West Ham Utd 2 Millwall 1 (04/02/12)

[NXA]

Great win for West Ham yesterday! Both for the local bragging rights and the extra points clear at the top because Southampton were held by Birmingham City. I think you'll kick on now and win automatic promotion. Doing it with 10 men was also really positive.

Millwall look doomed this season. I can't believe one of the tabloids suggested Roy Keane was being lined up to replace Kenny Jackett as Manager. He'd be more suited to march their Yobs down the Old Kent Road of a Saturday.

He would fit right in down there with his daawgs

[w4hammer]

amongst all the (rightfull) euphoria about a cracking and deserved win- can anyone give me any kind of hope with respect to jack collison. Im astounded at what a shadow of his former self he is, and saturday he was embarassingly lightweight and ineffective - remember the jack that burst onto the secene..he used to glide across the pitch, had time and visons and always a threat around goal. Now cant seem to run, wont tackle and hides all game long..

The bloke is going backwards, really isnt he?!

[wizzo_66]

Fantastic win and a great atmosphere from all areas in the ground which made a great change! Think it showed what we can do if we get the ball down and pass it. When we went down to ten men, we could no longer hit the long ball because we had a slim chance of winning the second ball off of CFC. It meant that we had to play it on the ground, and when we did, we played the best football I have seen at the Boleyn all season. I also think it highlighted that we effectively play with 10 men when Nolan is on the pitch anyway. . In all seriousness, thought it was a horror tackle, he's a complete helmet and I can't wait to see the back of him. Noble put in a captain's performance today and I am glad he will be captain for th next 3 games.

Brilliant day out, best I have had all season, the lads ran their nuts off as Nobes said, & what a strike from Reid!!!

[Hambrosia Stu]

amongst all the (rightfull) euphoria about a cracking and deserved win- can anyone give me any kind of hope with respect to jack collison. Im astounded at what a shadow of his former self he is, and saturday he was embarassingly lightweight and ineffective - remember the jack that burst onto the secene..he used to glide across the pitch, had time and visons and always a threat around goal. Now cant seem to run, wont tackle and hides all game long..

The bloke is going backwards, really isnt he?!

A lot of that is absolute rubbish, imo
Massively over the top

I thought he did okay. As well as you could hope for really. Sure, playing at LM in a side reduced to 10 men is hardly playing to his strengths, so he was hardly likely to shine. And sure, when Taylor came on in his place it was an improvement, as we then had a left sided player playing on the left, in his natural position, doing all the things you want a LM to do, and doing it naturally as it is where he has built a career playing.....

But I thought Jack did okay. Much like he has in that position all season. Solid, but not particularly effective.
I spent most of the game, once Taylor was on, thinking the missing link in that side is Jack Collison. Our defence was good, our midfield 4 was excellent, and as good as I've seen all season, Carlton was doing well.... with 10 men. There's obviously another place available when we can pick 11 players, and to my mind that space should go to Jack. If we can have the same 10, with Collison playing between Cole & the CM's, we'd have pretty much our best line up, imo, and would have a chance to see Jack actually play in his favoured position.
Come on Sam. This is your chance to have a look at Jack playing, now Nolan is missing

[w4hammer]

A lot of that is absolute rubbish, imo
Massively over the top

well lets not fall out about it, but I dont think anything ive said is "rubbish" . When you go down to 10 men, you need every player to add a little bit, show a bit more and err just do better- he has a chance to do that, and alI saw was a bloke hiding (truly, hiding behind players) weak attempts to win & gain the ball, just nothing of any note. Again, this sint the premiership where he clearly held his own, it was against that bunch of ****ing carthorses

Dont get me wrong, I'd love him to come good, I just dont see any glimmers of light from a performance like saturday-- and presumably thats why he was hauled off at half time..

[durham city hammer]

Thing is though he doesn't stay on the left and he certainly didn't on saturday which was why he was took off imo, i kept saying to the old man on saturday, where the f*** is collison meant to be playing? he was either in the middle or wandering over to the right, i don't want to knock him too much cos he wanted to get involved but my point is, he was supposed to be playing out of position but in reality i don't think he actually was! i hope he comes good i really do and i won't complain if he gets a run now nolan is suspended, i'm just not sure saying he is playing out of position is entirely valid!

[w6hammer]

Collison has been disapointing,he just doesnt seem the same player.We all know he had a serious injury a few years back and understand its hard to come back the same player.I was hoping more from him by this stage tho and IMO Taylor improved us on saturday.We would all like him to recapture his form pre-injury but to date i have not seen evidence of it.

[exiledhammer83]

After the drubbing at Ipswich, I really wasn't sure that our lot would have the heart to stand up and be counted. Yes it was against Millwall and that in itself should be more than enough motivation, but I have questioned the desire and belief of some of ours over the past couple of seasons. To be fair I think it was nailed on that Noble would have been our top man in this one even before kick off. The guy lives and breathes West Ham and knew exactly what was expected. He seemed liberated by the sending off and took control of the midfield superbly. Regardless that is was Nolan who saw red, the fact is we were down to 10 men after 9 minutes and that in itself could have seen us fall to pieces. Millwall must have thought it was going to be their day, but sorry lads..quite simply you lot are s**t. A better team may have gained an advantage and pushed us alot harder, but for me Millwall look a very poor side. Anyway, one thing I didn't expect from the game was the performance of Faubert. He was majestic. I've honestly never seen him play like that for us. He had them on the back foot all day, boy did he put his hand up and put a shift in for the cause. Tomkins shone and I've had my doubts about him in the past, but faultless out there on the day. Cole was getting some stick early on from the crowd, myself included. I got it wrong. It's amazing sometimes how different a performance can seem when you watch it back on telly later. He was the perfect target man for us and I'm made up for him that he got a goal. Solid performance from him. Collison was not quite on his game, but maybe he isn't suited to the style of play in the Championship. It looks like it stifles his ability a bit. I still think he'll be a top player, but just needs to be playing at the highest level against and with quality players. So, nice one West Ham. You showed me and the rest of the division that you've got bigger balls than most and gave us fans a performance to savour. COYI!!!!

[AMC1964]

I was watching on a stream yesterday.

It reminded me of the 1-0 against Wimbledon when Dicks got sent off, the remaining 10 played like men possessed, and Martin Allen volleyed the winner much like Reid did.

Was the atmosphere similar?

I can assure you that the atmosphere was significantly different mate. A match against wimbledon is hardly likely to get the hackles raised now is it?

[Clacton-ammer]

I think Collison was the poorest I have seen him on Saturday, I can forgive bad passes, bad tackles etc but he seemed to lack a real desire for me, twice posession was lost and he gave up chasing back, that is poor in anyones book.

Like everyone I hope he makes it back, you will play poorly, everyone does but when I look and think the desire has gone to work your testicles off then he needs a rocket, Sam done that, and fair play to him for making the change in the second half.

On a postive note, what a cracking performance from the boys, Faubert and Noble were the two stand outs for me, supported incredibly by the other eight. Leaving the Boleyn on Saturday was just magic and gave me a real buzz, best second half I have seen for many many months

[swash]

Have to agree, post injury Collison does not look a decent player at all.

Cannot see him playing any part, if we make it back to the top flight, especially as Allardyce will not keep him, just because he is a product of the Academy.

[smuts]

A match against wimbledon is hardly likely to get the hackles raised now is it?

Did you go to that Wimbledon match? I remember the atmosphere was brilliant throughout.............

[rare as rockinghorse shat]

w4hammer

You're not alone.

Even when Collison broke on to the scene, I thought there was a lot of people grossly overrating him. I've never been the biggest fan of his as a player.
He has been average this season in a league where he should be stepping up and showing his supposed class.

He's an ok player, nothing more.

Never nice being harsh on a player from the academy.

[smuts]

I forgot he was playing on Saturday......

To be honest, either play him in the centre or not at all.

[Tarbs]

JC appears to be having a dip in his development, and considering the injury I am sure we all agree that was expected. He has the rest of the season to find his feet again and I think and hope he will follow in the footstep of Noble. He had a bit of a dip in the last two season but has really come out of Parkers shadow this season.

I think Taylor will come in for Jack at the weekend, we looked like much more of a threat when he came on.

[the pink palermo]

w4 Hammer , Collison did not play well on Saturday , and was quite rightly subbed .

His form has been patchy this season as you would expect following return from a serious injury .A key point to remember is the amount of development time injury has cost him in the last several years .

There's still time for him to come good , but all players have bad patches from time to time .This season, as far as he is concerned should be all about getting as much pitch time as possible , and continuing to learn his trade .

The club has been fair, offering him the security of a further 2 years on his contract to give him peace of mind as he gets his game together .

[dub]

Much better performance today.

Having Faye back was vital, he handles the big occasions well and I feel his calmness rubs off on the other players.

Faubert worked very hard along with Noble, both top draw today.

Cole got the goal and Tomkins did very well in his role today, good back up for Papa Diop if hes injured.

Reid took his goal very well for a centre back, good day all round

I prefer Joey O'brien right back, think he is a underrated player, its just his lack of pace thats worrying.

I thought he played well, looked composed and calm on the ball, did tend to get sucked into the centre of defence a little but wastes very little of the ball when he gets it and did not get beaten often ( if at all).

Thought the sending off was understandable as the tackle looked worse than it really was, but had the ref seen it for what it was he'd have just booked Nolan. I thought the Millwall keeper made a cock of the saecond goal, he overcommited and fcuked up. It was rightly allowed to stand.

Cole was a handful all day but I must say I thought Millwall were awful, if they satay up then the teams below them would have to be poor poor sides.

[Hambrosia Stu]

IMO Taylor improved us on saturday..

Of course he did. He's a left midfielder, is left footed, and has the best part of a decade's experience of how to play that position.
Collison is a young, inexperienced CENTRAL MIDFIELDER. No great suprise he has hardly excelled when being used as a round peg in a square hole

I started off thinking it never does a young player still learning the game any harm to get a run out in an unfamiliar position. I'm starting to think his head is starting to drop now, as he never, ever, gets played in his best position

To be honest, either play him in the centre or not at all.

He is an attacking central midfield player. You wouldn't expect Nolan, or Noble to do as good a job as Taylor on the LW, so why do people assume Jack should?
And likewise, because he isn't a DM, why do people assume he should be making tackles like Diop?
I still think there is an excellent player in there, but he needs a chance to play in an attacking central role. Hopefully he'll get that chance now Nolan is out for 3 games

[ymcahammer]

amongst all the (rightfull) euphoria about a cracking and deserved win- can anyone give me any kind of hope with respect to jack collison. Im astounded at what a shadow of his former self he is, and saturday he was embarassingly lightweight and ineffective - remember the jack that burst onto the secene..he used to glide across the pitch, had time and visons and always a threat around goal. Now cant seem to run, wont tackle and hides all game long..

The bloke is going backwards, really isnt he?!

he was so poor on Saturday, weak...
what a shame

[Hambrosia Stu]

well lets not fall out about it, but I dont think anything ive said is "rubbish" . When you go down to 10 men, you need every player to add a little bit, show a bit more and err just do better- he has a chance to do that, and alI saw was a bloke hiding (truly, hiding behind players) weak attempts to win & gain the ball, just nothing of any note. Again, this sint the premiership where he clearly held his own, it was against that bunch of ******* carthorses

Dont get me wrong, I'd love him to come good, I just dont see any glimmers of light from a performance like saturday-- and presumably thats why he was hauled off at half time..

Sorry if that came across a bit strong!
Wasn't meant as an attack on you personally...

But it does annoy me that people seem to be making judgements on a player who has been asked to "do a job", a thankless job that is hardly playing to his strengths, but one he has tried to do, and has done better than any of the other square pegs Sam has tried in that round hole

I mean, if Steven Gerrard, for example, was asked to play LM, and wasn't doing as well as you'd hope, wasn't tracking back like a LM should, etc, etc, would you write the player's talent off, or assume he'd do better if played in a way that played to his strengths?
Would it come as any great suprise if a LM was then played there, and did a lot better?

If Jack had had 8 or 9 games in CM and was unimpressive, I could understand the critisism. Until I see him play in something like his natural position, I'll avoid writing him off just yet