Well it has taken long enough, but Faubert showed today why Curbishley bought him, why France capped him and why Real Madrid took leave of their senses and took him on loan. His pass today for Cole's goal was absolutely top drawer and his goal was a beaut. Some weeks back, I called for him to be moved forward on the right, saying he looked our most likely creator of goals. Well Cole scored against Birmingham thanks to a wonderful cross by the Frenchman, and today Faubert came of age. Top drawer, if we ignore a few hopelessly overhit passes!
What to make of today's game? In my half time report, I forecast a red card, and identified Fagin as one of a clutch of players in the frame. Who says I can't make predictions? When Brown brought on three substitutes in the second half with the best part of 30 minutes to play, I said to my son that he had taken leave of his senses, asking, "What happens if they get an injury?" Well, they didn't just get one and for the last ten minutes, we were playing against eight and a half men. Had Faubert not scored, there would have been a real sense of deflation at the end. As with Burnley, we had a relegation rival by the throat but released the grip. Why?
Despite the score, the performance was largely stuttering and, for some reason, we never played with any swagger, Diamanti apart. The Italian, played on the left, was excellent today, nearly setting up a goal in the first half with a delightful run and cross, tormenting Fagin into two yellow yards, performing his defensive duties with a real gusto, and nearly scoring thrice, including one brilliantly audacious effort from inside his own half.
Cole wasn't at his best but took his goal brilliantly. That is nine goals in the Prem this season, and he is tucking them away at a rate of one every two games. I hope to God that the knock he took isn't serious because Ilan, Mido, Franco and McCarthy are not in the same class. Had Cole stayed fit all season, relegation would not be an issue!
And what a goal that was. You will NEVER see a better pass than Faubert's. He looked up, he saw the space and the run and he bent a superbly weighted pass into Cole's path. The calm way in which Cole finished shows what a precious commodity he has become.
But, the goals and Diamanti's contribution apart, there wasn't a lot to write home about in truth. Behrami got on the score sheet at last and, but for a fantastic Myhill save, would have got another, but he again looked high on hustle and bustle and low on class and clarity of thought to me. I wrote at half time about how impressive Green was playing and, second half, he wasn't really tested. His command of the area in the first 45 minutes was very pleasing to see.
On the minus side, we almost conceded when Hull had 9 men on the pitch and it took a last ditch Upson intervention to prevent it. The midfield and front two still looked disjointed for much of the match and Tomkins made a few careless errors again that will be punished if repeated against the big boys. Stupidly, Parker picked up yet another booking - his 9th this season. One more and we lose him to suspension again - and a yellow is a nailed on certainty when we are battling to contain Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United!
It was 3-0 and we scored one brilliant goal (Cole's), one very good one (Faubert's) and a third (Behrami's)that wasn't bad. But the performance was a very long way from scintillating. Still, Parker said that we needed to "win ugly" and this one was "won plain" so I'm not complaining. And Wolves and Sunderland lost too - perfect!
Player ratings: Green 8, Faubert 9, Spector 6, Tomkins 5, Upson 6, Parker 6, Kovac 6, Behrami 7, Diamanti 8, Cole 7, Franco 5 Subs Ilan 4, Mido 5, Collison 5.
fantastic win. come on you irons. 3-0 to the cockney boys. from wayne the happy hammer.
ReplyDeleteGlad for Faubert, he is a passionate lad and has proved that he isnt only here for a paycheck. I hope he sticks around through the summer.
ReplyDeleteWith his passing ability on the right and Diamanti's on the left we can give United a game.
Don't get carried away mate!
ReplyDeletei think we can get a result at man u. why not. they didn't look 2 good 2 day. and who wauld have said everton wauld have beat em 3-1 to day. with got nothing 2 loose as every 1 thinks we are gonna loose anyway. so lets give it a right go and see what happens. where on the up. irons irons irons irons irons irons irons. up the hammers.
ReplyDeleteHmmm. United have to win on Tuesday now. Never clever having to get into the arena with a wounded lion! I hope we keep an eye on the goal difference personally. At presnt it is worth a point to us.
ReplyDeleteThank God the players were strong enough to win a game against Hull even though the selection and tactics are persistently the wrong ones. I am quite happy for Behrami and Faubert getting a goal today. But the real diamond was Diamanti. What a player and how we really need what he brings to the team!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed watching that game. That was tops. I thought that if we scored early, that we would slot 2 or 3. I have a soft spot for Monsieur Faubert. I think he's a good player & will only get better. My grandma was French, came back from world war one with my grandad & rests in peace in West Ham, & i was born on Bastille day. So please excuse me for being partial. Faubert is one of the fastest in the premier League over 100yds & he will run at them all day. He scored one & had a hand in the other. If he can keep this going, Domenech will not be able to ignore him. We slacked off the last 15, but Faubert didn't. Behrami was unlucky not to be on a hat trick. I thought that we showed spirit from the whistle & took it forward. I can't for the life of me understand, with the squad that we have, why we have been hanging around the bottom of the table. If we can carry the momentum, i am another who thinks that we can surprise people in the next few games. Who would have thought that Everton would have done such a thorough job on ManU. We have nothing to lose next game. May as well do Chelsea a favour. Great result against Hull. C'etait magnifique.
ReplyDeleteYou make so many predictions that law of averages says you're bound to get one or two correct. You tend to keep very quiet about the ones you get wrong. Weren't you the one banging on about how Anton Ferdinand was going to play for England and how Roy Keane would make him the best centre back in England for example? Won't be in your lifetime that's for sure.
ReplyDeleteCole 7 and Franco 5? I'm guessing you weren't at the match. Again.
ReplyDelete0857, why are those figures wrong? Did Franco have a shot on goal? His "assist" was an error, he lost control of the ball. He came off after 60 minutes too. And Cole? Great goal but his contribution wasn't fantastic beyond that. Did he win any ball in the air? How many shots did he have that went wide of the target?
ReplyDeleteInstead of quibbling about individual ratings, try commenting on the report as a whole. It was a 3-0 victory but we often looked disjointed, with the midfield and forward line in particular not clicking together for big sections of the game. Diamanti was very impressive but, apart from himself and Faubert, we didn't look very creative in my opinion. Zola said that we could play better!
0855, I don't remember saying anything about Roy Keane but I do accept that I was a fan of Anton. I remain of the opinion that he will come again and would not be surprised if, following the sale of Upson, he returns to Upton Park. He has all the phsyical attributes and the ability, he lacks the mental strength. If somebody sorts that out, he will play for England. There we go, another prediction! I have at least 5 years for that one to come to fruition!
ReplyDeleteI love that picture by the way because it looks as if Faubert has a Galloises hanging out of his mouth. He looks SO French!
ReplyDelete