As a surprise to actually no-one Super Slav was bid farewell this morning in a tea no biscuits conversation at the OS.
Actually it was probably yesterday, but why let facts get in the way.
Having left early enough on Saturday to catch his post match interview on Saturday after another hiding at home, it was all over his face. He knew, we knew.
First post of the season and there has been a reason. I wanted to get a tell for the team this year, before I committed anything to record.
We didn’t finish fantastic last year and this year has been more of the same. Two 3 2 losses mask the fact that we were at least 2-0 down in both. A hiding off of Man U can be washed away by the fact they seem to be scoring for fun against everyone.
But in reality we are possibly 2points off where I expected us to be. So not so bad ? Wrong.
Continue reading “WHUFC vs Swansea City 30/09/2017 EPL2017/2018”
Warning Explicit content early on:
Continue reading “WHUFC vs Crystal Palace 14/01/2017 EPL 2106-2017”
Another day, another hiding. This week we have lost 4-1 to Man U away and now 5-1 at home to Arsenal. Things are not good, and only the fact that 3 teams appear to be worse than us is keeping us from dropping into the relegation zone. And having watched these games, I’m struggling to believe they are actually “worse” than us.
Slaven has an issue, the board have an issue and we as fans have an issue.
Slaven needs to raise the team back to last seasons levels. This is becoming difficult if what he said in the post match interview is anything to go by. He is aware the players aren’t putting a shift in and basically stated they are the same in training. Now I’m not close enough to say whether he has lost the dressing room, but things don’t look good. Even Mark Noble looks resigned. Continue reading “WHUFC vs Arsenal 03/12/2016 EPL 2016-2017”
Last season saw us lose 4-3 in an end to end game (see here WHUFC vs AFC Bournemouth EPL 22/08/2015). Our team was missing Andy Carroll that time and it turns out he was absent again today, making it 3 for 3 for the Geordie with respect to injuries and first league home games ! As well as AC, we were also missing Ayew, which gave Valencia another chance to redeem himself as our main attacker. Slaven has obviously been listening to the critics and took Antonio out of the right back slot only to put him into left midfield. So we have to assume he fancies both Feghouli and Gore in front of the best attacking right winger we have had since Kevin Keen. Wrong, wrong, wrong. And Payet was missing. This made me think that maybe 0-0 wouldn’t be too bad.
It appeared that everyone else had the same thoughts as the game itself was dull as hell. Nobody really took it by the scruff of the neck. The first half flashed by in a series of mediocre football, only livened up by the standing West Ham fans bickering with the Stewards. How anyone thinks that 5 teenagers will make 200 fans sit down is beyond me, and so they just kept going backwards and forwards almost pleading to no avail.
As we all got an email regarding this last week, means something will happen and there will be a few empty seats for the next game I imagine.
I got to meet my new seat mate, and I think although nice enough there will be some interesting conversations as the season goes on. Hi Steve if you are reading this..
The goal came late on when Antonio was allowed to play on the right and made the run and got the cross in. Gore picked it up at the far post, put it back in and Antonio nods it in to keep our competitive 100% record at the OS. Food for thought Slaven.
Bournemouth looked a shadow of last season, although Ibe looked useful when he moved into the middle.
Key takeaway from today was that we need Lanzini and Payet back as soon as possible, and Calleri needs to start. He got a chance late on when Noble put him through , that I think will be bread and butter later on if he gets the game time
MOTM Antonio. And a big shout out to debutant Arthur Masuaku, who looks very comfortable at left back.
Palace are without a win in the premier league this year and WHU are tearing up trees pushing for a CL spot. But in true West Ham style we blew a gift. Everyone seems to the blaming the ref, but I differ, and will explain below.
Continue reading “WHUFC vs Crystal Palace EPL 2015- 2016 02/04/2016”
Hopes were high as The Hammers entertained their struggling opponents under the lights at the Boleyn. Newcastle were not having the best start of the season ever, but WHU were yet to register a point at home, whilst taking full points on the road at Arsenal and (historically) Liverpool.
Since that game at Anfield, some 4 players have joined WHU and one made his debut last night as Victor Moses came in for Obiang, and Tomkins found himself once more in the right back berth. Mark Noble also made his first appearance as officially the club captain, although with the fans he has held that position since Scott Parker left.
WHU started the game with a spring in their step, with Payet and Koutyate especially taking the game to the Geordies. The players seemed happy to close down, move around and make quick passes. Something we haven’t seen for a while. In the 9th minute a neat interchange between Noble and Sakho fed the ball to the edge of the box to Payet, and he shaped up perfectly to meet the ball in his stride to smash it into the top corner
As is usual for WHU the game started to drift and although we maintained the attacks, we were not really making the best of our chances. The Newcastle No.8 Vumon Anita was playing as a one man defence and was stopping everything and everyone coming his way. We continued as is now usual to half time, content to be ahead but not really pushing. But it must be said we were playing further up the pitch than normal and not buggering about passing it around the back.
It made a change not to go in 2-0 down at home, so happy days.
Once again we started the second half with the wind in our sails attacking the Bobby Moore. We cleared an early attack from Newcastle to Moses who ran the whole length of the pitch and got himself in on goal. He shoots, beats the keeper, but not the bar. The rebound comes straight out to Payet who volleys it in to make it 2-0. Big shout to the the team here, as Payet ran off on his own to celebrate, everyone else was congratulating Moses, who had his head in his hands ! From here on, Payet ran the show and gave us his full set of tricks and passes. This started to breed confidence within the team and soon everyone was at it. Against a better team we may of suffered , but Newcastle could not capitalise on the showboat circus. Even Mark Noble was taking people on and getting crosses in. There were back heels and fancy passes all over the place. The crowd were loving it, but occasionally you could see where the loss of the ball could reduce the deficit easily. The biggest cheer of the evening was reserved for the reintroduction of Andy Carroll (again), who nearly picked up a yellow card with his first touch (or non touch as it was on Tim Krull). His five minute cameo ended the night perfectly. The crowd were chanting “Are you watching Allardyce” for the last few minutes in between cheering on the back flicks and nutmegs.
2-0 to the Irons and 5th place in the league with Man City up next to hold on to our perfect away record this season (!). Why are we playing better? My theory is that now that we have a real squad, competition for places is driving players to play a higher standard of football. Lets hope this continues Messrs Bilic and Dicks
On a side note, Kevin Nolan was on Goals on Sunday this weekend and spoke glowingly of the club and his time there. With the stick people (myself included) have given him for the last 6 months, fair play to him, especially having his boy in a WHU kit. In parting, good luck to him in his future endeavours.
So in short, we have a top, top, quality flair player in midfield,backed up with some steel, we can pass balls all over the shop without fear, we score some tremendous goals, we can defend and attack in numbers, we are all in it together, and are always on the edge of going too far and screwing it all up.
THE WEST HAM WAY IS BACK !!!!!
#COYI
MOTM: Payet, big shouts to Moses, Kouyate, Noble, and Tomkins.
After last week’s great win against Arsenal our old friend expectation was unleashed at the Boleyn ground, as Leicester came into town to play the Hammers. However our opponents were on a high having won 4-2 against Sunderland on the opening day of the season.
WHU start young Reece Oxford again, in his place in front of the back four. This, as much as it hurts to say, was our undoing. WHU started well hitting the bar after 2 minutes from another great free kick from our buy of the season Payet. After the first 10 minutes of all out assault we reverted to a Sam style play from the back model, with Reid and Ogbonna swapping passes constantly and failing to come forward. Oxford was sort of caught up in this and it was noticeable that he was lost, and Leicester’s shape meant he had no one to mark either giving him no focus.
This led to him missing the pass from Vardy to Okazaki for the first, and also being caught out coming back when he should of been marking Mahrez for the second. However I wont lay everything at his young door, as our midfield should be been keener in supporting the front 2 and maybe keeping the ball up the other end.
So we go in at half time 2 down and it was time for Bilic to earn his money. He obviously said something because WHU came out flying in the second half, and within 10 minutes Payet had reduced the deficit to 1 after taking a great chance at the second opportunity. We continued to attack and a draw was on the cards but Leicester knew this and started to slow the game down. Near the end Sakho had a great chance in front of goal, which was stopped by the diving body of Schmeichel .
We are now into time added on and WHU apply more pressure, THEN, Adrian comes up for a corner. As the ball is cleared Adrian sees his chance for an overhead kick back into the box. Without taking stock of his surroundings he goes for it. And boots a Leicester player straight in the chest and gets a straight red. This is a problem. We will now have Darren Randolph in the sticks for the next 3 games.
This is the real West Ham way, just when you think it’s going well, we literally kick ourselves down.
MOTM for WHU Payet. Great goal, and great all round effort. Special shout out to Mahrez for Leicester who also looks a quality player.
Mrben09 