Sunday 23 August 2009

West Ham 1 Tottenham 2; Why West Ham lost.


Let's start with Cole. Yes the backpass was dreadful, yes he should hang his head in shame (which he did!), yes it brought Tottenham back into the game...but so what? The goal he scored came out of nothing and was absolutely brilliant. The one cancels out the other so Cole's goal and mistake are irrelevant.

So let's move on to Spector. I will say here and now that I called it. Check the site history and you will see a post entitled Spector v Lennon, ouch. And so it proved. The depressing thing is that Spector was done on his stronger foot. Fair enough if Lennon had skinned him and crossed for somebody to score but, actually, Lennon turned inside onto Spector's right foot and the Wank still missed the tackle. But so what? That isn't what ultimately cost us the game, I wish it was! Lennon did very well and anyway individual errors happen, you lose games sometimes because of cock ups. We are all human. And that mistake apart, defensively, Spector coped well. And Faubert was largely excellent!

So if it wasn't Cole and it wasn't Spector, why did we lose the game? Was Green at fault for not getting a stronger hand on Lennon's shot? No. Was Cole at fault for not slotting home the first half chance? No. He was offside as the pass was played and he met it too close to Cudocini anyway. What about Collison for three bad choices when he had options? No, he is a kid and you can't expect young players to take the right option, the fact he got into a position to make the wrong choices in the first place is commendable. Then Stanislas? No. The kid did well for his age and was unlucky not to chalk up an assist.

So why? Why did we lose the game? How about Clattenbung then? No, he was sensible and could have sent off Parker if too quick to revert to yellow cards for "committed" tackles. The penalty claim was never a penalty; in fact Jimenez should have been booked.

So why? Why did we lose the game? Are Tottenham a better team? Yes. Is that why? No. They didn't look that much better on the day and only won because of our key frailty.

So why? Why did we lose? Was it Fanno entering into a pact with the Devil, did England's Ashes's victory open the door for a Tottenham victory? Maybe, but I am an agnostic so I doubt it.

So why? Why did we lose the game? Was it 'Arry the Albatross? Was it God's vengeance for slaying the Redknapp Saviour? Possibly but then you have to believe in a rational universe. I'm just back from the States so that is impossible.

So why? Why did we lose the game? Lack of effort? No. Lack of ability no? Poor tactics? No. So why, why?

Easy. We have one forward and a forward at that who scores great goals but isn't a great goal scorer. We lost today because Zola had to be happy with a point at 1-1 and sent on Kovac to cement the draw, because he knew he had no alternatives to win the game. Look at our bench and you can see why we lost it. And of course Dyer who, surprise surprise, was not fit for battle.

So why did we lose the game? Not because of Hines or Nouble but because Duxbury, Nani, the Board and Zola have cocked up so badly that two kids are our only offensive alternatives. Who was excellent today? Upson and Collins but if the powers to be had had their way, Collins would now be a Stoke player. That is a problem!

I warn you now, as I have been warning for two months now, unless we sign two forwards before the window closes, we will struggle. Sort it Duxbury. Sort it Nani. Sort it Zola. Because if we don't, we will only survive because of the weaknesses of others!

Performance Ratings:

Green 7; Faubert 8; Spector 6; Upson 8; Collins 8; Parker 7; Noble 6, Collison 6; Stanislas 6; Jimenez 6; Cole 7.

Duxbury 1, Nani 1, The Board 0

One last prediction: This Tottenham team will be in the running for the title and WILL finish in the top 4.

22 comments:

Unknown said...

HA HA HA HA LOOKS LIKE U LOST YOUR CUP FINAL AGAIN. DEAR OH DEAR

Garth Falco said...

I wish our blogs were as intelligent as yours. You gave us a good battle on an off day and didn't have enough options to finish us off. Buy another striker and you will be up there this season.

Anonymous said...

Nice comments. Sorry about the idiotic post above. Too childish to understand what was written.

Anonymous said...

I'm a spurs fan n i dunno why other spurs fans (like the one at the top) have to come on n just leave stupid comments like that. Great article mate, and take away the inch perfect through ball, that even modric would be proud of, Carlton Cole had a great game. In the air he shat all over Bassong - a very capable and dominating defender. if he could just add goals to his game then he would be a top, top striker. I have said since we signed crouch that i would prefer carlton cole, and todays performance cements that thought. I actualy dont mind West Ham as a team. I really like Zola. I just dislike a small minority of the fans, who to be honest are an absolute joke.

Fair play West ham, gave us a better game than so called title contenders liverpool did. get a striker and you'll do fine.

COYS

Posted by James

spooky said...

Don't think we've quite got what it takes for a Top 4 finish, and the vast majority of Spurs fans would agree. Good performance from us today, we dug deep against a WH side who pressed and pressed and played fairly defensively. You just can't seem to beat us at the moment.

Unknown said...

James, come on get off your high horse mate, its called banter, dont u think the west ham fans would be the same if not worse. BTW i completely disagree with everything u said.

Deane said...

Poor old michael so much wants to be a man utd fan got to trot out their tired old chant just trade the white for red mate and your life will be complete
thought we did well against an excellent Spurs side (playing good football) and with a goalscorer in the Defoe (another loss to our ranks we can thank terry Brown for) mould we too could be excellent
Dissapointment behind me it was a good game well done both teams

Raza said...

TBH, you lot didn't deserve to lose. We won cause we got lucky. But from our perspective, its time we got these fortuitous victories. Its not performing well and still eking out a victory that MAY make me a believer.

Anonymous said...

I must say, it was nice to hear West Ham fans back to their best...
Hissing, wishing Deofe had died with his brother etc etc.
Real classy lot you have there at Upton Park.
Justice was served, if only for the pathetic actions of some of your fans.

Anonymous said...

I agree with most of what you say, but i must disagree with the rating you gave jimenez! He may have been a bit shy with shooting at goal, but his set up play more than made up for it. Let's not forget it was he who set cole up for the goal!!

And one last thing, give spector a chance and he will surprise you. He did brilliantly at the confed cup with USA, He will do well for the hammers this season!

Anonymous said...

michael: every set of fans has a small group of them that they try to distance themselves from. the west ham fans that would leave worst comments than u are the ones that the majority of decent west ham fans would try and ignore. your in the group of spurs fans that the rest of us spurs fans try and distance ourselves from and think what a nob i wish he didnt support my team. what u put isnt banter, its just crap. get a life mate.

Hammersfan said...

2215, Jimenez could have seen red for his simulation in the box when already on a yellow. He did ok but I saw nothing special personally. Wishful thinking on your part I fear - we all are desperate for the guy to be the real deal.

2116, the scum who do that should be banned from the ground for life in my opinion. I don't understand why the club doesn't use CCTV, identify the culprits and take the appropriate action. The police should also prosecute - it isn't humour or banter, it is an expression of race hate. They don't just shame West Ham, they shame our whole society. I would apologise on their behalf but I do not wish to align myself with them in any way.

Anonymous said...

01:11 got nothin to do with race you racist, always trying to bring it to the fore when it ain't there, get a life

Anonymous said...

A surprisingly fair article devoid of baiting and knee jerk reactions that seem to be all over forums after this sort of result.

Though Spector did okay with Parker covering. If he hadn't slipped then Lennon would have never got in.

Totally agree with the lack of up front support - there were several occasions when Cole held the ball up for 10 seconds or more without any assistance or anyone to lay the ball off for a shot.

Just not entirely sure how Zola cocked up though - I'm sure if he had some money behind him and the club wasn't publicly on it's ass financially then he'd have more than just kids to rely on.

Surely the finger points at Duxbury?
Again.

Hammersfan said...

0912, hissing to simulate the gas chambers because of the Jewish connection at Tottenham has nothing to do with race? I assume you joined in.

0917, how is Zola to blame? By being too accepting of the situation UNLESS he has threatened to quit. I didn't rate Curbishley as a manager but he wasn't going to let the Board destroy his squad and keep smiling at the cameras. Zola needs to thump some tables because if he tolerates it, Duxbury and co will put money first and the fans nowhere.

Anonymous said...

The game came down to mistakes on our behalf. I saw what Cole was trying to do but I would have prefered alot more awareness like how he used it to score his goal. Poor Spector lost compo-owo-ohosure which led to a good strike and goal. Bit peeved at the result but there is promise there. I only think we need one striker because it is about time we bought through another striker from the academy, which brings to mind baked beans! (Hines)

Anonymous said...

The problem is that Curbishly is a proven premier league manager with a great deal of experience, if the boring bastard wasn't hanging about for compensation he could be in a job right now.
Zola hasn't been a manager a year yet and is, to his detriment in some cases, a man of honour.
Sure he could thump the table and demand money but if Scott is saying 'Sorry Fonzie, the purse is empty' or 'We're trying, Nani and I have been to a lot of BBQ's but they aren't coming' what can he do?

The stress and strain is beginning to tell on him though don't you think? - his grin is looking positively rictus at times and he is getting more and more uncomfortable answering questions about transfers, Ashton and the finances.
I wouldn't be surprised to see him go in January if he is screwed again by the board but I don't think he has it in him to do a Curbs or a Keegan.

Anonymous said...

HF 10:10 I was there and neither were you, HOW MANY GAMES WAS IT?

0912, hissing to simulate the gas chambers because of the Jewish connection at Tottenham has nothing to do with race? I assume you joined in.

More of your racist taunts, defoe is the subject of hate for very different reasons. Like Duxbury your small mind rationalizes everything you invent

Anonymous said...

@Hammersfan...

You're on a high horse now about other fans and their chants (which were disgusting btw) but only last week you were calling Jolean Lescott a 'Klingon' and taking the piss out of his facial scars from a near fatal head injury at the age of five.

Pot kettle.

Hammersfan said...

1205 The hissing was not only directed at Defoe - it was employed against Tottenham before Defoe's return. The idiots who participate make no secret of the fact that they are simulating the gas chambers. Fool.

1442 A comparison of Lescott with a character in Red Dwarf is hardly on a par with joking about the extermination of 6 million people is it? Fool.

Anonymous said...

@Hammersfan

Well as long you've got a rule book that says what's acceptable and what's not at least we all know what we can and can't say now...

Fool.

Hammersfan said...

944, check the rules, they are straightforward enough. Calling Lescott Kryten falls foul of neither the racism nor the overtly sexual restrictions does it? Simulating the sound of gas chambers when playing a team with Jewish connections however...Like West Ham and Millwall, not in the same league!