West Ham United 3 - West Bromwich Albion 1

Paul Gainham:

I did something today that I have not done for years, I left before the end of a game.

We were abject. Pathetic, disinterested and completely lacking in motivation.

To cap it all Clarke decides to bring on both odemwingie AND Rosenberg at the same time.

No surprise odemwingie was roundly booed, Rosenberg did literally nothing as usual. Embarrassing for our club on both counts.

It looks like we have simply given up - we are safe and no one really cares despite the usual bollox that Clarke spouts.

A Sam Allardyce team showed us how to play football today - THAT'S how bad it was.

If any of us were looking for a lift after the Stoke debacle. Forget it. This was every bit as bad - difference being the Hammers had the ability to punish us.

cliff61:

This defeat is the one I always dread, losing to West Ham, simply because I was born and live in a West Ham area and know a lot of their supporters.

As much as this defeat hurts me, I think Albion looked a class above West Ham for long periods of this match, I can't remember ever seeing a more one-sided defeat. I couldn't get a ticket so I had to sit with the Hammers fans (?60 for the pleasure although the bloke wanted ?100 so I missed the first 5 minutes through haggling!!) and they were moaning throughout the match at how poor they were and that they kept giving the ball away, you'd never have thought their team was 2-0 up at that stage.

I thought Albion played some really nice, classy football at times, we got behind their defence on several ocassions in the second half simply through neat passing. Disappointments were Brunt, needless to say, never a captain in a million years, and Dorrans out of his depth. Mulumbu ( I missed the sending off, went for pie & mash for research purposes) was absolutely brilliant, great attitude and didn't put a foot wrong..well not for 90 minutes anyway. Lukaku looked good, hes definately improved IMO.Our vocal support was awful, what a difference to our first few seasons in the prem.

So I'm disappointed because Albion lost and its West Ham, but there was only one classy team on that pitch today.

Bobby Hope:

This never ceases to amaze me. Dear Paul, an absolute fan of fans is clearly posting an emotional rant because he is frustrated. Then I read Cliff and initially think 'yes that is a more balanced view' and then he mentions Dorrans out of his depth!!! Come on guys! I was at the game nd then I watched the game through twice on Sky and analysed it.

Defending was abysmal for the goals - Olsson (almost an Albion legend) was guilty of both Carroll goals. And I have to say, when he has played against that Geordie tosser previously, he has had him in his pocket. First goal maybe yes fantastic attack of the ball, second goal no excuses. Dorrans was my man of the match. The score line flattered West Ham.

Please take the emotion out of the game and be objective about what you see. I get emotional all too easily but then I step back and look at the replay of the game twice. Have a look at the stats as well.

First time I've had a scrap at a match for twenty years - and that was before we kicked off!!

COYB!! Believe in Steve!

Baggyjon:

Football is a fluid business. Ask any Blackburn Rovers supporter and they will agree. In order to stand still in the Premiership you have to progress. Albion have become a club that some others regard as a role model for combining prudence with moderate success both financially and on the field of play.

Having said all that I feel that as this season winds down a chill wind is beginning to blow around the Hawthorns. 33 points from our first 19 games was fantastic. 11 points from the subsequent 12 games is relegation form. Clearly big decisions have to be made regarding in which direction the club is headed. The club feel that at the moment their is no urgency to increase capacity. Some will regard this as prudent management especially in light of the new stand at the custard factory. The argument that unemployment levels and economic factors are to blame sits uneasily with the level of support in other areas of economic downturn like the North East and Liverpool. With a committed support of only 20 to 23 thousand the club clearly does not have the finance to attract the top names with the inevitability that they will always remain out of the top 7.

As in the past our best route for success has been in Cup competitions and it is my personal disappointment that the club has singularly failed to follow this path over the past 20 years.

So what are we left with? Question marks over a number of players who have given their best over the last 5 years. Olsson, Reid, Brunt and Gera. Lukaku looks set to leave along with Fortune and Thomas. The full backs continue to worry me especially lapses of concentration by Ridgewell. As for odi!!! With the youth team only Dawson looks anywhere ready for the first team. Plenty of potential but too many of youngsters don't seem able to step up to the plate, Sam Manton and Chris Wood being good examples.

The loss of Ashworth could be a key factor. I would hope that plans are already in place to move forward in key areas, especially with the new financial TV deals. If not then I fear that next season will see us struggle at best and I don't want to contemplate the worst.