http://blogs.soccernet.com/westhamunited/ en Copyright 2012 Sun, 19 Aug 2012 22:46:04 +0000 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss I remember being dismissive when West Ham lost at Villa Park on the opening day of the 2010/11 season; "It's only the first game, Avram Grant will sort things out..." He never did, of course, and the Hammers were relegated with barely a whimper. So, I'm not going to be using the same argument following West Ham's 1-0 win at Upton Park as there was much to admire about the Hammers' display and, you sense, a drawing of a line in the sand. The three points and the victory were vital in terms of getting a grip on the new season and when things come down to a point or two at the end of the campaign, who knows how important they may be? http://blogs.soccernet.com/westhamunited/archives/2012/08/west_ham_1_aston_villa_0.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/westhamunited/archives/2012/08/west_ham_1_aston_villa_0.php Match Reports Sun, 19 Aug 2012 22:46:04 +0000 In this glorious summer of sport, English football’s long tarnished image has suffered at the hands of British athletes performing heroic deeds, many for a fraction of the money thrown in the direction of what is often perceived as grasping, indifferent under achieving playboys. But is this right? Last year’s Premier league campaign was reckoned by many to be one of the finest seasons on record, highlighted by a nail-biting final day that had even the most lethargic and neutral armchair supporter, up and pumping the air in excitement. Ok the European Finals showed that England haven’t progressed a jot in over 20 odd years but at least the domestic campaign offers us the exciting influx of at least a decent proportion of the world’s best football talent… doesn’t it? http://blogs.soccernet.com/westhamunited/archives/2012/08/another_crucial_season.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/westhamunited/archives/2012/08/another_crucial_season.php Blagg's Burblings Fri, 17 Aug 2012 23:54:28 +0000 (Originally posted on my Blog and at westhamonline.net following the Hammer's win at Wembley in May) It’s odd to think that, in many ways, West Ham have endured yet another torrid year. The fact that the Hammers remained unbeaten for long periods during the season, recording a record number of away wins before stumbling slightly, only to end the whole thing on such a brilliant high with the best football day out many of us have had for a long time, has made it easy to forget the turmoil of February and March. ]]> http://blogs.soccernet.com/westhamunited/archives/2012/08/one_word_professionalism.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/westhamunited/archives/2012/08/one_word_professionalism.php Blagg's Burblings Sat, 04 Aug 2012 09:39:39 +0000 Well, it's good to be back! I've been away for a season - did anything big happen while I was gone? - and I'll be in-shape and prepared for the new kick-off just as soon as I've shed the uniform of the alter-ego that Lady B likes to refer to as 'Captain Olympic'. http://blogs.soccernet.com/westhamunited/archives/2012/08/presenting_captain_olympic.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/westhamunited/archives/2012/08/presenting_captain_olympic.php Blagg's Burblings Sat, 04 Aug 2012 09:19:57 +0000 Survival Sunday: Was there anyone in the country with even the remotest interest in football who wasn't enthralled by the days events? With the excitement garnered elsewhere, the lack of even a small chance of retaining the last bit of pride left in east London was a bitter pill to swallow. I was probably more disappointed this week than I was last that West Ham couldn't even give us a last day hurrah. I'd hoped for a decent win so that I could underline the importance of the lack of detail that has gone into this season's campaign - something I was interested to see was picked up last week by the Telegraph's Henry Winter, a couple of Mirror hacks and no lesser light than La Brady herself (Not that I'm suggesting any of them read my Soccernet blog, you understand...). Perhaps we could point to just one loss or a dropped point here or there to convince ourselves that it could all have been so different. But the awfullness of this season was underlined by an inept capitulation, of which the only reedeming factor was the fact that we ended the campaign so adrift there wasn't even a sense of 'What If?' about it all. 3-0 at home to Sunderland says all that need be said. http://blogs.soccernet.com/westhamunited/archives/2011/05/farewell_farewell.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/westhamunited/archives/2011/05/farewell_farewell.php Blagg's Burblings Sun, 22 May 2011 22:23:07 +0000 Anger, frustration, disappointment, surprise - I really didn't see this coming with the players they had at their disposal - and, yes, a bit of sorrow I guess; but the main emotions I've suffered since confirmation of West Ham's relegation to the Championship following the 3-2 defeat at Wigan, is the horrible sense of resignation and ennui - and that is what hurts more than anything. You see, I'm used to the annual roller-coaster of supporting West Ham. The exhilaration of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, the joy of seeing young players come through the Academy and make their mark on the game before leaving for the promised land of Champions League football, exciting wins, dismal losses, bizarre decisions, crocked players, overpaid wasters, the way the unexpected becomes the expected - all these things are part of the pain and pleasure involved in supporting the Hammers. But this horrible season has even stripped me of the capacity to relish the low points. Frankly, I'm tired - so tired - of watching the people who run this club continually try to outdo themselves by shooting off their mouths while simultaneously shooting themselves in the foot. http://blogs.soccernet.com/westhamunited/archives/2011/05/the_devils_in_the_detail.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/westhamunited/archives/2011/05/the_devils_in_the_detail.php Blagg's Burblings Mon, 16 May 2011 00:49:43 +0000 In a classy move that just about sums up the 2010/11 season, West Ham sacked manager Avram Grant less than an hour after their 3-2 defeat at Wigan resigned them to the Championship next season. Grant was apparently pulled out from the post-match press conference, a club spokesman returning 20 minutes later to confirm that Grant was 'no longer Manager at West Ham United'. Grant was said to be close to tears and emotional after the game saying "I'm sorry for the supporters, the people in the club and the players". Reserve team coach Kevin Keen will take over for the Hammer's last Premiership hurrah at home to Sunderland next Sunday. http://blogs.soccernet.com/westhamunited/archives/2011/05/grant_sacked_as_west_ham_are_r.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/westhamunited/archives/2011/05/grant_sacked_as_west_ham_are_r.php Blagg's Burblings Sun, 15 May 2011 20:07:33 +0000 "Que Sera Sera", they sang "We're going to Cov-entry". Gallows humour was at a premium at Upton Park on Saturday as West Ham stumbled through another must-win game and eventually gained a point that, in the last ten minutes, probably should have been three. It's been an odd season all round the country, but no weirder surely than the Boleyn Ground, where the Hammers continue to frustrate and annoy as - just like last week at Manchester - the team started slowly in a 15 minute spell that allows the opposition the chance to stamp their authority on the game. West Ham seem to be content to be second best in the tackle and hope their reputation might give them what they seem to think they deserve. As John Lennon once remarked: "Strange Days Indeed!" http://blogs.soccernet.com/westhamunited/archives/2011/05/west_ham_united_1_blackburn_ro.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/westhamunited/archives/2011/05/west_ham_united_1_blackburn_ro.php Match Reports Sat, 07 May 2011 22:41:16 +0000 Ultimately this was still a defeat, I guess, but there was quite a bit to admire about West Ham's fightback in this match and there were fairly long periods where I believed a point wasn't beyond the Hammers' capabilities. Eventually though, the result was decided in the first 15 minutes with Nigel de Jong's long shot and Jacobsen's Own Goal from an excellent Zabaleta one-two that left the Hammer's full-back with little option but to clear from underneath his own bar and into the net. It was the most inadvertant OG and, had Jacobsen left it, then the ball would have been tapped in at the far post by a lurking Balotelli, but even so for me it was Jacobsen's and not the City players goal - much as the Danish defender may not want the stat on his record! http://blogs.soccernet.com/westhamunited/archives/2011/05/manchester_city_2_west_ham_uni.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/westhamunited/archives/2011/05/manchester_city_2_west_ham_uni.php Match Reports Wed, 04 May 2011 22:18:20 +0000 the award from people who watch every game and have no vested interest in fads, sponsors and the televised bias of companies looking for ever-expanding viewing figures both at home and abroad.]]> http://blogs.soccernet.com/westhamunited/archives/2011/04/scott_parker_hats_off.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/westhamunited/archives/2011/04/scott_parker_hats_off.php Blagg's Burblings Sun, 24 Apr 2011 22:10:33 +0000 This result flattered Chelsea and, whatever West Ham's failings - and they have a few - the usual hoodoo arrived in the shape of injures to Parker and Upson and an opposing striker who hasn't scored in an age. Take any team from Upton Park; show me a striker who hasn't found the net in years and BANG! - goal drought over. The only thing more certain is that the sun will surely come up tomorrow. West Ham? Gotta love 'em, haven't you? Avram Grant once again tinkered with the line-up, re-introducing Freddie Sears - who inevitably put in the type of performance that questioned why he'd been left out - and recalling Spector for the injured Parker. Last week's starters were back on the bench while Gabbidon and Da Costa were the central pairing. Really it didn't look good from the off - particularly when the scorching weather being enjoyed by the rest of the country was interrupted in West London by a downpour and thunderstorm of biblical proportions turning the top surface into a skid-pan that held the ball up.. http://blogs.soccernet.com/westhamunited/archives/2011/04/chelsea_3_west_ham_united_0_aw.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/westhamunited/archives/2011/04/chelsea_3_west_ham_united_0_aw.php Match Reports Sat, 23 Apr 2011 22:02:03 +0000 At the end of this game, decided by Gabriel Agbonlahor's injury time goal, the West Ham players slumped to the ground, looking drained and shell-shocked. This was a 'must-win' game that the Hammer's looked to have taken an undeserved point from, but Villa got the winner their play merited following a second-half mauling of the home defence in which both Ashley Young and Stuart Downing left Hammers defenders trailing in their wake in a succession of potent attacks. The fat lady may not yet have sung for West Ham United but she is sure as hell on the podium and gargling and nothing bar another 'Great Escape' Mk II will see this season ending in smiles. http://blogs.soccernet.com/westhamunited/archives/2011/04/west_ham_united_1_aston_villa.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/westhamunited/archives/2011/04/west_ham_united_1_aston_villa.php Match Reports Sat, 16 Apr 2011 18:51:49 +0000 News that Benni McCarthy has left West Ham after the club 'mutually agreed' to terminate his contract will surprise and upset no-one. When someone at Upton Park described McCarthy as a 'waste of space' it was rumoured that space immediately contacted it's Solicitor about suing for defamation of character. In a time of austerity and high unemployment - something that continues to threaten someone not a million miles from this keyboard - the thought of the former South African striker taking home an obscene amount of money every week was something that stuck in the craw of, not only every West Ham fan, but anyone who has any sense of impropriety and an understanding of professionalism. http://blogs.soccernet.com/westhamunited/archives/2011/04/valete_benni_mccarthy.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/westhamunited/archives/2011/04/valete_benni_mccarthy.php Blagg's Burblings Wed, 13 Apr 2011 20:34:46 +0000 this was Bolton's seventh [now eighth] straight win over West Ham. That's seven [now eight!] and that's Bolton. It's all very well talking about bogey sides but this is not good enough and it's not good enough by a long way. Those seven defeats [now eight] won't all be down to Avram Grant, David's Gold or Sullivan, or even a good many of the players but, unless you blame the only constant - us, the fans - you have to look at other reasons." I'm not sure if it's a done thing to go quoting yourself, but I wrote the above when Bolton beat West Ham at Upton Park at the beginning of the season and started the rot that has landed us where we are today. Silly me - I actually thought we might break the hoodoo given the importance of the game, but instead we got to sit back and admire the skills of Daniel Sturridge and suffer another chastening experience at the Reebok. I suppose we should just be thankful that bloody Kevin Davies didn't score again.]]> http://blogs.soccernet.com/westhamunited/archives/2011/04/sound_like_anyone_we_know.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/westhamunited/archives/2011/04/sound_like_anyone_we_know.php Match Reports Sat, 09 Apr 2011 23:08:12 +0000 I don't know how the West Ham team feel after this, but I just felt deflated and numb. It would be stretching things a bit to say the Hammers deserved to win - Man U, and Rooney in particular, were simply irresistible at times - but the defeat was hard to stomach and the scoreline (West Ham United 2-4 Manchester United) a terrible injustice. It's true that the visitors gifted the Hammer's a two goal lead - both scored from the spot by Mark Noble after, first Evra handled and then Vidic tripped Cole, and at times the home side were just left defending desperately. But there was something about the way Manchester were playing and the confidence in West Ham's approach that suggested the home side were weathering the storm and would take the points. As it was though, Ferguson's substitutes changed the game and West Ham were left clinging on for much of the second half. http://blogs.soccernet.com/westhamunited/archives/2011/04/west_ham_united_2_manchester_u.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/westhamunited/archives/2011/04/west_ham_united_2_manchester_u.php Match Reports Sat, 02 Apr 2011 20:59:48 +0000