Tuesday 27 October 2009

How bad has our start to the season really been?


It feels like an absolutely disastrous start to the season so far of course. Just one win in the Prem and no victories in four home games but have we been crap or unlucky?

Well, the fixture list has hardly been kind to us. We met Liverpool equipped with both Gerrard and Torres and played Tottenham when they had both Modric and Defoe in the team. In both games we were unlucky to lose, undone by defensive slips, with Cole's catastrophic pass to Defoe and Hines and Tomkins showing their inexperience for the first Torres goal. Whilst Liverpool and Tottenham were at full strength, we were of course depleted, even ignoring the absence of Ashton. To lose Upson and Behrami to injury within the first 27 minutes of the game is taking bad luck to a new level. I doubt any club could take a double blow like that in their stride and come out victorious. Arsenal at home was another difficult game, where typically our opponents had all their key personnel available. Yes I know Walcott was absent and Nasri was only on the bench, but the key men for Arsenal are Van Persie and Fabregas and, as with Tottenham and Liverpool, we found ourselves playing against both where other clubs have benefited from these key players being absent. Would we have lost to the Liverpool team that played at Sunderland? I doubt it! Would Tottenham have beaten us without Modric, King and Defoe? I don't think so because, as Stoke showed, without these key players Tottenham are vulnerable.

We groaned when we lost at Wigan but we failed to appreciate how well this Wigan team are playing. They have won at Villa, beaten Chelsea and became the first club to win at Burnley. Was a single goal reverse such a disgrace therefore? We expected a tonking at a rampant Man City and we got it. People will say, you were lucky with injuries and suspensions there because Aidinbonkingawhore and Ribena were missing, but that meant we had to contend with Petrov, Wright-Phillips, Tevez and Bellyache. Who knows, had Parker's goal not been unfairly struck off, we might have got something from that match despite going in to it without Upson, Gabbidon and Behrami. Has there ever been a more inexperienced centre back pairing than Tomkins and Da Costa? The Wolves result was fine, as was the draw at Blackburn, so that takes us down to two bad results so far, the loss at Stoke which assumes a new perspective following their victory at Tottenham the following Saturday, and the shocking draw against 10 man Fulham. Mind you, Fulham were in a false position when we played them and were good enough to come back from 2 goals down against Man City at the weekend.

The truth is, we have yet to play a "banker win" game apart from Fulham at home. We can't keep making excuses but, sooner or later, our luck has got to turn. Maybe Sunderland will be without Bent and Jones - then we could be in business even without Parker who was incorrectly sent off! The table makes grim reading but, if we look at things logically, the Grim Reaper may still be some way from our door!

(Why the picture? You explain!)

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

kevin in manchester writes ..crickey hammersfan has someone been at your tea with happy juice;I agree with your postulations. It seems, in common with Zola, you have 'turned a corner'on your pretty consistent diet of pessimism.. what next? That Scott Duxbury y'know he's a half decent CEO battling at the gates of Upton park to keep the the forces of capitalism at bay?
PS you forgot to mention the CC goal chalked off at Wigan because the ref blew his whistle mid strike! And the nailed on penalty we should have had as a result of Huth's slap on Upson and I think there was a similar outrageous decison at blackburn but could be wrong

el martillo said...

Keep things in proportion mate!

Deane said...

The picture is oviously a homage to me being exiled in France at the mo altogrther now there's only one Scott Duxberry one scott duxbury right I'm just off to wash my mouth out with soap no better bleach it

Hammersfan said...

LOL Kev, can't think what came over me!

In France Deane, you get around a bit! Having a good time?

Hi Marty, long time no speak. How's things?

Anonymous said...

Yes, perspective, thank you very much.
Now what is astonishing is that you recognise its existence.

Check address, yes I’m on The Games Gone Crazy blog. Check to see who wrote this, no not submitted by a guest contributor. Check today’s date, no not the 1st April.

What the f**ks happened?!!!! Have I entered a parallel universe?

Ah, I see the catch. Silly me, nearly fell into the trap. Despite what you’ve written what you really think is that Sunday’s fight back should be kept in perspective. In the photo the little girl represents the one point salvaged and the Eiffel Tower the number of points we need to gather? Am I close, have I got it?
Do you know for a moment there, I nearly thought you had some kind words to say about the Club.
Oh well, life has a nasty habit of kicking me in the teeth.

Hammersfan said...

You are determined to see the negatives aren't you?

Anonymous said...

Determined to see the negatives? Ah, digital cameras have rendered that all unnecessary these days.
If you really are feeling positive, please stun me further and produce another cheerful post.
Go on, you can do it! You know you can. Make us all happy.

Fonzie's Bald Patch said...

I have to say HF I was expecting a heady blend of piss taking, negativity and the usual derision, instead I find a balanced article that looks objectively at the start of the season and focuses on the current team and the performances...
I checked outside and the sun was beginning to warm the crisp morning and I thought, 'You know what, it could be a good day'.
Nice one.

FBP