But hang on, Carlton was there, with his best finish of the game, heading the ball towards his own net and forcing a good reflex save from Green! His hold up play may have been reasonable but, that apart, Cole had an absolute mare. First half he missed a sitter and nearly presented Wolves with a goal; second half, he missed a sitter, though fortunately two Wolves defenders combined to show him how to score, and did his level best to put Wolves ahead! Brilliant!
Overall, it was, at best, a stuttering performance. The two goals came from the only two decent West Ham crosses in the game. The own goal should have been buried by Cole, Piquionne put it on a plate for him (after an impressive Ben Haim pass) but Carlton came over all McCarthy and volleyed thin air instead. The double deflection that saw the ball end up in the net put to bed any idea that Avram is an unlucky manager! Two home games, two own goals, it don't come any luckier than that!
The second goal was so much more impressive. Ben Haim overlapped down the right hand flank, looked up, saw the option of both Cole and Sears and had the presence of mind to do a quick calculation, Freddie Sears who hasn't scored a goal in two and a bit years, or Carlton Cole? On this form, it's got to be the kid! And lo and behold, the Messiah came again, Freddie swung his boot and PLACED the ball into the back of the net! It was a masterful goal, a goal that means I have to eat all my unkind words about the boy, a goal that suggests he may yet have a Premiership future! Well done to Avram for calling him back from loan and playing him! The guy is a tactical genius! And for going five in midfield! Bend your knee and pay homage to the master tactician!
We hit the bar too, a thumping header from Upson from one of those floated corners that one of the posters on here hates so much, and Piquionne came close, cutting in from the left hand corner of the box and curling a shot narrowly wide.
Mind you Wolves hit the bar too when, to be honest, it should have been easier to score. Yet again, we couldn't deal with a fairly routine cross into our box. Why? The four defenders are all centre backs and six foot plus tall! Are we allowing too much time for players to measure the cross? Well you can't stop that at a corner can you? Is it Green's fault? Should he be more commanding? I'm not sure to be honest, but Wolves could have won this game with headers - albeit one was courtesy of Cole!
Anyway, now is not the time to dwell on negatives. That is seven points from the last nine, eight points from the last twelve. At the moment we are FIFTEENTH in the table, albeit all the teams around and below us have games in hand. I had given up 5 games back! What do I know? I thought Sears was hopeless. What do I know? I thought Carlton was good enough for England. What do I know?
But then I closed my pre match report with the words, "Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No it is Super Sears!" so what do I know?
Oh and I said to give Avram time.
But what do I know?
Player ratings:
Green 8; Ben Haim 7, Tomkins 6 Upson 6, Gabbidon 6; Sears 7, Kovac 6, Parker 7, Stanislas 5; Cole 5, Piquionne 7 Sub: Noble 5
46 comments:
Now is the time to let Grant go. Bring in someone who can take us to mid table and also possibly a cup final.
A few games back no-one would have wanted the job as we were rooted. Now, we are out of the relegation zone for the first time all season.
Give the new manager some funds to strengthen as if we don't we will go back to where we been all season.
Also cash in on Cole, Kovac, Upson and get some decent players in.
HF happy rating 3.5 must try harder. FFS it was a bloody win dear god. A season decider - what is your problem?
No, HF happiness rating 10! HF honesty rating 10 too.
Nonesense Pete. Time to build. Must retain Upson at all cost. Cole? Depends whoo we could replace him with. Mind you, only Heskey looks worse in front of goal!
Why has it all gone quiet in Cyprus?
5 places up the table woooo hooo! 15th - that'll do nicely.
HF come on mate it's a New Year - let's try happy for a change>
As the only Avram fan still standing, I'm over the moon Basildon!
Welcome back to our world HF. We all rejoice on the win that takes us (at least temporarily) out of the bottom three. But we should learn from this performance. Some things I have always said:
1. Cole is not a striker,
2. Sears has potential,
3. AG's luck works for us recently, not his tactics.
We are not out of the woods by any means. Unless we fix up our defence in January (get two quick and reliable fullbacks) we will be back in Avram's most familiar position in the League Table very soon.
For now, however, Happy New Year in the Premier League everyone!
That was a massive step towards Premier League survival!!!!!!!
Freddie Sears (hahaha HF you is always wrong) put the seal on a much needed victory and sent Wolves crashing to the foot of the table!
Oi Oi Happy Hammer Days are here again.
Should let Grant go now - as there will be less pressure on the new fella.
No HF there's one here too.Great result,but again the performance wasn't that.GRANT needs to introduce some fresh blood in the transfer window,to liven things up a bit.In my opinion we still look like a relegation side but the last few games have given me some confidence we can survive.I am eager to see who will be brought in,that will be key to how this season pans out.
So begrudging! It really hurts you doesn't it Sav? Ben Haim was one of our best players today. And Gabbidon had one of his better games. I think Avram's tactics were spot on today personally. But a few questions should be asked about defensive coach Downes!
Let's not get carried away by Freddie. How many completed crosses did he put in? He took his goal superbly and showed bags of energy, but it was hardly a master class! But if he does make it, I will be absolutely delighted!
So why aren't you delighted? Why are you SO intent on seeing the negatives? I admit when I am wrong. Try it Sav. And you Stani!
I agree Essex. But given the mess he inherited, we are making reasonable progress. 20 points needed from 17 games! Five wins and five draws!
You're not the only Grant fan - he's a decent enough manager, especially when compared to Roeder, Zola, Curbishly or even Pardew who seemed better than he was [he had better players at his disposal for a start]
Grant has done what he had to do - 7 out of 9. Now the two half-owners have to give him some funds to buy a couple or three. All the talk about mangers like O'Neill coming is just simpleton-like wishful thinking. Gold saiod they are "looking at 15" players. I hope that none are injured, past sell-by date or totally unproven [Reid for example]. If he gets that, he might just manage us to Prem survival, and with the current shower [Parker, Green, consistently excepted] that would be a near miracle. Hopefully they'll get some funds from sale of Behrami, but the half-owners should dig in their fat wallets for sure.
HF, we will see ny the end of the season!
The performances in the last four games have not been great! OK 8 points from 12 is good.
But we can't defend crosses or corners.
We don't take our chances.
We have some very poor lazy players.
Nothing will change unless we get rid of Grant.
There is a long way to go!
But that's not Grant's fault, Ben Haim wasn't poor or lazy today. Nor was Piquionne. Tomkins looks so much better under Grant than under Zola, and so does Upson. Parker looks a much better player this season too and so does Noble. And Sears is now impressing. Grant inherited a shower of shit and is beginning to shape a decent team out of it! Remember, we are in the semifinal of the Carling Cup too!
Today was not about the performance it was about getting them 3 points. COME ON YOU IRONS!!! we are staying up say we are staying up. what a great start to the new year. im well happy :-)
HF, still they call for Grant to go -presumably they want some mediocre English manager [Curbishley for example] or some Jack the Lad [A Pardew type] or someone with 'local or WHU pedigree'. That is definitely not going to happen. If Grant gets some money off the owners / sale of uninterested players, he needs to buy at least three - say two fowrads and a defender. Sears isn't any kind of answer either, although it was encouraging to see him bang one in - his second in 3 years. He's still lightweight in my opinion. Whether Grant or the two Davids can attract any suitable quality remains to be seen. Lets hope they don't pursue 'marquee signings', but stick to people who can do a job at this level....
gateman
I do see the positives HF - the scoreline is a huge positive today. I am also very happy if Gabbidon and Ben Haim had a game without making too many costly mistakes. Sears is also a positive as we need his pace and his goal scoring ability especially when he builds up his confidence. But if you want me to accept that just because lady luck helped us today, all of a suden Avram Grant is now positive, I will really need to see a lot more before I accept that. I would be the happier man alive if he proves me wrong. I assure you I will admit it with no hesitation if it happens. But not yet, not on todays display. A false feeling of complacency around AG is our biggest enemy right now.
Was a nervy game but with a happy ending :)
Cole showed at least his great ability in keeping the ball and showing his phisical presence what I've missed for a long time. In front of goal he was hopeless - but there are days you just can't dig it.
Ben Haim had a excellent game and was my personal MOTM. The only really terrifying thing was our lack of ability to clear the ball after corners...could have been very costly.
But in the end it went well and all in all I'm a happy hammer after todays game :)
SAV HF is also saying that people like you cant give avram grant credit where its due its like Stani cant give Noble credit even though hes been one of our best players this year
B4V4R14N makes a great password
Happy New Year HF - surely this is good?
fred149, I do not have anything against Avram Grant and believe me, I will not have any problem giving him credit when in my opinion he does something to deserve it. But really, just because we got lucky and won a game, is not enough. I am very happy we won and that we are out of the bottom three for a change. I hope I will be able to eat humble pie soon and say "I was wrong, AG is a great Manager and our Messiah."
Dicing with death? how pray tell?
You know there are other people who post here apart from Sav and Stani and I think you will do well to remember that.. I think should conduct those conversations via another medium like MSN chat or something as to be honest your tit for tat arguments are becoming a bit of a bore.
You are becoming tiresome. If not making a point about West Ham or actively participating in a debate, I will simply delete your comments.
Hahahaha!
"Well done to Avram for calling him back from loan and playing him! The guy is a tactical genius! And for going five in midfield! Bend your knee and pay homage to the master tactician!"
I didnt expect such childishness from you HF. Terrible. We beat poor wolves team at home in a victory that involved a chunk of fortune yet Avram is a genius?
If Avram was a genius he would have recalled Sears on his own accord. He was FORCED to do so because of Hines' injury, something you agreed with.
I would stop the gloating HF. You're just setting yourself up. You did it at preseason and you are doing it again after one decent game in which even you admitted we were fortunate. Did you not see us against Fulham and Everton? This will spectacularly blow up in your face HF if youre not careful. Rein yourself in.
The second goal was all about Sears. Watch his movement, he holds his run and peels off on the edge of the box making things easy for BenHaim. And it was lovely cool finish. Sears had a turn and shot in this game and one against Fulham. I still feel he definitely has a future as a striker as he's showing positive signs. More games for him please.
The floated corner was all Upson's work. He had to jump that much higher because of the trash delivery. It's why we hardly score from corners and its why top teams never use this style of taking corners. But you know better with your old 'ave it!' style of football HF! I think thats why you avoid the subject of setting up a TGGC game because we'll know what youre about! :)
I disagree Cole had a nightmare. He missed two chances yet everything else he did was excellent. You either did not watch the game or are being deliberately unfair.
Yep, there goes your unlucky excuse for Avram hey HF? I reckon he's using some kind of kabbalah magic. I'm all for it.
Pete,
Spot on in regards to Grant! We've manoeuvred ourselves into an attractive position so it's time to kick out Grant and get in a proper manager. The Randy boys wont do this though because a real manager will want to manage and not allow them to run the show.
Swindle away guys, most of our fans are falling for it.
Fred,
What exactly is Grant due credit for? Please explain. Was selling Diamanti? Was it selling Daprela when we had a left back problem? Or was it wasting money and time in the market preseason? He hasnt done anything. I asked HF to tell us about Grant's skills, his abilities and HF couldn't. The guy is a joke. Has made in football simply because of favours from friends. We are now not sacking him because of a pay off and are trying to cover the cracks by getting in coaches to work with him. That's how inept he is.
How has Noble been our best player when I showed you not so long ago stats to PROVE we do better without him? This was even before the recent games in which we have clearly done better with no Noble. What answer do you have to that? If Noble is so good, why do we earn more points without him in the side?
The problem is, I am calling them on footballing grounds, both Grant and Noble. That is what I use to judge. Like Dale uses looks, you and HF also use other criteria to judge.
June,
xXx
But we haven't done better in recent games, we've just been lucky Strani. Lucky to beat a poor Wolves team who had just won, deservedly at Anfield. Lucky to beat Fulham who won next game up and were only narrowly defeated today at Tottengam. Lucky to draw with Everton who came into the game on the back of a victory over Man City and a week's rest. Lucky, lucky, lucky!
You can't have it all ways. You can't quote results to "prove" your case with Noble, but discount the very same results when trying to prove the case against Avram.
Stop being so pig headed. Admit it, Avram is digging us out of the Zola hole! West Ham fans are happy about that mate, but then West Ham fans don't care about his religion. And you dig at Kabbalah once again proves your fixation. The chances of Grant believing in Kabbalah, by the way, is about as likely as you believing in Suffi claptrap.
Actually, I was just highlighting that you said we were lucky. I didn't say I believe we were lucky. And I was talking about today's game so I'm not sure how you have managed to stretch it over the period Noble has been out.
As for the Kabbalah magic, it was a joke in regards to how our fortunes are changing recently. Where was my criticism of the Jewish faith? But obviously one joke that went straight over your head because of your continued incorrect belief hat I dont like Grant because he is Jewish (and he's probably as Jewish as you are Christian...or Muslim even!). And I didnt call it claptrap so dont call Sufism claptrap you classless and shameless human being. Have you no respect? And yes I do believe in Sufism, not that you know anything about the subject.
Anything you read, you read to prove yourself right HF. You do not read for what it is. It's just to massage your own ego and to find justification for your preformed ideas. HF is HF's God.
You believe in Suffism? You believe in a monastic existence? You believe in drinking alcohol and taking hulicinatory drugs? You amaze me! Suffism is so obviously a mix of other religions jumbled in with Hocus Pocus. Is is as Islamic as a pork casserole! I am staggered. I didn't mean to cause offence, I didn't believe in a million years that you would buy in to such a splinter group of Islam!
Anyway, so we weren't lucky then? So Avram is a genius?
That's not what Sufism is.
Let's move off religion. I'm genuinely hurt, not by your ignorant Islamophobic comments, but more by your insistance that I don't like Jewish people. It's just not true HF. And if you accuse me again, I will have to make a stand and leave this blog. Irrespective of religion, I have humanitarian love for every decent person on this earth. I am just not programmed to do anything else.
If one game makes someone a genius then yes. Why are you setting yourself up for this fall?
You're not the only Avram fan remaining HF :). You should see me arguing with that Celtichammer twat.
Glad to hear it mate! Where are you arguing, on WHTID?
Give him credit for picking the right lineup bar kovac dont satrt rambling on about the qulaity left back we had that zola never played because we had someone better in spector oh and diamanti who yees was my fav player but also didnt get to make 30 starts and played TWICE in his natural position as striker stop saying grant is a bad manager just because you didnt want zola to leave hes gone and so he should be. grant needs time to get that losing mentality out of players heads.Also what is this things you and SAV say something like zola could motivate players haha just typing it makes me laugh
noble started off the move for the 2nd goal with a great turn of a player and a perfect ball to parker who played in ben haim also you moan about set pieces yet noble was gettings assists from set pieces
We were lucky but so were they, if we had a striker that could put the ball in the back of the net we would have scored 5.
Comment went to Spam, sorry, Don't know why this is happening. happy to sidestep religion but you introduced Kabbalah mate. No need was there? And it is Jewish mysticism so it isn't coincidental is it? Maybe it is sub conscious with you? You keep doing it though.
Me, setting myself up for a fall? I thought that's what you did with Zola! ; }
True 0048, true.
So when we lose it's because Grant is crap (some games we have genuinely been unlucky in) but when we win it's down to luck, fucking hell some people are just impossible to deal with. I guess Cole fluffing his chance in the first half from 5 yards out, Sears having an effort cleared off the line and Upson's header saved onto the bar was all down to Grant's luck! No, we deserved to win that game, outside of a few patches where Wolves were on top, we controlled the game and were the better team, this whilst having to rely on Sears and Stanislas out wide and Kovac in the middle of midfield. Wolves made Liverpool look second rate at Anfield and we were better than them today.
Spot on mate!
T.I.S. so you think you're clever?
And HF I'm not sure that's very clever of you either.
Fred,
Why is it that the more specific my question, the more you write but the less you actually say? Why do we score more without Noble?
HF,
I reiterate, it was little joke but because of your continued stereotypical belief that I am some kind of intolerant extremist that hates Jewish people, you assumed I was taking the mick out of the faith. It was taking the mick out of Grant. You know I believe he has no abilities so the suggestion for our recent improvement was that it must be down to magic. That was the joke. Light-hearted and above board (I was going to say kosher there but you'll probably go off on one again).
That's what I did with Zola? I told you then and I say it again, you cannot prove that Zola was a bad manager. There were reasons to why we struggled when he was here...same reasons you are now trying to use for Avram....when most of them do not apply now of course. No falling here, I'm still standing
01:00
Yep, obviously.
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