EL: Rapid Wien 0-2 West Ham Utd (25/11/21)

[Ironing Board]

Would be interesting if Kral took Souceks place - Moyes really bigged him up in the Telegraph.

[Aceface]

Bit harsh. Can’t see him ever being first choice though certainly.

It is harsh and I hate it when other people do it. But if Lanzini has been considered fringe for the past 3 years, it's very difficult to see what he does better than even post-injury Lanzini.

[Rich5ltr]

Noble doesn't look too chuffed, seems to have expected more...

[funky chicken]

That was for me the most promising debut from a youngster since Ben Johnson at Man City. Superb from young Perkins. He came back to help defensively, always wanted the ball and his movement in the box was as good as any of the best strikers out there. I loved his confidence. And he was so incredibly close to rounding off an impressive debut with a goal too. If he just gets on the weights and toughens up a bit more, we could have some player on our hands!

[Rich5ltr]

Noble doesn't look too chuffed, (maybe because he was on satellite delay to someone in the studio) seems to have expected more...

[Morocco Mole]

It is harsh and I hate it when other people do it. But if Lanzini has been considered fringe for the past 3 years, it's very difficult to see what he does better than even post-injury Lanzini.

No doubt.

[Diogenes]

Did what we had to do, professionally. Upsides for me were Vlasic, Lanzini, Kral and Perkins. The first two are knocking on the door of a start on Sunday. Kral looked much, much better after time with our Coaches. The boy Perkins shows promise

['stone hammer]

Some very tidy performances tonight, Coufal really showing what Ben Johnson currently lacks in going forward. Lanzini must be getting closer to that league start, particularly as Benrahma, after a brilliant start to the season, seems to be going backwards imo.

Noble rolling back the years really was the highlight for me though, he's not dead yet.

[Aceface]

His attitude seems right though so that provides some hope he'll find a breakthrough.

But I mean, even Joao Mario was considered a bit wishy-washy to definitely make a move for, and he had plenty more about him in a similar number of appearances in that position. It's hard to see it just now.

[Morocco Mole]

Intrigued to see Kral start alongside Rice in a proper game.

[Vic_Watson]

Solid, professional performance. No fuss.

[Burnley Hammer]

We play a very different game to a lot of top sides. When we sign players from top European clubs, they're used to playing possession football and dominating games. The way we play (high pressing, high energy, lower possession, quick counter) takes time to adjust to. I still say that Vlasic didn't do a lot wrong today. He used the ball well and rarely gave it away. He shielded it well when under pressure. He didn't look lightweight. He worked hard. He put in a great cross for the goal. The question needs to be asked... why did we buy a top central attacking midfielder if we didn't intend on playing him in that position? For CSKA Moscow Vlasic played 95 games as a central attacking midfielder, scoring 31 goals and assisting 18. He played just 3 times on the left wing. Personally I think Benrahma plays his best football on the left, Lanzini plays his best football in a deeper position, and that number 10 shirt is still up for grabs. Nobody has been outstanding in that position this season.

[lincolnhammer1963]

David Moyes continues to practice what he preaches.
He wins football matches.

It's the new West Ham way and it's time we got used to it,

[Johnny Byrne's Boots]

From BBC text commentary

Simon Gleave, head of sports analysis at Nielsen Gracenote: "Going into their match against Tottenham Hotspur, Slovenia's NS Mura were ranked 378th amongst European top flight clubs on the Euro Club Index.

"Mura's closest equivalent in England are a number of League One clubs with Accrington Stanley, Burton Albion, Cheltenham Town and Gillingham having the closest Euro Club Index ratings."

[Morocco Mole]

We play a very different game to a lot of top sides. When we sign players from top European clubs, they're used to playing possession football and dominating games. The way we play (high pressing, high energy, lower possession, quick counter) takes time to adjust to. I still say that Vlasic didn't do a lot wrong today. He used the ball well and rarely gave it away. He shielded it well when under pressure. He didn't look lightweight. He worked hard. He put in a great cross for the goal. The question needs to be asked... why did we buy a top central attacking midfielder if we didn't intend on playing him in that position? For CSKA Moscow Vlasic played 95 games as a central attacking midfielder, scoring 31 goals and assisting 18. He played just 3 times on the left wing. Personally I think Benrahma plays his best football on the left, Lanzini plays his best football in a deeper position, and that number 10 shirt is still up for grabs. Nobody has been outstanding in that position this season.

Agree with most of that although Benny was unreal against Genk as a ‘10’.

[S-H]

From BBC text commentary

Simon Gleave, head of sports analysis at Nielsen Gracenote: "Going into their match against Tottenham Hotspur, Slovenia's NS Mura were ranked 378th amongst European top flight clubs on the Euro Club Index.

"Mura's closest equivalent in England are a number of League One clubs with Accrington Stanley, Burton Albion, Cheltenham Town and Gillingham having the closest Euro Club Index ratings."

Now.. That is Amazing!!!

[MK-Hammer]

We play a very different game to a lot of top sides. When we sign players from top European clubs, they're used to playing possession football and dominating games. The way we play (high pressing, high energy, lower possession, quick counter) takes time to adjust to. I still say that Vlasic didn't do a lot wrong today. He used the ball well and rarely gave it away. He shielded it well when under pressure. He didn't look lightweight. He worked hard. He put in a great cross for the goal. The question needs to be asked... why did we buy a top central attacking midfielder if we didn't intend on playing him in that position? For CSKA Moscow Vlasic played 95 games as a central attacking midfielder, scoring 31 goals and assisting 18. He played just 3 times on the left wing. Personally I think Benrahma plays his best football on the left, Lanzini plays his best football in a deeper position, and that number 10 shirt is still up for grabs. Nobody has been outstanding in that position this season.

Agree with a lot of this ….but for me the central attacking midfield role is Fornals ….for his work rate & football brain
So Benrahma or Vlasic have to be moved out wide to get into the starting 11.

If we play Vlasic in the centre then Fornals would have to be moved out wide ….which for me we would miss his work rate in the middle of the park

[Gsbgsb]

Did not think Vlasic did much wrong, would have scored in Benrahma had not been so greedy and passed instead of attempting a shot from a very tight angle. The way he looked over at the Lino indicated he knew he had made a poor choice and hoped the flag might have saved him but he was being played onside for the run so it would have counted.

Thing is currently if everyone is fit there is one attacking spot “available” given Antonio, Bowen and Fornals are pretty much nailed on starters given their skill set and energy. Rightly Benrahma got it at the start of the season and has done nothing yet to warrant losing it nor has Vlasic been so good to demand taking it.

Having him, Lanzini and Yarmo gives us alternatives. We need to add another in January be that Lingard or a more dedicated striker but the interchange of our front 4 has been a joy to watch.

[funky chicken]

We were so good tonight it was almost boring! Even all the subs that came on played well. Let alone the players that started the game.

Now we can rest even more players for our final group game and put this competition on the back burner until March.

[steps]

Professional job. Lots of fringe players got a run out. Yarmolenko looked poor then scored and won a penalty.

Vlasic and kral looked good. Lanzini looked comfortable on the hall but lacked the killer pass.

We should of scored four.

We should of all been propping up a bar in Vienna somewhere right now.

In the hat we go into the next round.