West Ham say we play 'Direct Style'

.. Interesting - and somewhat rich I thought, coming from a Big Sam side!

http://www.whufc.com/articles/20150123/tactically-speaking-bristol-city_2236884_4434842

I wouldn't describe our overall playing style as 'direct' - although we do lump it forward more than we did under GJ....

 

Typical really, of a journalist who can't be arsed to do his research properly

 

I have to say, I find that surprisingly accurate, it points out the players that do like to put their foot through it (Fielding and Flint) and accurately gets it right about the more skilful players who play it short, his comment about Freeman struggling to get in front of Wagstaff is incorrect but the rest is more or less there to be honest.

'Mark Little and Joe Bryan - who get forward at will, but can leave room for opposition midfield runners to exploit."

This is something that we will have to be very aware of, its our only real weakness against better sides.

 

"Bristol City carry a large threat from set plays,"
We always muck them up by playing short balls

 

Thought that was pretty much spot on.

 

I liked everything in the article except the comment about playing with a direct style. That suggests hoofball as a policy - which I don't believe it is.
I also disagree with the comment regarding Waggy.

Everything else is fine.

 

A fairly accurate take on the current side and our form to date. Having a small squad means that the same players play so often that they are easy to scout so not all that surprising. West Ham are pretty direct themselves!! I don't recall SC managing Stoke.?

 

Yes he did

 

Think he left Cheltenham for Stoke, but only there a short time