Tuesday 26 May 2009

Vote for the Best West Ham Pass of 2008-09


Watching that Cole goal against Boro got me thinking about the best pass played by a West Ham player during the 2008-09 season. Now I have a pretty good memory but it is perfectly possible that I have forgotten a beauty; if so, please let me know and I will add it to the list. For me the leading contenders are:

Scott Parker: A lovely ball slipped into the channel for Bellamy to score against Newcastle. It was beautifully weighted and played through the eye of a needle, setting Bellamy up for a one on one with the keeper - and Period Pains tucked it away beautifully.

Herita Ilunga: Same game, this time for Carlton's sublime finish. I'm not sure how much this was genius and how much speculation but the end result was stunning. Cole looked an England striker for the first time as he stepped up onside then rolled off the Newcastle defenders a fraction of a second after Ilunga delivered the pass from just inside the half way line. Cole was five yards clear of his marker and the ball sat up like a Moore pass to Hurst. The left footed half volley finish from Cole was classic.

Luis Boa-Morte: The first of two Boa entries which makes you stop and think for a moment! The ball played across to Stanislas for the kid's first finish was nothing short of brilliant. Boa is often rightly accused of tunnel vision but this pass was worthy of Cruyff, Maradonna and Zidane. How did he spot Stanislas? How did he thread that pass so accurately? Stunning. Unless it was a shot of course! ; }

Carlton Cole: This was in his come back game against Everton and showed what we have all been missing. Cole collected the ball in the centre circle and, in a flash, delivered a sublime pin pointed pass into the path of the on rushing...Luis Boa Morte. Boa had a clear path to goal but, of course, failed to convert. Should this count against Cole's candidacy? It was a beautiful pass...but then again, should he have seen it was Boa and so not bothered?

Di Michele and others: The goal against Wigan. Di Michele had two touches in the pin ball passing that put Cole through. It was a fantastic goal but does any one of the passes stand up in its own right? Can we have a team nomination?

Boa and Ilunga: Either of these qualify in their own right as the icing on the cake of a sometimes brilliant season. The first goal against Boro had me drooling. Boa held the ball up then delivered a perfect pass inside the full back for Ilunga. Herita then spotted Cole in space and delivered a pin point cross. Stunning goal and a lovely finish from Cole by the way!

Have I forgotten a beauty? Which one would you call as the Pass of the Year?

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Parker's backheel to set up Collison for his first ever goal.

Anonymous said...

I agree about Parker's backheel!

Anonymous said...

yhh if you actually watch the build up to collisons goal against everton, i fink it is better than the wigan goal but went unnoticed. check it out to what what i mean.

Hammersfan said...

Where can I watch it mate? Is there a Youtube link?

Basildon Bob said...

Don't know about single pass, but the Wigan goal and the general build up play for that was a bit special.

Anonymous said...

The parker backheel for Collison's goal. Definately.

supernumbersix said...

1. LBM - Stanislas against Sunderland.
2. DMD - against Wigan

Anonymous said...

Hammersfan - if you go to the KUMB awards they've got a compilation of best goal of the season - Features the Collison goal and obviously the Parker pass.

Hammersfan said...

Cheers, I will check it out! Wish that site would get rid of the Pop Ups. Blinking annoying. My Virus Killer goes wild whenever I look in.