If you saw the whole of the Portsmouth game please click HERE to rate the performances of the West Ham players.
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Parker was brilliant and was a 10 out of 10. Kovac also had a very good game, and showed today what he can do when he wants to.
Diamanti looked very isolated out wide and found hard to get into game, where as Franco worked tirelessly but with no support struggled. Portsmouth never really troubled us and this showed with defence all playing well with faubert also looking class when tracking back.
On this performance though Parker has to be shoe in for hammer of year, and a good bet for a ticket to south Africa if any injuries hit the main squad.
All round a very good performance although losing Noble is a stiff price to pay as there are few players who will play their hearts out for the club the way he will.
Its become a stock phrase at this stage but Scott Parker was immense, he is now without a doubt our most important player and irrespective of who wears the armband he is our leader.
Anyone who thought Franco signed looking for one last easy payday couldnt be more wrong, the guy worked himself to a standstill again today and despite getting little joy for his efforts he never once stopped.
Having Kovac in the team is actually allowing Parker play further up the field where he is much more effective and can boss the game.
Collison was popping up eveywhere and once he adds the goals we know he is capable getting to his game he will be the goal scoring midfielder we have lacked since Lamaprd.
Diamanti is still playing the way the team needs him too rather than the way his instincts tell him to, but he is still a massive attacking threat and simply irresistible from deadball situations.
Faubert is starting to look like that bloke who got us all excited on YouTube before he turned up at Upton Park. His defending today was top class.
Tomkins showed the form that made him such a standout last season and playing along side Upson makes him a better player.
We will miss Upson the defender even if we dont miss Upson the man. Its vitally important we spend his money well on an experienced defender.
Ilunga showed again how much better he is when allowed to bomb forward.
Rob Green had his best game in some time and there is no doubt he is benefiting from an improved team defensive performance.
Fantastic to see Behrami back and looking like he never missed a minutes football, once he came on the result as assured as Pompey simply couldnt cope with him. He just battered them back into their own half on his own.
It seems that you have to put this teams back to the wall before they respond but respond they did.
Zola and Clarke are seeing some reward for the faith they have had in the players and the style of football they want. Yes today at times it was fractous and scrappy in midfield but that was down more to Pompey trying to stop us by any means possible. When we did break out we played sweeping, flowing football full of pace and movement that was a joy to behold.
There is no doubt we will get more room against the spuds but they have an infinitely more dangerous strike force.
Been a long time since so many players earned their corn like they did today …. all well and good against the top four but today it was against a resurgent and scrappy Pompey who came for a good old fashioned dust up …Marshalled by Upson and led by Parker they hunted in packs and scrapped like heavyweights … We fans must keep up the tempo now and ensure Upton Park is a fortress to fear playing in …
I'd take a point at the lane but much prefer to see us turn over the Arsenal next sunday … a 10 out of 10 today for everyone
Great tactical move from Zola bringing on Berhami instead of Diamanti. Portsmouth were dominating midfield for 25 minutes of 2nd half but Valon changed that. Very important result and credit to Kovac for once. Great to finally see some stability in defence. MOM though as usual was Parker – fast becoming a legen
Reading all the paper reports online on way home, and nearly all use one word to describe parker…immence. Can capello ignore him for much longer? Here’s hoping for an injury free rest of season for him, because without him we would struggle!
parker is the most important player to keep hold of this jan.ireplaceable and definatly should be on that plane to africa if we want to win the world cup !!! gona watch it again but i thought jimenez played well and as for having briani back well im now going to think of next season in the premiership with hopefully new owners !!! happy hammer !!!
Very early game in California, have to admit I gave Kovac a 6, first time ever, and not for the goal, he was playing well before that.
Parker MOTM unbelievable commitment. Hope Noble is OK, we must not sell Upson. I thought Zolas game plan and substitutions were good, good team game and great 3 points, still don't rate Jimenez that high, and Ilunga still not back to form
I thought Jimmi did well when he came on. He grafted harder than I have ever seen him do and he looked dangerous from set pieces.
As for Upson, the only person who can stop him being sold is himself. Few clubs can pay the transfer fee and salary that we have for Upson and then watch him walk out on a free.
Upson will refrain from looking for a transfer in my opinion as to do so would cost him money. As I have always said we will miss him as a defender but not as a captain or as a man.
Crowd were brilliant today massive 3 points,not far away from half way now.
If parker was sold i think there would be riots on the pitch,He is so so important to us.
Upson and tomkins have a great understanding,probably coz they both speak fluent English,sell Upson at your peril Duxbury.
Seems Zola has found a winning formula in 4 5 1 by accident I guess.
another hard working performance by our midfield and i hate to say it but Kovac had another 6/10 game,I don't know if he's good enough in a 4 but he's played his part in the last 2 games so well done to him.
Defoe will be a big test but in upson and tomkins at least there's hope.
Its curbs tactics 4 5 1 sit back, play on the break but its working.
Kildare. I liked your recent comments about me having my boots ready, but couldn't reply as internet dropped out on Xmas day! Thankfully I didn't need my boots anyway! Merry Xmas mate!
Chris i thought it was more of a 4-1-4-1 formation hence the width and stability in the middle of the park … I agree with your Upson statement tho … sell Upson at your peril.
Great team performance, everyone contributed something to the win, the stand out performances were Franco (tracking back and clearing the ball from Pompey set pieces whilst also holding the ball up as well as anyone), Tompkins (who was imperious and only made one mistake which was to let Kanu outmuscle him and get a shot away to be superbly saved by Greeno), Parker (same old reliable Scotty- a captains performance just without the armband) and Diamanti (the boy is pure class and passion- the fact he ran on to celebrate the Kovac winner in his jumper having been subbed earlier says it all!!). I love two things about today- firstly that we are showing passion and commitment as a team to turn performances into results (bar a poor lino- two clean sheets and six points) and secondly that a bit of consistency is showing itself, we have key players out but the team is starting to look settled and play for one another.
Hope you all had a good Christmas and for all the people claiming Championship football was a foregone conclusion I hope some belief starts to return for you now- I had it all along!! COYI
There really is nothing between us and half way ,Burnley seem to be getting closer, Hull are poor, portsmouth to,Bolton are just, well Horrible! why we loose to them I don't know.Feeling positive about surviving now,surly the owners aren't going to dirt on us now,selling any of Upson Parker Cole green would be disastrous,selling any of these players would be just shootting theirselves in the foot. There's every chance now we can survive. COYI!!!!!!!!!!
Chris you keep saying we cant sell upson but you fail to mention the fact the he wont sign a new deal, he wants to leave and if we dont sell him in the next window we will lose him for nothing in the summer when he can sign a precontract with another club.
So how do you suggest we not sell a player who wants to leave?
Chris in all fairness thats not an answer. Would I rather keep Upson? Yes as a defender he is easily our best.
The simple matter of fact is he WANTS to leave and rather than come out and admit it he is holding the club to ransom by refusing to sign a deal so we have to sell him without him putting in a transfer request so he wont lose out on loyalty payments when he is sold.
As long as his replacement is good enough I really dont think his leaving will relegate us or anything like it.
Tom Upsons contract expires in 12months, meaning he can sign a pre contract agreement with another club in the summer allowing him to coast through his final 6months minding his legs before walking out the door for free.
I think the club should call his bluff and force him to request a transfer by issueing a hands off warning.
I hear what you are saying Celtic … just not so sure on his contract length … I read only recently he was contracted to the club through to the summer of 2011 not the January window.
In all fairness, chrischris' reply is very much an answer, and very poignant one too. There seems to be some confusion over how long Upson's contract is. When Upson was bought in the transfer window of January 2007 then it was reported widely that he had signed a four and a half year contract. If that should happen to be the case then it would mean that his contract will expire in the summer of 2011. If we can take it that Upson's contract expires in the summer of 2011 then the finances gained from selling him, in my opinion our best defender in spite of contrariness expressed by many on this blog up until December, in the transfer window of January 2010 could have dire consequences if West Ham were to get relegated. It makes more financial sense to keep hold of him for the rest of the season and then sell him in the summer, when he should have a year left on his contract. By selling him in the summer then Zola and Clarke do not have to get involved in any panic buying this winter, and paying over the odds for any defender on the market, and they will also have the time to scout someone out with time, care and, hopefully, at the right price.
Another great performance. There have been several great home performances this season where we've just been unlucky or simply undone by a bigger club in a second. Today I thought the ref might lose the points for us. Pompey were the dirtiest side I can remember visiting for years, not Stoke ugly, but clearly happy to hack at our best players and the ref didn't have the balls to take it on properly. Two weeks in a row refs have let us down, this time at least it didn't cost us points.
Those of us who said we would turn it round are I think fully vindicated (at this point at least) and looking at the home games left, it's all the bottom clubs visiting up to the last day. It would not be a surprise now to see us go unbeaten at home in the league until then. I think it's worth a punt. …………….
(continued)……………………………If the fixture list had been the other way round, this is the point where we'd have had to be calming people down about getting into Europe ;-D
I also think Zola is vindicated re Kovac as well as of today, so *hopefully* people will get off both their backs too.
Happy New Year all anyway. I'm off to the sun, I'll see you hopefully for Round 4!
Come On You Lovely Irons.
.
Its not a great situation and we can revisit the point about why sell Collins if you then sell Upson. On balance I agree with Chris. Whilst Upson is not the most demonstrative leader when he plays we are much better defensively. Today he was our best defender. Tomkins got beaten up by Piquionne and Kanu and without Upson looks raw. I think he will be a really top class player but is not yet. I believe that Upson could not sign a pre-contract until Jan 2011 and would be 32 when he joined his new club if he ran his contract down. If we do not need to sell for financial reasons we should keep Upson and try and do a deal next summer. I suppose money talks and if somebody comes in with a mad offer we will take it but it would make our back four very brittle. Two bits of skullduggery today I noticed, firstly Upson catching Dindane (I think) off the ball after he had upended Parker again and, secondly, just as he was about to be substituted Franco running towards the chicken run so as to be as far away from the dug out as possible when his number went up. He then retraced his steps very slowly!
I want Jiminez to be a success and I know he was involved in both goals but he looked completely uninterested today. Still retains the ball well though. I thought Kovac did well today. Diamanti seems to have got the message that he does not need to play a killer ball every time. Even his regular 40 plus yarder was worth a try!
You can see we are still very fragile form a confidence perspective. We sat too deep in the second half and nobody, particulaly the full backs, want the ball off the keeper
Assuming Noble is out I hope Behrami starts wide right against Spurs and he moves Collison inside with Parker and Kovac.
I think that it is unfair to say Jiminez looked uninterested today, admittedly he wasn't tracking back but that wasn't his job- what he did do was go looking for the ball in the Pompey half, linking up play and trying to create as much as he could (vindicated as you say by his hand in both goals). Agree about Behrami for the Spuds if he is now fit for the full ninety.
Not meant to be unfair. I suppose I wanted him to be demanding the ball more from the midfield and working their defence more. I don't think he really linked the play. As I say he is clearly talented but I am not sure he want to be here.
Thought we were good today, not as good as last week though, Portsmouth looked very poor at times…..was this really the same team that beat Liverpool last week?
Diamanti was fantastic again, we missed him when he went off. Even after he had been subbed it was great to see him run on….his passion for the team is brilliant.
Did anyone else notice all the players surrounding Kovac after his goal? i got the impression that he is very well liked and respected by the squad…they all looked really happy for him…..he had a great game….very energetic.
Parker was awesome again. He was every where.
After this performance im confident that we will give the spuds a run for their money on mondat………..COYI!!!!
As for all the players hugging Kovac, have you seen his missus? They just want to make sure they get an invite round his house any nights there is a "keys in the bowl" party!
oildrum, i thought jimi had his best game in an Irons shirt today and was certainly up for the scrap. Although not the prettiest of games we look galvanised as a group … not sure where it came from but it was the difference today …
Pompey were the better team in the second half until peperahmi tucked in and gave them the run around … for me Faubert kovac and Jimi earnet there corn …
As fir Upson … if we are to stay up and progress we need to keep him regardless … then if the club is as Duxbury says and Zola has all the TV money next summer then he'll see a different picture to the one we are all seeing at the moment
a truly awful game but a brilliant 3 points.must say i thought kovacs had a good gamebut as for jiminez i believe he is a total waste of space and one of the worst players ever to wear the shirt.he is so lazy and uninterested .i will be astounded if he is not sent back in january,good riddance i say.how brown didnt get sent off ill never know.he has always been a disgusting little sly twat
Interesting to hear zola not give any answer to comings and goings in the transfer window he is the ultimate poker player.
I reckon he is meeting Ancelloti and Mancini for dinner to see if they can give him a few Lira to help him out!
Ahhh….the joys of spending Boxing day with the parents and the in-laws: completely missed the game live, didn't watch it on t'internet and had to rely on text commentary on BBC wap mobile and Pinnocchio….joyous!
Still – great 3 points but MUCH MUCH better to get that 1st clean sheet in 16 games. Confidence breeds confidence and clean sheets breed belief that we might be able to keep a few more. No surprise that it took the return of Upson/Tomkins defensive partnership to produce that clean sheet – they were our best 2 at the end of last year too. As CH says, we probably HAVE to sell him next month or lose him for nothing in Summer 2011, it is however imperative that we buy a decent replacement.
Out of the bottom (even if we have played more games than everyone else) and ONLY 2 points of 12th!!!! This really is a bizarre year in the prem – we've got some very winnable home games in the 2nd half of the season and if we can keep our best players, get Cole and Behrami fit and (PLEASE GOD) add 2 or 3 players to the squad my optimism may just grow – this does not believe that i have regained my faith in GZ yet – i have merely delayed my banner waiving!
Fantastic win today. 3 well needed points. Was times today you could hear a pin drop at UP.
Green, Had little to do today.made a few saves which I think will boost his confidence. Green didn't want to be there I think. Kovack, Does his job well, will never be a hero. Parker, Is the MUST not be sold!!
Jiminez, is his nickname the wizard or magician?? Maybe wizard sleve would be a better name for him.
Celtic – I watched the videos on youtue of Faubert before we signed him. Told my friends how great he is and have held my head in shame since.
I think the result was more important than the performance today. Three points make such a difference when the bottom half of the table is so tight.
Had family round today, but managed to have a stream running in the background. So, from what I saw, Pompey were one of the most physical teams to visit The Boleyn Ground in quite a while, but we seemed to handle the challenge quite well, particularly our man Parker, what a star he has been this season. Capello, please take note and put this man on the plane to SA.
A point from WHL on Monday would round of a good Xmas period and keep the new found confidence going.
COYI
Parker took a hell of a beating from the Pompey players he is our superman who would surely keep Gareth Barry out of the England side.
It would be superb if we could turn the flash spuds over but can you imagine what a side we would have if Zola was allowed to spend like Hairy Redneck and I want to beat him so badly then he can shove his patronising after match speech up his posterior.
Thought The Wizard looked much better after shaving the dead ferret off his head.
Well done Zola apart from Pompey you have done it tough working under the spending constraints you have endured and I will bet big money you will take us to champion,s league football if new owners allow you to buy better players because if you can get ordinary players to improve what about world class players you have it zola ,you are the best thing to happen to our club,well done and success wont happen overnightwe all need to be patient.
Managed to catch Football First last night. Parker was immense again, Jimi looked good, Franco/Diamanti worked hard on the front line, Upson held the back line well & Kovac finally looks like a footballer. This result should now give us the impetus to get moving up the table.
I'm pleased to read that most people have recognised that Kovac does play a role in the team. I thought he played exceptionally well yesterday, and although no where near Parker or Behrami in terms of skill and doggedness, he is worth his place in the line up. That's not to say he hasn't had some real howlers in the past!
I agree with an earlier comment that Faubert is looking much better recently, and also had a good game. I was however getting very frustrated that the attacking wing play seemed to be on the left and there was a reluctance to let him have the ball on any of his many overlapping runs; or was it just me ?
Diamanti was again excellent, and effective. He is starting to look like a real bargain, and cult hero in the making. Franco also looked good and worked his socks off. Give him the longer contract he reportedly wants now please!
All in all, a good workmanlike display against a not briliant side.
Only had the Football First highlights to judge on but certainly it appears that a few of the players have stepped up to the plate.
Diamanti has an exquisite left foot and great vision. I've already eulogised over Franco enough, but his workrate should not be underestimated.
No need for comment on Parker – MOM again and without DOUBT the best midifielder England has at it's disposal for breaking up opponents play.
Faubert has started pinging some great cross-field balls and I do believe with patience and coachinbg he could be turned into a decent RB.
Finally, Kovac. What can one say? Looks a totally different player to the one we have been watching for the last few months. Looked two yards quicker. Tackled sharply. Intercepted and won headers. Capped his best performance in a West Ham shirt with a great goal. Worth at least a 7 on the evidence I saw.
I actually think we could nick something at Spurs Monday.
(Just watching the football first rerun)
Devo must a agree Kovac had his best game,don't know if he's good enough in a 4 man midfield but has his worth in a 5.
This new system will be tested by spurs,we kept Drogba and Co quiet so fingers crossed.
What do you think of Diamanti on the left? (for now anyway)
Kovac was a different player without doubt I gave him an 8 looks good in a 5 man midfield. Jimmi seems to be getting better just hope he turns it on in the next game.
COYI !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
E1 – He did look a different player in many ways. Maybe we just don't give players enough time to settle in – not all adapt as easily as Franco or Diamanti.
Jiminez still needs to improve, but he too, looked better yesterday – perhaps we should bear in mind the quality of the opposition?
Another world class performance by Parker he has got to make the squad for South Africa. The TEAM all looked up for it and battled well and at times looked good as well, a win at spurs will do nicely I think we could nick it and I really can't see us coming away with nothing 0 – 1 to the Hammers.
I will be at the spurs game,sitting with the spud inlaw,yes I know its terrible but the offer was there so I took it, I will be wearing the colours underneath my coat,
and If we score I'll take the coat off,I will be sitting behind the goal, so watch out (what end I dont know) but If it goes off think of me I'm the fella taking a kicking!!
Guess Collison will come inside for Noble and Behrami going wide right,quite strong and I think a draws on the card's.
Remember Spurs have lost to Stoke and Wolves at home, and so why not us? If we can score early, they will be under pressure and we could get something at the Lane.
4-5-1 *is* modern football. WIth width and overlapping fullbacks, which happened occasionally yesterday. Of course, all Hammers 'forgot' to get in the box when Faubert made his gorgeous cross.
Better defending, but Chelsea (especially!) and Pompey tried to attack through the middle, whereas the teams destroying us attack from the wings, which Faubert/Spector/Ilunga/Gabbidon and even Upson have struggled mightily with. Let's see if Harry's done his homework. Hopefully the short turnaround means he's done less of it. Defoe clearly rested yesterday so he can be turned loose against his old side. I hope Parker is fit to run another 90 on the very short rest.
If Collison can just improve that last 10-15%,he could be one for the ages. Could have had a brace yesterday; what a player.
I agree with the various comments that (though Collison is somewhat close) Jiminez has by far the best ball skills of any current hammer. His decision making and overall energy level need to improve by a lot still. WIll need games to get there; not sure if he can.
Kovac can still be beaten regularly for pace, but he tackled very well yesterday and played the exact holding midfield role that is so crucial in modern football. Would love to see Behrami fit and able to play 90; will make a huge difference if Behrami-Parker-Collison anchor the midfield game after game in the second half. Then sprinkle in Diamanti, Noble/Kovac, late-in-games Hines/Stanlislas and maybe we have something!
Still very very disappointed in Ilunga 2009-10 edition. He's just not the same player we saw last year.
I would be concerned that Diamanti will not give the support to Ilunga to negate Lennon.
I expect Behrami to return on the right of MF – he looked fitter yesterday than on his return – perhaps he was brought back too soon initially, thus creating another injury?
Going forward we look dangerous however we are still a bit sus in defence.
Against the spurs I would like to see Fabuert RM with Berhami behind him.
My Team
Green
Berhami
Tomkins
Upson
Illunga
Fabuert
Collison
Parker
Diamanti/ Jiminez
Noble/Kovac
Franco/ Nouble
Yesterday, we played as a team. Parker was the star, Kovac was a revelation, hardly put a foot wrong, Diamanti and Franco worked hard and showed great skill and determination. Collison and Faubert covered enormous amount of ground and provided great opportunities for socoring. Tompkins and Upson together with Green give as the most solid defence together, it was the first time this season that I haven't missed Collins. Ilunga and Jiminez were much improved on anything we have seen from them this season, although Jiminez is not yet sufficiently involved in the game. However he did make at least two very significant contributions that brought goals. I agree with the "we can't afford to let Upson go" brigade. He has added so much more security to the defence than was on show when he was away injured.
Eric NYC,Do you watch our games in Nevada smiths on 3rd ave Mannhattan? i was in NY for thanks giving with the misses & watched the Burnley game great crowd of Hammers fans,
Also got NYC HAMMERS T shirt that I wear with pride now at home games,HAPPY NEW YEAR Eric & to all WEST HAM fans everywhere.COYI
Fabulous Win. I'm Delighted
& a clean sheet. Hopefully we'll turn up at totscum
1p !!! pikey !!
Parker was brilliant and was a 10 out of 10. Kovac also had a very good game, and showed today what he can do when he wants to.
Diamanti looked very isolated out wide and found hard to get into game, where as Franco worked tirelessly but with no support struggled. Portsmouth never really troubled us and this showed with defence all playing well with faubert also looking class when tracking back.
On this performance though Parker has to be shoe in for hammer of year, and a good bet for a ticket to south Africa if any injuries hit the main squad.
We're showing the guts for the fight – now it's time for our sqaud to return to full strength and us to climb the table.
As I've predicted all along a top half finish again. Not so sure about my cup prediction but we can make things very difficult for Arsenal.
COYI!!
All round a very good performance although losing Noble is a stiff price to pay as there are few players who will play their hearts out for the club the way he will.
Its become a stock phrase at this stage but Scott Parker was immense, he is now without a doubt our most important player and irrespective of who wears the armband he is our leader.
Anyone who thought Franco signed looking for one last easy payday couldnt be more wrong, the guy worked himself to a standstill again today and despite getting little joy for his efforts he never once stopped.
Having Kovac in the team is actually allowing Parker play further up the field where he is much more effective and can boss the game.
Collison was popping up eveywhere and once he adds the goals we know he is capable getting to his game he will be the goal scoring midfielder we have lacked since Lamaprd.
Diamanti is still playing the way the team needs him too rather than the way his instincts tell him to, but he is still a massive attacking threat and simply irresistible from deadball situations.
Faubert is starting to look like that bloke who got us all excited on YouTube before he turned up at Upton Park. His defending today was top class.
Tomkins showed the form that made him such a standout last season and playing along side Upson makes him a better player.
We will miss Upson the defender even if we dont miss Upson the man. Its vitally important we spend his money well on an experienced defender.
Ilunga showed again how much better he is when allowed to bomb forward.
Rob Green had his best game in some time and there is no doubt he is benefiting from an improved team defensive performance.
Fantastic to see Behrami back and looking like he never missed a minutes football, once he came on the result as assured as Pompey simply couldnt cope with him. He just battered them back into their own half on his own.
It seems that you have to put this teams back to the wall before they respond but respond they did.
Zola and Clarke are seeing some reward for the faith they have had in the players and the style of football they want. Yes today at times it was fractous and scrappy in midfield but that was down more to Pompey trying to stop us by any means possible. When we did break out we played sweeping, flowing football full of pace and movement that was a joy to behold.
There is no doubt we will get more room against the spuds but they have an infinitely more dangerous strike force.
Been a long time since so many players earned their corn like they did today …. all well and good against the top four but today it was against a resurgent and scrappy Pompey who came for a good old fashioned dust up …Marshalled by Upson and led by Parker they hunted in packs and scrapped like heavyweights … We fans must keep up the tempo now and ensure Upton Park is a fortress to fear playing in …
I'd take a point at the lane but much prefer to see us turn over the Arsenal next sunday … a 10 out of 10 today for everyone
Great tactical move from Zola bringing on Berhami instead of Diamanti. Portsmouth were dominating midfield for 25 minutes of 2nd half but Valon changed that. Very important result and credit to Kovac for once. Great to finally see some stability in defence. MOM though as usual was Parker – fast becoming a legen
Reading all the paper reports online on way home, and nearly all use one word to describe parker…immence. Can capello ignore him for much longer? Here’s hoping for an injury free rest of season for him, because without him we would struggle!
parker is the most important player to keep hold of this jan.ireplaceable and definatly should be on that plane to africa if we want to win the world cup !!! gona watch it again but i thought jimenez played well and as for having briani back well im now going to think of next season in the premiership with hopefully new owners !!! happy hammer !!!
Does anyone think part of the turnaround is because Clarke may have more input? Remember what he said two weeks ago about not helping Zola enough.
Very early game in California, have to admit I gave Kovac a 6, first time ever, and not for the goal, he was playing well before that.
Parker MOTM unbelievable commitment. Hope Noble is OK, we must not sell Upson. I thought Zolas game plan and substitutions were good, good team game and great 3 points, still don't rate Jimenez that high, and Ilunga still not back to form
I thought Jimmi did well when he came on. He grafted harder than I have ever seen him do and he looked dangerous from set pieces.
As for Upson, the only person who can stop him being sold is himself. Few clubs can pay the transfer fee and salary that we have for Upson and then watch him walk out on a free.
Upson will refrain from looking for a transfer in my opinion as to do so would cost him money. As I have always said we will miss him as a defender but not as a captain or as a man.
Crowd were brilliant today massive 3 points,not far away from half way now.
If parker was sold i think there would be riots on the pitch,He is so so important to us.
Upson and tomkins have a great understanding,probably coz they both speak fluent English,sell Upson at your peril Duxbury.
Seems Zola has found a winning formula in 4 5 1 by accident I guess.
another hard working performance by our midfield and i hate to say it but Kovac had another 6/10 game,I don't know if he's good enough in a 4 but he's played his part in the last 2 games so well done to him.
Defoe will be a big test but in upson and tomkins at least there's hope.
Its curbs tactics 4 5 1 sit back, play on the break but its working.
Chris for once I agree with your comments 100%
Kildare. I liked your recent comments about me having my boots ready, but couldn't reply as internet dropped out on Xmas day! Thankfully I didn't need my boots anyway! Merry Xmas mate!
Will it work in the Championship though Chrischris???
Chris i thought it was more of a 4-1-4-1 formation hence the width and stability in the middle of the park … I agree with your Upson statement tho … sell Upson at your peril.
Happy New Year mate
Parker, Franco, Collison and yes, Kovac, TERRIFIC. Jiminez best he's been so far. I am getting need optimistic and need a lie-down!
The table was much more fun to look at before the afternoon kick offs!
Great team performance, everyone contributed something to the win, the stand out performances were Franco (tracking back and clearing the ball from Pompey set pieces whilst also holding the ball up as well as anyone), Tompkins (who was imperious and only made one mistake which was to let Kanu outmuscle him and get a shot away to be superbly saved by Greeno), Parker (same old reliable Scotty- a captains performance just without the armband) and Diamanti (the boy is pure class and passion- the fact he ran on to celebrate the Kovac winner in his jumper having been subbed earlier says it all!!). I love two things about today- firstly that we are showing passion and commitment as a team to turn performances into results (bar a poor lino- two clean sheets and six points) and secondly that a bit of consistency is showing itself, we have key players out but the team is starting to look settled and play for one another.
Hope you all had a good Christmas and for all the people claiming Championship football was a foregone conclusion I hope some belief starts to return for you now- I had it all along!! COYI
There really is nothing between us and half way ,Burnley seem to be getting closer, Hull are poor, portsmouth to,Bolton are just, well Horrible! why we loose to them I don't know.Feeling positive about surviving now,surly the owners aren't going to dirt on us now,selling any of Upson Parker Cole green would be disastrous,selling any of these players would be just shootting theirselves in the foot. There's every chance now we can survive. COYI!!!!!!!!!!
Chris you keep saying we cant sell upson but you fail to mention the fact the he wont sign a new deal, he wants to leave and if we dont sell him in the next window we will lose him for nothing in the summer when he can sign a precontract with another club.
So how do you suggest we not sell a player who wants to leave?
Celtic I know what your saying but he almost guarantees our survival,wouldn't you rather survive.
Chris in all fairness thats not an answer. Would I rather keep Upson? Yes as a defender he is easily our best.
The simple matter of fact is he WANTS to leave and rather than come out and admit it he is holding the club to ransom by refusing to sign a deal so we have to sell him without him putting in a transfer request so he wont lose out on loyalty payments when he is sold.
As long as his replacement is good enough I really dont think his leaving will relegate us or anything like it.
Celtic, I am sure Upson has 18 months left not six …
Tom Upsons contract expires in 12months, meaning he can sign a pre contract agreement with another club in the summer allowing him to coast through his final 6months minding his legs before walking out the door for free.
I think the club should call his bluff and force him to request a transfer by issueing a hands off warning.
I hear what you are saying Celtic … just not so sure on his contract length … I read only recently he was contracted to the club through to the summer of 2011 not the January window.
In all fairness, chrischris' reply is very much an answer, and very poignant one too. There seems to be some confusion over how long Upson's contract is. When Upson was bought in the transfer window of January 2007 then it was reported widely that he had signed a four and a half year contract. If that should happen to be the case then it would mean that his contract will expire in the summer of 2011. If we can take it that Upson's contract expires in the summer of 2011 then the finances gained from selling him, in my opinion our best defender in spite of contrariness expressed by many on this blog up until December, in the transfer window of January 2010 could have dire consequences if West Ham were to get relegated. It makes more financial sense to keep hold of him for the rest of the season and then sell him in the summer, when he should have a year left on his contract. By selling him in the summer then Zola and Clarke do not have to get involved in any panic buying this winter, and paying over the odds for any defender on the market, and they will also have the time to scout someone out with time, care and, hopefully, at the right price.
id rather lose upson for f all if it guarenteed us staying up, tompkins will be a better player in 2 years time anyway. COYI
Think you might have to change your name if he continues to turn in the performances of late?
Another great performance. There have been several great home performances this season where we've just been unlucky or simply undone by a bigger club in a second. Today I thought the ref might lose the points for us. Pompey were the dirtiest side I can remember visiting for years, not Stoke ugly, but clearly happy to hack at our best players and the ref didn't have the balls to take it on properly. Two weeks in a row refs have let us down, this time at least it didn't cost us points.
Those of us who said we would turn it round are I think fully vindicated (at this point at least) and looking at the home games left, it's all the bottom clubs visiting up to the last day. It would not be a surprise now to see us go unbeaten at home in the league until then. I think it's worth a punt. …………….
(continued)……………………………If the fixture list had been the other way round, this is the point where we'd have had to be calming people down about getting into Europe ;-D
I also think Zola is vindicated re Kovac as well as of today, so *hopefully* people will get off both their backs too.
Happy New Year all anyway. I'm off to the sun, I'll see you hopefully for Round 4!
Come On You Lovely Irons.
.
Its not a great situation and we can revisit the point about why sell Collins if you then sell Upson. On balance I agree with Chris. Whilst Upson is not the most demonstrative leader when he plays we are much better defensively. Today he was our best defender. Tomkins got beaten up by Piquionne and Kanu and without Upson looks raw. I think he will be a really top class player but is not yet. I believe that Upson could not sign a pre-contract until Jan 2011 and would be 32 when he joined his new club if he ran his contract down. If we do not need to sell for financial reasons we should keep Upson and try and do a deal next summer. I suppose money talks and if somebody comes in with a mad offer we will take it but it would make our back four very brittle. Two bits of skullduggery today I noticed, firstly Upson catching Dindane (I think) off the ball after he had upended Parker again and, secondly, just as he was about to be substituted Franco running towards the chicken run so as to be as far away from the dug out as possible when his number went up. He then retraced his steps very slowly!
I want Jiminez to be a success and I know he was involved in both goals but he looked completely uninterested today. Still retains the ball well though. I thought Kovac did well today. Diamanti seems to have got the message that he does not need to play a killer ball every time. Even his regular 40 plus yarder was worth a try!
You can see we are still very fragile form a confidence perspective. We sat too deep in the second half and nobody, particulaly the full backs, want the ball off the keeper
Assuming Noble is out I hope Behrami starts wide right against Spurs and he moves Collison inside with Parker and Kovac.
I think that it is unfair to say Jiminez looked uninterested today, admittedly he wasn't tracking back but that wasn't his job- what he did do was go looking for the ball in the Pompey half, linking up play and trying to create as much as he could (vindicated as you say by his hand in both goals). Agree about Behrami for the Spuds if he is now fit for the full ninety.
Not meant to be unfair. I suppose I wanted him to be demanding the ball more from the midfield and working their defence more. I don't think he really linked the play. As I say he is clearly talented but I am not sure he want to be here.
Thought we were good today, not as good as last week though, Portsmouth looked very poor at times…..was this really the same team that beat Liverpool last week?
Diamanti was fantastic again, we missed him when he went off. Even after he had been subbed it was great to see him run on….his passion for the team is brilliant.
Did anyone else notice all the players surrounding Kovac after his goal? i got the impression that he is very well liked and respected by the squad…they all looked really happy for him…..he had a great game….very energetic.
Parker was awesome again. He was every where.
After this performance im confident that we will give the spuds a run for their money on mondat………..COYI!!!!
As for all the players hugging Kovac, have you seen his missus? They just want to make sure they get an invite round his house any nights there is a "keys in the bowl" party!
LOL ! Who wouldn't, she's a beauty. To be fair though I think the players might just have been celebrating for the right reasons yesterday!
Well said Tariq; totally agree.
oildrum, i thought jimi had his best game in an Irons shirt today and was certainly up for the scrap. Although not the prettiest of games we look galvanised as a group … not sure where it came from but it was the difference today …
Pompey were the better team in the second half until peperahmi tucked in and gave them the run around … for me Faubert kovac and Jimi earnet there corn …
As fir Upson … if we are to stay up and progress we need to keep him regardless … then if the club is as Duxbury says and Zola has all the TV money next summer then he'll see a different picture to the one we are all seeing at the moment
happy new year mate
a truly awful game but a brilliant 3 points.must say i thought kovacs had a good gamebut as for jiminez i believe he is a total waste of space and one of the worst players ever to wear the shirt.he is so lazy and uninterested .i will be astounded if he is not sent back in january,good riddance i say.how brown didnt get sent off ill never know.he has always been a disgusting little sly twat
Interesting to hear zola not give any answer to comings and goings in the transfer window he is the ultimate poker player.
I reckon he is meeting Ancelloti and Mancini for dinner to see if they can give him a few Lira to help him out!
Ahhh….the joys of spending Boxing day with the parents and the in-laws: completely missed the game live, didn't watch it on t'internet and had to rely on text commentary on BBC wap mobile and Pinnocchio….joyous!
Still – great 3 points but MUCH MUCH better to get that 1st clean sheet in 16 games. Confidence breeds confidence and clean sheets breed belief that we might be able to keep a few more. No surprise that it took the return of Upson/Tomkins defensive partnership to produce that clean sheet – they were our best 2 at the end of last year too. As CH says, we probably HAVE to sell him next month or lose him for nothing in Summer 2011, it is however imperative that we buy a decent replacement.
Out of the bottom (even if we have played more games than everyone else) and ONLY 2 points of 12th!!!! This really is a bizarre year in the prem – we've got some very winnable home games in the 2nd half of the season and if we can keep our best players, get Cole and Behrami fit and (PLEASE GOD) add 2 or 3 players to the squad my optimism may just grow – this does not believe that i have regained my faith in GZ yet – i have merely delayed my banner waiving!
Fantastic win today. 3 well needed points. Was times today you could hear a pin drop at UP.
Green, Had little to do today.made a few saves which I think will boost his confidence. Green didn't want to be there I think. Kovack, Does his job well, will never be a hero. Parker, Is the MUST not be sold!!
Jiminez, is his nickname the wizard or magician?? Maybe wizard sleve would be a better name for him.
Celtic – I watched the videos on youtue of Faubert before we signed him. Told my friends how great he is and have held my head in shame since.
Parker
I think the result was more important than the performance today. Three points make such a difference when the bottom half of the table is so tight.
Had family round today, but managed to have a stream running in the background. So, from what I saw, Pompey were one of the most physical teams to visit The Boleyn Ground in quite a while, but we seemed to handle the challenge quite well, particularly our man Parker, what a star he has been this season. Capello, please take note and put this man on the plane to SA.
A point from WHL on Monday would round of a good Xmas period and keep the new found confidence going.
COYI
Parker took a hell of a beating from the Pompey players he is our superman who would surely keep Gareth Barry out of the England side.
It would be superb if we could turn the flash spuds over but can you imagine what a side we would have if Zola was allowed to spend like Hairy Redneck and I want to beat him so badly then he can shove his patronising after match speech up his posterior.
Thought The Wizard looked much better after shaving the dead ferret off his head.
Well done Zola apart from Pompey you have done it tough working under the spending constraints you have endured and I will bet big money you will take us to champion,s league football if new owners allow you to buy better players because if you can get ordinary players to improve what about world class players you have it zola ,you are the best thing to happen to our club,well done and success wont happen overnightwe all need to be patient.
Managed to catch Football First last night. Parker was immense again, Jimi looked good, Franco/Diamanti worked hard on the front line, Upson held the back line well & Kovac finally looks like a footballer. This result should now give us the impetus to get moving up the table.
Bring on the Spuds !!!!!
I'm pleased to read that most people have recognised that Kovac does play a role in the team. I thought he played exceptionally well yesterday, and although no where near Parker or Behrami in terms of skill and doggedness, he is worth his place in the line up. That's not to say he hasn't had some real howlers in the past!
I agree with an earlier comment that Faubert is looking much better recently, and also had a good game. I was however getting very frustrated that the attacking wing play seemed to be on the left and there was a reluctance to let him have the ball on any of his many overlapping runs; or was it just me ?
Diamanti was again excellent, and effective. He is starting to look like a real bargain, and cult hero in the making. Franco also looked good and worked his socks off. Give him the longer contract he reportedly wants now please!
All in all, a good workmanlike display against a not briliant side.
Only had the Football First highlights to judge on but certainly it appears that a few of the players have stepped up to the plate.
Diamanti has an exquisite left foot and great vision. I've already eulogised over Franco enough, but his workrate should not be underestimated.
No need for comment on Parker – MOM again and without DOUBT the best midifielder England has at it's disposal for breaking up opponents play.
Faubert has started pinging some great cross-field balls and I do believe with patience and coachinbg he could be turned into a decent RB.
Finally, Kovac. What can one say? Looks a totally different player to the one we have been watching for the last few months. Looked two yards quicker. Tackled sharply. Intercepted and won headers. Capped his best performance in a West Ham shirt with a great goal. Worth at least a 7 on the evidence I saw.
I actually think we could nick something at Spurs Monday.
(Just watching the football first rerun)
Devo must a agree Kovac had his best game,don't know if he's good enough in a 4 man midfield but has his worth in a 5.
This new system will be tested by spurs,we kept Drogba and Co quiet so fingers crossed.
What do you think of Diamanti on the left? (for now anyway)
Diamanti is fine on the left, but he does roam and I believe he should be given a free role behind Cole & Franco when all fit.
My concern tomorrow is whether he will help out Ilunga to cope with Lennon. If we keep him quiet, we have a squeak.
Kovac was a different player without doubt I gave him an 8 looks good in a 5 man midfield. Jimmi seems to be getting better just hope he turns it on in the next game.
COYI !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
E1 – He did look a different player in many ways. Maybe we just don't give players enough time to settle in – not all adapt as easily as Franco or Diamanti.
Jiminez still needs to improve, but he too, looked better yesterday – perhaps we should bear in mind the quality of the opposition?
Another world class performance by Parker he has got to make the squad for South Africa. The TEAM all looked up for it and battled well and at times looked good as well, a win at spurs will do nicely I think we could nick it and I really can't see us coming away with nothing 0 – 1 to the Hammers.
I will be at the spurs game,sitting with the spud inlaw,yes I know its terrible but the offer was there so I took it, I will be wearing the colours underneath my coat,
and If we score I'll take the coat off,I will be sitting behind the goal, so watch out (what end I dont know) but If it goes off think of me I'm the fella taking a kicking!!
Guess Collison will come inside for Noble and Behrami going wide right,quite strong and I think a draws on the card's.
Remember Spurs have lost to Stoke and Wolves at home, and so why not us? If we can score early, they will be under pressure and we could get something at the Lane.
4-5-1 *is* modern football. WIth width and overlapping fullbacks, which happened occasionally yesterday. Of course, all Hammers 'forgot' to get in the box when Faubert made his gorgeous cross.
Better defending, but Chelsea (especially!) and Pompey tried to attack through the middle, whereas the teams destroying us attack from the wings, which Faubert/Spector/Ilunga/Gabbidon and even Upson have struggled mightily with. Let's see if Harry's done his homework. Hopefully the short turnaround means he's done less of it. Defoe clearly rested yesterday so he can be turned loose against his old side. I hope Parker is fit to run another 90 on the very short rest.
If Collison can just improve that last 10-15%,he could be one for the ages. Could have had a brace yesterday; what a player.
I agree with the various comments that (though Collison is somewhat close) Jiminez has by far the best ball skills of any current hammer. His decision making and overall energy level need to improve by a lot still. WIll need games to get there; not sure if he can.
Kovac can still be beaten regularly for pace, but he tackled very well yesterday and played the exact holding midfield role that is so crucial in modern football. Would love to see Behrami fit and able to play 90; will make a huge difference if Behrami-Parker-Collison anchor the midfield game after game in the second half. Then sprinkle in Diamanti, Noble/Kovac, late-in-games Hines/Stanlislas and maybe we have something!
Still very very disappointed in Ilunga 2009-10 edition. He's just not the same player we saw last year.
I would be concerned that Diamanti will not give the support to Ilunga to negate Lennon.
I expect Behrami to return on the right of MF – he looked fitter yesterday than on his return – perhaps he was brought back too soon initially, thus creating another injury?
Going forward we look dangerous however we are still a bit sus in defence.
Against the spurs I would like to see Fabuert RM with Berhami behind him.
My Team
Green
Berhami
Tomkins
Upson
Illunga
Fabuert
Collison
Parker
Diamanti/ Jiminez
Noble/Kovac
Franco/ Nouble
Yesterday, we played as a team. Parker was the star, Kovac was a revelation, hardly put a foot wrong, Diamanti and Franco worked hard and showed great skill and determination. Collison and Faubert covered enormous amount of ground and provided great opportunities for socoring. Tompkins and Upson together with Green give as the most solid defence together, it was the first time this season that I haven't missed Collins. Ilunga and Jiminez were much improved on anything we have seen from them this season, although Jiminez is not yet sufficiently involved in the game. However he did make at least two very significant contributions that brought goals. I agree with the "we can't afford to let Upson go" brigade. He has added so much more security to the defence than was on show when he was away injured.
Eric NYC,Do you watch our games in Nevada smiths on 3rd ave Mannhattan? i was in NY for thanks giving with the misses & watched the Burnley game great crowd of Hammers fans,
Also got NYC HAMMERS T shirt that I wear with pride now at home games,HAPPY NEW YEAR Eric & to all WEST HAM fans everywhere.COYI