the rotation or to pump his sell-ability. Demeble should be kept. He has good ball control on most occasions, and is a big, strong guy (even more than when he joined). Might not be first team the way Eriksen is, but definitely a positive factor more than not. And, FWIW, Spurs seem like they are going though a bit of a lull. It was almost like everybody stepped up when Bentaleb was at the ANC, and now that he is back, the intensity has drifted a bit.
How many fecking goals have been conceeded on crosses with every damn defender standing clueless with their hands on their cocks?!?! Get someone who can clear a freaking cross
I like Mason I just think he would be better as an AMC rather then in the midfield proper. Like yesterday I think we should have had him at AMC and more steel in the midfield. Demeble has out of this world ball control and I love him and think he is a tremendous asset, but I worry about how he is fitting into Poch's scheme. I mean he lingers on the ball far too long and with our pitch dimensions and how the wingers cut in we need quick passing to catch opponents out and when he dribbles its wasteful and allows the defense to get back into position. If he could just speed up his decisions and only really dribble when he has to get out of a jam or something I would be much happier. I think a guy like Tom Carroll will be good if he doesn't get a perm to Swansea. He is quick in possession and gets the ball out quick. Paulinho is gone and the only real reason he stayed was because his wife was pregnant so he didn't really have a choice, but to stay for her so some of the younger players will be very much in with a shout to be that backup. I still think we need to go out and get a Left winger, Dmid (this is where we need the most quality in passing and defensive capabilities), and possibly a central defender if Jan decides to toss in his cards and head out. Also getting in another striker like maybe a young English guy to compete with Harry and push him for spots in the English Nat team would be good. I think the most positive thing is Danny Rose is really making a case for locking up that LB role for good with some of his performances of late. He has been much improved.