[Albion] No criticism of RDZ ?

[CliveWalkerWingWizard]

RDZ is probably going to be our best ever manager, I love the man , his passion and it is the best football we have ever played.

But… I do feel that yesterday the team was set up wrong and there did not appear to be a change in tactics to counteract the threat down the right. Milner was playing higher up the pitch, which I assume was to help break down West Ham. This did leave Webster ( who was woeful) exposed. All three goals appeared to come from the same area and RDZ did not try and counteract this. Yes it would be great to have new players but a managers job is to adapt to the situation he has got, he was definitely out managed by Moyes. We need a solution to teams that sit deep and and hit us on the break with pace.

 

[Springal]

Pretty much my thoughts as well.

For contrast, when Mitoma had the ball they had 2 or 3 out to him. We didn’t really address Antonio as a threat at all, even after the first goal.

 

[Hiheidi]

I wondered if he was making a point before the transfer window closes.

 

[Hamilton]

We score first and it’s a whole different game.

No, I don’t think RDZ set us up wrong. I think Webster’s errors cost us.

 

[Johnny RoastBeef]

RDZ is probably going to be our best ever manager, I love the man , his passion and it is the best football we have ever played.

But… I do feel that yesterday the team was set up wrong and there did not appear to be a change in tactics to counteract the threat down the right. Milner was playing higher up the pitch, which I assume was to help break down West Ham. This did leave Webster ( who was woeful) exposed. All three goals appeared to come from the same area and RDZ did not try and counteract this. Yes it would be great to have new players but a managers job is to adapt to the situation he has got, he was definitely out managed by Moyes. We need a solution to teams that sit deep and and hit us on the break with pace.

Personally, I'd rather play the way we did and lose occasionally, than mess with De Zerbi's style of play. No need to adapt our tactics, just cut out the errors.

What would you have done to counteract that threat, which wouldn't have diminished our attempts to get on level terms, with the players available?

 

[Springal]

We score first and it’s a whole different game.

No, I don’t think RDZ set us up wrong. I think Webster’s errors cost us.

But he was constantly left exposed with no help. We didn’t change anything to try and help all 3 goals virtually the same

 

[HP Seagull]

I said when the team announced that I didn’t like it, but of course had total trust in RDZ.

Has Ferguson and Welbeck up top together ever worked before? We instantly lose some control in midfield. Very easy in hindsight, of course, but I’d have played Dahoud or Lallana in there.

I love both Ferguson and Welbeck but for me they’re competing for one spot in the team. Neither of them can replace what Enciso gives us, so I think we need to either find a new signing or replacement from our existing group.

Every time we lost possession, we looked so exposed. There was more than one reason for that though, obviously.

 

[Weststander]

He played too many slow players down our right and no specialist RB. He took a risk and as with Everton it failed. Playing a nearly 40 year old RB 70 yards upfield as a creator was a risk too far imho.

I hope he recognises the failings and acts from the next game, as do the entire group working on transfers.

 

[Clive Walker]

Risk and reward people

 

[Neville's Breakfast]

I wondered if he was making a point before the transfer window closes.

RDZ is a grown up. He works very closely with other senior management at the club. So, no.

 

[Gill's White Jumper]

But he was constantly left exposed with no help. We didn’t change anything to try and help all 3 goals virtually the same

RdZ's philosophy is to trust his defenders one on one. Yesterday it didn't work down our right, which was down to Webster not being able to cope with Antonio's physicality. I'm not advocating replacing Webster but personally I think JP would have coped better with the physicality for this game.

 

[timbha]

But he was constantly left exposed with no help. We didn’t change anything to try and help all 3 goals virtually the same

And nearly a fourth at the end

 

[pasty]

Not necessarily a criticism but I cannot fathom why Veltman doesn’t start at right back.

 

[Easy 10]

Unfortunately there was a bloody great Caicedo-sized hole in our midfield, and god did it show. He was the perfect shield to cover in front of the back line, and there was nobody there performing that role. Easier said than done, but we need to find a replacement for him pronto.

 

[Blue3]

Was RDZ making a point that he needs a couple of additional players

 

[Dibdab]

Changing goalkeepers for the sake of it adds a defensive alteration that can only introduce the opportunity for some element of doubt (even subconciously) to the defensive unit as a whole. RDZ said he was going to do this pre-season but I think it's a terrible idea. Hopefully that's the end of it except for cups or if he's making a permanent change.

James Milner is an inferior right back to Joel Veltman than we can get away with against crap sides but boy were we punished yesterday. MOTD highlighted how West Ham targeted Milners area of the pitch. I just really hope RDZ doesnt treat Milner like another Gross that has to play regardless of where he shoe-horns him in as I think it could cost us over the season. Veltman has been part of a defensive unit that as performed magnificently for 3 seasons.

 

[Justice]

He got it wrong playing Pedro meant they couldn’t double down on Mitoma, Veltman not playing was a mistake.
West Ham could play the Welbeck Ferguson physical battle all day played into their hands.

 

[Bozza]

He played too many slow players down our right and no specialist RB. He took a risk and as with Everton it failed. Playing a nearly 40 year old RB 70 yards upfield as a creator was a risk too far imho.

I hope he recognises the failings and acts from the next game, as do the entire group working on transfers.

Please don't take this as a pointed aggressive retort, as it's not, but were you saying the same before the Luton and Wolves games where our right side was exactly the same?

 

[GoingUp]

There was no real plan B either.

Kept knocking the ball around slowly, having it end up wide, put in a poor cross..... get countered.

I would say we lacked pace too but I doubt we would had used it anyway, Mitoma had 3 players on him the whole game and we seemed determined to just pass the ball around slowly.

 

[Stato]

This will happen occasionally. My only criticism would be that our relentless forward pressure brought 17 corners plus free kicks and, given how this will happen often in games where teams play a low block, we don't seem to be brimming with set piece ideas. That feels like not paying attention to one of the tiny margins ((C) Chris Hughton).