Overdue and A Club Anew

The Hammers have gone through a season and a half since my last post. Relegation has happened, Scott Parker is playing for Tottenham, as painful as that is the beloved Irons are in good position. Maybe this move to the second tier of English Football was good for the club, as hard as that is to say, all of the new faces, and promise of future stars pledging to the club has made me a happy Hammer.

Jack Collison, and James Tomkins are locked up and have pledged their future to playing at the Boleyn Ground. Kevin Nolan and Matthew Taylor have added depth and experience to a young club. And fresh faces following both the Summer and January transfer windows have added young talent like Ravel Morrison, Nicky Maynard, and Samuel Baldock.

And following the last two games, a victory over Millwall and a draw against fellow Promotion chasers Southampton, both in which the Hammers were down to 10-men for the majority of the match. There is a surge of joy coming from this writer of the Irons he loves so much he listens and watches from thousands of miles away.

More to come soon.

COME ON YOU IRONS!!!!

WEST HAM WINS!!!

The Mighty Hammers take three points from a match for only the second time of the season.

Thanks to goals from Valon Behrami, Victor Obinna, and Scott Parker West Ham was able to overcome Wigan Athletic 3-1 on Saturday at Boleyn Ground.

Robert Green also almost came away with a clean sheet, but the late minute gimme goal couldn't be avoided.

While the Irons are still at the bottom of the table, they are coming into form of late.

West Ham will have a formidable task in facing Manchester United in the semi-finals of the Carling Cup. A win would go down as one of the greatest in the record books.

The match is on Wednesday. It is going to be a huge component to this young season

WEST HAM TILL I DIE!!!

West Ham Draws Blackpool: Not a Good Showing for the Hammers

West Ham draws Blackpool nil all.

Thanks to shotty shooting, and a lack of finishing in front of the goal from both sides, this match ended scoreless.

The only real positive is Carlton Cole played in a sub role in the match, after just going off injured the Wednesday game prior.

Also Mark Noble came back and played after missing two matches after an appendectomy from a bout of apendicitis.

West Ham will travel to Anfield on Saturday to take on Liverpool. Who are struggling this year.

Come On you Irons!

ReCap

Sorry I've been crazy busy lately.

Here's a recap of recent West Ham action.

The mighty Hammers fell in the 86th minute away at Arsenal when Alex Song drove a dagger into the hearts of the West Ham faithful but heading a ball past Robert Green for the only goal in a one to nil Gunner victory. The Hammers missed out on a much deserved point but their form begins to pick up from this match on.

Next the Irons traveled away to Birmingham to take on "The David's" former club. West Ham went up two nil, but Birmingham scored two goals late in the match to force the draw. West Ham deserved the three points for their play in the first 60 minutes but the last third of the match belonged all to the boys of Birmingham.

Then on this past Wednesday West Ham played host to newly promoted West Bromwich Albion. The Hammers fell early after Luis Boa Morte pushed a player in the box and WBA's Peter Odemwingie made the penalty kick. The savior of West Ham Scott Parker smashed the ball into the top right corner of the net. Making it 1-1 at the break.

West Ham scored in the 50th on a pk which Frederic Piquionne fired into the net. The lead was short lived because in the 71st Ibanez Pablo nudged a header past Green off of a beautiful cross from Chris Brunt to give WBA a share of the spoils.

The Hammers will host Blackpool today in a crucial match where the Hammers desperately need the full three points. Which could possibly move them out of last in the table.

West Ham til I die!

Carling Cup Magic

West Ham met with Stoke at the Boelyn Ground this past Wednesday night to face the Potters in a Carling Cup tie for a bid into the quarter finals.

Kewayne Jones hit early taking a cross from Joey Barton and beat Mark Stetch to give Stoke an early lead within the first five minutes of the match.

The Hammers held after, but failed to score a goal with several chances clearing the crossbar. With the match being a stalemate into the half West Ham was down 1-0.

Much of the same continued after Howard Webb blew the whistle to start the second half. Both sides went back and forth with possession creating few chances.

It wasn't until good ol' Scott Parker was able to equalize the match in the 84th minute by beating Asmie Begovic, pushing the match into extra time.

The Irons Manuel Da Costa drove in another goal in the extra time and newboy Victor Obinna sent the match out of reach for the Potters by slotting in another in the 118th minute.

West Ham awaits who they will face in the quarter final and will play at Arsenal this weekend.

West Ham fail in the Second Half to Visiting Newcastle

West Ham looked to put the visiting Magpies away in the opening minutes with a 12th minute Carlton Cole goal. But the newly promoted Newcastle side didn't go away and actually seemed to settle in after they gave up the goal.

In the first half it was Kevin Nolan for the Magpies with a left booted shot into the right corner of the net to level the playing field. After attempts from both teams the score stayed level going into the half.

When the Hammers came out the team seemed in disarray. Matthew Upson went off with an injury in the 52nd minute, just after he had fought back from one to play this week. Herita Ilunga came on for him, but the presence of the West Ham second in command was clearly missed when Newcastle took the lead.

On a beauty of a cross from Joey Barton Andrew Carroll headed the ball past a helpless Robert Green from four yards out smashing it into the net. On the play Manuel Da Costa essentially conceded the goal himself by letting Carroll have a free attempt at the ball when he simply went the wrong way.

The Irons couldn't seem to get the ball in past the Magpie defense all of the second half, while Newcastle was able to keep the pressure up even after Carroll's goal.

After the ref blew the whistle to signal the end of the game Avram Grant couldn't wait to get off the pitch after the miserable second half he witnessed from his side.

West Ham remains at the bottom of the table and fans are starting to have their doubts again.

The Hammers will play Stoke City at home this upcoming Wednesday the 27th in their Carling Cup match.

And then next Saturday will travel to Arsenal to face Arsene Wegner's Gunners for their Premier League clash.

Now more then ever. COME ON YOU IRONS!!!

West Ham Rally at Wolves

West Ham United traveled away to play against the Wolverhampton Wanderers this past weekend in a early battle to avoid relegation.

The Hammers went down early in the first half when Matthew Jarvis sent a shot into the top corner past a diving Robert Green. The Irons held off the home side to push into the half with only a one-goal deficit.

When the second half whistle blew West Ham came out with more pace and attack then the previous half. Victor Obinna won a penalty and in the 53rd minute Mark Noble sent it home to even the scores.

Near the conclusion of the match the Hammers looked to have won the match until the referee blew his whistle to signal a controversial hand-ball on the touch of Frederic Piquionne before he blasted it into the net for the late winner.

At the conclusion of that controversy the ref blew the final three blasts to signal the end of the match.

While it wasn't the three points the Hammers looked to take from Molineux, the point was a fair result for the match.

West Ham next plays at the Boelyn Ground against newly promoted Newcastle United on Saturday the 23rd of October.

Come on you Irons!!!

West Ham Draw Back to the Bottom

The Mighty Hammers took a point away again this past Saturday against Fulham at home.

Robert Green was met by his World Cup nemesis again in Clint Dempsey when he scored the the only goal for Fulham. Green didn't crumble from this adversity and shut down Fulham for the rest of the match.

Frederic Piquionne proved to be the savior for West Ham again by scoring the goal in the opening minutes of the second half. This was his second goal in two matches and helps the backing of Avram Grant's decision to start Piquionne over fan favorite Carlton Cole.

With this point the Hammers tie Wolverhampton at bottom of the table in points but are still behind in goal differential. With Wolves next week the Hammers face an early battle in the aim to starve of another late season relegation battle like last seasons.

The match is away on Saturday at 7:00 A.M. Los Angeles time.

It's West Ham Till I Die!!!

West Ham Gets a Three-Pointer

The mighty Hammers got out of the bottom place this past weekend with a stunning victory over Tottenham Hotspur. West Ham was able to use the head of Frederic Piquonne in the 29th minute to go ahead, and they held on after.

This was Avram Grant's first win in the English Premier League for the Irons. Signifying a shift in the momentum of the Hammers play possibly, this win could turn the season round for the eastern Londoners.

Robert Green was the man of the match, making brilliant saves and not letting the Spurs optimize their chances in the match. Also it was Green's first clean sheet in any matches since before his blunder in the World Cup. After the game Green made a very emotional gesture to the press-box, possibly taken as an "up yours" to the critics which have surrounded him for most of the season.

West Ham's next match will be at home against Fulham on Saturday the second of October.

COME ON YOU IRONS!!!

A New Season Begins.

Well folks the Barclays Premier League season is upon us. And many changes have taken place for many teams in the top flight, with West Ham's being among the most prominent.

The Hammers have a new manager in Avram Grant, the former Chelsea and Portsmouth boss. He was the man the David's wanted and they got him with little resistance from Portsmouth. He is looking to steer West Ham in the right direction and utilize the vast potential of the club he has taken the reigns of.

Not only did the Hammers sign their new manager from Pompey but have signed two of Grant's former Portsmouth players in Frederic Piquionne and Tal Ben-Haim. The attacker and defender, respectively, were two pivotal members of the relegated Pompey side that surged their way into the F.A. Cup Finals against Chelsea.

The signings didn't stop there, the Hammers also signed Thomas "Der Hammer" Hitzlsperger a veteran and prominent force in the midfield with a powerful left boot to boot.

Along with Der Hammer and the former Pompey players West Ham have also signed two names from this summers World Cup in South Africa. The first being versatile Mexican Winger Pablo Barrera, who scored the winning penalty kick against Deportivo in the last match of the Hammers warm-up matches to help keep the club unbeaten. Along with the Mexican came Winston Reid, one of the goal-scorers in the New Zealand All Whites breakthrough World Cup run.

After a summer of changes and key additions, and with the club able to keep their best players like Carlton Cole, Matthew Upson, Robert Green and last but not least Scott Parker. The 2010/11 season is looking very promising for West Ham and all of the Hammer faithful.

The season starts with the an away match at Aston Villa on the 14th of August, with the home opener coming against Bolton on the 21st.

A New Era Begins at West Ham!

West Ham Stays In

Saturdays match verse Wigan Athletic was one that Scott Parker and the Hammer faithful will remember for some time to come.

West Ham went down by a goal early in the fourth minute when Jonathan Spector accidentally headed a Wigan cross past Robert Green and was charged with the own goal. But the Hammers did not break there only five minutes later Carlton Cole almost scored only to have it barely cleared away.

The equalizer came in the 31st when Ilan connected with a Cole pass to get his fourth goal while on loan with the Hammers.

Then right before the half-time whistle Radoslav Kovac nodded the ball into the net after Wigan keeper Chris Kirkland deflected a Mark Noble free-kick. making the score at the break Hammers two, Wigan one.

The second half proved to be near fatal for West Ham. The attacking ceased and the Hammers only had one run on the goal by Ilan, who was taken off in the 71st as a precaution by Gianfranco Zola for Guillermo Franco.

In the 52nd the Wigan side began to move the ball and scored a goal from Hugo Rodallega, making it two to two.

But reigning Hammer of the Year and team leader Scott Parker wasn't going to let his Hammers fail at the Boelyn Ground. Coming off his two match suspension, Parker was the rallying cry the Hammers needed to win the match.

Parker made a surge from mid-field and struck a zipping ball from 25 yards out, beating Kirklanf and giving West Ham the lead three goals to two.

The play if Zola's side picked up, with Green playing spectacular in the closing minutes to not let up an equalizer. Giving West Ham the victory with the final being West Ham 3, Wigan 2.

The Hammers did what they had to do to secure their spot in the Premier League for the next season. Now it came down to watching the match between Hull City and Sunderland. If Hull City lost then the Hammers would have to lose their last two, and the Tigers would have to win their last two, matches with a goal differential of 24 goals.

The Hammers now have a 99.9% for sure shot of being in the Premier League next season. This seasons final two matches are against Fulham and Manchester City.

West Ham United Forever!

Anfield Proves to Difficult a Task for Sprawling Hammers: Liverpool 3 West Ham United 0

West Ham was down from the very start against Liverpool with the Reds attack to strong and their defense un-yielding for the Hammers front men.

The Irons squeezed off six shots total in the match, only two of which were on target. While Liverpool was unrelenting and took a total of 17 shots nine of which were on target against English National Keeper Robert Green.

An old friend turned out to be the Hammers first foe when Yossi Benayoun scored first in the 19th minute after the Reds had been within the West Ham box for most of the early stages of the match. Benayoun's goal came off of a Steven Gerrard free-kick when it found the Liverpool man and he nudged the ball into the goal past Green using his midriff.

The next Hammers blow came when David Ngog swept a ball past Green that was the result of a Benayoun run and pass to the Reds striker Maxi who flicked it towards Ngog brilliantly.

The Irons struggled from the start and especially after the two early goals against England's most storied franchise. With nothing resulting for them on either side of the ball.

The final goal came as a shot from Liverpool's Sortirios Kyrgiakos crashed off the post and hit Green in the back of his heel. A poor sheet for the Hammers iconic Goal keeper. In a match where his play was not as poor as the end result showed.

West Ham has Wigan Athletic this Saturday at home and points will be crucial, as they always are now. The Hammers will need to rebound after their display at Anfield and hopefully the home side will see a goal from fan favorite Carlton Cole, as he tries to win a spot on the England side for their summer trip to South Africa for the World Cup.

West Ham till I die!

West Ham is Full of Happy Hammers Riding the Waves of Ilan's recent Success

The Hammers got their first win in their last seven matches at home last Saturday at Upton Park beating the Sunderland Black Cats one to nil.

Hammer's loanee Ilan has enjoyed his recent success for Manager Gianfranco Zola and earned his second start as part of the Claret and Blue. He gave Zola a good name and West Ham fans a reason to cheer as he scored the lone goal of the match after a header from Carlton Cole was found by his foot and crashed into the goal.

The match could have gone either way with both clubs having multiple chances to score, and even a goal being called back from Guillermo Franco after his initial touch was ruled a hand ball by the side judge. But none the less the Irons came out victorious.

The Hammers are now in 16th place with 31 points on the table. earning a four point reprieve from the bottom three. With Burnley beating Hull City on the same day it secured West Ham's move away from the other two teams for the first time the last few weeks now.

Next weekends match is going to be crucial for the Hammers and will need the likes of Ilan and his mates to conjuror up some more magic against Liverpool. A win or draw would be crucial for the Hammer's with a key match against Wigan Athletic shortly following. The Wigan match could even possibly decide who drops into the bottom three.

The match is on Monday the 19th at 8:00 p.m. London time.

Forever Blowing Bubbles!

Hammers Hold on to get a Crucial Point

The Hammers fans chorused chants of "Come On You Irons" to rally their side in the second half, and no fan could be angry with the result as the West Ham rallied from being a goal down twice to get a valuable point at Goodison Park with a 2-2 draw against Everton.

The Toffee's went up in the 24th with a header from Diniyar Bilyaletdinov from the 6 yard mark. The resulting goal came after a poor header from Jonathan Spector in the Hammers penalty area was taking advantage of by the the Russian international.

The Hammers held on for the rest of the half, but were never able to put much pressure on Tim Howard and the Everton back four.

Then Gianfranco Zola must have inspired his side at halftime because the Irons came out with passion and fire in the second half playing well on both sides of the ball, pressuring the Toffees with many chances.

West Ham finally got their break when Manuel Da Costa scored with gallant effort in the 59th as he won a corner that fell from a first touch by Carlton Cole and found the foot Da Costa who was able to flick it home while falling forward.

After the Hammer's goal both squads played with intensity and both had multiple chances. Then the hearts of West Ham and their side fell when in the 84th Everton's Yakubu headed in a cross from Leighton Baines. Giving the Toffees their second one goal lead of the match going up 2-1.

Their elation didn't last long. After being subbed in for Mido in the 76th Ilan gave the Irons the equalizer. A perfect cross form Julien Faubert came into a running Ilan who dove and headed it in in between two Toffee defenders in the 86th minute. A perfect cross ended in a perfect goal.

The Hammers got their first point in their last seven matches, and a valuable one. The draw put West Ham over Hull City by a point, giving the Hammers a little bit of space from the bottom three.

West Ham's next match is against Sunderland at the Boelyn on the 10th.

Come On You Irons!!!

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!!!

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!

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.

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!!!

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!