Stoke, Sunderland and Spurs - 3 GREAT RESULTS.

Well what a week it was – from doom and gloom leading up to the Stoke game to pure feel good factor after the Spurs game!!!

After the much improved performance against Chelsea, despite losing 3-1, many Hammers fans were praying for a good turn in fortunes. In fact West Ham Manager Avram took this a step further by taking the day off for the Stoke game and praying for 25 hours. Whether it was this or his team tactics that have changed our fortunes we will never know – but one thing is for sure... they have certainly changed!!

Against a tough tackling Stoke we battled well and it seemed, for the first time in a long time, that we were starting to play as a team as we run out with a deserved draw and an even more deserved first point on the table.

From there we had a tricky mid-week away tie against Sunderland. Now at this point the West Ham of last year would almost definitely have slipped up – but no... another great team performance, a 2-1 away win and we’re into the last 16 of the cardboard cup!!

So with heads held high we take on our old enemy Spurs and it seemed like a great time to be playing them. Injuries in defence and one eye on the mid-week Champions league game – could we scrape another point from this one. Well we went beyond that against a very good Tottenham team who we played off the park for 80% of the match. Ok it could have been different it is wasn’t for the return to form of the mighty Robert Green who pulled off 2 or 3 world class saves. But, hand on heart, that was about all Spurs could throw at us and we really should have put the game out of their reach by half time – that’s how dominant we were.

So now we look ahead to Fulham this coming Saturday and a game that we should win comfortably if we play to the same standard and tempo as we did against Spurs. Fulham are quite a negative team, but they can also be quite effective, so I hope we go at them straight away with a few hard tackles and a fast tempo to let them know we mean business. I think the West Ham fans are going to be looking forward to this and with tickets almost sold out I am expecting them to bring the house down at Upton Park.

We must respect Fulham, but we must also believe, quite rightly, that we are the better team.

I wouldn’t make any changes from the team that won against Spurs – consistency is everything in football... if aint broke don’t fix it! However, if Hitz is fit then it would be nice to see him come on after 60 mins or so.

As for Piq and Vic (love that from someone on the WHTID forum) – I think this is a great striking partnership and may also wake Cole up to the fact that his place isn’t guaranteed and we expect goals from him.

My prediction is 3-1 to West Ham with "Piq & Viq" and Dyer finding the net!!! COYI

I hope to have the game live on http://www.hammerstv.com/ this Saturday and don’t forget that you can chat to other Hammers fans from around the world in the new Hammers chat room.

West Ham v Chelsea and a look ahead to Stoke.

Well nothing changed against Chelsea as we let in three goals for the 4th game on the trot, although we did score 2 at the other end - a great piece of team play that allowed Carlton Cole to score, only to be ruled off-sided by a step and a sublime individual goal from Scotty Parker 10 minutes before time.

Although this was a much improved display, especially in the 2nd half, the same problems are still there! The most concerning is the defence which has to be the worst currently in English football – highlighted drastically by Chelsea’s second goal when a Rob green fumble was then cleared terribly by Upson off the back heal of Esienne and back over the top of Green. Comical errors for anyone watching - except us long suffering Hammers fans!

Positives were the excellent debut of Obinna alongside Cole – given time, and if Cole can get into second gear, you can see this being a good strike force. Piquionne can also step into the role of Cole, so the only worry there is if Obinna gets injured as we don’t have a like for like player to step into his shoes. Other than that the continued fitness of Dyer is a huge bonus – why wasn’t he on from the beginning? Maybe to rest him for the Stoke game and use him as an impact sub against Chelsea?

The key to our success this season is for Avram to choose his first choice defenders and stick with them. Only after half a dozen games will we see if we have a back 4 that can really work well together. If we keep leaking 3 goals a game then we aren’t going to win many this season!

Looking ahead to Stoke and this is the game we should be looking at to turn our season around. On paper, if the tactics are right, Stoke are a team that we can get a result from. For me a clean sheet and a win (2-0 would be nice), coupled with a confident display, could be just what we need ahead of the Spurs game at home. Loose against Stoke and I think we will have our heads down against Spurs and will struggle. It’s amazing how much difference a good display and a decent result can make!!

I’m going to stick my neck out and go for a 2-0 win to us. With Grant not there who will be in charge of tactics I wonder??!!

Watch the game live as always at www.hammerstv.com...

C.O.Y.I

Man UTD 3 West Ham UTD 0: But some positives?

Well we expected to get thrashed so 3-0 is probably not a bad result. We didn't play badly in spells, especially in the first half, but our play broke down in the last third where we had nothing to offer.

Negatives: Carlton Cole looked isolated up-front and even when he got in a (semi) dangerous position he looked off the pace like his mind was elsewhere - Liverpool perhaps?
Spector on the team sheet is bad enough, but predictably it was his poor play that lead to their penalty and the opening goal of the game just before half time. For those of you defending him last season, saying he is played out of position at LB, well he is just as bad at RB and is a Championship player at best! Another Negative was Avrams team selection - It was very Negative and that is no way to play against a team like Man U... yes you need to be tight but you also need to take the game to them. Sit back and you will get punished.

POSITIVES: Upson, Faubert and Parker were better... and the one man that stood out for me was Dyer who looked sharp and wasn't afraid to run at or take on players - he needs to get a bit stronger but if he stays fit then that can be classed as a new signing. He certainly has the ability - bat can he stay go the distance?
Green also had a good game pulling of some great saves that kept some credibility to the scoreline.

Despite all the Negatives and the Positives one thing was far to plain to see - the lack of passion and commitment that us West Ham fans have come to expect. We could loose 10-0 at Old trafford and the fans would still dance home singing as long as we see 110% commitment and 11 men that are proud to wear our famous shirt.

Can Avram bring that back to the players and give the fans something to Cheer about? The jury is out...

Great live West Ham stream on Hammers TV this week and I am expecting the same a week Saturday against Chelsea - lets hope the result is better...

Watch it live at http://www.hammerstv.com/ completely FREE.

COYI

WEST HAM: MAN UTD v WEST HAM UTD

After two desperately disappointing games to start of the season, loosing both (conceding 6 and scoring just 1), we now have to travel to Manchester for very tough game against the red Devils.

On paper we should be loosing this game about 10 - 0 and if Grant hasn't sorted the defence out by 5.30pm today then there's a real chance that is what the score line will be. However, we can take heart from the fact that Fulham last week held Fergie's side to a 2-2 draw showing that they are just 11 men and not invincible!

This is the first of two games that could see us bottom of the league 4 games into the season with a goal difference of about minus 20 - the next game up being against free scoring Chelsea at Upton Park next Saturday!!

As always I am really looking forward to this game, being the the premiership is all about playing teams like Manchester UTD, in the hope that we might pull a shocker and get a surprise 1-0 win... we live in hope!

Remember you can watch the whole MAN U v WEST HAM stream LIVE and completely FREE at www.hammerstv.com

See you there - COYI

Hammers sign Obbina!

Well I have to admit that I know little about this chap, but if the official website is to be believed he is lightning quick and that could be just what we need along side a holding forward like Cole or Piquionne.

It's unlikely he will have his work permit in place before the trip to old trafford, however we could see him starting, or at least on the bench, next week against Chelsea at home.

Lets hope this chap gives us what we need - 20 goals a season!!!

Read the full report here:

http://www.whufc.com/articles/20100827/hammers-capture-obinna_2236884_2133509

COYI

VILLA 3 - WEST HAM 0: What a let down!

For most West Ham fans the 14th August could not come quick enough – with a great pre-season under our belts, some interesting new faces and the snowballing optimism surrounding the club, we were all looking forward to Saturday’s opening game against Aston Villa. By 5pm it was back down to earth and the reality that this is going to be a long, long season of discontent.

When the team was announced you could have been mistaken in thinking that it wasn’t the new season but end of the last – in fact many looked at the bench expecting to see Zola sitting there instead of Grant.

From the very start West Ham were out paced, out played and out of the game. Ok the first goal was off-side, but it was no more than a Managerless Villa deserved and we were lucky to be just 2-0 and not 5-0 down at half time – saved on more than one occasion by the great skills of Robert Green. Who, for the record, was by a mile our best player on the day.

The one positive is that Grant is brave enough to make changes when they are needed, unlike Zola who would wait until the 85th minute, and we did look a little better when Stoke bound Kovac was replaced Piquionne and Boa Morte made way for Barrera.

Still it wasn’t enough to turn the tide and the fantastic Milner made it 3-0 before the end to mark a miserable day for us Hammers. Milner should be off to Man City any time now and Villa are really going to miss him.

There was so much bad about this West Ham performance that you could spend all day going through the negative points – so I am just going to say that Grant needs to ring the changes, forget the likes of Kovac, Tompkins (who had another nightmare game) and Boa Morte, and give us a team to be proud of come Saturday at home to Bolton.

It’s only the first game – but much more of this and it’s going to be a very long season!

West Ham: Green, Reid, Tomkins (Diamanti 72), Upson, Faubert, Ilunga, Parker, Boa Morte (Barrera 46), Kovac (Piquionne 46), Noble, Carlton Cole

Subs (unused): Stech, Gabbidon, Spector, Sears

WEST HAM target Miralem Sulejmani denied work permit?

According to reports on sky sports this morning West Ham have been forced to abandon their bid for Ajax's Miralem Sulejmani after he failed to secure a work permit.

No official announcement has been made on the WHUFC website, but it is understood that the 21 year old Serbian International has just eight caps to his name and they have been spread over two years, meaning he did not automatically qualify for a work permit under Premier League criteria.

If these reports are true then this is a real gutter as Sulejmani was considered by many to be the final piece of the puzzle, and we may now have to settle for someone like Yakubu or Aliadiere.

FINGERS CROSSED that Sky have got this one wrong!!

Hammers confirm Miralem Sulejmani signing!

The official West Ham Utd site confirmed today the 1 year loan signing of Ajax striker Miralem Sulejmani subject to a work permit hearing. The statement said:

Providing his work permit is granted this could be the signing of the summer for Avram Grant and the West Ham board if they are able to get the best out of a striker that has undoubted potential.

West Ham: Hitz German captain, Parker to sign new deal and other stuff.

West Hams summer signing Thomas Hitzlsperger is celebrating his return to the German International squad by being made captain by coach Joachim Low. Hitz only missed out on the German world cup squad through lack of match play with his former club Lazio. Low said "Thomas is an experienced player, he has been around for a long time and has the leadership abilities”. Hitz has been in fantastic form for us in pre-season and this will be a major boost for the player ahead of the new Premierleague season.


At Upton Park the talented Scott Parker, who has been drawing interest from both Spurs and Liverpool, looks set to pledge his future to West Ham by signing a new 4 year deal. Despite being tempted by the lure of European football Parker respects the Decision of the clubs owners that he is not for sale. Maybe with the new squad he could look forward to European football but in the Claret & Blue... let’s hope that’s true and let’s get that contract signed ASAP!

Other news is that Miralem Sulejmani will have to wait to secure his work permit as he hasn’t had enough International football playing time to automatically qualify. It is expected that the work permit should still be granted with West Ham making a special application. In a recent interview Sulejmani stated "I am happy that I will play in the strongest league in Europe. I am up to the challenge and I am convinced that I will get the chance and the opportunities, as Avram Grant was very positive about my qualities”.

Meanwhile, the Daily Mail reports that West Ham have made an improved offer of £8million for Everton striker Yakubu. Apparently, Everton boss David Moyes may well be willing to sell the burly Nigerian in order to finance other deals... ironically one of those reported deals being the signing of long time West Ham target Loic Remy. Of all the summer deals I think most Hammers fans will be least disappointed if the Yakubu doesn’t go through providing Sulejmani gets his work permit.

No-one going out of the club yet – surely that will have to change soon and hopefully not any of our major players.

3 days to kick-off – 3pm (GMT) on http://hammerstv.com/livestream.html

COYI