We had moved down to 11th after that loss and there was a race on for 8th between 4 teams. However, that wasn't important. Trying to pick up points away here was more important...
Sunderland V West Ham
Gordon, Dallku, Paredes, Turner, Kilgallon, Jankovic, Zenden, Cana, Cattermole, Jones and Bent. Subs: Fulop, Campbell, dos Santos, Nosworthy, Healy, Richardson, McCartney.
Green, Behrami, Ilunga, Gabbidon, Tomkins, Kovac, Parker, Stanislas, Collison, Cole and Diamanti. Subs: da Costa, Daprela, Faubert, Noble, Ilan, Mido and Stech.
Sunderland Make It 3 And Take 3
So if we lost this one it was going to be 3 losses in a row and I could see the fans were getting a bit annoyed. We didn't particually start how I was hoping. Sunderland were ******** on us to be it simple and I wasn't too happy with it. Bent and Jones were too good for us and if these lot went down I would be straight in for either on of them. Jones got his reward on 20th minute with an unbelieable chip from 30 yards. Green should of done better, maybe bigging him up so much wern't so much of a good idea. It seemed that after we let in a goal we seemed to pick ourselves up but that wasn't good enough, Diamanti missed a good chance and I was getting really ****** off not being able to find someone decent enough to partner Cole upfront and with McCarthy now out for 3 months after African Cup of Nations we were having to rely on Mido, Ilan or Diamanti. The half-time whistle came around and I took my aggression out on them. I was not pleased and it seemed to shake them up a bit. The second half started and we looked a much brighter team, only if we started the game like this the score line could of been diffrent. Cole had a good chance and he was playing well with the little Italian. With only 5 minutes gone in the second half we had had 2 clear cut chances but after Cole's chance Sunderland went in numbers up the other end and thanks to Jones they were 2-0 up. This game was over and my water bottle went up in the air... ******* useless. The West Ham fans were starting to abuse the players which is not nice to see but the West Ham faithful are passionate and if they don't get what they want there not happy. The game dragged on and I walked down the tunnel with minutes to go. I went in the Sunderland dressing room afterwards and shook Steve Bruce's hand who could understand my fustrating.
Sunderland 2
Jones (19, 53)
West Ham 0
---------- Post added at 05:18 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:10 PM ----------
Quality!
Well Done.
Like the way the starting line up is set out, Keep it up
SamScFc - Thanks
Bolasj - Yeh I agree, looks more proper like that Thanks.
---------- Post added at 05:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:18 PM ----------
Fans were getting annoyed, we were slipping and points were needed, a must winner!!!
West Ham V Stoke
Green, Tomkins, Ilunga, Gabbidon, Kovac, Parker, Stanislas, Collison, Mido and Cole. Subs: Behrami, da Costa, Daprela, Faubert, Diamanti and Ilan.
Sorensen, Taylor, Pugh, Cort, Collins, Berreri, Solari, Faye, Arismendi, Beattie and Tuncay. Subs: Simonsen, Wilkinson, Davies, Whelan, Kitson, Whitehead and Diao.
Miiiitwoooooo
It was time to change the upfront and this time I went for the 2 big men against a very strong side. The fans were buzzing and the players seemed it too but for some reason we just didn't have the spark. Beattie going close in the earlier stages which started the West Ham faitful off again. Mido came into life with a early shot and rallied the fans on but there was no real spark from anyside, a goal was needed in the game or I may shoot myself. The half-time whistle didn't take long to get here and boos ringed around the Boleyn Ground. I went in the dressing room and asked the boys if they heard that. Go and change there opinions! The team-talk seemed to help and were were looking like we had a bit of life in us but no goal yet. The half hour mark came up and I was panicking. I got Diamanti to warm up with Ilan to keep the fans happy. I shouted out to Cole and Mido 'do something or your both off!' In seconds a good ball from Collison to Mido's feet and bang... 'The first goal of the game is scored by number 11... Midoooooooo.' We were one up and maybe we had it in us to win this. I brang the boys back after there warm up and was going to take off the strikers and bring on 2 pairs of fresh legs. However, 10 minutes later he had done it again... A neat pass from Noble to Mido from 25 yards out saw him turn on it and smash it into the same corner, great finish! I told Ilan to go and sit down who didn't seem to happy. This game was over and we had held on to a good 3 points, we were still in 11th but only 3 points away! Come on you irons!
West Ham 2
Mido (59, 69)
Stoke 0
---------- Post added at 05:46 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:28 PM ----------
This was the game we had been waiting for, how big this was going to be...
Chelsea V West Ham (Fa Cup 5th Rnd)
Cech, Bosingwa, A.Cole, Terry, Carvalho, Mikel, Essien, J.Cole, Lampard, Sturridge and Anelka. Subs: Hilario, Zhirkov, Deco, Drogba, Alex, Ballack and Malouda.
Green, Tomkins, Ilunga, Gabbidon, Kovac, Parker, Noble, Stanislas, Collison, Mido and Cole. Subs: da Costa, Behrami, Daprela, Faubert, Diamanti and Ilan.
Poulson Praises Players
So no Drogba in the starting X11 did we have a chance? Early on it didn't look like it. The West Ham faitful had made the short journey and had packed out the Shed End and there was only one team you could hear. However, on the pitch it was a bit diffrent. Early chance from Strurridge had us knowing it was going to be a tough afternoon, this time it didn't see us let in a goal to know how to play football. A good bit of footbal saw a wasted oppurtunity missed by Stanislas but at least we were looking live. The half went on and it was looking 50/50. Drogba was sent out to warm up and I was waiting for the moment that his number come up on the board. The half-time whistle went and the Hammers fans were already thinking about taking them back to theres, mad eh? I told the boys to keep there heads but one **** head didn't want to listen! We come out for the first half and Chelsea only had 9 men on the pitch, I was wondering what was happening. Then I saw Drogba's number come up... great! He came on along side Deco and things got so much worse! When you ask people to hammer Drogba you don't mean like absolutely murder the ****. Mark Noble obviously looked at it the wrong way. It was horrendous and I was amazed that Drogba actually played on. A straight red and it was only the 57th minute, great. I looked at him in disgust and I think he knew he had had a rupert. Things got worse when Gabbbidon needed a bit of treatment which left us 3 at the back and Anelka was in acres of space when Deco slipped him the ball. One-on-one with Green and Chelsea were 1 up, wankers! We carried on and were battling on. With 10 minutes to go I was rallying the boys on and from being a manager I changed into a commentator. 'Ilunga put it to Ilan, ILAN! Collison wants, out wide! Put it in there, Stanislas go! Stanislas.. Stanislas... STANISLASSSSSSSSS!!!!' A ball in the box from Collison saw Stanislas get in front of Cashley Cole and with Cech misreading it Stanislas placed the ball into the emptey net. I thought the Shed End was going to fall apart it was that noisy. I was jumping up and down. I was going to run on the pitch at one point and celebrate with them but thought best not to. With 10 minutes to go we battled on and we earned ourselves a replay back at the Boleyn. What a game!
Chelsea 1
Anelka (62)
West Ham 1
Stanislas (83)
Noble s/o (57)
---------- Post added at 05:39 PM ---------- Previous post was yesterday at 05:46 PM ----------
The players were buzzing after the Chelsea game and I felt there could only be one outcome in this game...
Birmingham V West Ham
Hart, Carr, Queudrue, Boyce, R.Johnson, O'Shea, McFadden, Michel, Tanio, Ferguson, Benitez. Subs: Doyle, Ridgewell, Dann, Larsson, Jerome, Parnaby and Vignal.
Green, Tomkins, Ilunga, Gabbidon, Upson, Kovac, Parker, Behrami, Collison, Mido and Cole. Subs: da Costa, Daprela, Faubert, Diamanti, Ilan,
West Ham Blows Birmingham Away
With the players playing so well I was certain that we would smash Birmingham and when we were in the changing rooms before the game you could feel the buzz in there. I told the boys to go and do as they did against Chelsea and it didnt take long for us to get going, 28 seconds to be exact. Collison down left wing, ball to Cole, Cole see's the run of Mido, through ball to Mido and we were 1-0 up. I hadn't even taken my seat! The West Ham fans were happy and so was I, for once we started well! We kept on going and the attacking mentality in the team was a real threat. However when you do that you are leaving yourslef bare at the back and when Chrisitan Benitez picked the ball up on the edge of the area in the 5th minute we seemed to come back down to earth. He turned on the ball and squeezed the ball through Upson's legs which gave Green no hope who couldn't see it till late. 1-1 and we needed to get oursleves back on track. Brimingham were not really attacking and we were taking full advantage of this. However, I got Ilunga and Fauber to be more aware and we were looking good in both areas of the pitch and we got our just reward in the 17th minute. Cole was pulled back by Boyce as he went to follow up the rebound, it looked harsh but what do you expect from football these days. With not a real penalty taker on the pitch I sent Collison up to put it away who comfortable smashed the ball in the top left hand corner. 2-1. The half went on and seemed to dull down a bit. Half chances from both sides but nothing major. The half-time whistle came around and the players knew they needed another one but I just told them to be carfeul! We went out second half as the same, looking very positive. We were making chances upon chances but couldn't beat another England candidate, Joe Hart. However, with half hour left Parker played the ball through to our goal machine Carlton Cole who buried it from close range. 3-1 and this one was over. We kept on attacking but I wasn't too keen on going for more so I changed to a 5-4-1 and we played the game out. A good win and we were getting closer to the teams in the top 10.
Birmingham 1
Benitez (5)
West Ham 3
Mido (1)
Collison (pen 19)
Cole (67)
---------- Post added at 06:14 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:39 PM ----------
So we had our win in the league but this is what they wanted, this is what they were waiting for...
West Ham V Chelsea (FA Cup 5th Rnd Rep)
Green, Tomkins, Ilunga, Gabbidon, Upson, Kovac, Parker, Behrami, Collison, Mido and Cole. Subs: da Costa, Daprela, Faubert, Diamanti and Ilan.
Cech, Belletti, Cole, Terry, Carvalho, Mikel, Lampard, Essien, Ballack, Drogba and Cabanas. Subs: Hilario, Cork, Anelka, Obasi, Deco, Alex and Zhirkov.
Always Believe Innnn...
So this was it, this was like a cup final to some of the fans out there. Some of them just thought we were going to be out of this cup by the end of the night but looking how we had played against Chelsea I really did fancy the upset and there was no better way to start it! The fans were buzzing and were really getting behind the team while giving the Chelsea fans much abuse. Behrami won the ball earlier on and saw the run of Mido. Mido progressed down the wing and saw only Carlton Cole on his own, he aimed for the strikers head but was way off. Belletti headed the ball out to the edge of the area which saw Collison pick up the ball. Shouts of 'shoot' rang around the stadium, he dummied it past Belletti, fake shot against Carvalho and hit this peacher which hit the crosspiece and bounce into the net. The crowd went mental, the odd fan running on the pitch. It was so mad I thought Steve Clarke was going to *** me. However, there had only been 3 minutes, we needed to keep our head in the game. Chelsea came back and were really going for it. Cabanas made a couple of chances for himself but nothing major, we were looking more threatining. Chelsea kept coming and in the 20th minute a whipped in ball saw JT rise at the back post but how he got that high I don't know! He misjudge his jump on the back of Tomkins and saw where the ball was aiming to, just infront of Tomkins. He pushed the boy into the goal and Tomkins had put one through his own net. I was fuming, even the 4th offical knew it was wrong and when JT stuck his fist up to Carlo Ancelotti I stuck my middle finger up to him, thats was going to cost later on! The West Ham fans didn't give up on us. We kept on going and in remarkable fashion we had pulled oursleves back in front. We were passing it around the edge of the area when Parker saw the creative run from Behrami. Behrami was on the corner line and only had one chance which was to cross. Luckily one man had made the run, Carlton Cole! A beautfiul weighted ball saw the big man beat JT and Carvalho the air and give us the lead. The place went mad, once again! The game went on with the buzz still in the air and both side looks dangerous and it didn't take long for another goal to arrive. 10 minutes later Drogba saw the run of Essien which hadn't been picked up by Kovac who was one-on-one and he was able to just slot it home. 2-2 and what a game this was turning out to be. We carried on with the attacking mentality which was really putting pressure on the Chelsea back 4. We were awarded a free kick about 30 yards and with Ilunga taking it I felt there wouldn't be much of a threat here. However, he stuck the ball with some venom which hit JT straight in the mush which was classical. The ball fell pefectley to the big man and he slotted it home... 3-2 West Ham, I couldn't believe it. Chants of 'Always believe in... CARLTON COLE, COLE!' were chanted around the stadium and he was becoming a firm favourite with the West Ham faitful. The half-time whistle came around and the fans were loving it. A big cheer and round of applause for the players was giving and it was well deserved. The players were talking amongst thereselves and it was hard to keep them quiet. I just told them to keep there heads, we know about there quality so hassle them and don't give it up. So we went out there with the buzz still around the ground and I felt this was one of the best halfs I have seen in a while. Whilst we were 3-2 up we were looking for more and obviously Chelsea were liking this. They came out second half and moved into top gear which was greeted with some good saves by Green. We were doing just as good though. 2 double stops from Cech by Cole saw them still in the game. It was some real end-to-end game. A Bust up between Kovac and Essien got the ground on there feet screaming all kind of things. The best one I heard was 'Shoot the no-good ****', it made me laugh. The game got back on track and time was ticking away, could we do this? For once I hadn't jinxed it. We were into the dying stages, whislte were rining around the stadium. Green pumped it long, and there it was... We had done it! Unreal. Stoke City in the next round, could we go all the way?
West Ham 3
Collison (3)
Cole (24, 42)
Chelsea 2
Tomkins o/g (21)
Essien (34)
---------- Post added at 10:58 AM ---------- Previous post was yesterday at 06:14 PM ----------
The boys had to re-focus on the league and what better way than a London derby...
West Ham V Fulham
Green, Tomkins, Ilunga, Gabbbidon, Upson, Kovac, Parker, Behrami, Collison, Mido and Cole. Subs: da Costa, Daprela, Faubert, Diamanti and Ilan.
Schwarzer, Hughes, Figueroa, Hangeland, Baird, Davies, Kamara, Etuhu, Greening, Socco and Johnson. Subs: Zuberhuler, Kelly, Pantsil, Dempsey, Nevland, Stoor and Konchesky.
Mido Finds His Feet... Both Of Them
If there was one team we loved to play it was Fulham, we rarely losed to them and I was hoping today would be the same. It didn't start very well for both teams with it being very messy and not much happening. With 15 minutes in I told the boys to get down the wings a bit more and it seemed to open the game up much more. Collison was the main threat finding Cole and Mido on 2 occacsions but were unfortunate not to finish them. Fulham were struggling to get in the game and when we made it 1-0 it was much more of a struggle for them. Collison played the ball into Cole who saw the run of Mido who got behind the back 4 and slotted it through the keeper's legs from a rather tight angle, they were really playing well with each other. The second half was not far away and when it blew up I was quite happy to be able to get in the warmth. While we was walking down the tunnel Roy Hodgson was standing behind me and he was really rowing with his players, he was not happy at all. You could see he was going to get them going. I told the boys to watch out for them, they will be coming out much better but the boys were too cocky and gave them too much room. Greening played the ball into the in-form Kamara who slotted the ball past Green, we needed to get back on track. They seemed to react well and 5 minutes later we were back in front. Once again Mido was played in by Cole who made it his second goal of the game. He got injured in the goal and was unfortunately not going to be able to find his hat-trick. We carried on attacking well and we really should of made it 3 with Diamanti. The game went on and it was not very exciting at all for a London derby but we held on and were able to move into the top 10, fantastic!
West Ham 2
Mido (36, 54)
Fulham 1
Kamara (48)