ELQ2: Birkirkara 1-0 West Ham Utd (3-5 pens) (23/07/15)

[LongShot]

Got back from work to watch the game from an hour played, and F me, that was atrocious.

Maiga is a useless c***, Jarvis is still **** Jarvis,

Noble seems incapable of making an incisive forward pass. When he does pass forwards, he passes directly to them, which means invariably they're back to goal, and then have to turn and beat a man in order to pose anything of resembling an attacking threat - therefore it always comes back. Whatever happened to passing into space and running onto a ball? f*** me.

That was cack of the highest order.

Reckon we'd have done better with the youth team, and a couple of first XI players on the pitch and bench.

[Ludeksgloves]

It's funny. Every time Tomkins gets in a fight, we go to penalties and win.

[westham,eggyandchips]

Don't want to see Maiga, Nolan, Amalfitano or Jarvis against Astra

Add Noble to that list. Always seems to get swerved when it comes to criticism. Bang average yet again

[EastEnd Exile]

I had not seen enough of Maiga to have an opinion before tonight - now I feel as if I have seen too much of him! He must know this is not working - time to go

Zarate has some great skills but too lightweight for Prem - look to move on

Nolan - great professional and leader but again time may be up

Jarvis - I too would keep him. Great workrate, can still beat his man. Crosses need work

Last - why did Samuelson come on and not take a Pen ???

[EastEnd Exile]

Double post

[Cellar-door]

While I agree with the others, I felt Jarvis did well tonight.

He was much better late when the defenders were too tired to defend his one move. He still can't get the ball into dangerous positions though. Constantly cutting outside for a poor cross instead of driving toward the net.

[The Big Show]

We attack at such a slow pace but still manage to get so few players in the box.
Not easy with 10 I accept. If I can see it, then so can Slav, we are clearly buying players to improve that side of our game.
This competition is our pre season, we're through to the next round. Let's try and enjoy it. No ones dying.

[lukechadwick]

To be fair inter got taken to extra time by some team I can't even pronounce and they were at home!

I was consoling myself with that fact too until I realised it was inter Baku of Azerbaijan!

[Me ol china]

To be honest, I felt a little sorry for Zarate. Yes he held onto the ball a bit too long a couple of times, but the service to him was utter ****.

I thought he had a poor game BH but Maiga brought poor to an whole new level tonight

[Alan Pardew's Dad]

We would definitely have needed Carlton for that one.

Of Corsa we would

[Whufc06]

I don't wanna see Nolan or Maiga anywhere near a football pitch that we are playing on ever again.

[jacko]

Honestly, Javis - he is still dining out on his performances for wolves about 4 years ago. Has he ever looked at home in the premier league - no. He's obviously on good wages otherwise he would have been shipped on.

[gegsy]

gegsy Stockport away

Yeah mate, I know. Stockport would have beaten this Maltese lot about 4-0.

[bobd_uk]

Last - why did Samuelson come on and not take a Pen ???

Given that he didn't take one, I'd say it must have been to ensure that Jarvis didn't have to!

[OFT]

Can anyone tell me why that **** keeps saying pardon?

He never promised you a rose garden.

[swash]

Tony Drago your boys took one hell of a beating







So I'm told

[Ludeksgloves]

Yeah mate, I know. Stockport would have beaten this Maltese lot about 4-0.

Dowie hat trick!

[LeonRivers]

While I agree with the others, I felt Jarvis did well tonight.

He's clearly not good enough (though I accept that it is very harsh to judge him this early into PRE-SEASON), but he was quite literally the ONLY PLAYER looking to take on his man or create something for 90% of that match. I know it's hard with only 10 men as our structure has been destroyed, but we really seemed to lack confidence or ideas when it came to the final third. It's actually quite worrying. I look forward to seeing what Payet and Lanzini can bring.

[kitthehammer]

We are through to the next pre-preliminary pre-qualifying round or whatever it is, and this all that counts. Ultimately from the line up tonight, most will not be first choice players this season - yes, we should have won with ease, but we are through. We are Europa virgins and will learn from each game. I reckon only the players in bold will be definite first choice players - not sure on Noble - the rest will be squad players

Adrián
O'Brien
Collins
Tomkins
Cresswell
Kouyaté
Noble ????
Amalfitano
Nolan
Jarvis
Zárate
Randolph
Maiga
Poyet
Hendrie
Samuelsen
Pike

yes you are right and the players were obviously not fit yet, But it was still awful.

[westhamfamily]

Apart from the penalties I have to say that Poyet is the shining light to come out of today, he deserves to play again. I think Noble needs to take a long hard look at himself after today and ask himself if he behaved like a leader on the pitch or was he a petulant child..... for me I think the captaincy( when Nolan goes/doesn't play) should go to Reed or Adrian. Oh well onwards and upwards.