LcFc_Smiv

Planned a parkrun PB today, woke up at 09:18

That was brutal on Zirkzee, he's been poor but wow that response from the fans.

Wasn't it when Beckham had gone for a skinhead and we were playing United quite soon after?

On Facundo? Unfortunately not, although Neville's suggestion he should have been booked was also laughable, he just lost his footing.

I remember watching him in the community shield game and thinking this bloke is going to give us something in midfield that we had been lacking, then it just never happened, since Ruud has been in charge that player is emerging. Brilliant when he gets on the half turn, frustrating as hell when he doesn't and goes backwards but there's a player in there.

Of all the names on the pitch today this lad was a class above anyone else, he's going to go far.

How's Cover been getting on lately? Started the season well but it's been a bit quieter around him, potential option to recall and replace JJ if we're going to give youth a chance?

This was the joke that I thought would come up first!

Planned to run today but my legs from Mondays gym session mean it was a no go, sat at the Christmas dinner table with a combined total of 3 knee replacements and 2 hip replacements and I'm the least mobile by a country mile!

3-0 down and Daka and Bounanotte are still on the bench after half time, in what world!

**** me Faes on before Facundo

The only reason you leave it that late and it that manner is you get a call from the keeper, but if Ward thinks he's gathering that with where it is it's madness. Justin hasn't been good enough for a long time.

It's extremely soft, Bergvall is moving at so much pace he's certainly not holding his arm down, he impedes the left arm but let's be honest he's just not strong enough.

It's pretty amazing to see mistakes like these from keepers at this level. The odd mistake fair enough, but 3 pretty big errors!

Northern Monks A Little Faith was a very very nice pint! Introduced a colleague to a pint of Jaipur from Thornbridge which seemed to flow too well for a working lunch

Was it? It's a strong challenge and he's caught him with the follow through but he's bringing his foot down and it's the momentum more than anything and not full contact. Bogle looks to get him sent off with the exaggerated rolling. My only question would be if he wasn't already on a yellow would he have been booked?

Last Monday I cruised through a club run with the last 2k being at 4:15min/km pace. Tonight, first run back from catching a cold after our game against the Hammers and I've just suffered through 6km in 35 mins As a strength & conditioning coach I can happily agree with the recommendations around strength training for not only helping over come the barriers, but also going a long way to reducing injuries as well if done right!

This season has shown that even the top 6 can be beaten by anyone which makes it even better. We as fans can't have it both ways that it's seemingly the best league in the world but a closed shop because of the top 6, then when those teams aren't as competitive and other teams are challenging its suddenly a 'poor' league.

There was a quote I saw a few weeks ago about passing to a team mate should provide them with a solution, not create a problem for the player receiving the pass. While I think that pass to VK was on numerous times, I think Vesty was also looking at whats the next phase after that, i.e would it open up an option for VK to play, or would it allow West Ham an opportunity to go and regain possession and counter. There were a number of times we tried forcing the ball out right to Justin/Kasey and more often than not it turned over possession and led to us defending immediately. I get the feeling he could read how West Ham were shaping up and thought at that moment keeping possession was more beneficial considering we were hanging on to that 1-0 lead for large parts.

I believe Prime stores the full game to be re-watched but I don't have a clip of it, I was worried that VK was going to do something mad at that point

The challenge on Mavididi by ?Antonio where it looks like VK is going in to snap him in return but wins the ball with a strong block tackle?

I've got nothing against Wild, he was alright tonight but there were others in the team who I thought were well ahead with their performances.

Great performance, rode our luck somewhat but I think we were a team lacking in confidence trying to get back to grips with being more positive on the ball which is always going to allow other teams to get at us more. I thought Mads, Coady, VK, Bouba, Bilal and Vards were brilliant. JJ was much improved, and Kasey put in a very good performance. Slightly disappointed by Facundo, he's been immense this season but just needed to take more care of the ball, that pass for the Bilal goal was pure class. Very surprised if Ndidi has been made MOTM, I don't think he did anything wrong but he was a long way behind others today for me.

You what?

The difference between him as a championship ref and a the prem refs was clear for me, tried to let stuff go where he could and made for an entertaining game. Thought we were harsher penalised first half but it evened out.