Whitecapsfanblog

WHU lost at Upton Park today, but the team can hold its head up high.  Only a moment of magic from Ryan Giggs undid a heroic effort.  Manager Zola has crafted WHU into a solid side.  He has plugged the leaks in our defence which undid the side’s efforts earlier in the season.  I had my doubts about whether Zola could manage, but he has created a WHU side which can give a game to Arsenal and Manchester United.  It is true that Cole and Parker looked like schoolboys lunging at Giggs when they should have just closed him down, but this is the problem with playing Man U- they have so much talent that if the young guys don’t get you then the old ones will.   

If the team stays injury free, I can see WHU finishing 6th this year.

Hammers put in a creditable performance drawing with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge today.  Though they lost last week against Tottenham, they have tied both Chelsea and Liverpool recently.  If only Carlton Cole could finish, it would have been an injury time win for the Hammers.  Cole was through alone and scuffed his shot trying to place it when he should have just blasted it.

Craig Bellamy scored a superb goal which he volleyed in after chesting down a pass from Mark Noble.  

I am not sure what is going on with the schedule, but every week the Hammers seem to be playing a big club.  They will need to start getting some points against the mid table and lower table teams if they hope to get any kind of comfort.  

At this point it is hard to convince me that the club would not have been higher in the standings had Curbishly been in charge.   We will have to give Alan credit.  He helped the team avoid the drop, then took the Hammers to 10th, and for some reason he was then odds on favorite to be the first manager fired.  I don’t blame him for quitting with the thanks he got for doing great things for the team.   

It strikes me that the Hammers fan base is delushional hoping for flashy classy football when teams which much more player resources struggle to ahieve that level.  Curbishly played “reality football” not “fantasy football”,we should have been happy with that… 

In any event, I am willing to Give Zola a chance but he had better start winning…

Nice first game for new boss Zola!  WHU seemed determined to play the ball on the ground, and to my surprise, it actually worked…  

Di Michele was a revelation, and clearly his technical skill will suit Zola’s style of play. He scored two and unselfishly served up the third for Ethers with a lovely spin of the ball. Di Michele is very comfortable and composed on the ball and it was his composure which brought him his second goal.

It is interesting to contrast Di Michele with Carlton Cole, who is the classic English forward.  He worked like a dog out there.  He is a bit clumsy, and needs to do some co-ordination exercises.  He really can’t dribble much either and does not really have fine technical ball skills like Di Michele.   Still, he gives his all, and he was good at shielding the ball and holding it while the rest of the team caught up.

Noble and Parker certainly did well in midfield, and seemed to do all right with the new on-the ground style. 

The team was solid from back to front, and the only letdown was a 10 minute spell after West Ham’s third goal when the team was simply not putting pressure on Newcastle in midfield.  Owen’s goal woke up WHU and soon the balance returned.  I feel for Owen, who is a top class player playing for what is currently a joke of a team at so many levels.  Toon were clearly demoralized.  The scene off of the pitch has been such a farce in so many ways that there can be no doubt it is getting to the players.  

A great result for WHU but I remain unconvinced… lets see what happens when we play a team that is not in ruins!