Today, despite the gulf in class of the two teams, seemed to be the end of people's patience. It's become a bit of a cliché in Crewe, West Ham matches but, as usual, we went 3-0 down within the first half hour of the match. It was 30 minutes of Crewe players not really showing much, or showing they thought they had a chance against West Ham.
The atmosphere was silence but we plodded along as if we were down and out before the ball had been kicked. Our only chances were high balls through to Ashton and Rivers, who continually got caught off side. West Ham, though, showed class - which probably earned them too much respect from Crewe players.
The first goal came from Teddy Sheringham just 15 minutes in, excellent off the ball movement and a cross from Luke Chadwick saw 'Teddy' fire high into the far left corner past a low on confidence Ben Williams. It all came through Richard Walker's inability to play the sport - football - as he got on the wrong side of Harewood, on the half way line, on a high ball and allowed Harewood to run on and set up Chadwick.
The attitude West Ham showed after the goals sort of marred all three of them. Straight away, as Crewe tried to kick of, Rufus Brevett ran and took the ball off the centre spot halfway into the West Ham half and it led to many other time wasting, unsportsmanlike techniques from the Southerners.
Balls, on free kicks and corners, were re-placed and re-placed again. How turning the ball around on its spot can change anything is beyond me. Before too long the referee got tough and rightfully booked Marlon Harewood after he refused, several times, to go the full 10 yards back on free kicks - all so Lunt wouldn't take it early.
The referee booked him despite complaints from Brevett, who seemed to follow the referee like a lap dog, and moved the ball 10 yards forward. Kenny Lunt's shot hit the wall - surprisingly.
The second goal soon came from Sheringham, again. Sheringham received high praise from West Ham manager Alan Pardew afterwards. The former Reading gaffer said it was nice to let the people of Crewe to see the football being played by Sheringham. I'm touched, to say the least.
The goal was more poor defending, Sheringham totally unmarked after a cross from the totally un-challenged Etherington. Sheringham headed in, across the face of the goal into the far right corner. Ben Williams was a bit static on the goal line though.
That was on the 23rd minute, and coming in eight minute intervals, a third goal arrived, well, eight minutes later. This time Rufus Brevett volleyed home from a good 35 yards after Ben Williams punched clear a corner. His volleyed went straight into the far right corner, nothing Ben could do.
There were a few boos heard at this time but they were settled straight from kick off with Dean Ashton poking his 2nd of the season home. The impressive Vaughan got Lunt into the area, who back heeled it to Dean who just rolled it into the bottom left.
It was highly unlikely but it gave hope to any really optimistic Alex fan. It was, though, mostly West Ham. Marlon Harewood coming close, hitting the cross bar with a header from a corner - although I admit that came before any of the goals.
So that was the first half, the second half was a tad more eventful for Crewe.
...
Ok, maybe it wasn't that much more eventful for us. West Ham didn't actually try. What was the point? They tried to go for the spectacular shots, rather than the tap ins.
The apparent uproar came off the pitch and in the Gresty Road End. Fans on the internet have since made it out to be the start of World War Three but it seemed to be a bit of something of nothing. "Dario out!" was shouted by two or three members of the crowd, which the majority didn't agree with. It led to one very minor scuffle and a few chants aimed at the culprits before it soon died down.
It probably started due to the annoyance of a substitution, which in my view was a good one. Steve Jones was brought on for Justin Cochrane just a couple of minutes after being booked for an outrageously over the top tackle on Nigel Reo-Coker.
Of course, fans instantly jumped to the conclusion Justin was being punished by Dario but the obvious thing is, Cochrane is the most defensive midfielder in our team. Not the man to have when you're looking to pull back two goals. That substitution was soon followed, five minutes later, by Higdon for Mark Rivers - with the formation going into 4-3-3.
This finally gave us much more attack minded play, with Higdon being the obvious play maker when he dropped just behind Jones and Ashton. It was Lunt though who spotted Ashton peeling away from the defenders on the edge of the box, with a quick flick from Lunt and a turn and shot from Ashton the ball was in the back of the net. And still nine minutes left.
Fans believed there was a chance of getting something and it was a nervy ending. Man of the Match David Vaughan nearly had a cross floating into the far left corner, Foster was ruled off side when his header rocked the crossbar and Steve Jones, in what would have been a tale, hit a over head kick just wide of the goal in the last few seconds.
For some reason, in the last 10-15 minutes, Crewe contradicted the previous 75 minutes and really started to play. They tried to grind a result out but they were, of course, 3 goals too late.
After the match Radio Stoke was the focal point as Alex fans descended. Dario's head was called for, investment was wanted, calm was needed and arguments amongst fellow Crewe fans certainly aren't welcomed!
I won't go into the Dario theories. I've been there before and I just get accused and abused, so sod that. Whatever happens, he should always be our manager till the day it is no longer possible for him to manage the club. End of.
We do need changes though! Drastic ones, before it gets too late (cliché, sorry).
His distribution is embarrassing. I couldn't stop cringing every time he volleyed a fairly simple ball onto Nantwich Road, or gave away a needless corner because Dario has told the defenders to put it out if in doubt. Don't take it so literally Rich!
He shouldn't get another game this season. Liability.
Come on Dario, these are boys. Lets add a couple men in there. Yes, two will do. A defender and a midfielder who can really mouth off. We've needed it for too long and now without Brammer and Wright even at the club, it's really telling.
It's what every Alex fan that left Gresty Road yesterday was saying. Maybe it's just a coincidence.
Go on Dario. Show us you're ready to prove you're a genius again, because we ARE going down if things aren't going to change. Moses is not a saviour (hardy ha) and neither is Jonah. Swapping them about won't bring results. Never.
Anyway, time for player ratings;
Ben Williams - 5 - Kicking was absolutely terrible. Handling was fine as was his general keeping but maybe let slip for the 2nd West Ham goal.
Keith Briggs - 5 - Dario said it. He's not fit. After 20 minutes he's struggling to keep up with the pace of the game. Competent defender, will we see him sent back to Norwich? Dario's hinted it.
Steve Foster - 6 - Rather average for Foz. Kept Harewood relatively quiet, with the only shots from him coming from tight angles.
Richard Walker - 3 - Terrible.
Billy Jones - 6 - Fairly comfortable at left back. They tried to trouble him but he won more times than not.
David Vaughan - 8 - Probably man of the match. Ran his heart off, gave West Ham many problems. I still think he needs some consistency in his play.
Neil Sorvel - 7 - Still in for unfair criticism, but he does his job. Tackles well and makes decent passes.
Justin Cochrane - 6 - Quiet until the second half, but when he came a live he battered West Ham with his tackling, unfortunately had to be sacrificed.
Kenny Lunt - 5 - Apart from his two assists I thought he was rather lacklustre. His set pieces were dreadful.
Dean Ashton - 8 - God help us if he ever leaves us. Without him I don't know where any attacks are going to come from. Ran his heart out ten times over and was at the fore front of every attack.
Mark Rivals - 6 - Sluggish, tired and generally slow off the mark.