Baba

That free kick was our first attempt on target I believe?

And then finishes the half with a spectacular miss of an attempted clearing header! The fact that he wears the shirt number that he does reflects badly on our strength in depth.

Yes, that would be far more plausible and likely just coincidental regarding the timing of the contract and his dip in performance. He certainly comes across as an honest lad, but just hasn't now got what he used to have and hasn't realised the potential that he once showed that he might. Or yet at least, because he's still young. Not convinced that there isn't a new contract syndrome amongst the broader professional player contingent though. Human nature is such that one might outperform when looking to secure a better future outcome, before returning to a longer term norm subsequently, so not necessarily entirely cynical from that perspective.

Obviously no intention or inclination to take sides here but in fairness, I don't think Mirallas' reference to 'you' was intended to mean Everton, but more likely meant you individually, with relation to your specific opinion of the player.

Make that 4 then. Don't know whether it's just perception or my mind playing tricks, but I've been convinced that his attitude and performance level dipped after he'd signed a bumper new 5 year deal (whilst still having 4 years left on the previous deal). Maybe being rewarded with a big contract has that effect, as Schneiderlin at United looks far removed from the player that Southampton sold. I get the points about James doing the stuff in the background that gets missed by many, but don't see him as being anywhere near the best exponent of that and as has been mentioned, he offers little else in addition - since his first two seasons. Kante's season adds perspective to what a good defensive midfielder can bring.

I think that if Rom gets to see any of the ball it'll be a step in the right direction! Only touches he had on Saturday were when he became frustrated and started to drop deep looking for it - meaning then that we had nobody in the middle.

In the last 10 years in the league we've only beaten arsenal twice; on today's performances, both theirs and ours, it's clear why that is the case. Worth considering also that against a team that won't stifle play or park the bus like we won't, arsenal do often fair quite well.

Better last couple of minutes, let's hope we can build some momentum. Gerry on might help as well.

In fairness to Stones, he's shown plenty of desire since coming on. Attitude if nothing else looks good.

It's like Martinez feels that we have a chance in the cup but nothing to gain or lose in the league, trains them with that mentality and the resultant is that type of a showing. Obviously oblivious to the financial implications of dropping league places, and can't think that Moshiri will be too happy with the Jekyll and Hyde mentality. May be absolutely doing Roberto a disservice there though, and perhaps its down to the players (or some of them at least - Lennon, Lukaku have both tried hard)

I'd probably bring Lennon across to the left to shore things up a bit, and hopefully Gerry on the right would provide a couple of crosses for Rom (and Ross if he could be bothered second half) to have a go at.

Besic off, Deulofeu on?

Just thinking those very same words!

Need balls played through the middle. Gabriel is terrified of rom, just subtly checked him again to stop him getting away. One decent ball will result in a goal.

We need far better delivery into the box if we're ever going to get back into this

Biggest difference between this and the cup QF so far for me is that the high pressing has disappeared for the most part

Rom been getting beyond their defence quite easily early on, so decent well placed through balls will cause them problems.

Worried now. If it's one of those defending days, we could be looking at a cricket score

We have a pretty dismal record against arsenal unfortunately and in fairness to them they've deserved to win on most occasions, in contrast to some of the other top 4 sides that we've outplayed then lost against. Would be great to beat them, and would signal progress imo as they are a footballing side in a similar vein to us under Martinez so we'd have to beat them at their own game.

Also wonder whether Payet might attract bids in the summer and have his head turned. Alongside Mahrez, he must be the most sought after player in the PL at present and has proved he fits in this league now so is no longer a gamble.

Matt, you're absolutely right, and I only looked on that forum tonight to wind myself up enough to get in the gym. Need that sometimes when motivation has completely gone after 12 hours at work. Bit like a can of red bull, but in this instance it's claret and blue bull**** instead!

I'm hoping they don't get that far. This post astonished me: http://www.kumb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=162751&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&sid=4547285917bb2dd6ef7be8f6a5384498&start=1080#p4629451 Quote: 'I'd be mortified if any of those players were playing for us. One thing we've always had is honest players and that's very much the West Ham Way and makes me very proud' I'm guessing that he's not old enough to remember Paolo Di Canio, or Julian Dicks even further back.

I hadn't intended to cause contention, and was very keen also to point out the positives in Lennon, of which there are many. I'd also only suggested that I'd start others ahead of him based upon a scenario where his attributes were no longer key - which at present is not the case and he is deservedly surely one of the first names on the team sheet right now, on merit. The suggestion was based upon a situation where we no longer rely as heavily on the forwards getting back all of the time, and also on the assumption that he'll not continue to contribute goals as much as he has been since getting back into the team. He'll always be a menace to the opposition but the time might come when without goals and assists, this might not be enough to meet our expectations. I'm genuinely sad that I've caused so much conflict here and had I thought that might be the case then I'd have not posted.

Don't disagree with anything that you've said Kant, but remain of the opinion that Aaron is okay for the now, but not for the future. Same applies to one or two others also. edit: cheers MC11, appreciate your thoughts.

I think the limitation that we have with Lennon is that whilst he's added goals recently, and his excellent industry and tracking back are proving to be essential in Martinez' defensively frail team, he just doesn't create - which as a winger ought to be his primary objective. Can't possibly fault his effort because it is almost without parallel and he's shored things up since replacing Deulofeu, but he has little creativity and no final ball and so all of the chances that Rom used to have from the right have completely dried up. Fair enough, crosses have been fired across the box, but never accurately or weighted well enough for Rom to be able to reach them. It's likely why he was surplus at Tottenham because in all other respects he's about as good as anyone else they've got. If we were better organised at the back, I'd have Deulofeu back in straight away. Maybe Lennon would work well as the right winger in a 5 man midfield if we went to 3 at the back and had more scope to add more creativity into the midfield? Don't want this to sound like I don't rate him as a player because I do, but in the realms of considering what and who we need to take us beyond where we are at present then he'd become a squad player as he doesn't have the quality to keep up with the likes of Lukaku and Barkley at the next level of performance that we need. He's probably not alone in that respect, as Cleverley and this season's McCarthy are also looking like limitations (McCarthy seems more lack of effort though perhaps, pulling back from challenges that he used to make, losing the ball easily etc., and could also be long term injury related)