Look, I know this was a bad defeat and I realise that the Hammers looked lacklustre and out of sorts and the score could have been as bad as that suffered by West Brom, but - come on! - it was only the first game.
I say this because I remember how cock-a-hoop I was when the Hammers won last year's opening day away game, little knowing that it was the only away win I'd celebrate all season. I'm also mindful of my England coverage this summer and the dangers of expecting both too much and too little. This is still a West Ham side with enough in it to not expect too much of what occured last season but, even if it does, there's surely enough experience with Avram Grant and the two David's to ensure it doesn't all end in disaster.
So, let's accentuate the positives shall we? OK...err, well, the new strip is nice, I guess.
The negatives? Green looked just as shaky as he did in South Africa, young Tomkins looked all at sea, we still need two full-backs - how many seasons do I have to say that? Most of West Ham's problems would be solved with the addition, why can no-one see this? - Upson looked jaded, Cole marginalised, the mid-field overrun, Parker as if he was still on his holidays. Aww what the hell, need I go on?
Aston Villa were quicker, tidier, more competitive and - more worringly - seemed like they wanted it more. The three the home side scored could have quite easily been doubled. But am I worried? Nah! Been this way too many times. There are new signings on the way and some of those we have signed were injured on pointless international outings last week, when they return - particularly Hitzlsperger - things will tighten up. Kieron Dyer is due to play a full season without injury and Benni McCarthy has lost four stone and is a svelte as a catwalk model. Both have looked impressive in pre-season run-out's against Barking Blind Boys FC and were surely only missing from the opening day's squad because of the Hammer's enormous strength in depth.
It will be all uphill from here. It's all good. Trust me!
**Warning to new readers to this blog: some of the above may not be true and may contain a certain amount of English sarcasm.
Comments
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Posted by Gerald on 08/17/2010
Disappointed with the match to be honest; the Hammers look to have lost the match right from kickoff!
Even with 5 defenders, the Hammers could not defend well from Villa's set pieces from corners and crosses. The usual passing was non existent and agree with Blagg that the players look lost and out of ideas.
The new players all had a forgettable game- Reid looked outplayed by Carew, Barrera's contribution was a freekick to Villa which hit the crossbar, Piquonne looked menacing but lacked real pentration in attack.
Faubert's miss really summed up the match. To be honest, I thought Noble was the best Hammer in the match. He seemed to have improved with his tackling and dribbling; the only true bright spark in a lacklustre Hammers team.
Lets hope for the best next week! CMYI!!
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Posted by Jay on 08/17/2010
I don't know what to say about our poor season opener. I do however remember how excited I was at the start of last season, so I understand exactly where you are coming from.
I am more upset by the players we are expected to sign, and the loss of Sulejmani. Yet, somehow Man U is allowed to sign Bebe surprise surprise.
The season will turn around for us, we had some key players that didn't feature, and have some young guns that I hope can feature in our squad like Villa's youngsters did this past match.
We have Bolton next, and lets hope we can finally get a win against them after 5(?) matches.
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Posted by Kyle on 08/17/2010
Jay DeMerit is still a free agent. He was good enough to captain Watford for a bit, and he's a lot better than spector. Granted, he wasn't outstanding in the world cup but he's been up against some stiff competition including a year (or two?) in the premier league and helped shut out spain last summer.
Surely worth a try after last weekend's display.
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Posted by John on 08/18/2010
Billy its not that we lost that matters to me its HOW we lost. Mate seriously we looked shambolic couldnt put more than 3 passes together before we coughed the ball up .It looked to me Avram decided we couldnt win this game and thought oooh i will play so negative i will only need 1 striker . Again this is what happened last season watching poor old cole 1 out against 3 defenders time after time (nowonder liverpool looks good to him) . Just remind me Billy where did pompey finnish last season ? and add to that how many ex pompey cellar dwellers do we now have with us ? .In Aus AFL we have a saying a losers mentality is hard to lose and thats what the Hammers have got we DONT know how to win . I hope im wrong i really do but Saturdays game showed me zilch same old same old 1 up front will get you nowhere .
He may have got pompey to the FA cup final whooope efnnn doo he also got them relegated .PLEASE Billy let them prove me wrong i want to be wrong only consolation wigan looked WORSE.
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Posted by Bonzo on 08/18/2010
" Warning to new readers to this blog: some of the above may not be true and may contain a certain amount of English sarcasm "
A certain amount Bill?
Your ingenuity, verbal skill and incongruity has the power to evoke laughter. At least it made me smile for a short while until I realised the bitter truth in all you say.
It might help to evoke some enthusiasm into the team if Avram Grant put a smile on his boat instead of the hangdog hunted expression he wears at the present time.
Mind you Gianfranco started off smiling at everyone including Jon Champion and look where that ended up. Just maybe he will brighten up as we climb the table.
As for last Saturday's game, I have seen worse starts but not sure when.
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Posted by pondhopper on 08/19/2010
Agree Billy - need to tighten the defense up - as I said last season - tomkins is a liability and proved it again against Villa. Will be nice to see what out full strength side looks. But is it just me, but watching the other teams they all seem to have a sense of organisation to them that I didnt see last season with the hammers and for sure didnt see against Villa - all looks so haphazzard
Posted by Nik on 08/19/2010
If Behrami had been healthy, Faubert would have played as RB instead of Reid (who acquited himself decently). My biggest complaint was starting Boa Morte (coolest name in Football) as a withdrawn forward and Kovac in the middle with Parker. Boa Morte messed up West Ham's only chance in the first half and Kovac looked lost and disconnected with Upson/Tomkins.
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Born at an early age a mere defenders' spit from the Boleyn ground, Billy Blagg has seen every West Ham game from 1898 onwards. Blagg was mentioned by Kenneth Wolstenholme in 1966 as one of the people on the pitch during the famous Hammers win over West Germany that lifted the World Cup and he returned to the pitch again for the 1975 FA Cup Final but stayed on the terrace for 1980 FA Cup victory. Blagg, 26, now lives with his eighth wife and innumerable children in a small semi-detached with chintz curtains in Dagenham, Essex and still attends every Hammers match and training session.
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