Julien's Faux Pas #8

It really was a good old fashioned FA Cup atmosphere at the London Stadium yesterday as the mighty Hammers outclassed the gutsy Blues to move into the Fourth round. It's enough to make you want to don a claret n blue rosette and swivel your wooden ratchet a few times.

To celebrate, let's have another Coldwar Steve-style image...

Horray!!!

 

Player Ratings: West Ham 2-0 Birmingham City

Adrian: Captain for the day and reminded us that he’s a great keeper. You’ve gotta feel sorry for him that he’s got Fabianski to compete with. Vital save towards the end when he went down bravely on the Birmingham striker who was through one on one. 7/10

M. Antonio: Had a good game and looks back to full fitness. He needs that pace to have confidence as his first touch is a bit muddy. We should be reported for a human rights violation for continually abusing his good will by forcing him to play at right back when he just is not suited to that role. Chequebooks out Messers Gold and Sullivan and buy a right back asap and lets free Michail to do what he is good at up the right flank before Yarmolenko returns and displaces him. 7/10

I. Diop: Looked steady all day and handled the physicality of Birmingham’s physical frontline. Appears to be missing Balbuene more than we expected but equally, Zabaleta has been absent for much of that period which doubles the deficit at the back. 7/10

A. Ogbonna: Solid. A great back up centre back to have in the ranks but you suspect that the General will slip straight back into his usual position once he is fit – which may be next week from reports. 6/10

A. Masuaku: Typical Arthur – tasty going forward and tenacious with the ball but another lapse could have cost us dearly. He manages to slip up at least once every game. 6/10

S. Nasri: Nothing too extraordinary but fitted in nicely and looked very fluid in midfield. Early days but looks like a good piece of business and if still near his best he can bring some creativity to our midfield that we have been lacking. Imagine the day when we field Nasri, Anderson, Lanzini and Rice in midfield  - with Yarmolenko hovering on the sidelines! 7/10

D. Rice: A huge presence (as always) and didn’t put a foot wrong. He has the confidence of a young Roy Keane or Billy Bonds. If we were to indulge one minor aspect that he might work on - maybe could shoot a bit more?  8/10

P. Obiang: As Sleaford Mods would say ‘mediocre’. Works hard and has a non-glamorous role. 6/10

G. Diangana: Lively all day and constantly giving the opposition something to think about. Still needs to work on his end product and defensive contribution. You really wish for him that he scores soon as one suspects that will push him to another level in terms of confidence and give the fans a chance to single him out for celebration.. 7.5/10

X. Silva: Looks sharp and was unlucky that things didn’t quite connect for him yesterday. Lots of good link play and has an abrasive edge. Certainly worth more game time and raises the question whether we really need Perez at all. 7/10

M. Arnautovic: His presence, even only for a run about for 20 minutes, changes the atmosphere on and off the pitch. He has an unusual charisma. Love to see the passion when he was taken off to keep him fit for Arsenal – we really need to beat them to get that awful defeat hoodoo off of our backs and we need Marko fully fit  to do that. 7/10

Substitutes

Carroll: Great to see him galloping about the pitch. Should’ve had a hat trick but did get the killer goal. As always, if only he can stay fit……7/10

Snodgrass: Decent contribution and definitely in good form. 6/10

Anderson: Interesting substityution – when most would’ve brought on a more defensive player, Pelle chose to bolster the attack and we almost scored on a number of occasions when Felipe came on. He created a  gilt-edged chance for Big Andy that was wasted. 6/10

QUACK QUACK!!! Anyone for a Cup Run?

Listening on the radio feed to yesterday's game the crowd noise was unmistakeably that of a cup game! Loud and passionate, you could sense the passion and excitement. Things weren't too bad on the pitch either, as Manuel Pellegrini fielded a strong side who ultimately had too much for a gamey Birmingham City.

The Blues had a number of chances to level matters along the way and will feel that West Ham were lucky to keep a clean sheet, but ultimately with 74% possession, almost three times as many passes (619 vs 211) and a vastly higher pass accuracy, West Ham were relatively comfortable winners.

There were impressive performances by the youngsters, with both Silva and Diangana posing a constant threat up front and forcing Birmingham to play relatively deep. However, the biggest talking point was the bizarre Arnautovic substitution. It seems Pellegrini may have had a rare rush of blood to the head as he pulled Marko ashore after just 20 minutes, much to the astonishment of everybody - including Arnie himself!

One disappointment from the game was that we could not get a two goal cushion early enough to give Conor Coventry a run. The cup provides excellent opportunity for younger players to get big match experience but equally, with our injury problems the Hammers did not want to concede and have to go to a replay.  

Andy Carroll got his first goal for nine months with a classical Carroll header - but not after missing two gilt edged opportunities on the floor! Its hard to know where to go with the Carroll story from here as he remains a great striker but simply cannot maintain fitness. One suspects that Pellegrini has a clear mind and will follow his plans with his usual ruthlessness. It was wonderful to hear him calmly dismissing the media in his post match interview as they tried to create a storm about the Arnautovic incident.

Next up its Monday night and the draw. We are ball 22 (Quack Quack!!!). David Gold has tweeted that he feels a Cup run coming. There is a good feeling about the club right now and that's a great time to have a run at the cup. The draw is after the Liverpool game (maybe 9.45). Ex-Hammer Robbie Keane will be pulling the balls.

Arsenal next Saturday will be a big test. The Gunners have a modest away record this season, winning four of their ten games and losing on three occasions. With Zabaleta coming back to add balance at the back, Nasri adding to our midfield options and both Arnie and Andy Carroll reasonably fit, maybe its time to buck the trend as over the past decade we have won only 1 of 22 games (2015), with 4 draws!!!

COYI!!!

The Kids Are United: No Sham United For Blues Visit

Having finally found our stride under Manuel Pellegrini, a cup run looks like an enticing prospect despite our injury problems. The cup can also provide an excellent opportunity to give some of our promising youngsters a chance to strut their stuff - something that Pellegrini has not been shy about. With Declan Rice now established as the central cog of our midfield, Grady Diangana gaining valuable match experience by the week and Conor Coventry having made a few matchday squads, it's all looking very youth-friendly. However, all eyes will be on Xande Silva today. The Portuguese hot shot gets his first start for the Hammers and will be looking to make his mark!


Pelle has almost certainly been asked to avoid an embarrassing defeat to Messers Gold n Sullivan's former club who are looking well organised under the impressive Gary Monk and will be no push over today. As such, the starting XI is strong with Diop and Ogbonna at the centre of the defence. and Arnie up front. There is plenty of quality on the bench if things don't go according to plan in the first hour! 

Samir Nasri gets his first start for the Hammers and will be hoping to demonstrate his value after a prolonged break from top class action. Sadly for Reece Oxford, there is no room in the squad, further demonstrating how far he has drifted off course since that impressive debut against Arsenal back at the start of Slaven Bilic's reign.

Rory Nostradamus reckons it'll be a 4-2 cracker.

Kick off is 12.30.

COYI!!!

West Ham United: Adrian (c), Antonio, Diop, Ogbonna, Masuaku, Rice, Obiang, Diangana, Nasri, Xande Silva, Arnautovic

Subs: Fabianski, Cresswell, Coventry, Snodgrass, Felipe Anderson, Lucas Perez, Carroll 

Say Hello to the New Cuddly from Dudley!

With the departure of Sam Allardyce, the West Ham ranks were shorn of their very own 'Cuddly from Dudley'. That is until the arrival of England U20 midfield star and Birmingham City graduate Reece Brown - who also hailes from Dudley in the West Midlands.

Reece has impressed sufficiently after a trial to gain a month long loan at the Hammers to assess his suitability to join the ranks with our two other Supertalented Reece's - Burke and Oxford!

Reece is pictured above with ex-Hammer Jonathon Spector, who seems to have helped him pack his stuff for the journey south on trial!

VERYWESTHAM wishes him the very best of luck.

Hammers Nail Down European Slot

First successful penalty in Premiership this season!

West Ham picked up a rare win yesterday as they downed bottom of the table Burnley at Upton Park. Given the advantage of an extra man from the 24th minute, when Michael Duff was harshly judged to warrant a red card after a coming-together with Cheik Kouyate, one has to wonder how the Hammers couldn't extend their 1-0 lead and again stumbled home. All the same, West Ham are back up to ninth.

All of that was of minor consequence as the Europa league fair play place was also under scrutiny. Over the past few weeks it has been nip and tuck in terms of yellow card count, while the rating of the fair play judges in terms of postive play and the conduct of players and officials remains unknown. Of note, Big Sam has been mighty quiet about refereeing decisions and the performances of the team could hardly be described as overcommitted!

None the less, it now seems highly likely that the Hammers will top the league and if England can hold on to one of the top three berths in the European table (currently third), the Hammers can start preparing for European football next season. The down side being that the competition starts in July!



Some sources have suggested that the Europa league is actually a booby prize as it places added pressure on the squad in terms of additional games and, importantly, midweek travel. For fans, the Thursday night European fixtures result in an excess of Sunday matches.

In the last season before the move to the Olympic stadium, maybe the Hammers could do without the distraction - especially when one considers that of the English qualifiers for the Europa league over the past decade, eight have subsequently been relegated - Blackburn, Bolton, Portsmouth, Fulham, Birmingham City, Middlesboro, Wigan and - yes........ West Ham!

Perhaps it's time they gave an extra players allowance to sides in European competition.