Monday, September 11, 2006
Hammers Lucky
A 1-1 draw at home to Aston Villa was a somewhat flattering result for West Ham as they apparently succumbed to stagefright in their first match following all the hype over Tevez and Mascherano.
The two signings were on the bench though as Pardew named the usual side, with the exception of Mears filling in for the injured Pa(i)ntsil.
Villa ran us ragged for the first half, with the central midfield pair barely getting involved. West Ham just kept giving the ball away cheaply, and it wasn't just one or two players but most of the team. Konchesky in particular kept reverting to the long ball, while Gabbidon, Mullins and Reo-Coker could hardly get a forward pass to its intended target. Villa scored early with a goal from a corner - this was to set the tone for the match as West Ham seemed to have no idea how to deal with any of their set pieces. In fact, Mears had to clear off the line with a spectacular and skillful bicycle kick, and Ferdinand also saved our bacon with another clearance soon after.
Honestly the first half was miserable. We were lucky only to concede a single goal. But there were two rays of hope - Zamora, who was very active and provided some great support work, and Benayoun. The little Israeli was trying his best to get the other Hammers involved but nobody was really giving him any support.
I'd hoped the second half would be different, and it was, sort of - as seems to be our way lately the Hammers kept building momentum. A great corner from Bowyer found Konchesky outside the area, and the bald headed fullback's bullet header was deflected into the goal by - who else? - Zamora. Z-man had a quiet second half but a good goal, unlike his very good first half and no goal. Go figure. Personally I'd give it to Konchy as Zamora barely knew anything about it - but it's nice to have someone at the top of the scorer's charts.
The momentum kept building although Villa still had their chances. Pardew brought on Etherington, who looked seriously lacking in fitness but not in heart, and the much-anticipated Carlito Tevez. The latter seemed to fire up the Hammers as they all started to follow his lead: chasing the ball and really trying to tear Aston Villa a new arse. It nearly came off a few times, particularly with the lively Benayoun, but a second goal would have been a bit fortunate considering Villa's domination of the midfield. In the end he snatched at a volley in the hurry to get a winner, when on another day he'd have been composed enough to perhaps control the ball and slot it in. But it would have been more than West Ham deserved, and hopefully they will have their heads sorted before the next match.
Player ratings
Carroll 7 - Didn't do much wrong and made a couple of good saves. Decent distribution.
Mears 6 - Not sure what to make of him. Needs to step up really. Fantastic goalline clearance though.
Ferdinand 6 - The better of the back two, but didn't really seem to get a hold of the game. Sometimes lost concentration, at other times did some great work.
Gabbidon 5 - Another poor game from Gabbers. I don't know what's happened to him but he couldn't do much right. Time for his fiery-haired Welsh teammate, perhaps?
Konchesky 6 - Good defending, occasionally out of position but generally good. Rotten distribution spoilt his game.
Bowyer 6 - Passed the ball well generally but drifted in and out.
Mullins 5 - Overran.
Reo Coker 5 - Did two things that were good, but was absent for long periods and kept giving the ball away.
Benayoun 7 - Great effort, covered a lot of ground trying to get things moving along, but West Ham suffered from the lack of width that this brought about.
Harewood 5 - Dear oh dear. I'd be surprised if he starts next match.
Zamora 7 - Tough one to score. Good first half but absent in the second half, yet he got a "goal". Still worth a start.
Tevez (on for Harewood) 7 - Man, has this boy got quick feet or what. Looks good, but still not fit.
Etherington (on for Bowyer) 6 - Tried to do his usual thing but it wasn't coming off due to a lack of fitness. Needs to get some game time.
Cole (on for Zamora) - 6 No time.
The two signings were on the bench though as Pardew named the usual side, with the exception of Mears filling in for the injured Pa(i)ntsil.
Villa ran us ragged for the first half, with the central midfield pair barely getting involved. West Ham just kept giving the ball away cheaply, and it wasn't just one or two players but most of the team. Konchesky in particular kept reverting to the long ball, while Gabbidon, Mullins and Reo-Coker could hardly get a forward pass to its intended target. Villa scored early with a goal from a corner - this was to set the tone for the match as West Ham seemed to have no idea how to deal with any of their set pieces. In fact, Mears had to clear off the line with a spectacular and skillful bicycle kick, and Ferdinand also saved our bacon with another clearance soon after.
Honestly the first half was miserable. We were lucky only to concede a single goal. But there were two rays of hope - Zamora, who was very active and provided some great support work, and Benayoun. The little Israeli was trying his best to get the other Hammers involved but nobody was really giving him any support.
I'd hoped the second half would be different, and it was, sort of - as seems to be our way lately the Hammers kept building momentum. A great corner from Bowyer found Konchesky outside the area, and the bald headed fullback's bullet header was deflected into the goal by - who else? - Zamora. Z-man had a quiet second half but a good goal, unlike his very good first half and no goal. Go figure. Personally I'd give it to Konchy as Zamora barely knew anything about it - but it's nice to have someone at the top of the scorer's charts.
The momentum kept building although Villa still had their chances. Pardew brought on Etherington, who looked seriously lacking in fitness but not in heart, and the much-anticipated Carlito Tevez. The latter seemed to fire up the Hammers as they all started to follow his lead: chasing the ball and really trying to tear Aston Villa a new arse. It nearly came off a few times, particularly with the lively Benayoun, but a second goal would have been a bit fortunate considering Villa's domination of the midfield. In the end he snatched at a volley in the hurry to get a winner, when on another day he'd have been composed enough to perhaps control the ball and slot it in. But it would have been more than West Ham deserved, and hopefully they will have their heads sorted before the next match.
Player ratings
Carroll 7 - Didn't do much wrong and made a couple of good saves. Decent distribution.
Mears 6 - Not sure what to make of him. Needs to step up really. Fantastic goalline clearance though.
Ferdinand 6 - The better of the back two, but didn't really seem to get a hold of the game. Sometimes lost concentration, at other times did some great work.
Gabbidon 5 - Another poor game from Gabbers. I don't know what's happened to him but he couldn't do much right. Time for his fiery-haired Welsh teammate, perhaps?
Konchesky 6 - Good defending, occasionally out of position but generally good. Rotten distribution spoilt his game.
Bowyer 6 - Passed the ball well generally but drifted in and out.
Mullins 5 - Overran.
Reo Coker 5 - Did two things that were good, but was absent for long periods and kept giving the ball away.
Benayoun 7 - Great effort, covered a lot of ground trying to get things moving along, but West Ham suffered from the lack of width that this brought about.
Harewood 5 - Dear oh dear. I'd be surprised if he starts next match.
Zamora 7 - Tough one to score. Good first half but absent in the second half, yet he got a "goal". Still worth a start.
Tevez (on for Harewood) 7 - Man, has this boy got quick feet or what. Looks good, but still not fit.
Etherington (on for Bowyer) 6 - Tried to do his usual thing but it wasn't coming off due to a lack of fitness. Needs to get some game time.
Cole (on for Zamora) - 6 No time.
Posted by whubris at 8:10 am
Dave said...
Thought Gabbs played pretty well - ferdinand was the shaky of the 2 for me. Gabbidon cleaned up a few things very cooly whillst ferdy was missing headed clearances etc.
I'm not gonna split hairs though - that was the worst home game I've seen in a very long time. Total gargabe! Marlon should be shot for missing that gift Sorrensen gave him!
PIG SHIT!
Dave said...
Sorry I also have to laugh at your comment "Carroll didn't do much wrong" - sorry mate he didn't do much right - what the fuck was he doing waving his arms round like he was drowning in his own piss every time a villa corner came over??? Bring Green in!
Rant over!
norven munky said...
Football Psychology 101
A larger squad with cover in all positions means everyone in the said squad lifts their game to ensure they keep their spot.
So how come we ponce around in the first half looking like the majority were guaranteed a starting spot for life.
Hey Marlon. Take a quick squiz at the bench, see Cole & Tevez over there. Remember Ashton.
Hey Mullins. See the Mascherano Cherry sitting quietly next to Tevez. He's supposedly WORLD CLASS and he plays YOUR EXACT POSITION. When one of the upteen zillion midfield turnovers happened today I saw Mullins jog along @ 3/4 pace as Villa pounced on it and charged into the danger zone.
Anton. Knock, knock. Any brains rattling around underneath those corn rows? Corner strategy 101 is a fucking short book with two fucking words in it...Mark Up. FFS.
Fuck me, that half was just fucking dire.
AP, I know during the week you said the football worlds a changing and you need to move with the times. Well here's New World Football 101 for ya. When you have just witnessed your charges play the most diabolical half of football in living memory, its prolly not a good idea to pat the same 11 on the bum and send them back down the tunnel after half time.
I paid for an argentinian lipreader to translate what they were saying and it came out like this :-
CT - What the fuck have we got ourselves into here JM. This mob are fucking hopeless and their manager does nuffink about it.
JM - Just chill, apache dood, I'm looking at the guy playing my position and he wouldn't know there was a bus up his ass until the passengers started to disembark.
CT - But Alan Pardew just asked me in Spanish how to get to the museum by bus.
Jebus...the whole fucking world was tuned into this match today to see if we are the next Chelsea in the making. Most probably thought we were more suited to the Vauxhall Conference or whatever the fuck its called these days.
To be truthful if we were in it, I don't think I'd bet on us to win it.
2nd Half Report.
It got a bit better but at the end of the day we had half an hour to score a 2nd against a mediocre team and couldn't manage it. Tevez looked keen but not as sharp as he was against Brazil.
said...
David Pleat in The Guardian
Villa out-manoeuvre Pardew by denying full-backs space
In this encounter all eyes were expecting a celebration of a happy, sunny Hammers' day. Yet O'Neill posed a problem which Pardew failed to solve in an entertaining first period. The visiting manager set out his stall clearly, a classic 4-3-3 shape with all four of his back line equally adept as central defenders who never conceded an inch of space. That ensured there was little room left between defenders, and little grass behind for Bobby Zamora or Marlon Harewood to run into.
said...
awww, poor Cashley Cole.
"The club made Thierry feel wanted and special, wooing him, wining and dining him, speaking in public about how much they want him to stay, going on a deliberate charm offensive," he said. "But me? I didn't have one dinner, one meeting or one phone call from anyone. That's not sour grapes, it's just a sad truth. The truth is that the Gunners had done nothing all season to hold on to me.
"My worst fears were confirmed when, as Thierry and I sat in the centre circle after the final whistle, his name was sung from the rooftops while my contribution was recognised by a deafening silence. As his chants faded away we waited for mine. And we waited. And there was nothing. 'They're not bothered about me', I said, resigned to the fact. It was like I was the invisible man."
Ha Ha ha, now everyone thinks you're a tosser, not just Gooners.
whubris said...
Wow. Some fantastic comments there guys on all counts.
LOL @ Dave. I thought Carroll did all right, although yeah, he could have marshalled the defence a lot better on corners (altho so could Anton and Gabbers).
LOL @ Norven too. Are you smoking crack dude? I agree with you though. Especially on Mullins - his days are numbered.
Good link anon1 although I don't really agree that it was our biggest problem. I don't think Mears is much of an attacking forward, and I'm looking forward to Pa(i)ntsil coming back. The biggest problem was our lack of width altogether. Mullins and NRC were squeezed off the ball by Villa's midfield three, forcing Yossi and Bowyer to come inside looking for the ball and that closed up the pitch and allowed Villa's fullbacks to push forward. Our fullbacks weren't attacking and that was certainly a problem but I think our midfield two were a bigger issue.
Good post Andy.
Good post also anon2. LOL.
beggers said...
Better late than never.
We are still playing the same game we played against Watford and Liverpool. We are giving teams too much time on the ball, this combined with us playing as deep as we are, it is easy for teams to get into positions to make something happen. Villa played well but we didn't do ourselves any favours by letting them pass it about. When, towards the end of the second half, we started to close them down and push up the pitch, we started to control the match. No team likes to be put under pressure and at the moment we are letting teams dictate the pace of the game. IMO they need to want the ball more, be more aggressive and chase everything. Off the ball we were static, again, Villa didn't do anything spectacular when attacking just pass and move. I have been critical of NRC and Mullers before, they both go MIA too often for my liking and this game was a prime example. If you're in the centre of the park you've gotta run all day, make yourself available when you've got the ball and break up play when they are in possession.
We gave the ball away heaps but again I think part of that was down to poor movement and Villa putting pressure on us.
To be honest I didn't think we were that bad just lethargic and I saw nothing there that can't be fixed. Red bull over the wheat bix for brekkie will fix that! I think booing them off at half time was harsh.
I thought Mears did OK but he's not an attacking fullback. He and Bowyer never clicked on the RHS. On that Bowyer never really got into the game either. What with that and Yossi coming in-field all the time we had no width at all and as such we were unable to create enough chances. Ethers being back should pick things up and I guess Yossi will go back to the RHS. Oh and Konch needs to practice crossing more. He does get into position for a good cross but too many times he blows it, not all the time, but just get it into the box mate! He under or over hits the ball too often!!
Marlons miss, what a miss! There's a man out of form. I thought the miss against Liverpool was bad but this one, FFS. My 5yr old could've slotted that one. Marlon will be ok I reckon once he gets on the score sheet, but we need too create more for the strikers.
Back four were shakey, not sure why? A clean sheet would be nice, dare to dream!
No prize for guessing we'll be practicing set piece marking this week. Oh dear!
How good did Tevez look, "get in there my son"!!
All in all it was disappointing given the hype over the past few weeks but not disaterous, Villa played well but we let them and we still could've nicked the game.
We've got a better sqaud than last year and depth to give some blokes a rest if they don't perform. Now's the time I reckon.
Palermo!! "WHO ARE YA, WHO ARE YA"!!!!!!
whubris said...
Two cracking goals from Palermo in Serie A over the weekend, anybody see them? Bresciano got one of them. Both overhead kicks. Let's smash those pinkos!
norven munky said...
I played against Villa last night on fifa and smashed them 6-1..how fucking hard can it be.
Tonight I'll demoralise Palermo.
Bresciano you are nothingggg.. nothinggggg. You can't argue with historeeeeeee
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Dave said...Thought Gabbs played pretty well - ferdinand was the shaky of the 2 for me. Gabbidon cleaned up a few things very cooly whillst ferdy was missing headed clearances etc.
I'm not gonna split hairs though - that was the worst home game I've seen in a very long time. Total gargabe! Marlon should be shot for missing that gift Sorrensen gave him!
PIG SHIT!
Dave said...Sorry I also have to laugh at your comment "Carroll didn't do much wrong" - sorry mate he didn't do much right - what the fuck was he doing waving his arms round like he was drowning in his own piss every time a villa corner came over??? Bring Green in!
Rant over!
norven munky said...Football Psychology 101
A larger squad with cover in all positions means everyone in the said squad lifts their game to ensure they keep their spot.
So how come we ponce around in the first half looking like the majority were guaranteed a starting spot for life.
Hey Marlon. Take a quick squiz at the bench, see Cole & Tevez over there. Remember Ashton.
Hey Mullins. See the Mascherano Cherry sitting quietly next to Tevez. He's supposedly WORLD CLASS and he plays YOUR EXACT POSITION. When one of the upteen zillion midfield turnovers happened today I saw Mullins jog along @ 3/4 pace as Villa pounced on it and charged into the danger zone.
Anton. Knock, knock. Any brains rattling around underneath those corn rows? Corner strategy 101 is a fucking short book with two fucking words in it...Mark Up. FFS.
Fuck me, that half was just fucking dire.
AP, I know during the week you said the football worlds a changing and you need to move with the times. Well here's New World Football 101 for ya. When you have just witnessed your charges play the most diabolical half of football in living memory, its prolly not a good idea to pat the same 11 on the bum and send them back down the tunnel after half time.
I paid for an argentinian lipreader to translate what they were saying and it came out like this :-
CT - What the fuck have we got ourselves into here JM. This mob are fucking hopeless and their manager does nuffink about it.
JM - Just chill, apache dood, I'm looking at the guy playing my position and he wouldn't know there was a bus up his ass until the passengers started to disembark.
CT - But Alan Pardew just asked me in Spanish how to get to the museum by bus.
Jebus...the whole fucking world was tuned into this match today to see if we are the next Chelsea in the making. Most probably thought we were more suited to the Vauxhall Conference or whatever the fuck its called these days.
To be truthful if we were in it, I don't think I'd bet on us to win it.
2nd Half Report.
It got a bit better but at the end of the day we had half an hour to score a 2nd against a mediocre team and couldn't manage it. Tevez looked keen but not as sharp as he was against Brazil.
said...David Pleat in The Guardian
Villa out-manoeuvre Pardew by denying full-backs space
In this encounter all eyes were expecting a celebration of a happy, sunny Hammers' day. Yet O'Neill posed a problem which Pardew failed to solve in an entertaining first period. The visiting manager set out his stall clearly, a classic 4-3-3 shape with all four of his back line equally adept as central defenders who never conceded an inch of space. That ensured there was little room left between defenders, and little grass behind for Bobby Zamora or Marlon Harewood to run into.
said...awww, poor Cashley Cole.
"The club made Thierry feel wanted and special, wooing him, wining and dining him, speaking in public about how much they want him to stay, going on a deliberate charm offensive," he said. "But me? I didn't have one dinner, one meeting or one phone call from anyone. That's not sour grapes, it's just a sad truth. The truth is that the Gunners had done nothing all season to hold on to me.
"My worst fears were confirmed when, as Thierry and I sat in the centre circle after the final whistle, his name was sung from the rooftops while my contribution was recognised by a deafening silence. As his chants faded away we waited for mine. And we waited. And there was nothing. 'They're not bothered about me', I said, resigned to the fact. It was like I was the invisible man."
Ha Ha ha, now everyone thinks you're a tosser, not just Gooners.
whubris said...Wow. Some fantastic comments there guys on all counts.
LOL @ Dave. I thought Carroll did all right, although yeah, he could have marshalled the defence a lot better on corners (altho so could Anton and Gabbers).
LOL @ Norven too. Are you smoking crack dude? I agree with you though. Especially on Mullins - his days are numbered.
Good link anon1 although I don't really agree that it was our biggest problem. I don't think Mears is much of an attacking forward, and I'm looking forward to Pa(i)ntsil coming back. The biggest problem was our lack of width altogether. Mullins and NRC were squeezed off the ball by Villa's midfield three, forcing Yossi and Bowyer to come inside looking for the ball and that closed up the pitch and allowed Villa's fullbacks to push forward. Our fullbacks weren't attacking and that was certainly a problem but I think our midfield two were a bigger issue.
Good post Andy.
Good post also anon2. LOL.
beggers said...Better late than never.
We are still playing the same game we played against Watford and Liverpool. We are giving teams too much time on the ball, this combined with us playing as deep as we are, it is easy for teams to get into positions to make something happen. Villa played well but we didn't do ourselves any favours by letting them pass it about. When, towards the end of the second half, we started to close them down and push up the pitch, we started to control the match. No team likes to be put under pressure and at the moment we are letting teams dictate the pace of the game. IMO they need to want the ball more, be more aggressive and chase everything. Off the ball we were static, again, Villa didn't do anything spectacular when attacking just pass and move. I have been critical of NRC and Mullers before, they both go MIA too often for my liking and this game was a prime example. If you're in the centre of the park you've gotta run all day, make yourself available when you've got the ball and break up play when they are in possession.
We gave the ball away heaps but again I think part of that was down to poor movement and Villa putting pressure on us.
To be honest I didn't think we were that bad just lethargic and I saw nothing there that can't be fixed. Red bull over the wheat bix for brekkie will fix that! I think booing them off at half time was harsh.
I thought Mears did OK but he's not an attacking fullback. He and Bowyer never clicked on the RHS. On that Bowyer never really got into the game either. What with that and Yossi coming in-field all the time we had no width at all and as such we were unable to create enough chances. Ethers being back should pick things up and I guess Yossi will go back to the RHS. Oh and Konch needs to practice crossing more. He does get into position for a good cross but too many times he blows it, not all the time, but just get it into the box mate! He under or over hits the ball too often!!
Marlons miss, what a miss! There's a man out of form. I thought the miss against Liverpool was bad but this one, FFS. My 5yr old could've slotted that one. Marlon will be ok I reckon once he gets on the score sheet, but we need too create more for the strikers.
Back four were shakey, not sure why? A clean sheet would be nice, dare to dream!
No prize for guessing we'll be practicing set piece marking this week. Oh dear!
How good did Tevez look, "get in there my son"!!
All in all it was disappointing given the hype over the past few weeks but not disaterous, Villa played well but we let them and we still could've nicked the game.
We've got a better sqaud than last year and depth to give some blokes a rest if they don't perform. Now's the time I reckon.
Palermo!! "WHO ARE YA, WHO ARE YA"!!!!!!
whubris said...Two cracking goals from Palermo in Serie A over the weekend, anybody see them? Bresciano got one of them. Both overhead kicks. Let's smash those pinkos!
norven munky said...I played against Villa last night on fifa and smashed them 6-1..how fucking hard can it be.
Tonight I'll demoralise Palermo.
Bresciano you are nothingggg.. nothinggggg. You can't argue with historeeeeeee
