Harry Redknapp’s standard excuse for losing a match has always been that he has been reduced to the bare bones through injury and suspension. In West Ham’s case, this may soon be a very realistic excuse for Zola to make.
With Carlton Cole missing two matches we may have to field a strikeforce of Di Michele and Tristan. With Behrami out for the rest of the season and Collison out for three weeks, and Boa Morte not yet fit, our midfield picks itself – Parker, Noble, Kovacs and Savio. But Parker is, I think, one booking away from a suspension and Noble picked up yet another booking at Wigan having only just returned from suspension.
Alan Curbishley, in one of his ‘helpful’ comments told a newspaper recently that he didn’t think West Ham’s squad was deep enough if they encountered a run of injuries. And it looks as if he had a point. Just at the time we are challenging for a European place, we face are starting to look very fragile in attack.
But the great thing is that I suspect Zola will be able to cope with all that’s thrown at him and pull a rabbit out of a hat. At least we won’t be reduced to playing Ian Pearce as a striker – which was Harry Redknapp’s solution, I seem to remember.
50% sure Pearce got a hat-trick against leeds!
So the Sportsmail’s campaign against bad tackles continues! Hypocrisy, thy name is Sportsmail (and your middle name is Sheffield Utd)! In fact is there a relationship between the two? Is Sportsmail’s ongoing campaign against West Ham a product of links between the paper and Sheffield Utd? I wonder?
Sportsmail are incredible. Their columnist, Des Kelly, wrote that about ‘West Ham’s ugly win’ against Wigan!!!! There was nothing ugly about the winning goal, I think it was a thing of beauty, a footballing work of art. The movement, passing and finishing was absolutely top draw. The only problem, for some people, seems to be that it was not scored by Chelski or Man Utd!
Sportsmail is a very bad newspaper at all levels, their biased and vindictive coverage is a disgrace and West Ham fans should organise a boycott of the paper.
Where’s Graybo?
Have West Ham appealed against Cole’s red card?
This Attwell character is obviously not ready to referee at the top levels. Moreover, with the money involved in european qualification, relegation and promotion the likes of Attwell are a liability that football clubs cannot afford.
Relegate him to the Conference and Division 1 & 2 lists and let him learn to referee properly!
Morning all, if anyone missed the hour long Tony Carr interview on talksport it’s downloadable through http://www.kumb.com. Brilliant insight to our academy and makes you feel incredibly proud to be a Hammer knowing we have probably the best youth set-up in the country. Long may it continue.
I only wish we could hold onto all our talent and win something! Fortunes always hiding as we say.
Apparently Terry Dixon is in training and has not experienced any problems. Hopefully, that includes testing the knee with the twists and turns that put real pressure on a players knees.
There will probably still be a question mark until he has played two or three reserve matches and has no adverse reaction. We need to watch his progress with real interest.
It is good news on Collison’s knee strain and hopefully he will be back in two weeks. It is a big ask to accommodate the loss of both him and Berhami, so that is excellent. Even Berhami could be back in a month, so perhaps it is not the old injury jinx reasserting itself!
I agree that we can probably accommodate the loss of Cole and Collison against WBA. The international break has fell just right for us this time.
We need a more offensive line up against WBA, with a possible start for Nsereko and Lopez. I think this would be a good match to partner Illunga and Lopez on the left and play Nsereko in a free role behind the two strikers. I would like to see how Nsereko performs in that role and if it does not work then he can be moved to the left. However, LBM is coming back to fitness and Zola seems to rate him, so do not be surprised if he is played on the left of midfield.
And what about Dyer? We really need him back in contention now. He would give us extra options on the right and in the hole, behind the strikers, or even playing as a striker. I am not sure if he will be ready for the WBA match?
The Cole suspension and Tristan injury has really exposed our lack of depth in the striking department. We may need to partner Sears and Di Michele together up front? But that will a bit of a light weight partnership and it will really dictate how we approach the game. Alternatively, give Banjer a debut, why not? He should at least have a place on the bench, along with Stanislaus and Payne.
Kim is correct, Sears should have gone out on loan earlier in the season.
People foregt that alongside Bellamy earlier in the season he was linking up well and making intelligent runs. I don’t think he has learnt how to play off Cole yet, but as poor as he was as Boro, to play at this level after so little competitive football is a big ask.
I certainly haven’t ruled him out as being a top player yet but with Cole now looking the best “big” forward England has (incredible transition)and the possible return (no laughing at the back E1) of Ashton, Dyer & Dixon – notwithstanding the interest in foreign forwards – Sears’ opportunities will be severely limited. One must also recall that Tony Cottee broke into the side at 17!
Apart from the flowing football, the biggest thing I have noticed under the Zola/Clarke stewardship is the improvement in so many players:
Green – As good as Green was in the past his weakness was dealing with crosses and commanding the area. Recently he has done both with aplomb and it’s no coincidence that he is electing to catch rather than punch now.
Spector – I like what I have seen with him in the few minutes he has been on the pitch. Every club needs a player like him and his distribution is much better than Mullins, his predecessor.
Upson – Has grown into an established international player.
Ilunga – Best left back we have had since Dicks.
Parker – has always been a decent if unspectacular player. Now the driving force of the team. I said weeks ago that he could become a legend in the mould of Billy Bonds if he stayed. So far he is going the right way. England beckons.
Cole – The most incedible transition in a player I have witnessed in such a short time. Looks like his found his spiritual home at long last.
Finally, Kovac reminds me of a Dider Hamman, anyone else agree?
ian we have a new famous hammer !!! i have a strange taste in music ie thrash metal and on my facebook im friends with scott ian lead guitar of anthrax,he was drinking with iron maiden and they have converted him to being one of us!!!! ps hes a legend in the metal world so im sure he should be added?
Sears has got something and I am sure the club know what to do with him, I am suprised he’s not gone on loan Defoe was on loan for quite sometime and he turned out ok, It could happen next season, subject to the shape of the squad pre season.
some take longer than others to develope.
patience.
DevoDevo stop it you are killing me HA HA HA HA HE HE HE HE Ashton HA HA HE HE.
I do agree with all your other comments I Really think spector is an important squad member and so far Kovac is looking the part. COLE IS GREAT one because he has done so well and he could make it hard for Ashton to get back in, not that he would be in long LOL
If Cole continue to finish as he did against Wigan, Ashton will be second choice anyway.
E1 was are you talking about defoe didnt turn out ok at all!!! He plays for smelly spurs…….
Oops, I mean,”E1 WHAT are you talking about”……..my word………how embarrassing……my perfectly good spurs/Defoe joke..,RUINED!!!!
S j Chandos I’m sorry but Sears has not shown me anything to suggest that he will make it at this level,
lets look at assets.
1.Strengh….. Does not have any strengh on the ball.
2.Goal threat, fox in the box?…..Never gets in scoring positions.
3.pace…..Everyone seems to think hes Lighting quick…no hes not.
4.Threat in the air…..No
All I have seen Sears do (at moment)
Is diagonal run in the channels,cutting him self off.
S J Chandos you cant be serious about Dyer.
this guy will never make it so you and everyone else should not pin their hopes on him, he is nicking a living!!!!!!!!!
With all due respect.
COYI!!!!!
My issue with Freddie is two-fold.
1) Like I said earlier, its either attitude or fitness preventing him from busting his ass when he plays. I’d love to see stats comparing him to Behrami, Collison, Cole.. even DDM when he plays crap, he runs his b@lls off covering back.
2) If ever a style of football would suit him, its ours, right now. We’re no longer a team that just humps it forward and hopes for the best. So, given his size and physique, if he can’t fit in with this team right now, then he could struggle everywhere (including on loan to a lower league team that would kick lumps out of him).
Of the two, I’d be far more concerned about number 1, cos all players develop differently at different ages.. and he obviously has heaps of talent. But… the right attitude is something you’re either born with… or not.
Am I being harsh? Anyone out there seen him playing a few times in the reserves and can put me right? Cos I’d love to be wrong about this…
i’ve only really seen of sears in the prem games against blackburn and everton. In the blackburn game he scored which was obviously fantastic. In the everton game he was embarassing jagielka time after time. The boy has potential, thats for sure.
He was also at one point scoring for fun in the reserves which has got to say something. I think a loan might suit him so he can get some more competitive play – reserve games always have that ‘friendly’ feel to them and arent as tough or hard-fought as proper competitive games.
Our academy has produced class player after class player. Freddie wouldnt be in the first team squad if ‘people’ didnt think he had it in him. ‘People’ that know a lot more about football and the potential in young talent than anyone posting on here does.
Just something thought you might want to watch on Monday, the prog is hosted by Jeff Steling.
And to be honest never really heard Parks in an interview so could be intresting.
BEST OF THE HAMMERS
10.00pm, Monday, March 9, Sky Sports 1
Guests: Frank McAvennie, Phil Parkes and Tony Gale
West Ham were title contenders during the 1985-86 season, eventually finishing third, four points behind Champions Liverpool with Frank McAvennie scoring 26 goals.
lotf..what?
I honestly think that Sears hasn’t gone out on loan as Zola/ Clarke/ Carr don’t believe that it will assist his development- we have to trust their judgement even though I agree with the likes of Kim above that this would have been the obvious choice for me too in terms of bringing him on as a player. I also agree with other posts that upper body strength is an issue that needs addressing though having said that he is still developing physically and will carry on doing so until circa 21 years of age.
Chris- I understand your viewpoint and I agree with many of the negatives levelled at Sears though I also think that a young player to have proven himself at under-18 and reserve level as he has done (around 28 goals last season across both levels??) deserves a bit of faith from us lot, granted though his performances thus far this season don’t really merit much.
Point taken eddie but sorry I just dont see it.
If you have seen dixon play you would no what I mean.
Sears would be showing something by now.
Although it could be physcological, why he cant take res’es form into the first.
I think, re Parker, that there’s a yellow card amnesty from hereon in, and a player has to reach 10 yellow cards before a suspension “kicks” in Very thankful for one of Atwell’s better decisions last Wednesday, i.e not to send Scott of, which, given his card tricks to that point, he could easily have done!
Chris, I am aways serious when I talk about our beloved Hammers! lol. Dyer is class and we need him available for selection. I understand your misgivings about his fitness record, but hopefully he will come back successfully.
On Sears, it is far too early to write him off like that in my opinion. As I said, players develop at different rates. It may be that he does not make it in the end, but the fact is that the club need to explore all possible options with him before they make a decision.
But Sears is only one of a half dozen who’s careers (@ whufc is concerned) must seriously be considered this summer. Same is true of Widdowson, Kyel Reid, Stanisas, Stokes & n’ Gala. I can’t believe Bowyer, Quashie, Davenport & Faubert will be welcomed back in May either. And again can we offload players like Boa Morte & Gabbidon.
I’ve listed TWELVE players who we could miss, who don’t seriously feature in our future, & I’m not entirely sure would sent us to ‘bare bones’ – a couple of inspiring signings in the summer, & our future looks rosy! COYI
mokumhammer : Who are your 12 ?
As I have said before zola’s plan is a squad of 25 made up of 3 goal keepers and 22 outfield players.
Based on that we have if we include the fringe youngsters then we have far to many players and in order for any new faces to come in zola ,clarke etc will have a lot of decisions to make and I think we see a lot of the younger players on loan in order to develope and keep them,we do, at the moment have at least 10 that could be playing 1st team football over the next 2 seasons and some will fall by the way side. This along with senior players being off loaded and loans ending or becoming preminant will all take time, don’t think there will be to many changes next season.
E.1 – the post was about ‘bare bones’. I listed 12 players who questionably (is that a word?!) we don’t need/wont feature/shouldn’t feature in our future. I’m sure Zola/Clarke know we are VERY weak up front & will rectify the problem best they can, with what’s on offer. Trimming the squad is one of the best statements Zola has come up with.
mokumhammer : I understand, my point was that there are a lot more than 12 and they will have to go before anymore come in.
Just looking at so called experienced players that we can do without I’ve got 12
Ashton Gabbidon dyer faubert walker tristan bowyer quasie davenport then you have to look at neil and lbm.If this lot go then we can continue to bring through the youngsters and bolster the squad with quality and reliability IMHO
Goatygav… many thanks for asking… I left the country for seven days (ski trip to Austria) and we picked up two vital wins… I must do it more often!!!
I was in football limbo to some extent because I wanted to have a break from the computer, but CNN News gave me the Man City result and I texted a Wigan-supporter friend (who was in Athens airport) to find out about our ‘ugly’ win in midweek.
So, two great results but at a high price, it would appear. Worst news has to be re Behrami.
Missed you guys (well, a bit) but it was lovely to have a whole week away from the keyboard and monitor
I heartily recommend it.
we do need some players in the summer, and i would look seriously at burnleys blake and eagles. we could get them both for a bargain if burnley dont come up and im not sure if you’ve seen them but both look premiership class.
we will be fine for the rest of this year, and as the next 3 games are winnable we could cement 7th very soon
How about trying to buy Thierry Henry in the summer? Proven quality, goal scorer, prem & european experience and would be great for the younger players to learn from.
Would still command a fair price to buy him (10m?)but looking at any alternatives, you would need to spend more on a younger player with the same qualities or take a gamble on an ‘up and coming’forward.
Come on fellas, who would you like up front for next year?
Irons
Carloz Tevez. we all know he loves Westham.
I dare say Henry would cost more than 10m. 15 might secure his services. I’d love to have him here, but his arrival would have to mean a successful sale of the club.
Zavon Hines, Terry Dixon, Freddie Sears, Carlton Cole, Dean Ashton, Boe. it’s mainly due to injuries that we’re struggling for strike options. Carlton and Ashton are world class strikers, so i wouldn’t mind having both of them for the season as opposed to a new buy.
Dujon- If we are to push on from this season we need a proven quality goal machine, a creative midfielder and a right back.
Henry, Pranjic, & Glen Johnson would do me fine.
Sears – not ready
Dixon – jury still out on his injury
Hines – another youngster, not ready yet
Cole – been a reveltion, hope he can repeat it
Ashton – love him if he can get/stay fit
Boa – going in the summer , SURELY
Di Mic – squad player at best
Tristan – can’t stop laughing now, tata mate!!
I see we are also looking at more young players from Italy. Ayub Daud (striker) & Andrea Mei (Right back). Anyone know anything about them?
Dujon – Tevez yes please !!! but wher will we find £30mil+ for him, keep dreaming on that one.
haven’t you heard, he is a free transfer to westham *wink*.
I’m also interested in the italian prospects that have been in the rumors scene.
I honestly believe our midfield department is fine the way is. Collison, Behrami, Parker, Noble, Stanislas, Savio, Lopez and more. Those last three might me new to the first team scene (maybe not savio, he’s played some games and his transfer fee summed up zola’s ambitions to start him), but they have all been consistent performers to date and i undoubtedly believe they will step up. I’m still counting down till the day Savio scores his first goal. I’m hoping a 30 metre wonder-strike, so the public can get to know a future super-star.
Glen Johnson would fit beautifully into the present system, he would come at a price, though. It’s a shame Neill didn’t get sent off for his challenge on Cattermole. This would have given a chance for Spector to show what he can do. He would certainly offer some pace and energy down the right.
Dyer is back in training so may even make the bench for West Brom, in which case, we would have a viable alternative if things weren’t going too well.
As for next season; I am very impressed with the Pole we have been linked with, but I think Zola will keep his options open until he can ascertain the fitness of Deano and Dixon.
We’re not too far away from having an extremely talented squad. However, a word of warning. When we finished 3rd in 86, the players thought all they had to do was turn up for the next season and the success would continue. It doesn’t work like that. Success has to be earned through hard work.
great comment devo wishing our own players be sent off when we are struggling with injuries and suspensions, not the biggest fan of neills but think he has shown recently he can be useful!