That’ll do nicely. I’ll take it!!! At 1-1 on Monday night I said the same. I was even more pleased with the point after we came back to level it for the second time in the match. We were the better side. Not simply because the stats were undeniably in our favour. The most possession by far, (in fact the highest we’ve had away from home this year) more chances, superior pass completion, more touches in the opposition half…no it wasn’t just that. We looked a better team. We had desire, we played with urgency and we looked like we wanted it. And it showed!
Now before I go on I have to warn you that this is going to be another positive piece. If you’re the type to wallow in misery and self pity then look away now. I’ve been led to believe that there’s a lot of negativity knocking about on this site. I get it. I know we’re all long suffering fans & those of you who watch us week in week out have had to put up with a load of old tripe on occasion. For better or worse I had to give my season ticket up when I started at Sky 13 years ago so I haven’t had to suffer it. Or pay over the odds for it. Therefore I understand why there is a fair share of doom merchants among the Hammers ranks. Those regular Upton Park attendees probably have more right to comment on our fortunes and are better informed than I am when I only see the highlights (or low lights) on a Saturday night.
BUT I’m here to spread some positivity while I can! While it lasts! Call me crazy but there it is.
I tuned in to Monday Night Football with my usual feeling of excitement & trepidation to watch us play, mixed with a healthy level of antipathy owing to many years of witnessing abject performances & the Jekyll & Hyde-like nature of our beloved team. A friend texted me pre-match and asked me “fancy the Hammers tonight?” and my reply was “I never fancy the Hammers”. Now that’s not because I’m a pessimistic fan. I actually believe that anything is possible. We can beat anyone on our day. We can just never be sure when ‘our day’ is going to be. If we turn up then I know what we are capable of (as I often liked to remind my Tottenham-loving relations last season) but as I say who knows when we’re feeling like turning up?
As I settled in to watch with my brothers and step dad I knew it was going to kick off. And I don’t just mean in the centre circle. Don’t get me wrong I’m no wallflower when I’m watching West Ham (unless I’m in the press box in which case I have to bite my lady-like tongue) but my family use language that would make your toes curl. Well, that’s putting it mildly. In fact let’s be honest they’re bloody mental. But I’m used to it. I was well prepared for the barrage of abuse that would be hurled at the screen if things didn’t quite go to plan but I was prepared for it. Or so I thought.
I can put up with the effing and blinding. I grew up with that. But what struck me was how relentlessly negative everyone was.
I’ll admit we weren’t perfect in the opening stages of the first half. I had noted myself there were a few stray passes in midfield, that we sometimes dithered on the ball in and around the box when it was screaming for a first timer to catch the Hull defence off guard. And when the crosses did go in there was either no one there or the final touch left a bit to be desired.
The verbals began…this is how it went…oh and throw in a few f-words don’t be shy…
Me: “He’s not going to put every single ball in on a sixpence Bill.”
(The following is highly REDACTED)
Brother 1: “Any man who sees a professional footballer put in a turd cross like that is gonna get the ‘ump, it’s unacceptable”
Brother 2 " What’s he #<$# DOOOOOOOINNNNNGGGGG??"
Step-dad: "He’s &#^*+ useless!!"
Brother 1: “Oh here we go again typical West Ham what a load of *#%^”
Brother 2: “2 bob *%#@”
Brother 1: “Bianca, (on Enner Valencia) the golden rule of football is do NOT *#@%# sign a player on World Cup form”
After Hernandez scored the air was bluer than ever.
Brother 1: “THAT’S the kind of player we should have bought. Someone who’s proven in a European league. ^%#@ sake. He hasn’t needed any time to settle in!”
Step-dad “Looks like we’re lumbered with another ^%#<”
Brother 2: “He looks %# Bee”
Brother 1: “NOOOOOO not #@**%# THEEEEERE!!”
Me: “Just give the guy a chance he’s only played a couple of games. I can’t listen to this. You lot are SO NEGATIVE”
It wasn’t pretty. The boys were dropping bombs all over the place with Sakho and Valencia bearing the brunt of it. Then the goal happened. That absolute bullet from a standing start. No back lift, pure power & exquisite technique. According to Stewart Downing he does that all the time in training so it’s no fluke. Food for thought!
To say I was smug when that pearl went in is somewhat of an understatement. I seem to recall I did a bit of a victory dance in front of the flat screen. I milked it. Then of course the “I-wasn’t-slagging-him-off” excuses began. It was really funny at the time. But it did make me think.
My point is this…if our players have to listen to that week after week (and don’t deny it I’ve heard you all), the dogs abuse, the audible groans after an error, the constant stick, the blistering assaults from the stands, and the unrelenting negative energy projected onto the pitch….then I’m not surprised that our home form often leaves a lot to be desired. It can be ruthless at times. I’d rather be Daniel going into the lions den than take that verbal battering.
Aaron Cresswell was lucky he was away from home after his howler. I’ve said before I admired his talent at Ipswich and I think he can be a real asset to us but obviously you don’t take square throw ins like he did for their second goal.
“Bee, that’s f*%#%^* rule number one you learn that playing the game when you’re a f#@# kid!” (I honestly don’t know where I’d be without the benefit of my brothers’ superior man-wisdom haha!)
But seriously, I can’t imagine how the fans might have turned if that had happened at the Boleyn. I hope the majority would show some sympathy but judging by the reaction in our living room it would have made the strongest of alpha-types break down and cry. It’s more likely heads will drop with that ringing in the ears. Mistakes happen. In the Premier league they often prove costly but you can bet your bottom dollar Cresswell will have learned from that error and it won’t happen again.
Speaking to Tony Cottee on Tuesday night at Portman Road he agreed. “The crowd gets a bit agitated at Upton Park so it’s easier to play away. It was a carefree performance. I enjoyed it and I don’t normally say that about West Ham games. It was a far more attacking style of play. When they advanced they looked dangerous. It was a bit like the old days watching a West Ham team go forward.”
What impressed me was the fact that we didn’t play our usual brand of origami football. We didn’t fold. We came from behind twice and we didn’t give up. Even at 2-2 we didn’t sit back. And I’ve seen us do that time and again in recent years. We continued to press, our football was positive and aggressive and if not for Dawson’s crucial block off the line we could have pinched it at the end. I don’t often disagree with Gary Neville but he was wrong Monday night. It wouldn’t have been harsh if Hull had lost that. We were the better team.
We need to be able to produce that same brand of football at home. Yet it’s difficult to recreate that buoyancy and effervescence with 30,000 expectant Hammers fans on your case. Look at it this way…we’ve lost 5 out of the last 6 matches in all competitions at home. We lost 9 in total last season, a feat we hadn’t repeated since 1989. So why do we seem to unnecessarily drop points at the Boleyn? Now I’m not blaming the fans. Far from it. As I said earlier I understand the frustrations and I totally sympathise with those of you who pay good money to watch inept performances. Plus I wouldn’t want to suffer the wrath of the claret and blue army! However I do notice some improvement there and feel that with the glimpses we’ve seen so far this season we can afford to take a breath, sit back and maybe be a little bit more patient with the boys. Don’t hammer them (pun intended) after 10 minutes if things aren’t completely going our way. There are several new faces in the team and it may take a few weeks to really connect and produce the kind of results (and football!) that we so desperately crave.
Liverpool will not be easy. That’s a given. And as I said on Monday night I don’t particularly fancy us. But isn’t it nice to have options? We look stronger. I thought Downing was a revelation in the middle of the park and his pass for our second was a delight to behold. Alex Song demonstrated signs that he can be a steady influence. He plays with the kind of self-assurance and confidence that we’ve lacked and I’m hoping he’ll provide the team with the strength and leadership that it needs. We’ve finally got a bit of pace up front, players that can not only hold the ball up but run in behind. Players that can provide a bit of magic when all looks lost. Even the legendary TC said of Valencia’s finish “I thought he was just a box to box player! Did I ever score goals like that?? NO!!”
If the young Ecuadorian ‘Superman’ is half the player that Tony Cottee was I’ll be happy. In the meantime, let’s show the lads the kind of hospitality the East End used to be famous for. Give our team a good old Cockney welcome…and be nice! :)
B