STM

Look mate. We are shitter than you right now and I don't want any arguments about it.

Hopefully Tinos ankle is OK and it was just sore. Dubravka Tino Schar Burn Hall Bruno Anderson Willock Murphy Barnes Isak

We will get battered off Man United away like. That's 6th gone. Right now I wouldn't fancy us to go to the likes of Brentford and get a result. If we finish 7th we are for the most entertaining run in ever. The main reason we should be hopeful is because West Ham are well capable of losing games.

Eddie making mistakes = Eddie getting sacked is the stupidest shit I've heard. It's not some big gotcha because someone points out that he should have dropped Dan Burn or rested players sooner. What I do is take those negative points and I put them in the Eddie negative pile I have in my head, I look at that pile and say "Yep few things to work on there son", but then I turn around, crane my neck back, and look at the Eddie positive pile which is still blocking the fucking sun because he got us to a cup final and into the CL within the last 12 months. Just for those at the back... its not recognition of mistakes that is the issue, its the lack of perspective.

It's absolutely staggering how many of our fans think they know better than Howe. He's one of the most knowledgeable football coaches I've ever heard speak. I could understand it with frauds like Bruce, Pardew, Souness etc but not Howe. Howe has forgotten more about tactics, systems, training than most on here will ever know. That's not to say he's immune from criticism, provided it's contextualised correctly. Funny how I don't hear those that are critical talk about him getting us into the champions league or having the best defence in the league last year or even suggest who they would replace him with, it's because their own arguements crumble before their eyes.

Personnel. Glad I cleared that up.

I'm just incredibly grateful that some of the ridiculous negativity confines itself to forums and social media. Out and about our manager has massive support and so he should.

It's bad news, sure but part of me thinks this might not be the worst thing. Let's be honest Lascelles shouldn't be starting for us next season anyway, so it's a case of when we can have him back on the bench. It's also important that we focus on a top class CB anyway.

Who's watched the goal back a dozen times?

It was great. Like battling each other and laughing about it. Any friend of Bruno is a friend of ours. Shame it would cost 80 odd million to get him out of West Ham.

Bowen-Kudus-Paqueta are exceptional. Put them in Man Citys side with De Bruyne, Rodri and Haaland they'd not look out of place. The issue West Ham have is that certainly the latter pair will be off very quickly. Kudus could start for anyone.

Its transition. As soon as anyone gets a yard on us, we suffer. We don't have any recovery power, aside Tino. It's also why we chronically miss Joelinton who is by far our most destructive player in defensive and offensive transitions. The man is an animal. We don't concede goal one with Joelinton because Paqueta doesn't get the pass away and we don't concede goal 2 because Joelinton would have stood over the ball preventing a quick free kick or at least would have got back in to help cover Kudus. He's such a miss.

I'd be looking at something like this next year: Pope Tino NEW CB Botman NEW LB Bruno Tonali NEW RW Joelinton Gordon Isak I'm not saying I'd drop Trippier or Schar, I'd just manage their game time better. The front 4/5 is irrelevant, because I don't our ability to score goals. We can chop and change how we like, bring in Willock/Barnes, no problem but our defence needs sorted ASAP. Joelinton will protect Bruno and Tonali and those two will protect our defence. Tonali has the pace and energy to help our defenders in transition and is comfortable enough on the ball to play in a double pivot with Bruno. You get the best of both worlds.

Personally, I thought we got exactly what we deserved for that stupid foul and rolling around on the floor. Aye the ref was shite but we don't help ourselves. Anyway, best comeback at easter since JC.

The kid knows where the onion bag is. Neither Shearer nor Lampard were "skillfull", in that sense but what Barnes lacks in technical skills while running with the ball, he makes up for by having a superb footballing brain. He's basically the opposite of ASM.

Few thoughts: Yesterday felt a massive game, it was either win= Europe is back on, lose= season is over or draw = the unmistakable agony of waiting another week to find out whether we are still in with a shout. In terms of performance, I felt that we were the better team and the stats back that up. More shots, more possession, more territory but that doesn't tell the the full story of our performance. It was very similar to the chaos of Luton/Bournemouth/Forest away, where it felt like it could be any score. Our issues: 1. Under performing players still in the side. Longstaff and Burn (not now) should have been hooked weeks ago and its not whether they are "shite" etc, it's more that there are players on the bench with reserves of energy ready to play, namely Anderson, Barnes, Hall. The side needs an injection of energy and enthusiasm. 2. Our lack of pace in defence. I'm getting really worried about Schar, it might be controversial opinion but his performances have dropped off a cliff. He's more interested in commiting fouls than actually getting back into position. Tripper, Burn Botman and Lascelles aren't exactly quick. When your defenders can't recover in transition, you have a problem have a look at Bowens goal? Who's closest to him... Gordon and Livramento, point made. 3. Midfield shape. Bruno is a superstar.... when we have the ball. Without the ball he's not a natural DM, again another player in our 11 who lacks pace/energy in transition. Now to the postives: At 3-1 I'd decided it was time to take a trip to the petrol station to fill up my lawn mower can. It turns out that Eddie and his players were the only fuckers who thought we could win the game from there. By the time I'd got there we had a pen, by the time I'd got back, Barnes had equalised. One thing nobody can criticise this current group is their character and their desire to score goals. The entertainers by default. So my big takeaway is 2 things: 1. This season is ending like Hitler in the bunker. Nothing is changing. Expect 2 more injuries per game and 6/7 goal thrillers every weekend. Fuck it, 7 games left, let's fucking do it. 2. At the end of the season, the back 6 (including the keeper and Bruno) needs remodeling and needs to include pace. If we do that, our attacking players can win us games, no doubt.

That Barnes winner sounded as loud as any goal celebration as I've heard and I only watched on the TV.

Just think if they had done this back in October, the ban would have run concurrent anyway. The idea the FA fucking about for 6 months could cost Tonali more time out is ridiculous. Fine him heavily. Give him 12 months suspended and move on.

Only in England would we finally learn to produce the volume of high class players required to win a major tournament, only for us to employ someone who'd struggle to get onto the coaching bench at an ambitious championship club. Fuck me, watching world class players with no patterns of play is absolutely soul destroying.

Bellingham should be England captain. Best player. Best attitude. Best everything.

Southgate with 2 inspired subs here.

Brunos pass there was quality.

Not that it matters but Gordon has probably stuck 10m extra on his value in one game of football here. Putting in a performance to cement yourself in the England set up is quite significant.