Sunday 19 September 2010

Time for Green to be put out to grass

Surely it is now obvious, even to his most passionate backers, that Robert Green is a mental wreck and is a liability between the sticks. His gaff for the second goal against Chelsea was dreadful and he was not blameless for the other two goals either. His error cost us the first goal against Villa and he looked like a rabbit in the headlights at Stoke yesterday.

That mistake in the first half was typical. Yes a player ran across the front of him, but any half decent keeper would either have taken the ball cleanly or made the decision to push it away to safety. Green did neither and spilt it. Stoke didn't score but no thanks to England's former number 6.

Was he at fault for the goal? I think it would be harsh to say yes, but his attempt to get to that cross was lamentable. Jones should have seen a keeper's fist coming towards his face instead of staring at a gaping, empty net. Green looked resigned to Jones scoring, just as he looked resigned when Stoke hit the bar. The ball came out and was back in active play whilst Green was standing head down, behind his line. Had a Stoke player put the rebound into the net whilst Green was still hanging his head despondently, our Robert would have been crucified by his critics.

People will point to that save from Jones but, as good as it looked, Green needed the post to rescue him and, had Jones scored from that angle, we would have been talking about an amazing goal. The fact is, the odds were in Green's favour.

The brutal truth is that Green is a liability and has to be put out to grass. Who comes in? Well Stech did ok against Oxford but wasn't really tested and is still very young. Looks like we need to call on our foul mouthed scientist. Step forward Ruud Boffin!

22 comments:

Sav said...

Sadly, I have reached the same conclusion. I think Green needs a break; and West Ham need a break from Green. Sad, but true. It doesn't help Rob or the team to prolong the agony.

Anonymous said...

Personally I sadly agree to. But i think we should give young Stech a chance in goal to possibly shunt Green a bit

fred149 said...

why didnt we try signing shay given after his comments around the first game of the season because im sure hed prefer yo play for us then stay on the bench game after game at city

USA Dave said...

I was hoping the Algerian keeper would have stayed on as cover for Green after Grant gave him a pre-season look. I thought his World Cup play was outstanding. But I also agree with HF. It's time to give someone a look.

UKIT said...

Yep, he did look like he is down, shocking drop in the first half.

However, the second half he grew in confidence and got much better, pulling off an excellent save to deny Jones.

Green isn't the best in the world but he is a really good premiership goalkeeper. I know command the box is a bit of weakness for him but he can improve.

I think we should show some loyalty and stick by him.

Anonymous said...

http://wehatethegamesgonecrazy.blogspot.com what happened to you alter ego - you know the site where you hate yourself, call yourself a shit and a tosser and request that you are nailed and bought down?

Stani Army said...

See his shadow in the pic there, it's like one of those police outlines! You're a dead man Greeny.

I think what has hastened his plight is he's beginning to think when he's keeping now i.e. the instinctiveness has gone. It's not a very good place to be because you become unnatural and indecisive. I'm sure when he watches himself back, he can't believe that that is him making those mistakes.

The problem is that he gives the impression of being very mentally strong in interviews etc so probably hasn't sought or been offered help. But he's human, it's clear he needs some sports psychology.

When did Green's plight start? I was wondering if it coincided with Ludo being forced out. I'm sure he didn't make this many mistakes when Ludo was here. Another G,S&B clanger?

Dan said...

I would be happy in replacing him with someone, if there was anyone realistic to replace him with. Ruud Boffin, inexperienced youngster with no pl experience, one for the future, i.e not now. Marek Stech looked good against Oxford, but that was against Oxford, could be a west ham legend in the future, but not now, and Peter Kurucz is injured.

The point is Rob Green is the only goalkeeper we've got in our squad. Over expose of the others and we could ruin their careers.

Headmaster said...

I have said for a while now that Green needs a spell in the reserves, HF and to that extent I totally agree with you. I'm not sure about the phrase 'put out to grass'. That seems to imply that you're totally writing him off, like some old nag. My contention would be that you don't become a bad 'keeper overnight.
However, week after week of crowds abusing him after the error in the world cup is clearly going to play on his mind.
His decision making is currently poor and his body language betrays a total lack of confidence which, in a goalie, is worrying in the extreme.
A real test of Avram's balls this one, for me.
Give him to Kevin Keen, monitor his progress for 6 weeks or so and then take a view as January fast approaches.
No action is weakness.

Anonymous said...

09.04, you're right I raised the issue before but got the usual snotty response off HF. I tried posting to it and nothing happened, so I'm positive it's just a HF vehicle to delude himself or demonstrate to others that we all think he's great through its lack of support!!.
HF, of course you are great and we all really love you or we wouldn't keep coming back and wehatethegamesgonecrazy.blogspot was just a nasty National Front, Jewish or Muslim extremist who clearly has no following

Hammersfan said...

I fear he will never recover. I would put him out to grass - drop him and sell him in January.

0904. I have no idea. I have never been to the site. Is it floundering? Did you perhaps set it up? Is this your attempt to reboot perhaps? Looks like you lost again!

Hammersfan said...

2104, what is it you have with four minutes past the hour? In fact, what is this obsession with 4 minutes after nine, be it of the a.m or of the p.m.? Do they wake you up and give you your medication at nine perhaps? Your comment at 9.04 in the morning was ignored by everybody else, so you've come on again to try to republicise your pathetic little site. You lose again! Take more of the medication mate.

Interesting the way this criticism of Green rattled your cage though (after you've been quiet for a while). Are YOU Rob Green by any chance? If so, I'm not surprised that you want to remain anonymous!

By the way, I have not moderated out any of your comments. Perhaps the drugs that the guys in white coats are giving you, are confusing you!

T.I.S said...

Still think it's unfair to simply dismiss his great saves, it's not fair. Give the man credit where it's due, equally where it's not. I would keep faith with him, his confidence will increase and the trick could be one great game. Yes he was at fault for the fumbled cross but he saved our bacon after mistakin', just as he did against the USA. And on both occasions the teams would have been a nervous wreck going 2-1 down. C'mon Greeno!

Zito said...

I agree that Green needs a break. And I strongly agree with Fred149 that Given should have been actively pursued during the summer.

A top-class keeper is a must-have for any ambitious club. In the past Green has hinted at his ability but that is now a distant memory.

The guy between the sticks sets the tone for the team - and what is starkly clear is that the entire side is feeding off Green's lack of confidence.

Anonymous said...

HF, very good, well spotted, total coincidence by the way I was the 2104 and not the writer at 0904 (honest, swear on what ever, etc), indeed I am in Abu Dhabi (see your blog is going global) so in fact it was 0004 when I wrote it. Bit paranoid aren't we, maybe the white coats are gathering around you and as for the Green link, again totally in your head, I check in on all your posts (and often enjoy), in fact we had a very sensible chat recently regarding your counter and my concern that after 43 years of support my patience was waning, you were very polite and supportive. I think maybe things are starting to close in on you, I'm also nothing to do with the "pathetic little shite" which indeed has not one correspondent so why become so rattled?

Hammersfan said...

Rattled, mois? Abu Dhabi? In the oil industry or construction? Or do you own Man City? Great win tonight - without Green! The West Ham hit counter was two, the Sunderland hit counter 1. Warm out there by any chance?

Anonymous said...

37deg and just seen Arse put 4 past Spurs in an outside bar, pity our game wasn't on, but a pretty good evening, result and all. Dodged my comments on your paranoia nicely by the way!!

Hammersfan said...

Look have you got it in for me? Are you the one who is stalking me, following me where ever I go, nicking my milk bottles and put nails under the tyres of my bike? Leave me alone can't you? Leave me alone!

37 degrees! Can you drink alcohol out there?

Anonymous said...

Very good! As a learned man you would know that since the veil of Ramadan was lifted, outdoor booze consumption is back on. After all you've visited the region before, in a previous long exchange you advised me of your visits to Israel and Palestine when I questioned your use of Gaza as a tool of humour!

Hammersfan said...

Only been to Israel / Palestine in the region. Twice planned visits to Egypt only for wife to fall pregnant. Two's enough. Bugger the pyramids! Landed at Abu Dhabi airport once on the way back from Thailand. But that's the only time I've been there.

Anonymous said...

Anyway enough for me, nearly 2am so better get some sleep. Evening complete with Everton's demise at Brentford (my Dad used to support them), didn't someone on your blog once state a case for a bid for Jemaine Beckford?? Maybe we'll get them in the next round or Leicester, here's hoping, night night

Hammersfan said...

Good chatting.