They have been out injured for long periods this season, but have all managed to play against us home and away and score home and away. How unlucky have we been when they are their teams main scoring threat?

On the flip side, we have played Palace twice without Zaha playing

And done Arsenil and Liverpool away

Unfortunately, playing against that sort of striker is to be expected in the Premier League...

Interesting too that Ings is out again

Bale has only started 8 prem games and one was against us.

Think we got lucky with Grealish out against us, although he’s been out a while now.

Teams do seem to get their injured players fit to play us though!

Three fast, direct, goal-scoring forwards exposed our weaknesses by running at us and scoring!
No surprises there.

How long before this turns into a “why didn’t we sign them?” thread?

I don’t think we were unlucky that players who play for other teams were available to play for their teams against us.

It all emphasises the need for "pace" in the back four, something Mee in particular, plus Lowton and Tarkowski are not blessed with. I am sure Scottie Parker was making notes last night

Grealish played against us

That was my first thought when I saw West Ham lineup! Probably the best players for each team.

northeastclaret wrote: ↑

Mon May 03, 2021 10:34 pm

They have been out injured for long periods this season, but have all managed to play against us home and away and score home and away. How unlucky have we been when they are their teams main scoring threat?

Last time I looked...it was called the Premier League.

Quickenthetempo wrote: ↑

Mon May 03, 2021 11:30 pm

Bale has only started 8 prem games and one was against us.

He also started against Sheffield Uniited scoring a hat trick having previously scored twice against us.

Tottenham obviously realised we wouldn't be able to handle his pace and power and they were proved right.

As West Ham were proved right in unleashing Antonio.

Players have a habit of scoring against certain teams, Antonio does against us. As does Chris Wood against West Ham

Swings and roundabouts. We were lucky enough to play Palace without Zaha twice.

Who are Fulham's pace players?

We nullified Adama Traoré very well who's very similar to ASM at Newcastle.

Not just Antonio, Wet Spam were better all over the pitch.

Yes there is DefinAtely ( LOD) a pattern here, and I would include Jack Grealish and his super goal against us.
We tend to allow players to run towards us, as we run backwards trying to limit space for them . However as we have seen quick muscular players running straight at us have a habit of breaking through and scoring.
We should really be worry free of relegation by now.

SouthLondonexile wrote: ↑

Thu May 06, 2021 9:47 am

Yes there is DefinAtely ( LOD) a pattern here, and I would include Jack Grealish and his super goal against us.
We tend to allow players to run towards us, as we run backwards trying to limit space for them . However as we have seen quick muscular players running straight at us have a habit of breaking through and scoring.
We should really be worry free of relegation by now.

The issue usually occurs when we move up the pitch and they catch us in possession. I'm sure if happens to other teams and we also get goals by breaking quickly, but they always stick in my mind as being completely avoidable.

Last season Son ran from the half way line. Calvert Lewin's goal against us was from being dispossessed near the left touchline, as was Martial's. This year Ings' was the same position on the left and Maximim ran from the half way line like Son. Maybe you have to credit the opposition for their quality in making the most of the situations, but conceding from those positions is so frustrating. Grealish was different but it was clear he was Villa's main threat and we largely stood off and admired him.

Don't faff about with it anywhere (even on the touchline) against top teams. Take really dangerous players down & take the yellow well before they get near goal. And I think we should man mark players like Grealish, St Maximim, etc when they are pretty much their only threat (different against the City's, United's, Chelsea, etc as they have too much quality to man mark).