West Ham United V The Clarets 2pm KO

[dermotdermot]

Why on Earth did he take a winger off and put Brownhill on?

Larsen did fine and it took away any attacking intent to push West Ham back and keep them on the back foot , couple that with a **** weak challenge again that costs us a goal 39 seconds in tk the half. Dreadful second half.

I totally agree. Larsen was playing really well. The best I’ve seen him. Brownhill is, and always will be, a liability. Kompany has lost the plot. He constantly shoots himself in the foot.

[KRBFC]

I can't get on board with the cheating and playacting that occurs every game from us now either.

Barnes was a saint compared to some of the mard arses who currently wear the shirt.

I'm falling out of love with football fast.

Brilliant, make it quick please.

[South West Claret.]

Pot... Kettle

You certainly no all about that sunshine

[fidelcastro]

Brilliant, make it quick please.

If that's your idea of entertainment, you're welcome to it.

[Superjohnnyfrancis]

I totally agree. Larsen was playing really well. The best I’ve seen him. Brownhill is, and always will be, a liability. Kompany has lost the plot. He constantly shoots himself in the foot.

Unless he was injured it was the worst sub he’s made all season and that’s saying something.

[THEWELLERNUT70]

The update have been much appreciated today as I'm away at a charity gig, ultimately though it boils down to keep it tight at the back at the start of the second half, when that went in I was fearing the worst.

A point is a point though

[CrosspoolClarets]

Great battling performance. No one can surely be negative today. Both teams had chances to win it.

Yes but some muppets will.

He put defensive reinforcements on, changed formation, very nearly worked. Ings looks reborn against us, can’t really blame finishing of that quality, but, as I say, some will.

Real spirit to come back after each goal too and should really have won the game even after Danny’s leveller. That was a big plus point.

[PremierLeagueClass]

Much better today. Best bit is, the improvement has triggered the drama queens on here

[lancastrian]

Thought that Burnley played well today. Should have won, two glorious chances in added time.

[Safron]

I can only guess Larson was injured coz everyone could see odobert was the one that should of made way for brownhill to play in a midfield 5, if he wasn't injured then you have to ask yourself what the hell was kompany thinking?

[Rileybobs]

I disagree that bringing Brownhill on was a poor decision. And he had made two clearances from within our box within 5 minutes of being introduced and was involved in chances in their box late on. Odobert was offering practically nothing in a central role in the first half, we couldn’t get our foot on the ball and we weren’t competing for second balls.

The points were lost by gifting West Ham a goal 30 seconds after the restart with another shocking individual error. That gave West Ham all the momentum they needed and it was one way traffic from then on. I really think if we’d kept it tight for 10/15 mins their fickle crowd would have turned and we’d have seen the result out. As it was we were hugely fortunate to take anything from the game.

Our defending in particular would be funny to watch if it wasn’t the team I supported. But this shouldn’t let off the attacking players who are ridiculously wasteful. It’s saying something that with the chances we created today we still only scored from a 30 yard screamer and deflected own goal.

[South West Claret.]

The update have been much appreciated today as I'm away at a charity gig, ultimately though it boils down to keep it tight at the back at the start of the second half, when that went in I was fearing the worst.

A point is a point though

Unfortunately a mere point is not good enough after being in the lead for so long in the game.

[Goody1975]

Why on Earth did he take a winger off and put Brownhill on?

Larsen did fine and it took away any attacking intent to push West Ham back and keep them on the back foot , couple that with a **** weak challenge again that costs us a goal 39 seconds in tk the half. Dreadful second half.

It certainly left Taylor more isolated and Bowen moving to his side made it even worse for him.

[kentonclaret]

One of the positives from this afternoon is that the hard won point takes us off the foot of the table (for now at least).

[Colburn_Claret]

Confidence tho in general is shot so even a 2-0 lead is fragile. Hopefully the generally good performance against Bournemouth (score aside!) and todays draw at a decent West Ham helps restore a bit of confidence.

Upwards and onwards!

Believe me, I hope so, but it's Kompanys job to instil the confidence, especially with a young inexperienced side, and I just don't see anything he has improved over the last 4 months. We've had games where we have got it together, games where we have made chances, but at the end of the day we haven't once shown the courage required to turn this round.
I said a few weeks ago, if we had Lutons fight we'd be top half, but we still look like rabbits infront of the headlights, and that is what is costing us.

[Culmclaret]

At least we are off the bottom. I am pretty sure without checking that 1896/97 is the only season that we have ever finished bottom of a league in nearly 130 years of playing league football. Avoiding bottom spot is all we have to play for now

[Dark Cloud]

One of the positives from this afternoon is that the hard won point takes us off the foot of the table (for now at least).

Yes, I'm actually excitedly anticipating the "wooden spoon decider" at Bramhall Lane in April. I'm definitely getting a ticket as it will be our very own "cup final". (Well and theirs too)

[agreenwood]

The circumstances of any result impact your perception of it, but an away draw at 7th placed West Ham is as good a result as we’ve had for 3 months.

[123EasyasBFC]

Going so defensive to start second half when West Ham didn’t offer anything first half was such a strange decision from kompany, don’t know what’s worse the brownhill sub today or the Tresor sub in 87min at home to Luton

[Benson]

Yes a battling performance but it still doesn’t mean that Kompany should still go and go now in my very humble opinion

Have another go Bonzo.

[taio]

Unfortunately a mere point is not good enough after being in the lead for so long in the game.

Thankfully the Board and the majority of our supporters will think otherwise.

[South West Claret.]

Have another go Bonzo.

…..and the same to you desdamona

[Hedontplayforyou]

There was posters on this very topic clamouring for Kompany to introduce Brownhill at half time, he does, we draw 2-2 and it’s all Kompanys fault for bringing on Brownhill

He simply cannot win either way

Whoever the posters were who wanted Brownhill on at half time were proved just as wrong as VK.

We needed to keep it the same for 10-15 mins and if it was going sideways then make a change. We would have been better off fetching jay on and moving Fofana in to the Tella role on the right.

[dougcollins]

We seem to be the only team bl00dy Ings can score against.

As soon as he came on you just knew.

[South West Claret.]

Talking of a desdamona, this taio decides to post.

[Woodleyclaret]

The only way is up UTC up v Brentford next week another must win game

[fidelcastro]

The only way is up UTC up v Brentford next week another must win game

Must win in terms of what?

Avoiding going bottom again?

[South West Claret.]

The only way is up UTC up v Brentford next week another must win game

Absolutely.

[Burnley Ace]

We seem to be the only team bl00dy Ings can score against.

As soon as he came on you just knew.

That’s because of the way Dyche treated him!!

[Goody1975]

The negatives from the two awful performances against Palace and Arsenal have been somewhat counteracted by the past two against Bournemouth and West Ham.

It's still only bagged us one more point though.

We have the basis of a promotion winning team in the Championship but the full backs and a central midfielder have to be the priorities in the summer.

Cork 2.0 is required to allow Berge and Cullen to pull the strings, that should have been the first position we strengthened last summer.

You control the centre of the park and you control the game, we have been unable to do that all season other than for sporadic periods. We won't dominate but we have to be far more savvy.

[Wokingclaret]

Must win in terms of what?

Avoiding going bottom again?

Sadly so true

[expoultryboy]

I don't agree with that . I agree with VK about bringing Brownhill on , but for Odobert not Larsen . Going 5 at the back just gives the opposition sooo much room in midfield and forces you back . 5 in midfield with Delcroix infront of Taylor and Guddy infront on the right would stop the service to their front 2 . Still , a battling point and no lack of effort.

[taio]

Talking of a desdamona, this taio decides to post.

I'm not sure there's any need for that but I'm free to post on here - unlike you...when you were banished from this messageboard for a long time for insulting Claret Tony.

[Superjohnnyfrancis]

Thrown away a really good first half performance there.

Will be interesting to hear if JBL was injured.

[Quickenthetempo]

We will never have a better chance to win than these last two games.
A poor Bournemouth side and 2 nil up against a dead on their feet West Ham side.

Oh well.

[123EasyasBFC]

Defensive errors have cost us this season and the fact we haven’t had a settled back 4 it’s the main reason, that back 4 have only played 4 games together, you can’t be 28 games in and having a back 4 only played 4 games together

[jedi_master]

Brownhill getting dogs when he was in no way at fault for what transpired after his introduction - but that’s par for the course on here, he’s one of a select few (Vitinho and Taylor are in the same category, oh, and Dyche!) who are fair game for incessant abuse. Brownhill has been crap this season, one of about 20 who have, but I’m confused as to what he did today to warrant him being the main talking point (yet….again) on here. Right guy to come on, wrong guy came off though (surely should have been Odobert).

We lost because of our defence not having a clue how to deal with a lobbed pass or a ball into the channel, hard to see how that is in doubt.

[123EasyasBFC]

Berge had another dominant display today, there’s no way Southgate can be contemplating taking Phillips to euros

[burnleymik]

Brownhill getting dogs when he was in no way at fault for what transpired after his introduction - but that’s par for the course on here, he’s one of a select few (Vitinho and Taylor are in the same category, oh, and Dyche!) who are fair game for incessant abuse. Brownhill has been crap this season, one of about 20 who have, but I’m confused as to what he did today to warrant him being the main talking point (yet….again) on here. Right guy to come on, wrong guy came off though (surely should have been Odobert).

I think you summed it up yourself. He didn't really do or add anything. Taking JBL off made us look worse in the fact he was at least holding the ball up and gave an outball for the long clearance. It was the decision by VK which is the puzzling one. He changed what was working, yet left Odobert on the pitch.

[Rileybobs]

Whoever the posters were who wanted Brownhill on at half time were proved just as wrong as VK.

We needed to keep it the same for 10-15 mins and if it was going sideways then make a change. We would have been better off fetching jay on and moving Fofana in to the Tella role on the right.

Well if we’d have kept it the same for 10-15 minutes it still would have gone sideways after 30 seconds. Easy to blame a half time substitution but it had absolutely no bearing on the shambolic circumstance in which we gifted West Ham their first, and ultimately that set the tone for the rest of the second half.

[Hedontplayforyou]

Well if we’d have kept it the same for 10-15 minutes it still would have gone sideways after 30 seconds. Easy to blame a half time substitution but it had absolutely no bearing on the shambolic circumstance in which we gifted West Ham their first, and ultimately that set the tone for the rest of the second half.

Reducing your attacking options naturally entices the opposition on. It’s the 45+ mins ahead that you’ve set the tone for by signalling your intent to sit back more

[123EasyasBFC]

Well if we’d have kept it the same for 10-15 minutes it still would have gone sideways after 30 seconds. Easy to blame a half time substitution but it had absolutely no bearing on the shambolic circumstance in which we gifted West Ham their first, and ultimately that set the tone for the rest of the second half.

Don’t think brownhill didn’t anything wrong, just don’t think any change needed to be made.

However the weak defending for both goals is frustrating, assignon should have dealt with kudus for the second with ease and not allowed the cross.

Relying on wins away at West Ham is frustrating, win last week and a point today is a good result but now we are looking at having to win 6 of our last 10 to stand a chance

[spt_claret]

Brilliant, make it quick please.

Don't see what's wrong with what he said. You, Nori, and a couple others taking it upon yourself to be fan police is nearly as bad as the likes of StayingDown4Ever's constant boo boy impulses. Plenty of fans want a team to play the right way with integrity- THAT is a team that win or lose, you can be proud of, because they've gone about things the right way. You shat all over Dyche for a good 2-3 years yet now take the moral high ground telling fans to like it or lump it because YOU personally don't have an issue. I personally would much rather see a defensive team that has integrity and honest fair play, than an attacking team that will try and con like the rest. Just because the rest do it doesn't mean I want us to. You act like people are only unhappy because we're losing- I acknowledge that not taking those shortcuts means we're technically at a disadvantage next to teams who do- I'm willing to accept that. Integrity matters to me.

And I'm sure you'll call me a troll or boo boy myself but I've tried to be positive this season, I'm not out to be 'right' or for Kompany to fail or any other crap like that. I want the club to do well,I think 99% of the posters here, and that's true of the majority of the ones you and others keep telling to do one if they're not happy. I couldn't give a toss who's manager or who plays as long as we play with integrity and ideally do well.

You don't get to decide who is or isn't a fan, or why, or what they think is acceptable.

[FCBurnley]

No out ball in second half once BL was subbed. Fofana left on his own. Only so much one man can do. Antonio on allowed Bowen to play one on one against Charlie. Josh just looked lost not sure what to do or where to play. West Ham were obviously going to go for it. Being 2 down at half time they were going to throw everybody forward leaving gaps at the back. Sadly we decided to leave Fofana as a lone striker. VK clearly did not watch West Ham come from behind at ht to beat Brentford 4-2

[Superjohnnyfrancis]

Don't see what's wrong with what he said. You, Nori, and a couple others taking it upon yourself to be fan police is nearly as bad as the likes of StayingDown4Ever's constant boo boy impulses. Plenty of fans want a team to play the right way with integrity- THAT is a team that win or lose, you can be proud of, because they've gone about things the right way. You shat all over Dyche for a good 2-3 years yet now take the moral high ground telling fans to like it or lump it because YOU personally don't have an issue. I personally would much rather see a defensive team that has integrity and honest fair play, than an attacking team that will try and con like the rest. Just because the rest do it doesn't mean I want us to. You act like people are only unhappy because we're losing- I acknowledge that not taking those shortcuts means we're technically at a disadvantage next to teams who do- I'm willing to accept that. Integrity matters to me.

And I'm sure you'll call me a troll or boo boy myself but I've tried to be positive this season, I'm not out to be 'right' or for Kompany to fail or any other crap like that. I want the club to do well,I think 99% of the posters here, and that's true of the majority of the ones you and others keep telling to do one if they're not happy. I couldn't give a toss who's manager or who plays as long as we play with integrity and ideally do well.

You don't get to decide who is or isn't a fan, or why, or what they think is acceptable.

Fan police I like that

Like the VK Gestapo don’t you dare insult our messiah!

[Rileybobs]

Reducing your attacking options naturally entices the opposition on. It’s the 45+ mins ahead that you’ve set the tone for by signalling your intent to sit back more

That’s a very simplistic way of looking at it. Odobert was offering absolutely nothing in the no 10 role. He couldn’t hold the ball up or compete for second balls. As a result we couldn’t get our foot on the ball. We conceded straight from kick off due to a poor individual error, we then faced a short onslaught but actually recovered some control of the game for the middle portion of the second half before West Ham finished strong.

Reducing your attacking options doesn’t necessarily make you less attacking. And teams don’t win or lose matches by signalling intent.

[CoolClaret]

You don't get to decide who is or isn't a fan, or why, or what they think is acceptable.

Bang on - great post spt.

[Superjohnnyfrancis]

Were they playing 4-5-1 in first half? If so they need to stick to that best they’ve played all season

[Clovius Boofus]

What a thread. If negativity was a commodity, this site would be blue-chip rich.

[Wokingclaret]

What a thread. If negativity was a commodity, this site would be blue-chip rich.

Oh, really, West Ham were blowing Boos at HT