Well if ever there was a game we deserved to win and didn’t it was this one. Let’s concentrate on the positives. We played the team with the best home record in the division and we should have won. The defence was again magnificent. The central midfield worked well. Carlton Cole scored a cracker of a goal. Julien Faubert showed some great touches when he came on. There were only two negatives to the game – the referee and Luis Boa Morte. I know people think I have a thing about him and they’re right. Today you could see why. He was a liability. If Matty Etherington had been fit I reckon we’d have won. I also want to pay tribute to Hayden Mullins and Mark Noble, both of whom were immense. Noble nearly snatched it towards the end and perhaps should have, but let’s not ignore their goalkeeper, Joe Hart, who saved them time and again.
We now have one thing to play for: Europe. I really believe that we are now showing the kind of defensive consistency which achieves results. We have a central midfield which looks strong, and if we can only get our wing play and strikers sorted out I believe we can finish in the top 7.
And finally another big up for Carlton Cole. This boy has come on leaps and bounds. He’ll never be perfect, but in game after game he’s working his socks off, something most of us probably never thought we would see. His first touch is getting better and his shielding of the ball is now excellent. He’s going to give the manager a real headache when Ashton and Bellamy are both fit, not to mention Bobby Z.
Green 8
Upson 8
Ferdinand 8.5
McCartney 7
Neill 7
Mullins 8
Noble 8
Ljungberg 7.5
Boa Morte 5
Cole 8
Bowyer 7
Good article Iain and spot on about lbm,the guy is a liability,can’t wait for matty,Solano parker,Bellamy and Ashton to come back,but still a great show of courage and determination today considering the injuries
Surely, you don’t mean Noble played very well again? Mmmm, perhaps it is because he is a very good player! Makes you think, doesn’t it? (ps – that is to all those who slagged him off recently, in case you were wondering!!)
Couldn’t agree more lbm is clueless!How has this man become a pro footballer hes nicking a living,All the noble doubters must eat humble pie,he and the rest of midfield were massive today,also i dont think ashton was injured,i reckon he sulked cause was told we were going 4.5.1,he’ll leave next week mark my words.
Daylight robbery.
Bowyer and ferdinand outstanding, Ljundberg improving every game – maybe we shouldn’t sell him!
and Faubert looking class. Can we offlaod LBM back to Fulham?
If only we could get a full strength side.
Green 7
Upson 7
Ferdinand 9
McCartney 7
Neill 7
Mullins 7.5
Noble 8
Ljungberg 7.5
Boa Morte 4
Cole 7.5
Bowyer 9
Faubert 7.5
I thought we played brilliantly, even LBM. though he was. by far. our worst player. What a pity two points were dropped before we face Liverpool. If we can get ten points from our next four games, then Europe is possible, despite a tricky march into April, as it were!
Citeh are not only catchable, I’d be suprised if they finished above us, and Portsmouth and Blackburn are there for the taking. Unfortunately should these things happen, it would only leave us in seventh place, and heavily reliant on both cup cometitions being won by teams above us, though given the past few seasons, seventh may be good enough get into the UEFA cup,
Keep it going Irons!
Good call wavid i remember those the other day saying noble was average,god knows how they can say that,the lad is quality
Ashton is going nowhere its just newspapers making up stupid stories about him leaving,once the lad is fully fit then we will see the Ashton we are use to seeing
Very unlucky. Great effort. MULLINS, ANTON and LJUNDBERG were excellent.
I don’t think BOA MORTE was as bad as some are making out to be. I think stelios J got it spot on. Once CURBISHLEY plays two strikers with BOA MORTE as a geniune winger then I think he will improve. This supporting striker role doesn’t suit him.
I also have to disagree NOBLE had that good a game let alone being immense Iain….of course, that’s if I’m allowed to disagree because people get offended these days.
A little concerned over ASHTON. I just hope he and CURBISHLEY haven’t had a argument. If he is driven out of the club it would be a big disappointment. If he did have a problem being dropped then I think being our top scorer, he has an argument. I think CURBISHLEY is frustrating him unnecessarily….but I suppose he is the manager and can do what he likes but he will have to live and die by his decisions.
It may seem that COLE being suited to the lone striker role is what is keeping ASHTON out but I think its trying to accommodate an extra midfielder that’s the problem. ASHTON and COLE can easily play together without having to change COLES current role. DEAN ASHTON should be the first name on the team sheet. I feel sorry for him in a way. After waiting patiently during injury he probably just wants to play now.
Great to see us so comfortable on the ball. But we should have won and we didn’t. We simply have to start taking our chances. If I’m being really picky, (and why not given we’ve not scored nearly enough this season), Noble’s second chance should have been angled to Hart’s right, not straight at him. I know he’s not an out and out striker and he was reaching for it, but there are plenty of midfielders who would have done so and scored.
It basically comes down to fine margins, that’s the difference between where we are and where we could, should, and no doubt want to be. As Slaven Bilic said quite insightfully afterwards, there’s probably not enough pressure at this level compared with the boys at the very top who have to consistently operate at the highest level week after week. How many times has Curbs trotted out his ‘we should have got more out of the game’ speech. Well perhaps if we sharpen up in front of goal, realising it might be the only chance we’ll get, perhaps we might.
Ashton is just coming back from a serious injury Against city in midweek he looked shattered in the second half He can’t play two games a week yet Hence he was not selected today.
Great effort lads. But I can only feel that had we utilised the January window and brought in a real instinctive striker to play alongside CC, then we would have won games like this at a canter. As fond of BZ as I am, what is the point in sitting on a squad of injured players when our finishing is clearly letting us down. It almost seems that due to the lack of goal scoring prowess, nobody wants to take on the responsibility of shooting. Get in the market Alan, the premiership waits for no one. COYI
No ones offended by your lack of faith in noble tebs,just astounded
i agree with carlos about noble, i love the lad he is west ham through n through but he aint been the player since he came back from injury plus he is still learning alot and we tend to expect great performances out of him every week. i think mullins bowyer were solid in midfield bowyer is starting to look the player he was years ago now he is getting a starting role in the center of midfield. as for boa morte he cost us the game on wednesday when he should have squared the ball across to freddy and today he was everywhere FUCKING things up. anyway still not a bad result considering no ashton or etherington, though we dominated a game at there ground where there unbeaten so lots to take from the game.
Good to see all these comments and diverse ideas guys. It makes us Hammers supporters in Malta feel a part of you more and more, and thank you Iain for your articles and this site.
I was really hoping for a win today, and was pretty sure it would have come, seeing that Curbs adopted the 4 – 5 -1 formation.
In my opinion, even had he not been injured, I believe that it was right to play Cole in lieu of Ashton. His last game on wednesday was one to be forgotten. The thing with him is that when he’s in the mood, he’s terrific, but then when he’s not, he’s simply not up to the standards we require up front. Cole has showed us today that he can creat a possible from a practically impossible, and that is what we need.
I agree with most of you re LBM, and perhaps it would have been right to play Faubert from the beginning today. One seems to forget mentioning the great contribution Mcartney is giving the team, and our defences were again superb. Pity about the goal, which, again not mentioned, Vassel was in an offside position when the ball was passed into the area.
My ratings:
Green 6.5 (I felt he should have taken control when the ball was passed into his area)
Upson 7.0
Ferdinand 8.0
McCartney 8.0
Neill 7.5
Mullins 7.5
Noble 7.0 (he should have scored, and he got a yellow for arguing too much!)
Ljungberg 7.5
Boa Morte 5
Cole 7.5
Bowyer 6.5 (can’t realy agree with you guys on Lee’s performance today, I think it was below his usual)
Faubert 7.0
In conclusion, I feel the team is really improving in the game, and hopefully we will not see any of the pathetic performances that regretfully we have been seeing once too often recently. Any of you who like me, are in their mid to late 40′s should clearly remember all commentators saying West Ham are a good team to watch because they play entertaining football, and the entertainment is slowly coming back. We need the little bit more polishing when it comes to passing and finishing, and I am sure we will get there too.
Keep the comments coming guys, and thank you for all of them.
Very solid performance today, can’t wait for Bellamy to come back. I think we’re beginning to see the squad Curbishley envisaged in the summer. Once again a great performance by the defence. Things are looking good.
How offside does it have to be before a flag goes up????
Not bad Ian, but lets ease up on LBM, it was a team effort out there today. I am curious as to how Curbs will set up for the Liverpool game … I firmly believe that if Bellars is fit, then Deano will be better suited than Cole. However for all the moaning minnies back in August, slating half the players on display today as not good enough … then you need to ask yourselves …. are you really fans, and do you have a clue. Finally, with the transfer window two thirds gone, I was suprised Curbs let Matty Taylor go to Bolton for peanuts, intersting to see what he could’ve offered our left hand side.
I must be flippin dreaming!did somebody say lbm is gunna be good,If you an’t got a first touch you cant play anywhere!That performance was as bad as it can get for a pro footballer ,for nearly most of the game the ball just bounced off his foot,,If bellamy was fit we would of one this game,so frustrating we play well 4.5.1 but keeping all strikers happy headache!!!!!!!!!
I think noble is quality and he will only get better
oh yeah i forgot to say well done to mullins for keeping a brazilian first choice in his pocket,good nite eveyone……..irons,irons,irons!!!!!
Astounded that anyone thought LBM played well today. Everything he did was woeful and apart from his effort everything breaks down when it goes to him.
I like us set up 4-5-1 and with the talent we have in midfield at our disposal, it looks the most successful formation for us.
If Bellamy had played to day we would have won. He would be my first choice up front on his own, despite carlton doing so well in his absence.
Ashton needs to be used sparingly to be effective, whether this will change given time, I have no idea, but his mobility is nowhere near where it should be.
If we don’t finish above Citeh, I’ll be gutted. Apart from Petrov and Elano, they offer nothing.
I have been impressed with hart in both games, though.
Anyone have any idea when Bellamy will be back
Oh dear, Ashton is injured, got a dead leg and bad knock on Weds and we have posters speculating that he has fallen out with the manager.
Noble yet again showed why the vast majority of West Ham fans rate him, Mullins had a good game too as indeed did most of the team other than LBM who for a player of his experience should act more prfessionally on the pitch. He was lucky not be sent off. Faubert showed some really nice touches and I think he could well be a good signing for us.
Were any of you there – that’s not a snide comment, just interested?
I was- big up to all except LBM. Would like to have seen Faubert start- he needs more game time. Oh, for Zamora, sorely missed (putting flak jacket on here) given that I agree with DevoDevo about Ashton – and also for Nobby to take our corners.
What a defence we have at long last!
Its ridiculous thats some people actually believe Asthon is going.If there was any truth in this then curbs would have tried to sign someone this month to replace him.Its just stupid newspapers again
In a great team performance like that the spirit will eventually diminish if you have a player whose performance appears to work continually against your own team effort. This was LBM last night and I now have a thing about him too and I thought he stayed on the pitch too long with the risk of a sending off! However, I have every confidence in curbs to put this right,Iain, and the positives were there to be seen in abundance, Freddie looking the class player he undoubtedly is, excellent defence, creating chances, CARLTON COLE, and much much more and I remain very excited about the possibilities.The fact is we murdered city last night and at times they looked utterly defeated and this was clearly illustrated on the faces of both ireland and elano as they were substituted later on.We were unlucky in the extreme not to take 3 points home with us.
lbm needs to go.
he’s rubbish, his class showed on the pitch today.
should have been tossed for the 2 footed tackle.
Highlights:-
http://www.goalcentre.com/manchester-city-vs-west-ham-highlights/
Enjoy!
Watched the whole game on Sky and felt that if we had a decent strike partner for Cole instead of muppet L B M,then we definately would have taken the points.
That’s the one thing that frustrates me with our team,we don’t make the most of our chances up front and really do need a 20 goal striker URGENTLY!!
We of course are not going to get this but it is obvious to anyone who goes on a regular basis that we need to do something before we can honestly say we are due to get back into Europe.
Agree with the points on our defence which is getting better all the time.
I do hope Curbs has not fallen out with Deano.
a perfect attitude yesterday,played a very good team of the park.
a big up to curbs and ALL the boys.
lbm needs to find his position in the team,i think hes in the wrong place.maybe he would be better at right back or somewhere coz going forward hes a headless chicken
Agree, lots of positives in that game, Cole is just getting better and better. Faubert looks very interesting, combative, quick as well as skillful !!
I am a very happy Hammer. I think Curb’s is building something big down at the Boleyn & when/if he can get a full team out I think we’ll start making & taking even more chances. That had to be one of the best displays by a WHU team in the modern game. Big up Curb’s & all the players (even LBM, worked his socks off for the team)
LBM i Useless, send him back to Fulham
I think West Harm will have to strengthen the striking squad more after selling Henood.
Hey Guys do you watch Africa Cup Of nations which started Yesterday?
Its wow
to night we have Nigeria vs Ivory coast the strongest Teams in Africa
Yes you are 100% correct Iain. A great effort from the team. Curbs is getting us competetive in the upper part of the table & he has done it in virtually one season. I always thought he would but, he is a very experienced manager. Carlton Coles goal was smashing. He really has weathered the storm, but again i always thought he would. He is a fine player. Mullins worked hard the whole match & if i had to pick a player in amongst a good performance from the side it would be him. Boa Morte does try hard but he only ever really did well when with Fulham in the Championship. Maybe he’s up a level too far. We should have won that you know. My understanding of the VERY confusing offside rule was that Vassell was coming back from an offside position & gained an unfair advantage. At the very minimum he was interfering with play. Anyway, great game Curbs, things look good. To infinity & beyond.
Thanks for this encouraging match report, Iain. The team is really getting competitive in the first half of the table. But if you look at the PL table now there’s still a big gap between the “top 6″-contenders and West Ham. If Liverpool wins against Villa tonight the 6th place will be seven points away from us. I think we will have to beat the Reds next week at the Boleyn Ground – this game will be crucial!
Great to see us passing the ball about with confidence finally. Good show in all departments. Carlton Cole you are the man. Where are all those w*nk*rs who were booing you not so long ago? LBM, no not my favourite player, you never know when you’re going to get a touch of genius or a touch of rubbish, but he is being played out of position and the opposition hate he way he hassles and harasses.
My only complaint about yesterday (apart from the crap ref and ASSistants) has to do with the press. I HATE THE RUBBISH RAGS. We were all over City. Yet most of what was issued as ‘reporting / journalism’ banged on more about how bad they were than the fact that maybe they were bad because we were so good? COYI
Iain I think you need to give BOA MORTE a break. I’m sure you’d like to look at yourself as a respected journalist so why do you need to stoop so low in ridiculing him every time. He tries hard like Ian the hammer said he works his socks off but you continue to berate him and the result of this is that you get people start hating the guy for no reason. Just look at some of the comments and you will see what responsibility you have…you set the tone for the blog. I know it’s your blog and you can write pretty much what you like but for someone in your position?…..ease up on BOA MORTE.
Whats funny is that you title the post “let’s look at the positives” and then you give BOA MORTE a rollicking? Coupled with the fact that he’s continuously played out of position and the fact that he probably runs more than any of the others, I think you’re unfair on him.
I think you can redirect some of the passion you have for NOBLE in the direction of BOA MORTE. NOBLE had the two clearest opportunities of the game; left foot over the bar and COLES cut back when he hit it straight at the keeper. These chances were not difficult by premiership standards but you still give him an 8. Had BOA MORTE missed these chances then you would have verbally attacked him again.
And crazyhorse my mental four legged mammalian friend…. If I have lack of faith in NOBLE then what do you call your opinion of BOA MORTE? You just agree with everything Iain says…. You remind me of HANSEN, LINEKER, LAWRENSON and SHEARER on match of the day….I call them “the agree-ers” because that’s all they do; agree with each other.
I have faith in NOBLE; in that he’s west ham through and through but I just don’t think he’s as good as you and your agree-ers say. He should do what the likes of EPHRAIM have done….go out on loan or move to a championship club if he can improve as some have suggested. In fact, I’ll go one further and say that with the new chairmen at QPR now, EPHRAIMS progression can be much faster than NOBLES and that he will have a better chance of playing at the top level more consistently in the future. EPHRAIM has taken a step back to take two forward. I just hope people around MARK are honest enough to tell him these things instead of wasting his time and career.
Last but not least crazyhorse…I hope that you are honest enough to come on here and say “I was wrong” in regards to NOBLES abilities when I am proved correct. I would bet you but I’m not a betting man but I give you my word that I will do the same. So? (Also…I have engaged upon a systematic annihilation of your argument and insinuations towards me on the previous NOBLE to celtic post if you care to have a look)
Did anyone lip read FAUBERT when he’s goal was disallowed? He said “F-off”…learning already! It was brilliant….and on the subject of FAUBERT; how good did he look! Can’t wait until he’s given 90. When SOLANO is not playing then I think FAUBERT should be entrusted with the free kicks, corners etc. He wraps his foot around the ball and really gets some curve on it with pace (cross to COLE last minute which HART tipped over).
How on earth did ANDY GRAY describe our first half as “dire”?
do me a favour tebrez,everyone except you can see noble is quality and as for you defending lbm,well that just sums it up doesnt it.I think you’re on a wind uplol
i and thousands of thers have seen nobles quality except you tebs,im afraid that you are thwe one going to be proven wrong,especially with the case for lbm
and you should learn to read tebrez because i have said i have faith in nobles because unlike you i dont watch football with my eyes shut,and like iain and others we see that noble is more than a average player which you claim thats all he is so whose four legged now.
And tebz,iain can write what he likes,and what he said about lbm is fact,but yet again you dont see that,i suppose you think lbm should be team captain.good grief
Carlos, this is my blog and I call it as I see it. Everyone seems to agree with me apart from you. LBM has had one good game since he has been here. One good game in 12 months. Not good enough for someone who cost £5 million. Not good enough at all.
Noble is a superb player and if you can’t see that then I despair of your West Ham credentials. In the last year Noble has had one bad game. in all the others he has been good, very good or excellent. Do you actually go to any games?
Good call Iain,I find it hard to believe how the fella can call Noble average,he works hard,has great control and determination and is a bright young lad with skill and a shining light for west ham.You are also right about LBM he is a liability and I think he should be gone by the summer at the latest
carlos tabrez contains 12 letters 12th letter of alphabet L. carlos tabrez, 2 names 2nd letter of alphabet B………hmmmmmmmm
Yes Iain I know it’s your blog that’s why I said it above. The fact that everyone agrees with you doesn’t make you right if that’s what you are suggesting Iain. As soon as someone disagrees with you you get the hump. What’s the point in having a blog where everyone agrees with you anyway.
One good game in 12 months? Talk about gross exaggeration Iain. Your comments are so baseless it’s untrue……. and yes I do go to games not that me being west ham fan is dependent on whether I go to games or not. Just ask the thousands who can’t afford tickets; does that make them less of a fan? so don’t bother going down that route.
Also, when I do watch my team I don’t do so with any presumptions. You watch a game thinking NOBLE cannot do a thing wrong (reflected in his undeserved 8 in the city game) and BOA MORTE will always do everything wrong. This causes you to ignore any mistakes NOBLE makes for example and remember all the ones BOA MORTE makes.
You should maintain your professionalism and grow up a bit especially due to the fact that you’re in the public eye.
Crazyhorse; did I say you don’t have faith in NOBLE? maybe your the one who has trouble reading.
I haven’t got the hump at all. I just wonder if you see the same games as I do.
Dont think so tebz you need to take your blinkers off.And i agree with iain because what he says is common sense about noble and lbm,something many of us are in agreement with,dont be so ridiculous with your commentsj just because many of us are in agreement with iain on this.If anyone has the hump its you fella.
…see the same games you do or see the games as you do? Ones a maybe, the others a definitely not.
And no one said noble doesnt make mistakes tebz,all players do,but his contribution outweighs the occasional mistake,unlike LBM.And if you look at the board and read it properly you will see that im not the only one agreeing with iain on this its 99 per cent of everyone on here so if you want to bitch about the common sense being told to you try taking a pop at everyone on here.And to say im like Lawrenson etc,get real fella
So you go to aston villa then tebz,wrong claret and blue fella