One of the most pleasing aspects of Saturday’s victory over Tottenham Hotspurs was the return to form and confidence of Robert Green.  It was a real redemption performance by someone in a very dark and depressing place.  The mishandling of the ball against the USA will be with Green forever, but as with every bad experience the objective is to confront and overcome it.

Green pulled off two or three top notch saves and generally commanded his box well.   Let hope that this is, indeed, a redemption rather than a false dawn.  West Ham need a confident and on form Robert Green as a pre-requisite of turning our season around.  An added bonus is the emergence of Stech as an able deputy; in addition to the presence of the wonderfully named Boffin as experienced back up.

It was nice to see Harry Redknapp take his first Hammers defeat so well.  Emphasising the injury absences in defence and the missed chance.  It would seem that it was more a case of Spurs lost the match, rather than West Ham winning it!  This was reflected in Monday’s match report in the Sports Mirror, where they chose to crown Spurs as the ‘pass masters,’ rather than focus upon the Hammers winning performance.  Very strange!   Indeed, the Sports Mirror published match stats that we had approximately 36% of the possession, yet we had more corners and shots on goal.  While Spurs apparently had approximately 64% of possession, but obviously did a lot less with it.   

It seemed that we had far more possession than that, but it was obviously a question of quality over quanity.  Perhaps they spent an inordinate amount of time passing the ball in areas that failed to threaten the Hammers?  Whatever, it was a good match and Spurs deserve some credit for making it so, but just not as much as the super hammers! 

Now we look foward to the very different challenge of breaking down a disciplined Fulham outfit.  We certainly must not take Fulham lightly after the success against Spurs.  Down that road lies frustration and defeat.  We must analysis their strengths and weaknesses and exploit the latter, whilst negating the former.  The good piece of news today is that Dyer is fit for the match.  He has been in good form and has looked hungry to make up for lost time on the injury teatment table.  If he only manages 45-60 minutes per match at full pelt then I will be happy with that.  After all, we then have players of the quality of Barrera and Faubert to call upon when he runs out of steam!

Beyond that we have a tough home Carling Cup tie against Stoke City.  I favour playing McCarthy in that fixture.  I believe that McCarthy is building up his fitness and sharpness and that he will play a significant role at some point his season.  At the end of last season I prophesied that McCarthy could come back to make a contribution this season, to much criticism at the time.  We shall see?   

Finally, thanks for the support and kind comments in response to the last Parish Notice.  It was good to get the issue out in the open for discussion.  Although I accept that many did not agree with my response.  We will have to agree to disagree on that one.

Anyway its time to draw a line under that and focus on the much welcome resurgence of West Ham’s season.  On that, hopefully, we can all agree.

SJ. Chandos.

A richly deserved man of the match award for the world class Rob Green. I’m astonished that Mark Noble only made seventh place. Personally, I thought he was the top player on the day, but frankly it was very difficult to choose between so many excellent performances.

I understand that there has been a suggestion that the title of the previous blog might be some sort of reference to the suffering of the Jewish people in the holocaust (via our opponents on Saturday, Tottenham Hotspurs).  I can assure you that was never the intention, indeed, no such connection ever crossed my mind (subliminally or otherwise).  I have consistently taken a strong  anti-racist and non-discriminatory line on this blog, so why would I suddenly start sending out subliminal messages of this alleged nature?  It really does not make any sense. 

However, it would appear that the connection has been made by a commentator, so it may also be apparent to others.  As such I have re-titled the blog article and issued this Parish Notice to provide clarification.  The title was a reference to the popular TV campaign slogan and alluded solely to the vastly improved performance of West Ham Utd FC.  There was no reference intended to Tottenham Hotspurs or their supporters; and certainly none to the Jewish victims of the holocaust.

There is no place for racism or discrimination at the club, in football or, indeed, wider society.  Anti-Semitic views and insults directed towards Tottenham Hotspurs FC are both irrational and unacceptable; it is also hypocritical considering the importance of the Jewish community in the history of the East End of London and the fact that our club currently has a Jewish Manager, Centre-half and Co-owner.

Hopefully this sets the record straight.

SJ. Chandos.

It is always a great pleasure to beat Tottenham Hotspurs, but it is an absolute joy to also outplay them for 75-80% of  the match.  And have no doubt about it, we did just that.  They just could not penetrate an organised defence (with an inspired Rob Green as the last line) or cope with the industry of Parker and Noble in midfield and the pace and skill of Dyer, Piquionne, Obinna and Barrera.  Of course this was not adequately reflected in the BBC MoTD coverage of the match, but so what!  Who really expects fair coverage from MoTD, just ignore it and access Sky’s Football First coverage.  There you get an hour of the match and a far better edit of the action.  The ‘expert’ post-match commentary is often a bit banal, but just watch the action and make up your own mind.

At the end of the day, it does not matter if some of the media down play the quality of our performance yesterday.  What we now need to do is achieve the consistency to keep playing at that level.  If we get a run of positive results then they will have to start giving us some credit!  I really do think that the team have turned a corner.  Rob Green answered his critics yesterday, with a first class performance.  The defence looked much more organised and disciplined.  Upson and Da Costa are combining well as a centre back partnership; while Jacobsen and Gabbidon provide experience and solidarity at full-back.  Gabbidon will not offer you too much going forward, but with the likes of Dyer and Obinna ahead of him that need not be too much of  a problem. 

The back four looked solid, but the ’cherry on the cake’ was they way in which the team defended as a unit to neutralise Spurs major offensive threats.  In particular, our midfielders continually doubled up with Gabbidon and Jacobsen to counter the threat of Lennon and Bale on the flanks.  While Parker and Noble pressured and tackled Modric whenever he received the ball, denying him the time and space to work his magic.  With those two key threats countered, that gave us the base from which to dominate the game with our fluid and attractive forward play.  Indeed, it is significant that Lennon and Modric only really combined once in the 90 minutes (when Lennon got to the bye-line and pulled it back for Modric on the edge of the box), although that nearly resulted in us conceding!

I have rated Victor Obinna from day one and he is really starting to look the business.  Obinna terrorised Spurs with his pace, skills and boundless energy in making countless forward runs.  He has the tools to function very effectively in a 4-3-3 and he combines particularly well with Piquionne.   Hopefully, the club have a pre-agreed transfer fee with Inter-Milan for Obinna, as well as a first option, because if he continues to impress then other clubs will undoubtedly try to guzump us in the summer.   If  he lives up to his early promise then get the deal done in the January transfer window.

They dropped Carlton Cole yesterday for tactical reasons (to accommodate Boa Morte), but it has hopefully sent a message to the England striker that his place is not guaranteed.  Cole needs to perform consistently well to justify his place and, indeed, that must become the principle governing all team selection.  As it is, Piquionne played very well and should continue in that role for the Fulham match.   However, the point is that we suddenly have options and competition for places and that is exactly the way that it should be at a top PL club.

So, it seems that we are, indeed, really cooking now.  But can we keep it up?  I see no reason why not.  However the next game against Fulham will be an excellent test of our resolve and consistency.  Fulham are a solid, if unspectacular outfit.  They have a problem with injuries to their strikers at present, but they are very well organised and difficult to break down.  It could very well be a case of our newly emerging (irresistible) attacking force against their (immovable) defensive object.  We shall see?

If we win again, and win with style, then we will have every reason to feel optimistic that the poor early results can be overcome and that we can now go on to have a good season.  

SJ. Chandos.

Apologies, the link didn’t work in the player performance vote yesterday.

Please click HERE to rate the performances of the West Ham players against Spurs.

Well that wasn’t a bad day at the office was it? I don’t think we have played as well as that since a home game against Liverpool a couple of years ago. In the first half we were utterly dominant, constantly attacking and winning corner after corner. I think I counted eight in the first fifteen minutes. And in the second half, apart from the middle twenty minutes or so, we always looked the more likely to score.

I am not saying Spurs didn’t have any chances, they did. Indeed if Robert Green hadn’t been in world class form with a couple of outstanding saves things might have looked a little different. The only Spurs player to shine was an effervescent Modric. The others didn’t seem interested at all in the first half. We attacked with impunity down both flanks with Boa Morte and Dyer wreaking havoc time after time.

Dyer was simply superb. He was sharp, pacy, committed and looked on top form. It was such a shame was forced off with yet another knock just before half time. But his replacement, Pablo Barrera, was equally troublesome as the second half went on.

Avram Grant took a calculated risk in dropping Carlton Cole and it paid off. When he came on in the middle of the second half he played some great football and played like he did last season. But the player he replaced, Freddie Picquionne, played a blinder. The faith his manager put in him was repaid in full. His hold up play and wing play was stupendous and the way he took his headed goal was immense. If he doesn’t retain his place next week there’s no justice in this world.

Defensively it was also a great performance. Da Costa in particular was immense. He beat Peter Crouch in virtually every headed contest. Upson had his best game of the season and both Gabbidon and Jacobsen kept the Spurs wingers quiet.

But this result wouldn’t have been possible without the astonishing performances of four players – Green, Noble, Parker and Obinna. All four put in performances meriting 9 out of ten. Parker tackled as if his life depended on it. Obinna frightened the life out of the Spurs players each time he went on one of his pacy runs. He was extremely unlucky not to get a goal. Robert Green played exactly how we know he can and the game will have given him a massive boost in confidence.

But Mark Noble was my man of the match. He was all over the pitch, fierce in his tackling and delivered some excellent balls into the area. He also nearly scored a 25 yard screamer into the top left hand corner but somehow the Spurs keeper saved it. I’d say this was probably Mark Noble’s best game in a Hammers shirt. Agreed?

Green 9
Gabbidon 8
Jacobsen 8
Da Costa 9
Upson 9
Noble 9.5
Parker 9
Dyer 9
Obinna 9
Picquionne 9
Boa Morte 8
Barrera 8
Cole 8

Please click HERE to rate the performances of the West Ham players who played against Spurs.

Please use this thread to comment on the game as it progresses.

Full marks to the players and management for a memorable away victory at the Stadium of Light on Tuesday evening.  A very aptly named venue, as West Ham’s dominating  performance certainly illuminated the place.  I had stated prior to the match that all the signs boded well for a resurgence in fortunes and that the team just needed to click.  If the Chelski match saw a sea change, then the away Carling Cup victory at Sunderland will, hopefully, come to be seen as the pivotal match upon which our season turned for the better.

However, West Ham being West Ham, we can take nothing for granted!  The superb 1-2 victory should set us up for a run of matches that brings victories and puts much needed points on the board.  But the team must continue to show the same rich formula of graft, application and expansive forward play, starting with Spurs on Saturday. 

Because, make no mistake Harry Redknapp will reinstate the Spurs regulars rested against Arsenal and will come at us with all guns blazing.  The difference is that, boosted by the confidence of an excellent away win,  the team should rise to challenge.  Confidence is an important and mysterious X factor in football, teams with it can squeeze that extra 10% out of their performances, whilst teams lacking it, even those with very talented players, can massively under perform.

Now we have some confidence we need to build on our achievement and go on an unbeaten run.  Games against Spurs are always tough because of the highly charged derby atmosphere and the intense pressure from Hammers fans to beat a fierce rival.  But on the other side of the coin, if an Hammers team cannot get their tails up for a local derby with Spurs then something must be seriously wrong!

In terms of selection, Avram Grant has a difficult decision to make about who he selects as goal keeper. Does he reinstate the greater experience of Rob Green or reward the impressive performance of Stech?   One school of thought has it that the Spurs game may be too highly pressured for Stech and, consequently, it would be wise to recall Green.  It may also be argued that Grant must keep faith with Green and assist him to recover his confidence and form, rather than further undermining both by dropping him for such a major fixture.  On the other hand, Stech was part of a winning team, showed great maturity in the Sunderland match and handled the ball really well.

It is a decision that Grant will be criticised for if he gets it wrong, which ever way he goes.  Still, that is what a manager get paid for, making the tough decisions.  If I was in his shoes I would monitor Green in training and give Stech the nod if the England man demonstrates a lack of assurance.  Certainly, one thing is clear, Green needs to be acutely aware that Stech has now graduated from talented prospect to a serious competitor for a starting place.  Stech has demonstrated that he can perform at PL level and it will be much easier to now select him in preference to Green.  Indeed, if Stech continues to shape up well, it could prove to be the case that the club will decide to cash in on Rob Green next summer, if not before?   

In terms of our  troublesome defence, one player that will must probably return against Spurs is Lars Jacobsen.  That likely means that Faubert will return to the bench.  Da Costa and Upson will probably continue their partnership in central defence, with Ben Haim or Tomkins on the bench; whilst we will need to consider who is best equipped to deal with Lennon’s (if fit?) pace and trickery down the right.  Is it Illunga or Gabbidon? 

Another key issue for me is how we counter the creative threat of Modric (again, if fit?) in midfield?   Modric is Spurs’ outstanding creative player and, when he plays, they look a far better side.  A good deal of their attacking threat flows through Modric and, if you stop him, then you stand a far better chance of stopping Spurs.  As such, we might consider a man to man marking job on him.  I suggested this last season, prior to our fixture at WHL.  Unfortunately, we allowed him to run riot and, arguably, he was the key factor in our subsequent defeat.  We should not make the same mistake again!

With some key players out injured and their minds on the CL match, the following week, this should be a good time to play Spurs.  However, we cannot rely on them ‘not turning up’ on the day.  We need a good, committed performance to deliver a result.  If we apply ourselves I feel that we can get at least a draw, if not a win.  That will set us up nicely for the following home match against a Fulham side, similarly, with key personnel missing through injury.

The Spurs and Fulham matches represent a golden opportunity to get right back on track.  We need to take it with both hands!  Hopefully, we will approach the Spurs match with the added confidence of knowing that we have a good home draw in the last 16 of the Carling Cup.  Brentford or Northampton at home would be nice.  But knowing our luck it will be Man Utd or Arsenal away!!!!

SJ. Chandos.