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West Bromwich Albion 1 - West Ham United 0
Paul Gainham:I don?t know about the rest of you but I had not been that nervous before a game since the famous Great Escape last game of the season. That nervousness which consisted of a combination of bad dreams, restlessness, occasional finger nail biting and sphincter twitchiness started around Wednesday and only left me at about 4.50pm yesterday. Berahinos? goal and Fosters goal keeping were like a bottle of snake oil, I am now miraculously cured. Those nerves however were not helped when I saw the team sheet. Just what was Mel thinking, playing Reid at RB and Jones at LB against two tricky wingers? This is what brings me to the conclusion that Mel, despite being a ?nice guy? is not the coach we need, he has taken on the mantra of the ultimate tinkerman, Claudio Rainieri and some of his team decisions are puzzling at best. The first half then developed as almost expected based on that team selection. Foster was certainly the busier keeper, Jarvis ripped Reid apart every time he had the ball and Jones looked uncomfortable at LB. Against that, we scored a nicely worked goal through Amalfitano and Berahino. That goal was set up by the running of Sessegnon who was excellent throughout and had probably his best game for us, every time he got on the ball he looked dangerous. Mel curiously subbed him for Anichebe late in the 2H and he was not injured. I happened to be looking at Mulumbu at the time who was furious over the decision and rightly so. Yes along with others he was tiring but he still had running in him and WAS our danger man. For me another example of Mel making a poor decision. Reid?s injury just before HT, unfortunate though it was, may well, hopefully, be the final light bulb moment for Mel because it forced us into a structure of Jones / Amalfitano on the right and Brunt / Dorrans on the left. Guess what, we looked loads better second half, we dominated possession and Jarvis, Diame and Downing disappeared from the game because we suddenly looked way more organized and everyone looked to be in a natural position. Mel, if you are to have any future at this club, please note ? you may have just inadvertently stumbled on your primary formation. So on 36 points and with Norwich losing and Fulham drawing we are almost safe, one more point will probably be enough. Interesting side note on how the WHU fans, who are literally safe now, spent most of the time criticizing Allardyce. Good for them that they want to see much better football than the Carrol hoof approach we mostly saw yesterday but also an interesting broader comment in that PL survival alone is not enough, it has to come with a certain style. Player Marks
Subs
Coach 6 Opening selection was puzzling and was shown to be wrong. 2H much better but was that forced on him and not by choice? the liquidator:MOM definition from Wikipedia: "In association football, the Man of the Match award typically goes to a player on the winning side. Players who score a brace or a hat trick, or goalkeepers who keep a clean sheet under resounding pressure often get the award." IMO Ben Foster was quite remarkable today with some world class reflex saves and inspirational to the whole team, and therefore well worth MOM. (Q: When did he or any Baggies GK win it before? Osborne vs Chelsea 68? haha!!comment please?) - but many others also performed today - NWS Brunty when at left back played some very testing passes, he looked so comfortable and capable. (BTW Never heard before-"Sacked in the morning" away fans to their own manager haha! But also, fair play to some of the Hammers fans acknowledging the Astle 9th min respect applause). All makes for a great weekend eh??!! Boing!! oshawabaggie:It's nitrous oxides all round in Baggieland as we celebrate what could be the saving victory of our season. This was not a convincing win by any means. It was thanks to Foster, Ollie and the footballing Gods, who finally checked their files and saw that they owed us a few breaks before the end of the season to balance things up a bit. For once we took the lead early and managed to hold on for a clean sheet and a win!! Let's face it, West Ham are not the calibre of team we should ultimately be judging ourselves against, but at least we played the right balance of dour defence and crisp (well, occasionally) counter- attacking instead of the usual policy of retreating in ever-decreasing circles until we disappear up our own.... well you know. IF we should secure one more win (or three draws, more likely) and survive, what will this team look like next season? Does Peace have a plan and is Garlick a part of it? If Mel manages to keep this team up after all the crap he has inherited, only to be fired, it will be a gross injustice. But then justice rarely plays a part in football. If we stay up and Mel is replaced few will care by next September. Brendan Clegg:Massive result that I thought we fully deserved. I was surprised/concerned that Berahino got the nod and feared the worst with G Mc not making it, but I thought we were fantastic - every player did their bit. We were super aggressive and brave all over the pitch and, after a bit of a shakey opening period forced West Ham to cross from deep without any pace, pretty much nullifying their only route of attack apart from the Carroll corner. I was having kittens when Mel took Sess off as he was the best player on the pitch and gave our long periods of defending a relief whenever he had the ball - it was decision that would be correct if we kept a clean sheet but a disaster had we then conceded as we'd have no out ball. The result says that Mel got it right. Mel had them all up for the physical battle and they all gave it everything. We should be just about there. Would be great to finish above the Villa and despite the calamities of this season it looks like we've gotten away with it for another year. Playing marks will doubtless be skewed by the overwhelming feeling of relief...
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