Monday, December 18, 2006
Where have you been? WHUFC 1-0 MUFC
Normal service has resumed? Well not quite. Frankly this was a bittersweet victory to me. Sweet because we really, really, REALLY needed the three points, and because it's always great to get a result against a top club, but bitter because it served mostly to illustrate just how, well, shit the team has been lately. What a contrast. With a great result like that I'm even more concerned about another shit display against Fulham.
Is it Curbishley? I don't know - maybe they just want to impress him because they are worried about their places on the team. Maybe he really can get them motivated again. Let's hope so. In the meantime I am very concerned that this was just one of those anomalies that this frustrating West Ham side are so capable of producing.
We know they can do it. They just don't do it week in and week out. That's what pisses me off.
Well, I love to get a win against the Mancs, so let's enjoy it.
PLAYER RATINGS
Green 8 - OK, so he fumbled once or twice, but he was there when it mattered, and have I mentioned that I like his attitude? This guy is first class - our best keeper since Shaka's first spell IMO.
Konchy 6 - Defended well, and didn't give TOO many balls away.
Ferdinand 7 - Massive.
Collins 7 - Also excellent.
Spector 7 - Never gave up despite constant pressure.
Etherington 7 - Great early on but deservedly subbed.
Mullins 6 - Defended well generally but gave us a couple of scares as well.
NRC 6 - Here is where I will get contentious. OK, it was a good late run in for his goal. But silence his critics? No. The stats after the game were telling - he completed 17 passes, as compared to Scholes' 44, and Scholes is old enough to be NRC's great grandpa. He just doesn't contribute. Where was he when Harewood was getting shirty? Was he calming the big fella down to prevent him getting a yellow? Not that I saw. Leader my arse. He barely made a contribution, and the run to goal is what I'd expect him to do time and time again.
Bowyer 6 - Decent enough.
Harewood 7 - Got stuck in like the Harewood of old. Welcome back Marlon. Good assist.
Zamora 6 - Worked tirelessly but really should have buried that chance.
Ringo 7 - Deserves a start ahead of Konchy despite a couple of errors.
Yossi 6 - Good pass to the wing for the goal, otherwise not really involved.
Teddy 7 - Used his guile well.
Is it Curbishley? I don't know - maybe they just want to impress him because they are worried about their places on the team. Maybe he really can get them motivated again. Let's hope so. In the meantime I am very concerned that this was just one of those anomalies that this frustrating West Ham side are so capable of producing.
We know they can do it. They just don't do it week in and week out. That's what pisses me off.
Well, I love to get a win against the Mancs, so let's enjoy it.
PLAYER RATINGS
Green 8 - OK, so he fumbled once or twice, but he was there when it mattered, and have I mentioned that I like his attitude? This guy is first class - our best keeper since Shaka's first spell IMO.
Konchy 6 - Defended well, and didn't give TOO many balls away.
Ferdinand 7 - Massive.
Collins 7 - Also excellent.
Spector 7 - Never gave up despite constant pressure.
Etherington 7 - Great early on but deservedly subbed.
Mullins 6 - Defended well generally but gave us a couple of scares as well.
NRC 6 - Here is where I will get contentious. OK, it was a good late run in for his goal. But silence his critics? No. The stats after the game were telling - he completed 17 passes, as compared to Scholes' 44, and Scholes is old enough to be NRC's great grandpa. He just doesn't contribute. Where was he when Harewood was getting shirty? Was he calming the big fella down to prevent him getting a yellow? Not that I saw. Leader my arse. He barely made a contribution, and the run to goal is what I'd expect him to do time and time again.
Bowyer 6 - Decent enough.
Harewood 7 - Got stuck in like the Harewood of old. Welcome back Marlon. Good assist.
Zamora 6 - Worked tirelessly but really should have buried that chance.
Ringo 7 - Deserves a start ahead of Konchy despite a couple of errors.
Yossi 6 - Good pass to the wing for the goal, otherwise not really involved.
Teddy 7 - Used his guile well.
Posted by whubris at 7:50 am
Dave said...
Come on! Great Performance!
To be honest I think we were in a rut Graham and Pards was struggling to lift them. I don't think it's Curbs per say but the fact that the team have to perform to impress the new manager.
said...
About farking time!
We were always going to be on a high for the new managers first game. How many times do you see it happen first up?
The real test will be the next month or so.
Once again we created chances. How many would Deano have buried?
Dave said...
Greg - I actually thought for all our hard work we didn't create that many chances. Although BZ should've scored when clean through.
Melbournehammer said...
Anyone else notice how Curbishley has made the players grow in stature?
Oops it was only a lower camera angle.
said...
beex
I don't think anyone will be pleased until we are clear of the relegation zone, regardless of how we play.
whubris said...
OK I will say this. It was a bloody great performance by the team and I am very pleased. I guess I've just been following this club for too long - when I see something great like this I start to wonder what's around the corner. We beat Arsenal and then....?
Credit to the boys and AP, I mean AC though. I just need at least two or three more wins before I get really excited. We are still, what is it, 3 points behind 17th!
I know I should be thrilled but to be honest, I'm not. There's no point beating the top few teams then losing to everyone else - you still get relegated. We need to raise our game for the so-called minor matches as much as the big ones.
Greg - I agree with Dave, we didn't create many chances, although we did have a few half chances (but so did Man U). Z-man should have scored but so should have Ronaldo. I thought it was a fair result. They defended well and so did we.
said...
You're right. We probably didn't create that many chances. I keep replaying Etheringtons missed header wide in the first half.
Deano buries chances like that and also creates chances for others. I still think we would have been 10 - 12 golas better off this season with him.
norven munky said...
top result!
I thought Green was outstanding and just generally looks unflappable.
I'd have preferred someone (anyone!) other than NRC scored. Smug little cunt.
So what did Curbs do different? Not much. 4-4-2 and reunited Bob & Marlon. I liked the McCartney sub - slotting him in at left back and konch getting forward. Personally I'd have played him at left back from the get-go tho. Also just read some scuttlebutt that AC doesn't rate PK...
Essentially the difference was that we were up for it across the ground. Did AC motivate them with some inspirational speech, or was it just new manager syndrome? Who knows and who cares...all I know is we beat the mancs.
Negatives..as Dave said we didn't create that many chances. And several of the ones we did weren't on target. Both Bob & Marlon had chances where they blazed away rather than made sure they at least forced a save.
In defence we were lucky not to be punished when a few times we gave Saha & the diving cheating cunt time and space to conjure a shot. On a different day they might have buried a couple before we scored but luck's a fortune.
I'd say our chances of carrying this form on for a bit of a run are higher than they were after the Arse result..obviously things weren't quite right behind closed doors then.
C'mon you irons!
beggers said...
I'm with beexie. To beat Manure is a massive result. Don't care how we play as long as we win.
Call all your Manure mates, and I use that term loosely, rub it in 'cause beating Manure comes 'round 'bout as often as Haleys comet.
Plenty of time to worry come Saturday, just pleased to have a win and what a win.
said...
Great win. Especially considering we are now 3 points off 13th! (goal difference put to the side of course)
Momentum has to be maintained with a win at Fulham this coming weekend, do that and the side is well on the road to recovery.
said...
for once I am in more or less total agreement of your ratings. Especially Marlon. As was said, Welcome Back!
Melbournehammer said...
Good team performance I thought. Green's goalkeeping was the individual highlight.
Let's hope it is not another false dawn but that we really have turned the corner.4 big games coming up over the holiday period, all of which are winnable.
I see NRC is saying he is getting hate mail etc, that is affecting his performance.Almost like he , or his agent, are asking to be sold.I'm trusting Curbishley will make the correct decision regarding NRC.
Melbournehammer said...
PS Here's the write up in todays AGE
http://www.theage.com.au/news/soccer/hammers-nail-important-win/2006/12/18/1166290477576.html
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Dave said...Come on! Great Performance!
To be honest I think we were in a rut Graham and Pards was struggling to lift them. I don't think it's Curbs per say but the fact that the team have to perform to impress the new manager.
said...About farking time!
We were always going to be on a high for the new managers first game. How many times do you see it happen first up?
The real test will be the next month or so.
Once again we created chances. How many would Deano have buried?
Dave said...Greg - I actually thought for all our hard work we didn't create that many chances. Although BZ should've scored when clean through.
Melbournehammer said...Anyone else notice how Curbishley has made the players grow in stature?
Oops it was only a lower camera angle.
said...beex
I don't think anyone will be pleased until we are clear of the relegation zone, regardless of how we play.
whubris said...OK I will say this. It was a bloody great performance by the team and I am very pleased. I guess I've just been following this club for too long - when I see something great like this I start to wonder what's around the corner. We beat Arsenal and then....?
Credit to the boys and AP, I mean AC though. I just need at least two or three more wins before I get really excited. We are still, what is it, 3 points behind 17th!
I know I should be thrilled but to be honest, I'm not. There's no point beating the top few teams then losing to everyone else - you still get relegated. We need to raise our game for the so-called minor matches as much as the big ones.
Greg - I agree with Dave, we didn't create many chances, although we did have a few half chances (but so did Man U). Z-man should have scored but so should have Ronaldo. I thought it was a fair result. They defended well and so did we.
said...You're right. We probably didn't create that many chances. I keep replaying Etheringtons missed header wide in the first half.
Deano buries chances like that and also creates chances for others. I still think we would have been 10 - 12 golas better off this season with him.
norven munky said...top result!
I thought Green was outstanding and just generally looks unflappable.
I'd have preferred someone (anyone!) other than NRC scored. Smug little cunt.
So what did Curbs do different? Not much. 4-4-2 and reunited Bob & Marlon. I liked the McCartney sub - slotting him in at left back and konch getting forward. Personally I'd have played him at left back from the get-go tho. Also just read some scuttlebutt that AC doesn't rate PK...
Essentially the difference was that we were up for it across the ground. Did AC motivate them with some inspirational speech, or was it just new manager syndrome? Who knows and who cares...all I know is we beat the mancs.
Negatives..as Dave said we didn't create that many chances. And several of the ones we did weren't on target. Both Bob & Marlon had chances where they blazed away rather than made sure they at least forced a save.
In defence we were lucky not to be punished when a few times we gave Saha & the diving cheating cunt time and space to conjure a shot. On a different day they might have buried a couple before we scored but luck's a fortune.
I'd say our chances of carrying this form on for a bit of a run are higher than they were after the Arse result..obviously things weren't quite right behind closed doors then.
C'mon you irons!
beggers said...I'm with beexie. To beat Manure is a massive result. Don't care how we play as long as we win.
Call all your Manure mates, and I use that term loosely, rub it in 'cause beating Manure comes 'round 'bout as often as Haleys comet.
Plenty of time to worry come Saturday, just pleased to have a win and what a win.
said...Great win. Especially considering we are now 3 points off 13th! (goal difference put to the side of course)
Momentum has to be maintained with a win at Fulham this coming weekend, do that and the side is well on the road to recovery.
said...for once I am in more or less total agreement of your ratings. Especially Marlon. As was said, Welcome Back!
Melbournehammer said...Good team performance I thought. Green's goalkeeping was the individual highlight.
Let's hope it is not another false dawn but that we really have turned the corner.4 big games coming up over the holiday period, all of which are winnable.
I see NRC is saying he is getting hate mail etc, that is affecting his performance.Almost like he , or his agent, are asking to be sold.I'm trusting Curbishley will make the correct decision regarding NRC.
Melbournehammer said...PS Here's the write up in todays AGE
http://www.theage.com.au/news/soccer/hammers-nail-important-win/2006/12/18/1166290477576.html
