unlucky against wigan mate i hate losing games cause of a goal let in in the last 10 minutes cause the team are soo close to getting atleast a point lol
Tell me about it, my defence seems to get so tired in last 20 minutes. Same old west ham though.
---------- Post added at 04:33 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:32 PM ----------
Your a star.
---------- Post added at 04:44 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:33 PM ----------
I was so dissaponted with the Wigan game because the next 2 games wern't going to be easy and they could have been some vital 3 points...
West Ham V Man Utd
Green, Ilunga, Faubert, Gabbidon, Upson, Parker, Kovac, Stanislas, Collison, Ilan and Cole. Subs: Kurucz, da Costa, Daprella, Diamanti, Noble, Mido and McCarthy.
Foster, Neville, Kolarov, Vidic, Ferdinand, Park, Nani, Fletcher, Carrick, Berbatov and Rooney.
Diamanti Dazzles Devils
What do you expect when you play the best team in the country, not much. Rooney and Berbatov were linking up like 2 peas in a pod and were causing some real havoc in and out of our area. The game dulled down for a bit in the middle which gave us the oppurtunity to take hold of this game and oh we did. We had a good 20 minutes spell of dominance and were so unlucky not to go in 1-0 at half time. The fans were roaring and you could tell that we had a sniff of a chance here. I told the boys to keep there heads and let there feet do the talking. It seemed to work... more crafty football from the midfield seeing Cole have a great chance. However, with all these chances going a begging, the class started to show, a lovely weighted ball into the box onto the chest of Berbatov saw him take it down with ease and slot it home. With only 15 minutes to go we looked down and out and I need someone to lift us. In the West Ham team there is only one man, Alessandro Diamanti. He came on as was weaving in and around the area causing Vidic some real trouble. With 5 minutes to go we needed something. A ball into the box, Diamanti swivvles Vidic and there it was! A classy finish from a passionate man. 1-1 and the crowd went wild. It seemed like Man U set out to hold on to the draw after that and that was fine by me. The whistle went and it was another point against a top 4. Wonderful!
West Ham 1
Diamanti (85)
Man Utd 1
Berbatov (75)
---------- Post added at 05:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:44 PM ----------
As I said in the Man Utd thread, we had 2 hard games...
Spurs V West Ham
Gomez, Corluka, Assou-Ekotto, Bassong, King, Lennon, Modric, Jenas, Palacios, Crouch and Keane. Subs: Walker, Defoe, Kranjcar, Hutton, Pavlyuchenko, dos Santos and Woodgate.
Green, Faubert, Ilunga, Gabbidon, Upson, Kovac, Parker, Stanislas, Collison, Cole and Mido. Subs: Kurucz, da Costa, Behrami, Daprella, Noble, Diamanti and Ilan.
Harry Cant Stop Twitching
Hoping that Mido could do one over the scum, I mean over his former club I decided to start him and he did well, we were creating chances which saw Harry on the twitch up. Spurs decided to put some effort in and Lennon came close with Keane also having a good chance, Green was looking good. The half-time whistle was approaching and we were looking good. Boo's rung around *****, sorry i mean White Hart Lane and Spurs must of been feeling under pressure. The lads were excited, felt they could get them on the down, I just told them to keep tight at the back, knowing us we will let in in the last 10 minutes. The second half was near enough the same. Not many chances being created but Spurs were definately the team on top this half. Added time went up and no-one seemed to want to go for the win. The final whistle went and I can say I am delighted getting 2 points from 2 games I didnt expect much from, nothing really. Another positive was when Spurs don't win Harry goes into his spastic mode, its always fun to watch on MOTD that night.
Spurs 0
West Ham 0
---------- Post added at 06:23 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:20 PM ----------
Papers were saying that it's been a while since I won and if I was the right man for the job, obviously they had seen who I played. However, it was now time to focus on the cup...
West Ham V Portsmouth (League Cup)
Green, Faubert, Ilunga, Gabbidon, Upson, Kovac, Parker, Stanislas, Collison, Cole and Diamanti. Subs: McCarthy, da Costa, Behrami, Daprella, Noble, Mido and Ilan.
James, Vanden Borre, Belhadj, Mokoena, Ben-Haim, Brown, Yebda, Angulo, Utaka, Boateng and Piquionne. Subs: Ashdown, Finnan, Williamson, Diop, Smith, Kaboul and Hurst.
Collison Cuts Loose
It was back to the cup and we picked up a relatively easy draw looking at the teams left. I put my full strength side out and it seemed to pay off early doors. A ball into the box by Diamanti was met by the head of Collison who glanced it into the bottom corner, he is playing well at the moment, 1-0 West Ham. Fair play to Portsmouth they battled on and saw the game as if it was 0-0. Chances from Piquionne and Boateng put me on the edge of my seat. However, Collison was cutting Vanden Borre up horridly and I was feeling sorry for the kid. It paid off in the 42nd minute when a jinx inside from Collison see him go past Vanden Borre and Ben-Haim. Cole was screaming for the ball on the penalty spot, Collison looked up, sees Cole, Cole shoots, Cole scores. 2-0 and Collison was playing beautfiully. Half-time came and we went in to a round of applause by the West Ham faithful. I told the lads that I'm pleased and we need to keep it up. They didn't seem to listen, Pompey seemed to have chance after chance and if they had a good finisher the score could of been diffrent on the day. The final whistle came and we were through to the next round... we just had to hope for a good draw in the next round.
West Ham 2
Collison (9)
Cole (42)
Portsmouth 0
---------- Post added at 06:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:23 PM ----------
So it was another coach trip up north to Stoke and this time the captain, Matty Upson decided to bring the radio. I have fell asleep on the way up there but get rudely interupted by Diamanti who is trying to tell me the draw is on in English, not easy when you just woken up. Upson chuckes me the radio.
Hull City V Wigan
Burnley V Man City
More teams come but not us...
Wolves V West Brom
Man Utd V Charlton
I kept thinking on 2 out the big 5 were out and before I could think any further...
West Ham will play, number 3 Chelsea.
Cheers went up all around the coach, I was looking around smiling thinking this is going to be a toughie. However, there was one bloke not too happy, Matty Upson...
Stoke V West Ham
Sorensen, Shawcross, Higginbotham, Faye, Collins, Lawrence, Licka, Whelan, Whitehead, Tuncay and Fuller. Subs: Simonsen, Cort, Dickinson, Berrier, Kitston, Huth and Pugh.
Green, Faubert, Ilunga, Gabbidon, Upson, Kovac, Parker, Behrami, Collison, Cole and McCarthy. Subs: Tomkins, da Costa, Daprela, Noble, Diamanti, Ilan and Mido.
Upson Goes Rambo
We were looking at a near enough fully fit squad but this was not an easy place to come to and they let us know about it. Chance after chance after chance from Stoke, they were pushing people forward and tactics had to change early on. Half-time was coming well and I was just telling them to keep it tight at the back. Tuncay had been bothering Upson all game and he didnt look in the best of moods on the coach. So when this long ball come over the top, Tuncay went to chest it down but before he could, Upson jumped in 2 footed into the back of his calfs. Upson didn't stop there, he was on top of the bloke grabbing hold of him swearing in his face saying 'I hate them Chelsea bastards, I hate them'. Red card and off he went thanks to the help of Kovac and Green. For some reason I'm trying to argue with the 4th official who is just laughing at me. Half-time went and Upson had already packed his stuff up and went on the coach. I bought Kovac into the back 4 and left Parker in the middle on his own, I just told the boys to do what they can do, it wasn't much. Straight after the break it was the same and the worst chance of them all went in. Green passed it to Ilunga who didnt have time to control it, Tuncay was bearing down on him so he went to boot it away, It hit tuncay and looked like it was going in one way but took a mean deflection of Ilunga and bounced in the other corner. 1-0 down and it was classed as an own goal. They doubled there lead 3 minutes later and Tuncay could definately claim this after a drilled finish into the corner. I bought some changes on hoping something could happen. Luckily enough, that man again, Alessandro Diamanti hit a 25-yard pearler into the top corner of the net and we still had 20 minutes to play. We were making chances and with seconds to play. Mido 1on1, keeper saves, whistle blows and we get nothing. I sympathise the boys when they got in the changing rooms. Upson walked in and said unlucky boys, that one is on me. I let him off this time but he really did lose us any chance of a point.
Stoke 2
Ilunga o/g (55)
Tuncay (58)
West Ham 1
Diamanti (65)
Upson s/o (42)
---------- Post added at 08:18 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:52 PM ----------
Even though we hadn't had a win in the league for a fair while, I was still feeling positive and today was our big chance to break the winless streak...
West Ham V Birmingham
Green, Faubert, Ilunga, Gabbidon, Tomkins, Kovac, Parker, Behrami, Collison, Cole and McCarthy. Subs: Kurucz, da Costa, Daprella, Noble, Diamanti, Ilan and Mido.
Hart, Carr, Queudrue, Boyce, R.Johnson, Larsson, Mcfadden, Michel, Tanio, Ferguson and Benitez. Subs: Doyle, Parnaby, Dann, O'Shea, Phillips, Ridgewell and D.Johnson.
Cole Drills Hammers Home
The game was a must winner and the fans knew it too. The players must of knew about it aswell because in the 8th minute, more great play by Collison left Cole one on one with Hart and being as cool as a cucumber, chips the keeper from the edge of the area, it was truly remarkable. We were domianting through the whole half and were rewared with a second. A misjudge header from R.Johnson saw Cole have the time and pleasure to score from the tight angle. 2 goals for Cole and we were cruising. The on slaught kept on going but Hart was keeping Birmingham in the game. Half-time came and the boys knew what we had to do, just keep it tight. They did so well and Birmingham really didnt have much of a chance of getting back into the game. The final whistle went and I was relieved to have picked our 1st league win in 4 games.
West Ham 2
Cole (8, 22)
Birmingham 0
---------- Post added at 08:30 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:18 PM ----------
After the game against Birmingham we have got alot of winnable fixtures but I tried to keep focus on the next game...
West Ham V Sunderland
Green, Faubert, Ilunga, Gabbidon, Tomkins, Kovac, Behrami, Stanislas, Collison, Cole and Diamanti. Subs: Kurucz, da Costa, Ilan, Mido and McCarthy.
Gordon, Ferdinand, Paredas, Mensah, Turner, Malbranque, Zenden, Cattermole, Gago, Bent and Campbell. Subs: Fulop, Kilgallon, Nosworthy, Cana, Healy, Bardsley and da Silva.
Collison Cant Stop
It seems that these winnable games really get the players wanting it, they seem to want it more than the big games. It proved it once again. A ball to the far post saw the in-form Welsh left winger, Jack Collison rise above Gago and put West Ham one up. We had 2 more chances in the next 2 minutes. More great play from Collison. However, when your playing well upfront you forget about the strike force and against Sunderland you can't do that. A loose ball which seemed to be going out was caught by the nippy Fraizer Campbell, neat ball through to Darren Bent saw him rifle a good shot into the bottom of the net. Good goal and his 100th of his career. We kept on pressing but were a bit more weary of the threat they had upfront. Chances kept on coming and we were not wanting the half time whistle. Unfortunately it came and I just told the boys to keep on going. They kept on and on but just couldn't find a way. We were looking tired... Mido came on with McCarthy for Cole and Diamanti. It worked like a treat. It was the same bit of play. Collison down wing, ball into near post, Mido flick on, missing the far post by inches. It was getting closer and closer until... Collison down wing, ball into near post, Mido flick on... goal! 2-1 West Ham and I was confident we had this game wrapped up... how I changed my mood quick. 90+3 minutes our left back Herita Ilunga decided to bring down Zenden on the edge of the area. It was like Chelsea all over again. He shoots... and its miles over the whistle went and we were moving back up the table.
West Ham 2
Collison (8)
Mido (77)
Sunderland 1
Bent (12)
---------- Post added at 06:10 PM ---------- Previous post was yesterday at 08:30 PM ----------
Another winnable game coming up but to win this we were going to have to stay on the ball...
West Ham V Fulham
Green, Faubert, Ilunga, Gabbidon, Tomkins, Kovac, Parker, Stanislas, Collison, Mido and McCarthy. Subs: da Costa, Behrami, Noble, Diamanti, Ilan, Kurucz.
Schwarzer, Pantsil, Morel, Hangeland, Hughes, Gera, Kamara, Murphy, Etuhu, Socco and Johnson.Subs: Zuberhuler, Nevland, Greening, Kelly, Zamora, Dempsey and Kallio.
West Ham Wingers Wound Fulham
A ground where West Ham love to win and it didnt take us long to get use to that A lovely bit of play from that man again down the left wing, Jack Collison. He looked up and saw our right winger, Junior Stanislas making a sort of jog into the area. He lofted it long to the back post, Stanislas saw it, got above his man and powered a header in to the top left hand corner of the next, real bit of glass from them 2. The game went on and we were looking the dominate force, chances from Mido and McCarthy should of been put away. At half time I told the boys to keep at it and they did. We got our just reward straight after the half time break, a crafty ball from Kovac into Collison and there was only one place that it was going with the kind of form he is in. 2-0 up and this was going to be 3 league wins on the bounce. However, the game was far from over and Fulham started to pull themselves back into it with Nevland missing a real sitter. In the 70th minute a ball from Johnson over to Nevland, he looked up and saw Gera next to him and he made it 2-1. With 20 minutes to go we had a bit of a sweat on and were having to defend heavily. We blocked every shot and tackled every man and when that final whistle went it was real sigh of relief.
West Ham 2
Stanislas (18)
Collison (46)
Fulham 1
Gera (70)
---------- Post added at 10:37 AM ---------- Previous post was yesterday at 06:10 PM ----------
We were on a good run and it was going to be a shame to have to stop the run...
West Ham V Chelsea (League Cup)
Green, Faubert, Ilunga, Tomkins, Upson, Kovac, Parker, Stanislas, Collison, Diamanti and McCarthy. Subs: da Costa, Behrami, Noble, Mido, Ilan, Kurucz and Cole.
Cech, Bosingwa, Cole, Carvalaho, Terry, Obi Mikel, Essien, Lampard, Cole, Droga and Cabanas. Subs: Hilario, Zhirkov, Deco, Anelka, Alex, Malouda and Ballack.
Diamanti Rattles Apple Cart
The decision to play Upson was a big one after the 'Rambo' at Stoke. It would prove to be costly. However, the game started brightly with both sides making many chances. Drogba and Cabanas were looking very alert with Diamanti and McCarthy working the best out of nothing. However, with them putting too much pressure on us, a Drogba shot from the edge of the are was well parried by Green but was unfortunate to end to Joe Cole's feet and they were 1-0 up. The players seemed down but there is always one man who keeps his head high. Straight from the kick off, back to Kovac, out wide to Stanislas and a great through ball by the right winger saw Diamanti one on one who rifled the ball through the legs of Cech, 1-1, game on. Chelsea were sturggling and we took advantage of it just before half time, a bad mistake from Carvalho saw him bring down Diamanti and the small man put away the penalty, the fans went into raptures and we were 2-1 up at half time. I told the boys to keep it up for the fans which shouldn't go down to well, seemed like they felt they could win the game. It proved costly, Stright from the off and good ball by Lamapard saw Cabanas have the time and space to turn and hit a wonder strike from the edge of the area into the bottom of the corner. 2 minutes later we were in trouble, Stanislas seemed to win the ball but Chelsea had there 12th men... once again! Lampard stepped up and wern't missing. 3-2 and the fans went quiet. We battled on. Diamanti hat trick? He should of had it. However, Cech was on form this time. Cole came on and came close but despite the battling we were defeated and out of the League Cup. I felt it was sort of my fault and told the lads that.
West Ham 2
Diamanti (37, pen 43)
Chelsea 3
Cole (36)
Cabanas (46)
Lampard (pen 49)