Monday, March 29, 2010

West Ham Drop Another Against Stoke

The Hammers fell short at home for the second consecutive time this week. This time around the defeat was less severe and didn't spur a resulting letter from one of the Co-Chairman. Though it has certainly caused much doubt of the future of Gianfranco Zola.

West Ham's side saw the return of Manuel Da Costa to the starting eleven for the first time since his suspension. The Hammers fell just short of a result for the first time in six matches when a goal scored in the 69th by the just on Ricardo Fuller.

Fuller's goal was a devastating end to 68 previous minutes of superb goal keeping by Robert Green.

West Ham's attack saw more chances than stoke, but once again they failed to capitalize. Benni McCarthy had a chance on a cross from Julien Faubert, another on a Carlton Cole shot on goal off of a cross from Jonathan Spector, and a final last ditch attempt from Alessandro Diamanti that went wide.

The Irons had five more attempts than Stoke but couldn't make it happen. Once again losing a match that was easily in reach of a result.

West Ham plays next against Everton, and again Zola and his boys will be eyeing a result. This time everyone of the Hammer's faithful will be hoping for a much needed result to stay afloat in the Premier League.

Stay Alive You Irons!!!

Friday, March 26, 2010

Mr. Gold, You Sir are Being Too Harsh

I normally write this blog as a news article or a sports article. I do this as a healthy form of catharsis for my self. I always try and be fair, and always free of opinion. But today I can no longer hold it in.

David Gold, the savior of West Ham United, (or so I thought when he and David Sullivan first purchased the team) has gone way over the line this time. His open letter to the fans of West Ham is the act which was "shambolic."

While i'll be the first to admit the Hammers play has been far less then what I had hoped for, and is in far less quality then when they won back to back against Birmingham and Hull City. To call out the team for five straight losses is unnecessary. If it was seven, then maybe write a letter. If it was ten, definitely write a letter, even fire the manager.

But to call the sides play "shambolic" after five losses is rude. Especially since three of those losses came to the top three clubs in the league! I'll go as far as to say they are three of the premier clubs in the whole of Europe. Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea are games that as a Hammers supporter I understand a no result. And when the team gets a draw, like they had twice already done, once against Chelsea, and another against Arsenal, I am ecstatic.

The only thing that is "shambolic" to me is the result of this letter. It has done nothing more than anger the players and the manager.

Then I see a report which says West Ham's owners would love to have David Beckham. Why? He is a dying player. Even if he came to the team he is injury prone. The only possible reason it makes any sense whatsoever to sign Beckham to the Hammers would be to sell jerseys. But with the money you would have to pay him you couldnt even cover that cost with jersey sales alone. It is stupidity to field a ten man team in order to have a name like David Beckham on the squad.

Give manager Gianfranco Zola time, especially if he can keep the club in the Premier League. Give the players that are talented and willing to stay a break like Carlton Cole, Matthew Upson, Scott Parker, Valon Behrami, Alessandro Diamanti and Robert Green. Let them be guiding lights to the younger stars like Junior Stanislas, Fabio Daprela and Frank Nouble.

Stay out of the managers and the players way and let them do the playing, until it becomes too poor. Then I am fine with an owner stepping in and asserting change. That day and point has not come yet though! So Mr. Gold you have gone too far. Back Off.

West Ham Till I Die!!!

Wolves Disaster

West Ham fell hard at the Boelyn to Wolverhampton on Tuesday losing 3 to 1 in a discouraging manner.

The Hammers never got going in the match after giving up a first half goal to Wolverhampton's Kevin Doyle in the 28th. Then the Irons were pushed away in the second half with two goals in three minutes shortly following the re-start. One from Ronald Zubar in the 58th and the next by Matthew Jarvis in the 61st.

The Irons only goal came from Guillermo Franco in the 93rd, giving the Hammers some consolation.

This lack luster display from West Ham gave Wolverhampton some breathing room from relegation and pushed the Hammers down farther into the pit of relegation.

No one was angry then new Co-Chairman and Owner David Gold, who wrote an open letter to the fans on the official site, www.whufc.com shortly following the match. In his letter Gold called the Hammers play against Wolves "Shambolic," he also went on the say that the side gave, "Wolves too much space so that they looked more Manchester United."

While the statement about Wolves may be true, one must question the motives of Mr. Gold. Is he trying to force Gianfranco Zola out? Was he trying to inspire the players to be angry at him and rally to win like they did when he first put Zola under the microscope? Only time will tell.

Come On You Irons!

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

A Fall at the Emirates

West Ham lost their fourth straight match, falling short against a strong Arsenal side by a score of 2-0.

The Hammers played very well in the first half against the new second place team of the Premier League. After giving up a well struck 5th minute goal from the Gunner's Neves Denilson. After which the Irons rallied. The squads played even until a deep kick in the 44th minute came into West Ham's Guillermo Franco which resulted in Arsenal's Thomas Vermaelen to be sent off with a red card for his play against the striker.

The Penalty was taken by Alessandro Diamanti who shot a lower curving strike to the right corner of Manuel Alnunia's goal. Alumnia read Diamanti right and made an amazing save. Squashing the Hammer's hopes of equalizing before the half.

At the beginning of the second half the Hammers looked strong, passing well and looking for an opening in the Gunners side that was a man down. Then after about ten minutes of solid play, West Ham got too anxious and began to fall apart.

Once again the Hammers showed their ability to play with the best in the league, but only for a half.

West Ham saw a glimmer of hope when a strike from Carlton Cole came close following his substitution of Franco. But the ball skirted just outside of the post.

A late 83rd minute penalty inside the eighteen resulted in an Cesc Fabregas Penalty shot and goal. Eliminating all the hopes for West Ham.

Friday, March 19, 2010

West Ham vs. Arsenal Preview

West Ham is needing a result to avoid moving down on the table. Hoping to down the Gunners in a match at Emirates Stadium this Saturday will be the thoughts of all those in Claret and Blue, fans and players alike.

The Hammers will remain above relegation no matter what this weekend, but points are what they will need to keep their Premier League hopes alive.

It has been a tough stretch for the Irons battling against the top three teams on the table in three out of four of their last matches. Starting with a tough loss to Manchester United, last weekends second half disaster at Stamford Bridge and ending this weekend at Emirates Stadium against Arsenal. Including in the middle a tough home defeat against Bolton which dashed Hammer faithful hopes.

This weekends match should see the return of Carlton Cole to the starting eleven. He was rested last weekend in an attempt to give his lingering knee injury a chance to take a break.

West Ham played well against the Blues for the first half of last week with Scott Parkers amazing goal being one of the highlights of the match. But in the final 45 minutes all of Chelsea's Florent Malouda crosses finally found their effect and the game ended in disaster for West Ham.

Last time these two teams met earlier this season at Upton Park, West Ham was able to grind out a draw against the Gunners, gaining a valuable point against a top flight team. Showing gut and perseverance the Hammers scored two late goals, (one from Cole in the 74th, the other of a penalty shot from Alessandro Diamanti,) to overcome two early Arsenal goals.

Saturday's match is at 7:30 London time. Hopefully West Ham doesn't have to play catch-up this time around and can fire on all cylinders to down the Gunners.

Come On You Irons!!!


Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Chelsea's Struggles Make West Ham Hopeful: March 13th Match Preview

The Hammers play the Blues at Stamford Bridge this Saturday, and after the tough defeat to Bolton at Boelyn Ground West Ham will be striving for a result to keep clear of the bottom three.

West Ham has already taken one point away from a game with Chelsea this season. The Hammers forced the Blues into a draw at Upton Park back in December. Though at home, Chelsea has the disadvantage of losing two of their last three Premier League matches, but will have the boost of advancing into semi-final play of the FA Cup by defeating Stoke City.

The Irons may all want to take a result from the second place team, but it will be no easy feat. A victory for the Blues could put them back into the top spot on the League Table. The Hammers have been outspoken on the importance of a victory on Saturday, but none more than Valon Behrami. In an article on the teams official site, www.whufc.com,

Behrami said, "We can do something special, I think, but we all have to be at 100 per cent and be at 100 per cent mentally and physically."

West Ham might also need a little bit of luck to draw or defeat the club that has led the League Table for the majority of the season.

One interesting factor to note is Chelsea is the only team in the Premier League that Zola played for, after being forced out of Italian Serie A side Parma by then coach and now Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti. Zola scored 59 goals for the Bluesin almost 230 appearances for the club. It is not the first match Zola has manged against Chelsea with Ancelotti at its head, but it still might hold some bitter memories for Zola.

The match this Saturday is at 3:00 p.m. London time.

GO HAMMERS!

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Struggles With Bolton Continue: West Ham's Woes Heighten After Tough Home Defeat

West Ham fell to Bolton at home this past Saturday, due to two early Wanderer goals from Kevin Davies in the 10th and Jack Wilshere in the 16th. The story of the match was put best by Scott Parker when he said, "We didn't come out of the blocks at all."

Though a late goal from Alessandro Diamanti gave the Hammers a glimmer of hope to take a point away form the match. And another huge opportunity lost when Junior Stanislas smashed a ball into the top of the crossbar on a rising strike.

Due to going down two goals to nil so early the Irons struggled to get back into the match for most of it's entirety. From the West Ham official site, www.whufc.com, Parker again gives some answers to many of the Hammers faithful's questions. Parker said, "to be honest, we didn't deserve anything out of the game, the way we played."

With possibly the Irons toughest back-to-back matches of the season coming up, both away against Chelsea and Arsenal, respectively, the possibility of falling back into the bottom three is ever looming.

Hopefully the Hammers can take away some sort of result from both matches and stay afloat in the Premier League.

Friday, March 5, 2010

Relegation Battle vs. Bolton is Brewing

Bolton will be the next team to come into Upton Park on Saturday, and will be looking to upset the Hammers and be the first to beat West Ham at home since Manchester United did in December.

Injuries first, West Ham will be without Mark Noble who will be forced to sit with an arm injury he got at Old Trafford against Man. U. Scott Parker is back for this match after missing the Manchester United match on last Tuesday. Other than Noble, all of the Hammers who missed the last match will miss this match also. Kieron Dyer who got some minutes towards the end of the match against the Red Devils will by vying for his first start since his return.

The Hammers will be looking to make it their third straight home win after beating Birmingham City and Hull City in their previous two home matches.

Carlton Cole and crew will be looking to get back on the score sheet after being blanked by the champions the Irons last time out.

The match is at 3:00 London time, and is sure to be a great match to watch in order to keep the Hammers out of the dreadful bottom three.

Come On You Irons!