West Ham v Bournemouth - Sunday 21st August 2016 16:00

[Whitechapel]

Match day chat

 

[AFCB_Mark]

West Ham away about this time last season was brilliant, one of the warmest days of the year to be enjoying some beers by the river, before watching us stick 4 goals past them to claim our first ever top flight win. Gradel and Wilson running rings around West Ham's defence all afternoon.

There was no indication then that West Ham would grow into a formidable side last season, and that we would lose those two devastating players to long term injuries.

Back to the now, and this is West Ham's first proper game at their new home. I think this suits us, the pressure will be on to claim a win for the history books, and we're at our best going away from home and waiting for gaps to break into. It must be said that West Ham have plenty of quality players capable of hurting us (although I gather they have a few knocks), and our defence is perfectly capable of gifting goals away as we saw only last week. So there's many ways in which we can concede, as well as score.

I'd take a score draw all day long.
London away days are always the best. Allocation is sold out and there's a cheap south west trains deal on, it's going to be rammed. Sunday football is a bit shit though, hey ho.

 

[claret50]

Really looking forward to this game as I've been lucky enough to have been given tickets for the match, a positive result would be great but just being there will be enough for me, a result though, would be a bonus.

 

[Jackinky]

Can't wait for this, our first BPL game at the OS, literally so excited. I hope Payet starts as I feel without him we will have a bit of trouble creating enough. Don't have a clue what the score will be so I'll sit on the fence and say 1-1.

West Ham away about this time last season was brilliant, one of the warmest days of the year to be enjoying some beers by the river, before watching us stick 4 goals past them to claim our first ever top flight win. Gradel and Wilson running rings around West Ham's defence all afternoon.

There was no indication then that West Ham would grow into a formidable side last season, and that we would lose those two devastating players to long term injuries.

Back to the now, and this is West Ham's first proper game at their new home. I think this suits us, the pressure will be on to claim a win for the history books, and we're at our best going away from home and waiting for gaps to break into. It must be said that West Ham have plenty of quality players capable of hurting us (although I gather they have a few knocks), and our defence is perfectly capable of gifting goals away as we saw only last week. So there's many ways in which we can concede, as well as score.

I'd take a score draw all day long.
London away days are always the best. Allocation is sold out and there's a cheap south west trains deal on, it's going to be rammed. Sunday football is a bit shit though, hey ho.

Where are you sitting? Just asking as we have no idea where the away end is yet as both of the games we've previously played there have been no away fans. Looking forward to a great atmosphere anyhow.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Can't wait for this, our first BPL game at the OS, literally so excited. I hope Payet starts as I feel without him we will have a bit of trouble creating enough. Don't have a clue what the score will be so I'll sit on the fence and say 1-1.



Where are you sitting? Just asking as we have no idea where the away end is yet as both of the games we've previously played there have been no away fans. Looking forward to a great atmosphere anyhow.

My ticket says Sir Trevor Brooking stand, block 117. Where ever that is!

 

[Jackinky]

My ticket says Sir Trevor Brooking stand, block 117. Where ever that is!

Ah, fair enough, that means you're in the lower tier- I think you get both the upper and lower but I could be wrong. It's a shame you're not nearer as I like being near the away fans- I'm in 239.

 

[JimJams]

Really looking forward to this game as I've been lucky enough to have been given tickets for the match.

Nice. Take your binoculars though.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Ah, fair enough, that means you're in the lower tier- I think you get both the upper and lower but I could be wrong. It's a shame you're not nearer as I like being near the away fans- I'm in 239.

Yes there was a choice of upper or lower. I guessed lower simply because I thought it'd be a closer view to the pitch, I gather that tier is on top of the running track?

 

[Jackinky]

Yes there was a choice of upper or lower. I guessed lower simply because I thought it'd be a closer view to the pitch, I gather that tier is on top of the running track?

Yeh, it is, there's a slight gap between it and the Pitch which they should hopefully have filled with Astro turf before the game. I can't tell you what the views like from the lower tier as I'm in the upper tier myself- I think both tiers share the same concourse as well.

 

[Jackinky]

Nice. Take your binoculars though.

It's actually not that bad, there's a gap between the stand and the pitch but apart from that it's not too far. This is all depending on where you is though as I imagine at the very back of the upper tier it would seem far from the pitch.

 

[claret50]

I don't own a pair of binoculars but I really don't care, as anywhere in the stadium will do me, just to be there was all I ever dreamed of.

 

[Jackinky]

I don't own a pair of binoculars but I really don't care, as anywhere in the stadium will do me, just to be there was all I ever dreamed of.

Where are you sitting?

 

[claret50]

Where are you sitting?

I won't know until Saturday when I collect them but will let you know when I do.

 

[claret50]

I picked up the tickets yesterday and the two seats are in block 132 of the East stand, row 15 (which doesn't sound that far from the pitch?) looking forward to the game.

 

[Super_horns]

Andy Carroll out injured for 6 weeks!

 

[Modernist]

Andy Carroll out injured for 6 weeks!

That's pretty good for him.

 

[Super_horns]

Late winner for the Hammers?

 

[HarvSFC]

Glad West Ham finally scored. Awful match from both sides, but West Ham have been the less worse of the two. Plus all the time wasting from Bournemouth.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Feel very very hard done by there. One shot on target from West Ham, and there we go. They had more of the game over all I think, but I was pleased with how solid we mostly were. But sadly, they broke through eventually. And in Stoppage time we so nearly scored, credit the keeper for the save. History will record the win for West Ham in their first league game, and that's how it goes.

Think West Ham need to think about stadium egress, several fighty flashpoints post match as seemingly the entire home crowd high as a kite comes past the entire away end. One of the more hostile exits from a ground I've ever enjoyed. Good job we're only bournemouth and nobody more up for it. It's just a free for all post match. Scuffles keeping the stewards busy as I speak. Although seems well under control now.

 

[Jamie_SFC]

Feel very very hard done by there. One shot on target from West Ham, and there we go. They had more of the game over all I think, but I was pleased with how solid we mostly were. But sadly, they broke through eventually. And in Stoppage time we so nearly scored, credit the keeper for the save. History will record the win for West Ham in their first league game, and that's how it goes.

Think West Ham need to think about stadium egress, several fighty flashpoints post match as seemingly the entire home crowd high as a kite comes past the entire away end. One of the more hostile exits from a ground I've ever enjoyed. Good job we're only bournemouth and nobody more up for it. It's just a free for all post match. Scuffles keeping the stewards busy as I speak.

Any away pubs near the ground Mark?

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Any away pubs near the ground Mark?

Not that we found. There's a bar in Westfield but it's crap. Best drinking elsewhere in London, which is very easy TBF. Decent away day if you can stay away from the ground for the most part I think, cos it's chaos nearby.

Much talk pre match about the view, bottom tier is fine. Upper, I'm not so sure, it's a fair way back.

 

[Leewilson]

Must say, I think Howe has got it wrong so far this season. There's a couple on the bench who I think should be playing.

For a start Gradel has sparkled whenever I've seen him. I know Eddie has to back his 15 million pound man but no way is Ibe better (or King). In fact, I don't rate Ibe much at all truth be told.

Then you have Nathan Ake bench warming. He was part of a successful Watford defence last season and is one I rate. I saw pre season he'd been doing a job in Front of the CBs. Not sure why that's not continued really.

Think them 2 in, plus Lewis Cook returning (who looks very good) will go some way to helping.

 

[PDS]

Have to say I didn't enjoy the Olympic stadium. Just a personal thing, but I prefer the older grounds and this history and atmospheres associated with them. You can tell that it was not built as a football stadium.

It had the feel of a theme park going up to the ground, and inside ithe was another atmosphereless bowl. Everyone is so far away from both the pitch and each other that generating any noise is futile, and I guess the home fans haven't developed where their singing sections are going to be yet. You could hear a pin drop at times though.

Anyway, the game was utterly turd. We were poor but I think did enough for a point until the red card. Arter has a bad habit of gobbing off, and it cost him today. Palace was always realistically our best chance of getting off the mark next week, but we're going to struggle for a while I feel.

 

[SamScfc]

I like Eddie Howe but he seems very tactically naive, 2 ball playing midfielders in a 4-4-2 with no ball winner, both full backs push on and it' the same defence that struggled last season, he seems too loyal to some players.

 

[JJ1532]

I see West Ham have listed the attendance for this as just shy of the capacity. Capacity of 57,000, they got 56,977 apparently. Yeah, thats bullshit. Could see plenty of empty seats in the lower bowl on TV, bet it was the same in the upper tier.

Would love to know what the REAL attendance was, not how many tickets they sold.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

I was slightly confused/surprised by our selection yesterday. We've spent pre season playing a 4-3-3 type system, with Ake sitting in front of the back four, and from the friendly I saw and other bits I heard it looked decent. Then for the first game we kept that system but benched Ake, and then yesterday we ditched that system all together and went back to last season's 4-4-2 type setup. Begs the question - what was pre season about?

Unfortunately at the moment it looks like Callum Wilson has been seriously impacted by his injury, hopefully it's something he can regain in time but currently he's lost his pace and touch.

I can see why Jordon Ibe didn't get risked much at Liverpool. What is the point of having the talent to beat 4 players single handidly, if you then give the ball away because you cannot pass a football. And then the moment you get a gilt edged chance, then you decide to pass? Ryan Fraser was more reliable and that was his first ever PL appearance.

But for all my grumblings, in both games now we've shown more solidity and organization than we were at any time last season (although still not kept a clean sheet it must be said). We just need to find a way of marrying that up with that 'click' everyone needs in their attacking play.

 

[claret50]

I see West Ham have listed the attendance for this as just shy of the capacity. Capacity of 57,000, they got 56,977 apparently. Yeah, thats bullshit. Could see plenty of empty seats in the lower bowl on TV, bet it was the same in the upper tier.

There was a reason why the seating numbers were capped at 57,000 down from the intended 60,000 (and yes, that number is correct) was because of concerns from the London safety advisory group, I thought the atmosphere was amazing and from my seat, lower East stand back just 15 rows from the pitch I had a perfect view.

Sorry to hear that you & fellow away supporters had to endure the vitriol of a small section of home supporters, but I think that happens at most Prem clubs these days, possible with the exception of Watford whom I've found one of the most family friendly clubs in the Prem.

http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/foo...emouth-game-over-standing-fears-a3322336.html

 

[AFCB_Mark]

I saw at one point, I think mid way through the second half, a group of stewards stormed into the home area on the opposite side of the ground to us and tried to get a group of standers to sit down. Which resulted in about the loudest moment all game when about 50,000 other people stood up and chanted "stand where we want". I think the stewards gave up.

I must say, in my area of the lower tier we stood all game without any hassle.

 

[PDS]

There was a reason why the seating numbers were capped at 57,000 down from the intended 60,000 (and yes, that number is correct) was because of concerns from the London safety advisory group, I thought the atmosphere was amazing and from my seat, lower East stand back just 15 rows from the pitch I had a perfect view.

Sorry to hear that you & fellow away supporters had to endure the vitriol of a small section of home supporters, but I think that happens at most Prem clubs these days, possible with the exception of Watford whom I've found one of the most family friendly clubs in the Prem.

http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/foo...emouth-game-over-standing-fears-a3322336.html[/QUOTE]
Whilst I didn't see any trouble I was amazed that there was no segregation between home and away fans in the concourse

 

[AFCB_Mark]

http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/foo...emouth-game-over-standing-fears-a3322336.html
Whilst I didn't see any trouble I was amazed that there was no segregation between home and away fans in the concourse

Far as I saw there was only minor bits and bobs of trouble and all outside the ground, but I'd be surprised if the local authorities and police are happy with the away end in it's current form, as IMO it's asking for trouble from a more hostile club than Bournemouth.