Sunday 9 May 2010

West Ham 1 Man City 1 - Much Ado About Nothing


Well I was not alone in being disappointed by the decision of Mancini to leave Tevez and Bellyache out of his starting line up. Bellamy's next stop is almost certainly Spurs and you have to wonder if Tevez will be in the Premiership next season; my money is on him switching to Real Madrid.

Man City left out some of their best players and their stomach for a fight if truth be told. Even Vierra looked like a pussy cat, whilst up front Adebeyoor and Santa Cruz were on cruise control. Yes we got a draw, and yes we could have won, but Burnley beat Tottenham, Villa lost to Blackburn and Hull drew with Liverpool, which tells you how interested the big boys were on this last day of the season with everything, bar the World Cup, already settled for the season. Why risk injury in a futile cause with the biggest competition in sport less than 4 weeks away? Gareth Barry no doubt served as a warning to everybody in Sky Blue of how dreams can be cruelly dashed so close to the Big Event.

Meanwhile, I was on Daprela and Johnson watch, trying to work out why Zola has preferred Spector over the Swiss Roll all season and if Johnson really is England material. The conclusion was interestingly self contradictory. Johnson is good, very good, and is certainly worthy of a place in the squad in my opinion because he is genuinely two footed, unlike Stanislas, Spector, Behrami, Noble and Diamanti, and anybody else I've forgotten who Zola has elected to play on the wrong flank. It was also informative to see how often Wright-Phillips and Johnson switched flanks, a ploy Zola has ignored all season.

But at the same time, Daprela acquitted himself well. He stayed on his feet most of the time (he was booked when he went to ground), got in a number of superb challenges, including a tackle on Tevez in the box, and looked like a Premiership left back. True, the City goal came from a Johnson cross on the right but come on, a Wright-Phillips header? Surely the blame must lay elsewhere for that? His one weakness, surprisingly, was going forward. He was strangely reluctant to get up the left flank to knock over crosses; but perhaps that was on instruction from his manager?

Without Behrami, we had a much better balance in midfield. Kovac was the anchor, and that's not rhyming slang, Parker was the cut and thrust, Diamanti was like a gnat, bloody irritating to both sides, and Boa was...hang on, I'm steeling myself before I type this...Boa was...class. Dear God, I don't believe I've typed that! But he was. He was always available, he held the ball well, he passed the ball well, he covered well and he scored. As a replacement for Behrami, he was a revelation, doing everything that Behrami does, and offering an attacking threat as well! I have been one of Boa's biggest critics but, on that showing, I would offer him a new contract: not on silly money of course, but a new contract nevertheless.

At the back, Daprela apart, both Upson and Da Costa played well. If we can keep Upson, these two have the makings of a good centre back pairing. A couple of Da Costa challenges reminded me of Collins at his best, especially one superb block. Da Costa also looks comfortable on the ball. Tell me, why did Zola waste so much time with Tomkins? Faubert was ordinary and made one terrible error. he is still not a Premiership right back.

Up front, Cole was again disappointing and Ilan missed a good chance. Franco looked by far the best of the three again when he came on. He must be so annoying to play against: he reads the game well, moves into space cleverly and is a physical so and so. I would definitely retain him for next season.

The goal was brilliant, a lovely back heeled pass from Diamanti and a superb run and finish by Boa. Some of our pass and move football was impressive too, although City were not busting guts to try and frustrate us. We did not look like a team that has struggled to avoid relegation, but then nor did Burnley or Hull today. The terrible truth is that we have finished 4th from bottom, and that means we have performed worse over the season than a Wigan team that has lost 9-1 at Tottenham and 8-0 at Chelsea. This performance against a lukewarm Man City team should not mask our failings!

Player ratings: Green 6 (no save of note); Faubert 6, Upson 8, Da Costa 7, Daprela 7; Diamanti 6, Parker 7, Kovac 6, Boa-Morte 8; Cole 6, Ilan 6 Subs: Franco 7, Stanislas 5, Spence (Not on long enough to rate)

15 comments:

Unknown said...

u really r a twat 1 minute u criticize tomkins the next ur praising him i wud prefer tomkins to upson u moron and diamanti shud have 8 for always opening citys defence up with his killer thru balls

Dublin Irons Fan said...

Last match for Boa unfortunately, so probably reason why Petrov is being sought.
http://www.kumb.com/story.php?id=124745

In terms of the Hammers next Manager race, Hoddle is behind Mclaren in terms of being favourite...why is this?

Hammersfan said...

What on earth are you talking about dan? Where do I praise Tomkins? You would prefer Tomkins to Upson? Good job you aren't the England manager then!

Unknown said...

im not talking bout in this post over a few posts this seasonu change ur tone from praise to critisize u say upson played well all i saw was him getting skint by adebayor upsonn aint england internatoinal quality

Shaun said...

HF...Upson had an OK game today, but I don't think he merited an '8'?! That Santa Cruz free header that flashed narrowly wide was a case in point...Daprela was left to attempt to mark him while MU was covering, ummm...that really tall fella Wright-Phillips! Anyway...my 2-1 to us prediciton wasn't far off, and we could have and should have won it!

Louis Boa Messi deserved a Nadia Commanech style perfect '10' for his performance today! (although Mr Webb was very benevolent for not giving him a 2nd yellow for THAT nutty tackle!)
Diamanti's sublime reverse back-heel that put him through wins Pass Of The Season in my book (better than Faubert's miss-directed shot onto Ilan's head against Everton!)..and whilst on the subject of AD, he proved his right foot isn't just for standing on when he hit the post!

Green's block-save from Adebayor was great keeping...Daprela made Johnson look average and frustrated him no-end...Faubert was French...Da Costa looked confident and accomplished...Upson was commander in chief...Diamanti was class...Kovac was solid...Parker was Mr West Ham as usual...Boa Messi looked Argentinian...Cole battled well against 2 class centre halves...and Ilan's touch was sublime (even though he does look like Mickey off 'Shameless'!)

Tevez's reception was a champagne moment but did not upstage the Diamanti/Boa Messi combo for the goal!!

Stani Army said...

Boa Boa Morte!!! The link between midfield and up front, the thing we have missed so often. I think someone will snap him up if we don't offer him something. He is determined and he takes care of himself. compare his physique to Mido and McCarthy's.

I think with Daprela it's just concentration at the moment. Still young and will get better. He will be a top left back.

I did say Johnson would be off to the WC hey HF?

Hopefully I'll be right on our Barry Parker debate too ;) (I swear I did not pray for Barry's injury, I swear :))

....and Johnson's left-footed HF. His mash-up cross with his right foot says so ;)

hammalot said...

well we are definitely getting rid of Diamanti and Franco and that annoys me greatly!!!!

Sav said...

Good analysis. I agree with most of it. I am not too sure about Franco because he is too old and too slow. Also, Faubert had a rather bad game. He was most at fault allowing little Wright Pillips all the time and space in the world to direct his header passed Green. Drapella was a revelation! He is quick and for a yongster quite cool and collected. Why the hell it took 22 games for Zola to realize he is a better option than Spector is really beyond me! Yesterday's team in fact seemed balanced by comparison to the last few games. A word about Boa Morte. Despite his failings (and check it out if you can) we always do better with him in the team.

hammersfan said...

Dan, it is some time since I've praised Tomkins. He lost form badly.

Unknown said...

tomkins hardly lost form 1 bad game against bolton isnt really lost form agasint wolves its harsh to critisize he played on with injury which is where the goal came from against wolves upson is shit diamanti gets an 8 at least and ur ratings everyweek are terrible

Hammersfan said...

I'm sorry Dan but your assessments are based on a very narrow awareness of what goes on. I haven't seen Diamanti's pass completion stats for the game but I suspect they weren't great. His failure to deliver corners INTO the box (he took THREE short corners that came to nothing) and his inability to cross off his right foot when deep inside the opposition box, probably cost us the game. He also went missing defensively on a number of occasions, including when SWP headed the goal. Yes the pass for the goal was delicious and yes he hit the post but, as I say in the report, he was irritating for both sets of players: for everything good he did, there was something far from good in return.

Tomkins had a very up and down season, not suprisingly given he is a kid. He will "come again" and in 3 years time, he and Da Costa could be a superb centre back pairing but, for the time being, we need experience at the back, be it Upson or somebody else.

Anonymous said...

Just a shame it took you till the end of the season to see what most of us have been saying all year

Hammersfan said...

What's that then?

Unknown said...

u want diamanti who is a natural striker or free role attacking midfielder to be quality defensively

Hammersfan said...

He was picked in midfield with defensive responsibilities.