Slav: The Unfathomable Situation

So here we are once more, huddled together like penguins, waiting for the news diligently, the news that doesn’t come.

I feel like I have been here before. That’s right, last September, following the 4-2 defeat by Watford. This is not a case of I told you so (as I prepare to say I kind of told you so), but Super Slav, is really not that super.

I mean, he’s lovely and I like the fact that he goes to rock concerts and wears band t-shirts and the players like him and all of that stuff, but when it comes to managing the football club, he’s just not that super. There, I said it.

As stated, there we were. Cold and cross at the London Stadium, wondering why we bothered as Zabaleta gave away a stonewall penalty and we stared down the barrel of a 3 – 0 defeat, to a team just promoted and with the greatest respect, were no great shakes.

Except of course, I was not there. I had already sold my season ticket on the exchange as the thought of watching West Ham again after the Swansea fixture, where we scraped home in the dying embers, by the skin of our teeth, did not fill me with the joy.  

I watched it of course from the comfort of my living room, knowing full well that the forty quid for my ticket sits comfortably in my e-ticketing account. Of course, I mean £27, after the club takes its cut, but I’m assured this money goes on ‘community-based’ projects, whether I like it or not.

What I’m saying is not that, ‘I am so clever, dodged a bullet’ etc. more that it was so clear what could have potentially happened that my head told me to stay away, even if my heart said otherwise.

This really is quite tragic. I have been on the waiting list for a new season ticket after not renewing when we left the Boleyn. I was excited for this season, having fought off my demons regarding the new stadium and the corporate facelessness that seemed to be the direction in which we were going.

I guessed I was ready to forgive all of that, as performances on the pitch were what mattered and given our recruitment over the summer, we had a fighting chance of doing better this season.  How wrong I was!

Despite the excitement of some big name summer signings, the same cracks were there, glaring, from the season before. Carroll and his injury woes are a running theme, the inability to strengthen at the back since the departure of James Tomkins, the gap left by Payet going forward. I mean Mikhail Antonio can only have so much gas in the tank and on Friday night, it appeared all of his endeavour and spark, had been replaced by frustration and malcontent.

Like a battered partner, hurt and upset after the Swansea performance, I knew I had to think carefully about how to move forward. I was wary and kept my distance against Brighton but knew that the disappointment of such a humiliating result will force action, will make the change. Sadly, I was wrong.

It is clear to most, probably to Slav himself, that the game is up. It has since transpired that he said his goodbyes and offered to leave a number of games ago after the same result at Newcastle. I mean, what other message do the board need, when their manager throws in the towel so early on? Is this Slav feeling the heat or is he admitting he does not know what to do?

We face the same situation as we did this time last year. A manager who for whatever reason is not getting the job done and leading the team into a potential struggle, a possible relegation battle, yet the owners deciding to ‘give him two more games.’

Personally, I find nothing more insipid and disappointing than this vapid response. What do they expect? What can anyone gain from this situation? Let’s discuss the options.

Option 1 – West Ham United, by some miraculous intervention from a higher power, get home against a rampant Spurs side and beat Palace away. Bilic stays and another disappointing season follows.

Option 2 – West Ham United beat Spurs somehow and lose to Palace. Although beating Spurs away is a feeling second to none, we will be deep in the relegation zone and will most probably be looking at another big team in the Caribou Cup.

Option 3 – West Ham United lose heavily to Spurs and beat Palace. A mini-reprieve in the league, but how likely are we to get a result at Selhurst if we are battered by a scarily in form Tottenham?

Option 4 – beaten by both, same position, except the players are more delusioned, lacking confidence, we are out of a cup and staring down the barrel in the league.

My fairly laboured point, is that this inertia and fear of change, is almost certainly going to cost us. No-one wants to sack a manager, I would have loved it if Slav worked, but it hasn’t. He could and in my book should have gone this time last year and we are quite clearly going backwards now.

I am grateful to the owners for a number of things, but not for this. The feeling in the camp is too relaxed, there is no real pressure (except for the fans), there is no urgency among players or staff. We have become a mini-Arsenal, the fans forced to accept a fate we do not really deserve.

Cardiff City 0 - 2 West Ham United

West Ham's hoodoo over Cardiff City continued as the East Londoners picked up a vital three points in the fight for survival.

Much has been discussed of the week preceding the Cardiff City game and Big Sam backed his tried and tested players when it came to team selection in South Wales. Matt Taylor, Jack Collison, Carlton Cole all started while Mo Diame and Ravel Morrison were notably dropped to the bench.
A positive start was slowed by the injury to Guy Demel, who was elbowed in the eye by new arrival Roger Johnson. It never rains, it pours at Upton Park. Another injury to a key defender and this is eight minutes gone in the game. George McCartney, as has become familiar, filled in as West Ham soldiered on through the first half.
Despite Cardiff City showing some rather impressive attacking flair, it was West Ham who opened the scoring. Matt Jarvis played in a first time ball from the right, which Carlton Cole hit first time into the back of the net to make it 1-0.
Cardiff continued their dominance of possession and had shots galore to match. Adrian was once again passionate and impressive in between the sticks for the Hammers and made some splendid saves to deny Odemwingie and later Craig Bellamy.
With twenty minutes of the match to go, Big Sam brought on Andy Carroll, who looked as fit as a butcher's dog and fresh for the fight. He won his first header on and continued to impress from there.
As stated previously, it never rains it torrentially persists down at West Ham and James Tomkins was given his marching orders for a second bookable offence, meaning the last throes of the game were rather nervy for an away faithful getting used to regular drubbings.
Luckily, the combined efforts of Andy Carroll, who set up the ever-present Mark Noble in the 93rd minute to rifle the ball low and hard into the net were enough to secure the points. If ever a player deserved this goal, it was stand-in captain Mark Noble. The player scraps and fights for the team week in, week out and covered every blade on the grass on the pitch. I don't think there is a West Ham fan in the land who would not have him as our club captain after this performance.
That being said, it was heart-warming to see the reaction of management, players and staff combined at the final whistle of this fixture. It became clear to all and sundry what a tight unit the players are and also that they are behind the manager, who interestingly refrained from talking to the media after the game. Perhaps this was a metaphoric two fingers to the press and fans who have bashed Sam continuously during the last few weeks.
Either way, the team was triumphant, Andy Carroll looked impressive and hopefully this is a turning point for a team who surely cannot suffer too much more bad luck this season.
Next week, Newcastle United visit Upton Park in a game that will prove whether Big Sam's boys are here to stay or this result was just a flash in the pan.
Come on you Irons!

Adrian 8
Excellent performance and passion
Demel 5
Injured early on
Johnson 6
Getting better - but could do with not injuring our best defenders
Tomkins 5
Disappointing due to sending off
Rat 6
Fair performance
Noble 10
WHAT A GUY
Jarvis 7
Consistent supply
Downing 7
A good game
Collison 6
Worked hard
Taylor 7
Has been very good when asked of this season
Cole 8
A goal and another top effort from the lad

McCartney 7
Asked to fill in - did very well
Carroll 7
A lovely assist and great to see him back

Southampton 0 – 0 West Ham United

West Ham managed to cling on for a valuable point on a dismal afternoon at St. Mary’s Stadium.

            The Irons started brightly with Mo Diame looking in bullish mood as he powered his way into the box and was denied by the outstretched Boruc early on. Chances though were few and far between for the Hammers as Southampton enjoyed a majority of the possession and shots on target. After a frenetic start, the game became affected by the howling wind and lashing rain, causing the final ball to tend to go missing when it mattered. It didn’t though when Osvaldo had the best chance of the game only to be denied by the diving Jaaskeleinen.

            West Ham did however have a perfectly good goal disallowed for offside. Matt Jarvis made a rare break and blasted the ball into Boruc’s midriff. The ball fell kindly to Nolan who slotted it in from long range, only to see the linesman’s flag raised. Replay’s showed Jarvis was indeed onside.

            In the second half Southampton piled on the pressure and once again it was the outstanding Jussi who kept us in the game.

            The Irons had a golden opportunity to nick it at the end when the ball fell on a plate to James Collins who had all the time in the world to pick his spot and clear off celebrating. True to form however, he blazed the ball miles over the bar, much to the despair of the traveling Claret and Blue Army.

On the whole a poor game which lacked any real quality in the final third. Lots of crosses were over hit and quality chances were few and far between. After a couple of weeks of disappointment for Hammer’s fans, I suppose a point will do. Yet the elephant in the room continues to rear its head, with Maiga once again being ineffective and West Ham lacking any real cutting edge.

            It was pleasing to see Big Sam give Ravel his first premier league start however. The lad played well in a tricky game dominated by the midfield.

 So, 5 points from 4 games, a pleasing defensive performance but deep concerns about our attacking options up front.

            Next week, we entertain Everton who come to the Boleyn fresh from their victory over Mourinho’s Chelsea.

Jussi 10

Outstanding. Kept us in the game

Demel 7

Played well – went off injured

Winston Reid 7

Solid as usual

James Collins 6

Played well. Missed a golden chance to win the game

Joey O’ Brien 6

Ok – could have been sent off for a rash challenge

Mark Noble 6

Solid but uninspiring

Ravel Morrison 6

Fine on his Premier League debut

Mo Diame 6

Started well – quietened down after a bad challenge

Kevin Nolan 5

Moaned and groaned – not a lot of firepower

Matt Jarvis 6

Uncharacteristically quiet

Maiga 4

Not cutting the mustard at all

Razvan 5

Fair performance

Vaz Te 4

Largely ineffective

The transfer merry-go-round

By: Trevor Twohig

Is anyone else confused about the dealings in the transfer market? The media circus reached its heady crescendo on Monday night with only three stories of any real interest.
Number one, Gareth Bale moved to Real Madrid. Shock horror this one. Moving swiftly on to number two, Man United dare I say it, paying well over the odds for Maroune Fellaini. It is hardly the statement that Moyes wanted to make at the beginning of his tenure, surely? Yes he knows the player well, but has everyone forgotten Fellaini’s headbutting incident at Stoke last year? An unproven player at the top-level seemingly, with a short fuse. Risky business for Man United and smacked a little of desperation for me.

Finally, Arsenal’s signing of Mesut Ozil to smash their transfer record. Did I miss something here? Were Arsenal fans desperate for Wenger to sign yet another midfielder? Granted Ozil is a top class player and I hope he does well. I am just interested to see how he will slot into a midfield alongside Santi Cazorla, Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey et al.

Rosicky’s playing out of his skin and let us not forget the returning Mathieu Flamini from Milan to bolster the squad. Interesting times lay ahead for Arsenal and Wenger has indeed papered over the cracks with a big money signing. But the lack of a world class striker and a lumbering central defence will prevent them launching any sort of title challenge, methinks.

The most outrageous transfer story has to be found at Upton Park though in my opinion. After months of trying to lure Andy Carroll to the Boleyn, it finally happens to rapturous applause from large swathes of West Ham fans, including me. Great signing for us and things were looking splendid at the start of the transfer window.

Then came Stewart Downing, another good Premier League player who I think will do well for us. But this cost the whole of our transfer budget and took player wages to the top-level; the eyebrow-raising £70,000 a week for Downing, being the nail in that particular coffin.

Did Gold and Sullivan not think earlier in the window we would need to offload some of the fringe players? Was it not patently obvious that if we are trying to build towards a utopian future at the forefront of English football (the Olympic Stadium is a Grade 4 UEFA stadium, don’t you know!), then some of the old guard would need to be moved on? Clearly not.

As such we have Matty Taylor, Ricardo Vaz Te, Modibo Maiga, Alou Diarra and Stephen Henderson who should not get anywhere near our first team with the aspirations we have. Don’t get me wrong, I am grateful for the service from the likes of Taylor and Vaz Te, but are we a club looking to survive at the bottom or push for the top half?

I appreciate I may be getting slightly ahead of myself here, we have only been back in the Premier League for one season. But in the same breath, we don’t have a striker! Allardyce hopes that Carroll may play some role in the Southampton game. Alarm bells here anyone?

Back in the Building: Carlton Cole's return is imminent

As I was working myself up into quite a state regarding the transfer debacle, I thought to myself, ‘If only we still had trusty, loyal Carlton Cole to turn to…’ and lo and behold, he is in negotiations to return. As Big Sam comes to the table, tail firmly between legs, I will dust off my ‘Sex, Drugs and Carlton Cole’ t-shirt and pray, just pray that Andy Carroll can get fit.

West Ham United 2 - 0 Cardiff City

Well, it finally arrived. After all the Sky Sports hype and media nonsense, the season started fairly innocuously for West Ham fans. Downing's arrival was welcomed but really all the press was aimed at Cardiff and their rampant return to the Premier league. I for one, was extremely excited about the mighty irons and how they would fare. I was not brought up in a football family you see. My parents came to this country and the football lifestyle was alien to them and my love for it derived from it being a foreign concept. The only football we watched would be what we got on terrestrial tele in the 80's. Going to a football match? That would take time, effort and money and my Dad for one wasn't going to get involved in all that malarkey.

So buying my first ever West Ham season ticket was a huge thing for me. Call it what you want acceptance, understanding whatever but I felt like I was in some elite club when the card arrived on the doorstep. Like a Willy Wonka Golden ticket...as long as we didn't slip up to bloody Cardiff!

I remember watching West Ham lose to Cardiff City in the first game back in the Championship two seasons ago. We had the Real Madrid of the league for that game. Parker, Nolan, Noble all in midfield who absolutely dominated the game. We lost to a late, late goal from that swine Kenny Miller and as I turned the TV off, I still remember the feeling of utter dread - what if we don't come back up?

Thankfully Big Sam sorted us out and we mercilessly dismantled Cardiff in the play-offs on the way to promotion and it was this thought I kept with me as I sat in the queue to get through the Blackwall Tunnel. It seems like every person in the world was trying to get to East London today, but luckily I found a car parking space off Barking Road, much to the disdain of the home owners standing, having a chat outside as I majestically reversed it in. I swear the locals have no idea what is going on. Just once a week, thousands of people come and park outside of their homes, dressed in purple and then bugger off a few hours later.

Anyway, the car was abandoned but Green Street was buzzing.  Fellas taking videos of the hordes with their phones, the whole place a sea of claret and blue. I was sitting in the Trevor Brooking Lower and boy was I rewarded for this decision. The best banter, chants etc. I have ever had at West Ham bar none. The pundits always talk about the ground rocking but today it really was as the teams came out.

Our attention was jolted slightly by a Cardiff fan who elected to set off a flare in the away end. That's right folks, a flare. This caused great amusement amongst the West Ham fans, and the security moved in and quickly ejected the culprits. Thanks for coming.

The game started furiously and West Ham were quite clearly in the ascendency. Lots of chances, threatening from set pieces and the new kit looked bang on! Happy days. Our perseverance was rewarded when the effervescent Matt Jarvis skinned Connolly and powered a low cross into the middle. Joe Cole pirouetted like he was at the ballet and slotted it into the bottom right corner on 13 minutes. 1 - 0. For me, this start could not have been better. I absolutely love Joe Cole and the fact that he looks fit and up for it this year could not make me happier. I remember the year when we went down and he captained the team and played up front, midfield, brought out the oranges, you name it. And he was only a youngster, true West Ham legend in my opinion.

West Ham continued to knock on the door to no avail and in all honesty both teams were a little rusty. Cardiff City looked dangerous on the break, especially through Kim, but Bellamy got booed horrifically every time he got the ball and proceeded to have an absolute shocker. Whats the old adage? If Bellamy plays well, Cardiff play well. Sadly for the travelling support, not today.

The PA system blared out 'Security, Mr. Moon is in the building' a number of times around the halfway mark. God knows what this even means, but my ears were pricked and I was ready for action, whatever was coming my way.

Cardiff started brightly in the second half and for some reason like we always seem to do, we sat back and allowed them to come at us. They had a few good chances but really lacked any firepower in the final third. A bizarre penalty claim for handball, resulted in a chorus of 'handball!' every time a West Ham player passed the ball and when Bellamy was withdrawn for another West Ham old boy Nicky Maynard, Cardiff looked all but beaten. It was nice to see some West Ham fans salute old Bellamy, who did work hard for us when he was here, plus Maynard also got an appreciative welcome to thank him for his efforts in getting us promoted.

'Security, Mr. Moon has left the building.' Thank goodness for that, I can now relax and finish my Bovril in peace. Oh hang on a minute, who is this I see about to come on? None other than Mr. Stewart Downing! He got a warm reception too and it was a shame to see Matty Jarvis come off for him, as the two together could be quite a force when Andy Carroll returns.

Downing started very brightly, had pace and caused a few concerns for the Bluebird's defence. In fact, Downing was at the start of the move that created the second goal, knocking it off to Noble who ran at the Cardiff defenders. He found Nolan in space, who hit it first time into the top left hand corner - game, set and match.

A fantastic goal, well deserved for Nolan who tirelessly works hard for the team. If he is not running at the goalie, he is screaming at Maiga to get in the right position. So all was well, but what ho, yet another PA announcement...'Security, Mr. Moon is back in the building.' Oh Jesus, what are we going to do? And who is this guy some sort of stealth ninja, felling the security team one by one, leaping the pasty stand in a single bound? God only knows, but I for one was keeping a low profile.

So the game was won, Joe Cole was substituted late on, largely to receive a standing ovation from the Boleyn faithful methinks. The only downside was that we really do have concerns upfront. Maiga had one decent chance that went just wide, he did win a few headers but he really is not threatening enough. This does put an awful lot of pressure on Carroll when he returns, so I think Big Sam is going to have to get someone else in.

I was also disappointed not to see Ravel Morrison get a cameo. He has been tearing up trees in pre-season and at 2 - 0 could have been worth a shout. But hey ho, the fans always know best don't they?
Luckily for me, Mr. Moon had left the building once more and I was free to go on my merry way along with 35000 very happy hammers.