Second half, we bossed the game. Noble was again superb, and so unlucky not to score with that beautiful drive from ten yards outside the box. Green's save from Modrich in the first half was top drawer but he needed the bar to help him; Cudicini got an amazingly strong hand to the shot and turned it over and wide.
Apart from that, Cole had a shot on the turn after a beautiful pass from Obinna and Tottenham were in utter disarray after a Barerra cross into the box. Upson headed wide at a corner, Da Costa headed wide from a free kick, Obinna forced Cudicini into a good save, and Tottenham looked stretched for most of the half, hanging in there like a boxer who had taken a pounding, rather than putting us on the ropes as most Hammers fans, myself included, probably anticipated.
The performance from everybody in a West ham shirt was truly heroic - although you wouldn't want Private Dyer in the trenches with you, would you? Yet another injury, yet another withdrawal. But Barerra looked much better to me anyway!
Piquionne went down with cramp and came off, but how Obinna, Noble, Boa and Parker kept going at that pace, with that level of commitment, is beyond me. Under Zola, we looked slow, unfit, brittle; this team ran and ran and ran for 90 minutes and Tottenham really didn't know what had hit them. I'm sure 'Arry said at half time, "They will get tired, space will appear" but it was Van Der Vaart, Modrich, Huddlestone and Jenas who looked punch drunk when the game went into the final twenty minutes!
At the back, we were brilliant. Jacobsen had a superb game doing the basics just as the basics should be done. He was up against Bale and never looked troubled all game. When Lennon was moved to the Tottenham left, Jacobsen simply put him in his pocket. The withdrawal of the England flop said it all. Apart from the last 15 minutes of the first half, when he got in two dangerous crosses, Lennon was never in the game. Full marks here to Gabbidon and Boa too! Indeed, that booking apart, and ignoring a few careless passes, Boa deserves a special commendation for the way he stuck at his job. He closed, he harried, he broke, and he even did his full back once! Up and down the pitch all afternoon, he played like a young buck, not an aged stallion having his usual mare!
How good was Da Costa? He seemed to meet every cross into our box and dealt with Crouch without any fuss or bother. He has to be a fixture in the team now surely? And when he puts his foot through the ball, God it covers some ground! The Tottenham defence dropped deeper second half, fearful of Cole and Obinna running on to one of those hammered clearances. Alongside him, Upson was neat and efficient - they looked the perfect pairing to me, the best since the heady days of Collins and Upson holding Liverpool at bay at Anfield.
Behind them, Green was almost excellent. He came for one corner and dropped it but, that error apart, he was superb. The save from Modric was brilliant and, whilst you would expect a Prem keeper to deal with everything else that Tottenham threw at him, there were no errors and he look composed and a peace with himself. Maybe the corner has been turned. Maybe missing the Sunderland game was just what the doctor ordered.
First half, Piquionne was superb and fully deserved his goal; second half, Obinna terrorised the Tottenham defence and deserved to score. He has great potential and if the money is there, we should make his signing permanent. Barerra too looked classy when he came on. Dyer ran around a lot but Barerra made the ball do more of the work and saw space well, pulling off the flanks to create out balls for the defence.
The true engine of this success was the midfield pairing of Parker and Noble, however. They were up against the classiest department in the Tottenham team - Van Der Vaart, Huddlestone, Jenas, Modric and Lennon - but they outplayed them for 75% of the match! Noble really was breathtakingly good. He picked his passes superbly, created the pass for others through his intelligent positioning, battled for the ball in midfield all game, took the corner from which Piquionne scored and so nearly scored the second himself. Remember when people talked about Noble as a future England player? Well whisper it quietly but, on that showing, he may yet wear the Three Lions on his shirt at full international level.
And Parker? Well he was Parker. Brilliant! I may have to eat my words!
And well done Avram! The team selection was spot on, the tactics superb and the performance first class. And he is now ahead of Zola in the Grantazola Index! THAT was the best performance we have seen for a long, long, long time. Has the ghost of Zola been exorcised already?
And there's another hero to mention: the crowd. Upton Park rocked like it hasn't rocked for years! The 12th man is back!
A great, great, great afternoon. One swallow does not a summer make, but you wouldn't be complaining if that swallow was courtesy of Kera Knightley and, at this moment, this victory feels THAT good! In fact, I think I may really have died and gone to Heaven!
Player ratings:
Green 9; Jacobsen 8, Da Costa 10, Upson 8, Gabbidon 8; Dyer 6, Noble 10, Parker 9, Boa-Morte 8; Obinna 9, Piquionne 8 Subs Cole 7, Barerra 8
First game, apart from the Carling Cup games, I missed since the last three Seasons...propably I should visit the Octobre Fest the next fixture, too ;)
ReplyDeleteThoroughly deserved the win. I told you I had a good feeling about this game (especially after I watched the Spurs v Arsenal game mid week). The best decision by Avram was to leave Cole on the bench. The next best decision was to pick Da Costa. He was absolutely solid at the back and good coming forward (always a threat at corners). Piquione is good not so much for his goal scoring but much more for his overall contribution to the team. He is cool, is not easily hurried into mistakes and has some class. Jacobsen was my other unsung hero today. It's been quite a while since we could have a right back playing excellently. I hope we can now go on and pick up some points against theoritacally "lesser" opposition. But as, WBA proved today it would be a fatal mistake to think that we can win easy. It's hard work all the way. Arsenal paid the price today. I hope we learn from their mistake. Anyway, things are finally looking up. COYI!
ReplyDeleteA great performance. I wouldnt give as high marks as yours if only for our wayward finishing and oft simple attack plan.
ReplyDeleteHowever If that back 4 sticks together we will CLIMB up the table I tell ya.
One thing bothers me though: 4m on 5th choice W.Reid!? Could we please show similar commitment to Obinna right now to avoid losing him please!
we beat the scum 1-0 we beat the scum 1-0 we beat the scum 1-0 irons irons irons irons irons irons irons irons irons
ReplyDeleteGood report of the match HF.Didn't see the game or listen to it so it was a great surprise to see the final score .GRANT has definitely got the team playing well and certainly knows how to pick a team and formation.One thing I would have liked to have seen is the pressure we put SPURS under,like second half against CHELSEA.Onwards and upwards I say,top 6 on this form.
ReplyDeleteYour season starts and ends here, youre going down, sooner you get used to the idea the less crying there'll be on the last day of the season.
ReplyDeleteSour grapes from a Cockyfool? What a surprise!
ReplyDeleteI don't understand why Da Costa wasn't playing from the beginning of the season as I thought he did very well last year.
ReplyDeleteAlex, You are not the only one. I am sure we would have more points on the Board if Da Costa played more matches (as of course you very correctly point out his performance last year fully deserved). Better late than never.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've seen us dominate Spurs like that in my lifetime to be honest. Not sure what Redknapp was talking about. He said it was end to end stuff like a basketball game. Trying to soften the blow to his fans.
ReplyDeleteNoble had one of his better games but I think you've gone a bit over the top HF. The corner of his that led to the goal was Piquionne's work. His jump made that into a decent cross. It was just a typical floated ball in from Noble, the type keepers love. Corners and crosses need to be whipped in and noble is not able to do this because its a difficult technique. There was a reason why Obinna took over freekick crossing and corner duties in the second half. Compare his delivery to Noble's and you will see what I mean about the up and down whip. I would give him more of a 7 then a 10. If Mark Noble gets more than one full senior England game, I will run down the Barking road naked. When Collison is back from injury, I would be shocked if Noble retains his place.
Not sure what you got against Dyer because he looked class. He definitely doesn't deserve a 6 especially considering your over-exited 10 for Noble.
Couldnt help the Zola jibe hey? When did we look unfit under Zola? Utter garbage. Laughable.
Yep, Jacobsen was brilliant and I'm glad he has made more of an impression on you than he apparently did in his first game. Also, Bale played left back today and didnt get up that often so it wasnt him that was up against Jacobsen as you stated.
Special mention should go to Boa. He has his critics like Dale, you and others of similar taste, but the guy is just what the opposition hate. Energy, bite and a constant irritation.
Redknapp had clearly told his team to test Green. They tried from too far out and simply built his confidence through his strongest quality, shot stopping.
You do talk cobblers sometimes Stani and, at times, I fear it is because you are so desperate not to admit to being wrong.
ReplyDeleteTo begin, Tottenham struggled corner after corner in the first half - and Noble was delivering them. When on form, he whips in a lovely dead ball. Let me remind you of our victory over the Mancs, 2-1, when Noble delivered beautiful set piece crosses for both Ferdinand and Upson to score with headers. All they had to do was put their heads on the ball and they powered in. Watch Piquionne's header again. He didn't catch it truly. The pace was from Noble's delivery. Why did Noble stop taking corners second half? Simple. We were 1-0 up and we were not over commiting at set pieces. Noble was being used as insurance, ready to break up a Tottenham break away. Look at his positioning when he had that shot that was so brilliantly saved by Cudicini. He was sitting half way between the penalty box and the half way line! Noble was superb throughout and would have been my man of the match but for Da Costa's performance.
When did we look unfit under Zola? Every bloody game! Noble look laboured. Parker struggled to get through 90 minutes until the season's run in. We ran out of steam game after game and were second to the ball for most of every 90 minutes.
Admit it: first half against Bolton, first half against Stoke, middle 45 against Chelsea, all 90 against Sunderland and for the whole game today, we played better than at ANY time last season under Zola! The team has shape, the players are being played in their right positions, there is a sense of organisation, we defend and attack as a unit, the passing is crisp, fast and goes forward much more often and we are using the flanks. We are a team transformed!
You were better than spurs today,you were committed and deserved your win but you weren't great.I wouldn't get carried away if I were you. Spurs were there for the taking. Harry got his team selection wrong - playing 5 in midfield was a mistake - Bale at left back (isn't there another left back at the club?), Crouch predictably alone up front and Van der Vaart having to drop further and further back to try to influence the game as Huddlestone, jenas and modric failed to take any sort of control. Enjoy your day.
ReplyDeleteAnd I know Bale was playing left back. Don't insult my intelligence Stani. Read my half time report and see that I say how he was commiting himself and leaving space. The point is, like Ashley Cole, Bale plays like a winger when his team are in possession. He bombs up that left flank. Who else was operating on the flank? Jenas, Modrich, Van Der Vaart, Huddlestone? Nope. Those four were in centre mid, drifting to the left. The width on the left was supplied by Bale. Indeed, Hutton got forward impressively too on the right.
ReplyDeleteAnd Dyer was busy but twice dribbled backwards towards his own goal. He had a shot, he nearly got in a cross and he won the corner that led to the goal; but he exited early yet again. That's why I rated him 6. How can you play him when he is always just a tweak away from handing in another sick note?
ReplyDeleteGreen was immense and is the best keeper in England! HF you know nothing....... but that's nothing new
ReplyDeleteSpurs did manage to play their way back into the match, and were only denied by the brilliance of Robert Green in the West Ham goal.
ReplyDeleteThe much-maligned England keeper tipped Rafael van der Vaart's shot from distance round the post, before denying Luka Modric by pushing the Croatian's rasping half-volley on to the crossbar with an excellent fingertip save.
What a pathetic comment TurdsOut! The report is 100% positive but you still try to attack on the basis of negativity! Grow up! Actually Cudicini's save was at least the equal of Green's. The BEST keeper in England would not make mistakes like those made by Green against Villa and Chelsea. And the best keeper in England would not find himself standing behind his line, head down, after the ball has come off the post, back into play as Green did against Stoke!
ReplyDeleteTo be fair Stani, the corner didn't have as much pace on it as I thought. Mind you, the Obinna corner that preceded the Noble shot was AWFUL!
ReplyDeleteGreen was superb and so was Parker weren't they HF?
ReplyDelete1035, did you read the match report? So, does that Green save make up for the terrible error against Villa or the terrible error against Chelsea? Take your pick!
ReplyDeleteYou should be fair more often HF :)
ReplyDeleteI wasnt insulting your intelligence in regards the Bale point. Merely backing my argument that Jacobsen did not have to contend with him much. But let's be honest HF, is there anyone that insults others intelligence more than you do?
I concede that Noble may have relinquished the set pieces to cover, although he's hardly the best option with his lack of pace and poor tackling. People think just because he goes to ground and in hard sometimes, that he's a good tackler. He concedes some silly free-kicks. Nevertheless, in general, dont you think Obinna's corners are better? Yes, he did get a couple short but it just adds to my point of what Obinna tries to do with his corners and Noble cant. He tries to get the whip, hence they're sometimes short, rather the play it safe floaters Noble does. Noble's may have led to the goal yesterday, but when was the last time we scored from a corner before that? We have been especially poor in that regard.
We have better players than we had under Zola. People playing in their right positions? Where was Spector played by Grant? Had it been Zola putting Piquionne on the wing, or Barrera and Dyer on the left flank, you would have been criticising him.
But you should rate Dyer for the time he played, not for the whole period. For the time Dyer was on for, he did more than 6. You're saying he was our worst player!?
How many corners did we score from when Diamnti was taking them? Correct me if I am wrong, but didn't we score from a Noble corner at home to Wigan or is my memory playing tricks on me? I know there was one game last season where Noble took over corner taking duty from Diamanti mid match and we promptly scored. Anybody remember which?
ReplyDeleteHF,
ReplyDeleteWhen Diamanti and Noble were in the side, Noble still took free kick and corner responsibility. That just shows the absurdity of it all. Diamanti may have taken the odd one, but Noble was the main person.
Are you saying our conversion rate from corners is adequate? I have to disagree.
Who has the better delivery, Noble or Obinna?
Interesting question. I will re-express it. Who has the better conversion rate? We have scored from a Noble corner; we haven't scored from an Obinna corner so far. Think that makes it, advantage Noble, don't you?
ReplyDeleteHow many Diamanti corners did we score from Stani? Can you remember one?
I asked about delivery HF, this includes freekicks as well as corners.
ReplyDeleteBy your avoidance of a straight answer, I take it that you think Obinna has the better delivery?
Who caused mayhem with his crosses against Stoke, Sunderland and Spurs? Whose delivery led to the goal against Stoke?
Diamanti does not have 120 odd appearances for us. When he did play, he hardly took set pieces because of the world class Noble.
So please explain this Stani. Zola, according to you, knew what he was doing. That being the case, WHY did HE use Noble as his preferred set piece taker? Please explain. I mean, I know Avram is just a PE teacher, so he could get it wrong, and Curbishley was an idiot, so he could get it wrong too, but Zola? Zola knew about how to take a set piece surely? Zola knew how to identify his best set piece taker surely? So why did HE opt for Noble over Diamanti?
ReplyDeleteIndeed, why have Curbishley, Zola and Grant all chosen to use Noble to take set pieces? Please explain why THREE different managers have all got this SO wrong, including the wonderful Gianfranco Zola!
I am not denying that Obinna looks good, though two of his corners were poor against Tottenham. Personally, I would like to see Obinna in the box, receiving corners. I don't understand why forwards are used to take corners; they should be in the box, feeding off of scraps, knock downs and rebounds. Who would you rather have trying to bury a half chance in the box, Obinna or Noble? Who would you prefer looking to score from a clearance to the edge of the box, Noble or Diamanti? Who would you prefer protecting your defence against a break away when 1-0 up, Noble or Obinna? Think about CONTEXT and the decisions becoome easier to understand, even when Zola is making the decision!
I do think you have it in for Noble by the way. He is still ONLY 23 for pity's sake. Yes he has started 98 Prem League games but you keep judging him as if he is in his prime. Last season he was 22, the season before, 21. Last season, Zola kept playing him out of position and Noble was in a team that didn't know what they were doing because of incompetent management. The season before he was carrying an injury. The guy must have something. He is the youngest player EVER to represent the reserves and three consecutive managers have used him regularly despite his young age. Is he better than Collison? Different types of midfield player. Collison looked superb two seasons ago but didn't look so hot last season. There were reasons - injuries, death of his father - but most young players have dips in form.
Let's see how Noble develops from now on eh? I think he will become an England player!
Because Zola was suffering from the same thing you and some of our other fans suffer from. Your argument would have more credibility if you didn't imply that I have said that Zola could do no wrong. I criticised many things under Zola's charge. You have selective memory HF.
ReplyDeleteYep, next season he's gonna be 24, then 25 and then 26 and we'll still be waiting :) He shows nothing of what the likes of Wilshere (18), Albrighton (20) and Rodwell (19)show. Can you imagine where they will be when they are 23? Dont say theyre different types of midfielder. Look at them as footballers; their control, pace, passing, shooting, vision etc. If you ask me, Noble hasn't improved but has gone the other way slightly.
You may think I have it in for Noble but that's up to you and its certainly not the case. But it's easy to think that way just to dismiss my argument. It may just seem I have it in for him because I have to amplify my argument to counter the exaggerated hype he gets, coupled with the sense of emotion people feel when 'one of their own' is criticised. But I know I have nothing personal against him. I just dont think he's all that good.
If he wants to be an England payer, he's got a hell of a long way to go.