Positives/Negatives from today

[Zippity]

Ok...new for this season-a 'negatives' bit, too We couldn't help ourselves at times so I thought I might as well.

Positives:

When we go at teams, we look a threat and with Willock getting into the positions Hayden did, we'll hopefully offer more.

Decent showing for part of the first half.

Shelvey was playing well until he inevitably faded as he ran out of steam.

The ref let the game flow-even though it worked against us more than West Ham, I don't mind because the game will be all the better for it. There were challenges which would have been a free kick last season which weren't given today so, hopefully, we'll see less of players throwing themselves to the ground when they feel contact.

Woodman actually did well...sounds a bit odd, given that we conceded 4 but that was down to....

Negatives:

...our shocking defending. Wtf was Bruce thinking not playing Lascelles and Schar? We looked all over the place when West Ham attacked.

Ritchie as a defender. Just not good enough. Not nearly. Not his fault in terms of the role he's being asked to play by muppet-face but he doen't have the legs PLUS two of the goals were directly down to him.

Our lack of ideas after the initial push. We didn't have a shot on target after Murphy's goal and offered very little going forward.

Bruce's substitutions-Joelinton and Longstaff with 6 minutes left????? What we were doing clearly wasn't working and when they went 2 goals clear, that's when he should have made the changes. 6 minutes, man, ffs.

[toptoon]

Yep - good comments.

I just hope Bruce doesn’t spout sh*te after the game. He needs to start being honest about the situation. I won’t hold my breath, though.

[bix01]

Not watched the Bruce interview yet but we should probably have Brucey Bullshït Bingo thread on here after the games - pick ourselves up, dust ourselves down, get the basics right etc. etc.

[Zippity]

I'm going for 'the penalty changed the game'.

[Cannylad]

I'm going for 'the penalty changed the game'.

That's exactly what he said.

[bix01]

The penalty was wrong but it was just a symptom of our and in particular, Bruce’s ineptitude in not holding onto a lead (twice), inability to in-game manage, not regrouping well after the decision and then giving up after the sucker punch 4th goal.

[Zippity]

That's exactly what he said.

Pfft. So predictable. I genuinely haven't seen his interview but he'll seize on any excuse he can get so this was a golden opportunity for him.

Technically, I guess it did but West Ham would have probably still scored 4 even if it hadn't been given.

[Jammy89]

Woodman, despite the conceded goals did decent.

Hopefully he'll take heart from the overall performance.

[ex_pat_magpie]

A 96% attendance didn't help the cause either.

[ex_pat_magpie]

Of course the big positive is that we are not in a relegation spot at the moment (just by goal difference mind you).

Bottom positions are Palace, Norwich, and Leeds.