One pleasing aspect of West Ham's season so far is that we have had 11 different scorers in 14 games. Even if you just count the seven league games there are still eight players who have made the net bulge, with Sakho, Payet and Kouyate all having scored three and other goals coming from Zarate, Noble, Lanzini, Moses and the departed Maiga. Lee and Valencia have also scored in the Europa League. So we're not too reliant on one striker as the midfield are contributing goals.
Tomkins is the only defender to have scored so far, netting twice in the Europa League. At some stage you'd expect the likes of Carroll, Jelavic, Antonio, Obiang, Ogbonna, Reid, Collins, Cresswell and Jenkinson to break their ducks too, so at the end of the season we may have a very healthy list of scorers.
Monday, September 28
Sunday, September 27
Kouyate inspires Hammers' comeback
Inside Ken’s Café our team of Matt, Lisa, Michael and Nigel
is discussing initiation ceremonies at drinking societies. “I joined the
BullingDon Hutchison Society,” quips Matt.
We’re joined by Matt’s brother Adam, who’s over from Melbourne. His mates in Basingstoke are putting on a special geezerpunk gig for him, as you do, so surely the Irons will also do their bit for a man who’s travelled 12,000 miles. Though maybe not, as Nigel starts saying that we’ll be top if we win and Man City lose and therefore jinxes us, according to Matt.
Meanwhile Michael the Whovian is carrying a mysterious West Ham bag, which contains the costume he plans to wear to the evening’s performance of The Rocky Horror Show. The stewards’ search outside the East Stand should be interesting.
We’re joined by Matt’s brother Adam, who’s over from Melbourne. His mates in Basingstoke are putting on a special geezerpunk gig for him, as you do, so surely the Irons will also do their bit for a man who’s travelled 12,000 miles. Though maybe not, as Nigel starts saying that we’ll be top if we win and Man City lose and therefore jinxes us, according to Matt.
Meanwhile Michael the Whovian is carrying a mysterious West Ham bag, which contains the costume he plans to wear to the evening’s performance of The Rocky Horror Show. The stewards’ search outside the East Stand should be interesting.
HE SCORES WHEN HE WANTS
“We’re Norwich City, we’ll sing on our own!” chant the away
fans inside the stadium, only to be met with a chant of “You’re shagging your
sister!’ from the Bobby Moore Stand.
West Ham look fairly lively for the opening nine minutes,
until Mark Noble on the left tries to find James Tomkins with a crossfield pass.
Brady nicks the ball and scores. Bugger. Norwich gain in confidence and look
like adding a second as Jerome fires into the side netting, while the home side
appear tired after playing extra-time at Leicester.
“Losing at home to a newly promoted side, it feels like
we’re doing the timewarp again,” I suggest to Michael.
“Our defence is certainly rocky and it’s a bit of a horror
show,” he concurs.
Even Payet is misplacing passes, but suddenly we equalise
after 33 minutes. Sakho finds Payet out on the right and the Reunion magician
races down the flank to send in a low cross that is met by Sakho’s well-timed
run and results in a tap-in for Diafra (not Biafra as the programed called
him).
Lanzini has a free kick just wide, but it’s 1-1 at the
interval. The second half sees more Norwich chances as Adrian flies to his top
corner like Superman to tip over Howson’s effort.
NORWICH GIVEN THE BIRD
Victor Moses sends in a great cross from the right and Sakho
gets a firm header at goal, but too close to Ruddy, who makes a fine stop. Kouyate blasts the loose ball out for a
throw-in. Moses is then replaced by Obiang.
A misplaced pass allows Sakho to run at the City defence and
surrounded by four men he does really well to pick out Payet, who cuts inside a
defender and is denied by a good Ruddy save. It’s end to end and Howson pulls
the ball back for Jerome who looks certain to score, only for Adrian to save
with his face, which stuns the keeper, who eventually recovers.
Andy Carroll comes on and within a minute goes down after
stretching for the ball. The whole stadium is united in trepidation, fearing
yet another injury, but thankfully he gets up and plays on.
It’s Norwich who look likely to win as Brady’s free kick is
tipped round the post by Adrian. The corner is cleared but the ball returns to
sub Redmond who cuts inside Mark Noble too easily and fires into the corner.
With seven minutes to go it looks like we’ve now lost to two newly-promoted
teams at home.
We revert to lumping the ball towards big Andy up front and
on 90 minutes he also takes the ball past the keeper only to be foiled by a
good catch by Ruddy. It’s always other teams that score against us in added
time, never us. We’re in the third minute of added time when Reid is fouled on
the right. Payet plays in a hopeful free kick. Ruddy is so concerned by the
presence of Carroll that he punches the ball weakly, it rebounds of Big Andy
and falls to Kouyate who fires home, running into the arms of the fans in the
corner as he celebrates. Phew. Feels like a win now. Credit to Carroll for
being a big lump and scaring the Norwich defence.
As If The Kids Are
United and Teenage Kicks reverberate
from the PA we retreat to the Central. It was important we got something out of
the game today, and looking at my glass half-full of Old Speckled Hen, we’re
unbeaten in four league matches and still third. It was a tired looking
performance, but there’s no denying the spirit to get something out of a game
where we looked likely to lose. And hopefully that pigeon will be fine.
PLAYER RATINGS:
Adrian 8; Jenkinson 5, Tomkins 6, Reid 7, Cresswell 5; Payet 7, Kouyate 6,
Noble 5 (Zarate n/a), Lanzini 5 (Carroll 6), Moses 6 (Obiang 5); Sakho 7.
Saturday, September 26
We are (West Ham) family…
Wednesday, September 23
Concentrating on the League
Leicester City 2 West Ham 1 (Capital One Cup)
So we're going to have to win the FA Cup this season if we want to end our 35-year wait for a major trophy. Disappointing to go out of the League Cup to a side of Leicester squad players, although a draw over 90 minutes wasn't a bad result. Listening to it on Radio London the home fans certainly created a daunting atmosphere and we very nearly took it to penalties before King's late winner.
Adrian had a superb game in extra-time, saving two one-on-ones, but Leicester's fresher legs helped them as most of our side had been involved in the win at Man City. Dodoo had given the Leicester the lead (with Doodoo and Fuchs in the side it had to be one of the rudest line-ups ever to turn out for the Foxes) with Zarate equalising with a deflected shot after 27 minutes. That's Zarate's third goal of the season and he should prove himself a valuable member of the squad under Slaven, even if he might not now make the first-team ahead of Moses and Antonio.
We had two players recovering from injury up front in Carroll and Zarate and by the end were reduced to playing Victor Moses as a lone striker, but despite resting Payet and Reid (both came on as late subs) it was still a very strong side. Though the radio suggested Noble should have had a clear penalty when he was booked for simulation. The best way of getting over this is to carry on with our excellent league form on Saturday and beat Norwich.
So we're going to have to win the FA Cup this season if we want to end our 35-year wait for a major trophy. Disappointing to go out of the League Cup to a side of Leicester squad players, although a draw over 90 minutes wasn't a bad result. Listening to it on Radio London the home fans certainly created a daunting atmosphere and we very nearly took it to penalties before King's late winner.
Adrian had a superb game in extra-time, saving two one-on-ones, but Leicester's fresher legs helped them as most of our side had been involved in the win at Man City. Dodoo had given the Leicester the lead (with Doodoo and Fuchs in the side it had to be one of the rudest line-ups ever to turn out for the Foxes) with Zarate equalising with a deflected shot after 27 minutes. That's Zarate's third goal of the season and he should prove himself a valuable member of the squad under Slaven, even if he might not now make the first-team ahead of Moses and Antonio.
We had two players recovering from injury up front in Carroll and Zarate and by the end were reduced to playing Victor Moses as a lone striker, but despite resting Payet and Reid (both came on as late subs) it was still a very strong side. Though the radio suggested Noble should have had a clear penalty when he was booked for simulation. The best way of getting over this is to carry on with our excellent league form on Saturday and beat Norwich.
Monday, September 21
Slaven goes down the pub
Nice quote from Slaven Bilic after WHU's epic win at Man City. Asked about his feelings he replied: "It is like when you go to a pub that is full of girls. Of course you will like it! Of course I like it when we are winning! It is brilliant!" Such comments reveal his talent for soundbites and that Bilic is quite possibly a bit of an reformed Loaded lad, quite fitting for a star of the 1990s when the West Ham lads were known to like a night out. Though you do fear if he ever goes to the Central he might be a bit disappointed…
Sunday, September 20
We're not really here!
Manchester City 1 West Ham 2 (two!)
After an afternoon at Rainham Marshes we manage to get the overground to Crouch Hill and I watch the first half from the Stapleton Tavern, which serves a nice pint of Black IPA.
Astonishingly West Ham go ahead after six minutes. We're playing calm possession football and a great 14-man passing move sees the ball come to Moses. He's given too much space on the edge of the box and fizzes a low drive into the corner. Maybe Hart should have done a little better, but still a great strike from Victor. So it looks like the usual routine win at a top five side. Or does it? Aguero rounds Adrian but shoots wide.
HE SCORES WHEN HE WANTS…
Meanwhile I'm receiving text updates from the Wellington pub, where train robber Buster Edwards used to drink. Matt, Lisa, Fraser, Gavin and Michael are gathered hoping to see West Ham pull off a similar heist. After hand an hour we gain a corner, with City claiming, incorrectly that the ball hadn't fully crossed the line. Reid wins a header from the corner, Obiang does well to keep the ball alive and it rebounds to Sakho who prods home from close range. OMG. We nearly make it three when a superb tackle from Mangala denies Sakho in the box.
Her Indoors has booked us tickets for a 7.30 performance of Lady Anna All At Sea at the Park Theatre. Matt texts to ask if I'll be above to see the end, and I reply that I might have to leave a few minutes before the whistle when the score is the usual 3-0.
All we need to do is not concede before halftime. Only we've reckoned without Aguero finding De Bruyne and the £55m signing powering a low shot home. Matt texts to say that my over-confident text has jinxed us. Though he's forgetting that this is a new form of West Ham where the old rules don't apply.
WINSTON NEVER SURRENDERS
For the second half I move to the World's End and endure a long 45 minutes as City play well and dominate. But Winston Reid is absolutely immense, winning numerous tackles and making more clearances than any other Premier League defender this season. Bilic and the new signings have improved the side, but let's also credit Sam Allardyce for the improvement in Reid; he looked a liability under Avram Grant, but Allardyce saw his potential and helped him became the player he now is.
Adrian has an inspired game in goal and the pick of his saves are a one-on-one with Aguero and a tip over the bar from Otamendi's header. Tomkins isn't far behind in heroics and Jenkinson bravely lunges into tackles even though he's been injured. City are a bit unlucky too, when Toure's shot goes just past the post. West Ham create a couple of rare chances, with Payet finding Sakho who fires wide and Jelavic almost connects late on.
In the dying minutes Payet has a long-range effort saved, but it's then relentless City pressure at the Council House. I have to leave two minutes into added time to get to the theatre knowing that City will surely equalise, but telling myself that a point will still be a good result. But as I take my seat in the gallery the incredible news comes through that we've held out.
Never in doubt. You wait decades for wins at Arsenal, Liverpool and Man City and then three come along at once. If only I'd had a bet… "This can't be happening…" texts my old pal Mark. We go second! What a start, what a season so far.
After an afternoon at Rainham Marshes we manage to get the overground to Crouch Hill and I watch the first half from the Stapleton Tavern, which serves a nice pint of Black IPA.
Astonishingly West Ham go ahead after six minutes. We're playing calm possession football and a great 14-man passing move sees the ball come to Moses. He's given too much space on the edge of the box and fizzes a low drive into the corner. Maybe Hart should have done a little better, but still a great strike from Victor. So it looks like the usual routine win at a top five side. Or does it? Aguero rounds Adrian but shoots wide.
HE SCORES WHEN HE WANTS…
Meanwhile I'm receiving text updates from the Wellington pub, where train robber Buster Edwards used to drink. Matt, Lisa, Fraser, Gavin and Michael are gathered hoping to see West Ham pull off a similar heist. After hand an hour we gain a corner, with City claiming, incorrectly that the ball hadn't fully crossed the line. Reid wins a header from the corner, Obiang does well to keep the ball alive and it rebounds to Sakho who prods home from close range. OMG. We nearly make it three when a superb tackle from Mangala denies Sakho in the box.
Her Indoors has booked us tickets for a 7.30 performance of Lady Anna All At Sea at the Park Theatre. Matt texts to ask if I'll be above to see the end, and I reply that I might have to leave a few minutes before the whistle when the score is the usual 3-0.
All we need to do is not concede before halftime. Only we've reckoned without Aguero finding De Bruyne and the £55m signing powering a low shot home. Matt texts to say that my over-confident text has jinxed us. Though he's forgetting that this is a new form of West Ham where the old rules don't apply.
WINSTON NEVER SURRENDERS
For the second half I move to the World's End and endure a long 45 minutes as City play well and dominate. But Winston Reid is absolutely immense, winning numerous tackles and making more clearances than any other Premier League defender this season. Bilic and the new signings have improved the side, but let's also credit Sam Allardyce for the improvement in Reid; he looked a liability under Avram Grant, but Allardyce saw his potential and helped him became the player he now is.
Adrian has an inspired game in goal and the pick of his saves are a one-on-one with Aguero and a tip over the bar from Otamendi's header. Tomkins isn't far behind in heroics and Jenkinson bravely lunges into tackles even though he's been injured. City are a bit unlucky too, when Toure's shot goes just past the post. West Ham create a couple of rare chances, with Payet finding Sakho who fires wide and Jelavic almost connects late on.
In the dying minutes Payet has a long-range effort saved, but it's then relentless City pressure at the Council House. I have to leave two minutes into added time to get to the theatre knowing that City will surely equalise, but telling myself that a point will still be a good result. But as I take my seat in the gallery the incredible news comes through that we've held out.
Never in doubt. You wait decades for wins at Arsenal, Liverpool and Man City and then three come along at once. If only I'd had a bet… "This can't be happening…" texts my old pal Mark. We go second! What a start, what a season so far.
Saturday, September 19
Oh Christian Dailly you are the love of my life…
Thanks to my fellow season ticket holder Nigel for this piece of news about ex-Brentwood School student Harvey Dailly — son of Christian, who's signed for Dundee United. Lets hope he has curly hair too…
"Harvey Dailly, son of Dundee United and Scotland legend Christian, has signed for the Club on a two-year-deal. Harvey joins the Club’s development squad. The 16-year-old left sided defender will hope to replicate his father’s rise to prominence while at United. Christian played 178 times in the United shirt scoring 21 goals before his move to Derby County in 1996 for £1 million."
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