The Dream Is Alive

Robert Green for PM

ZAAAAAAAAAAMORA GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLA

Nuff said

I’m Back

Sorry for not posting in a while but I have been a bit poorly.  That said the recent revival has lifted my spirits.  It’s still a huge ask to stay up, a win against Arsenal changes a lot.  While we’d all probably be happy with a draw I don’t think we can afford to go into this match with that attitude.  Better to go for it.  That’s the attitude that got us to the FA Cup final last year and it’s the attitude that has returned in the last couple of matches.  We must knock Arsenal off their stride early as we did at Upton Park.  I think we allow things like home and away to psych us out.  Ignore the fans and make the pitch your own.  That’s what winners do. 

I’ll give Bobby Zamora credit, his passion has matched Tevez’s skill ans they have made it work.  I still think Kepa Blanco and Tevez would be a devestating tandem and I’m curious what happened to Cole.  He has the type of skills that would compliment Tevez.  Still, Bobby has taken his chance and I think the Curb’s has helped settle things down by being more consistant in team selection of late and creating the balance that players can keep their place through good play rather than lose it to a whim.  I believe this settles a team.

Last thought – We love the things you have done for us Sir Ted and appreciate the clock is ticking on your career.  But, to slag off the manager in the press days before a make or break game (and the next six make or break games) is poor judgement and has displayed a selfishness that has me questioning if your attitude has not impacted some of the younger players this season.  We need leadership on the pitch and in the locker room and, like it or not, you are paid a wage to play your role on this team whatever it may be at the moment.  Please show us the class we believed you had, remember this is the club you claim to still support and help us get to the prize.  Then you can move on to pastures green with the love and support of your hometown fans intact, your cult status in Hammer’s history confirmed. 

The Difference Between Curbs and Pards

As I watch the game on live on TV I can’t help but notice the difference that will ultimately cost us our status in the prem.  I’ve just watched the post save us from 4-0 and I am stuck that Charlton are playing the way West Ham played last year, aggressive, flowing attacking.  Pards goes forwards where Curbs is more conservative.  Which is better?  It’s 3-0 to Charlton.  I like Curbs but Pardew brings the qualities that we used to stand for at West Ham.  We are not only losing our status, I’m not sure if we have any direection from here.  With Pards it was always forward, innovative thinking.  I think Curbs can do that too but he hasn’t shown it yet.  No matter how you slice it we are showing nothing that suggests we have what it takes to succeed.  I see Kepa coming on now and he has had an immediate impact.  Can I dream?  Of course I can, otherwise I wouldn’t be West Ham! 

D-Day or Just Game Day?

As the mist lifts upon the beaches of Upton Park, brave warriors clad in their claret and blue step forward against ever mounting odds to battle for the survival of our nation.  Never in the course of human events…sorry, got carried away a bit.  Still, for West Ham Nation (apologies to the Boston Red Sox of whom I’m also a fan) it’s all the same this match.  This could very well be that moment in history where we see the revival begin or a vision of the end.  And as rumours swirl that Green will return to the squad and that Tevez, Ferdinand and Neill may be available, I can’t help but get excited about the match.  With so much riding on this how can we not be “fired up”!  My mood swings from day to day but I can’t give up on this club.  I saw one report that Curbs might go with Zamora and Harewood up front.  Another said Tevez will start.  It’s always fun watching the media try to generate a story from nothing.  Sadly, it looks like a TV shutout here in the States.  I believe this will be the first EPL match that hasn’t at least been broadcast delayed on Fox or Sentata. 

Likely 11 if fit: Green, Neill, Davenport, Ferdinand, McCartney, Benayoun, Quashie, Reo-Coker, Boa Morte, Tevez, Harewood.  I’d like to see Pantsil get another crack at right back.  My preference up front would be Tevez and Kepa.  I’d like to see how this would work out.  But if Tevez isn’t fit I would hope Curbs tries Kepa with Harewood instead of Zamora.  

Three points required lads.  Make it so!! 

Hope Is Fading

Well, my initial instinct is to begin panic.  Today against Aston Villa we didn’t have ideas, we didn’t go after that extra inch to get the ball and we had too many individual efforts that fell short.  But the worst part for me is that Curbishley had no idea what to do.  In fact, his substitution of Kepa instead of Zamora was our deathnell.  Harewood came on to do what I thought he’d do if he had started.  Problem was he needed Kepa, the only one making any threat to the goal, with him.  He put Matty on to create some crosses and took the one man off that could take advantage of them.  Both Harewood and Matty were good subs but we lost some of that gain without Kepa to take advantage.  Zamora worked hard, he always does, but he created nothing.  If Alan doesn’t know what to do we are in trouble.  He doesn’t have any idea and that, ultimately, is why we have to be in the most danger we have been in.  Losing Upson is just fate giving us a kick.  What are the odds we lose the two defenders brought in to build a foundation on in their debuts.  I won’t give up, but I am more concerned now than I have been.  Our leader doesn’t pick a team to attack and win.  Until he does, we won’t win.

The Revival Begins Today

I’m feeling cautiously optimistic about the match with Aston Villa. With Upson and Davenport in the center of defence we have a decent core for the first time in a while. I’d love to see Konch get a game today (but I suspect he won’t). With a strong center partnership, he would be able to release down the flank more often and this is where he creates problems. He may not always get in good crosses but he gets a lot of them into the target area and a man like Kepa could work with that service. I suspect Kepa will come off the bench again. I have read elsewhere he may not yet be fully fit, although this makes no sense to me since he has been training with Sevilla and making squads there so I think he must be playing fit. Either way I don’t expect to see him start. As always I’d love to see Greenie between the sticks but I don’t think it will happen. If Curbs takes Carroll off tday he’ll be sending a message to the team that one bad game and you’re straight out. This will create more tension, not motivate better performances.

Likely team as I see it – Carroll, Spector, Upson. Davenport. McCartney, Benayoun, Reo-Coker, Quashie, Boa Morte, Cole, Harewood. Love to see Kepa with Cole. I also think Harewood, on a good day, woul partner well with Kepa. No more tomorrows. Let the revivial begin.