Slightly West of West Ham

Is this the most important one?

2011-02-02T09:27:00.000-08:00

As a general rule, I panic much later than most. This season, I have not been too concerned as I could always see the way off the bottom. Today might be my tipping point. There are no more "stretches" which are vital. This is the stretch.

sighing softly

2011-01-26T14:57:00.000-08:00

One half of a pretty good team. One half (plus) just plain awful.

I am getting excited

2010-07-29T08:42:00.000-07:00

Ahh, the new season approaches and the pre-season matches have looked good. While it is over 100 degrees where I am every day, I expect to turn on the TV for the first match to see England gripped in early Winter. I will drink a refreshing sports beverage and toast the beginning of a hopefully fantastic season.

With plenty of time to spare

2010-05-03T08:27:00.000-07:00

Yesterday's close score apparently does not do justice to the actual events. What a shame, I was hoping that near-certain safety would loosen up the team a bit and they would put forth a great effort. ESPN says Hull just lost by giving up a tying goal at the very end. That removes all irrational doubt about the Hammer's scraping through and guarantees one more year in the top flight.

My off-season wish is not to hear a public peep from the owners other than "We are trying to put together a good team for next season." I don't want to hear how tough the situation is or how you made such a bad investment only because you love the team so much. We know how bad it is. If you make it better, we will believe you are the greatest businessmen in the World. We will think you hung the Moon. Just shut up about it and get to your business. For now, it appears you are trying to make excuses for an inevitable failure.

Aarrrgg! But, OK then.

2010-04-24T09:17:00.000-07:00

Just got home from coaching the youth and the match didn't get recorded. Absolutely no way in the World I can wait for a replay; not with all-important nature of this one. Fox Soccer shows the Parker goal just as they are going to break as I turn the television on. Don't know much else of what happened, but that is enough for now. I will sit and watch the replay with a relaxing cold beverage.

Whew . . .

Could Have Been Worse

2010-01-26T15:05:00.001-08:00

I had to watch out the corner of my eye for a good bit of the match, but came away pretty happy. Of course, we gave the ball away too easily, too often, but so did Portsmouth. Collison looked as though he an easy score and Nouble should have had at least one and maybe two.

I think Noble had a nice game and is playing much better since he came off his break of not starting. It may have been the kick int he pants he needed.

How long can Pompey keep that keeper? Any interest in a London move next season?

I was so worried when I saw Cole warming up. Players were falling all over the pitch as the footing looked terrible. It would have been a shame to lose him to a dumb injury caused by a bad field. I assume that all that was taken into consideration and the team knows how healthy he is after giving him appropriate treatment and time. He looked good. It is obvious how strong he is when he shoulders a defender out of the way and his speed was evident. It will be nice if he can make a run the rest of the season. Add in one of those strikers whose names have been bandied about and all I have to worry about is the back line.

Nice goal Matt.

"Gold, Jerry, Gold!"

2010-01-18T19:37:00.000-08:00

In the immortal words of Kent Brockman, "I, for one, would like to welcome our new insect overlords."

I can quote pop culture all night long. The reality is that there are new owners in place. What does that mean for the club? Who knows? It is a step, hopefully in the right direction.

Insert your own platitude here.

For now, optimism shall reign.

FA Cup exit made me sleepy

2010-01-12T18:04:00.000-08:00

All week long, I wait. I wait for Saturday or Sunday morning, when I can turn on the TV, boot up the internet to look for a live stream, or, best of all, head down to the Cock n' Bull to meet up with the other two West Ham fans here in the midlands of South Carolina to catch the Hammers match up against their latest foe in the perils of the EPL. Sometimes, I have to wait for a tape delayed broadcast. Most often, I can wait until it comes on before I search for the result online. Very rarely do I seek out the final score before having the chance to watch the actual match.

WW surveys the Tennessee River where Grant and the Union troops crossed to meet the Confederates at Shiloh.

So, like most of the Hammer fans this week, I was distraught when the match was postponed due to potential fan danger getting to and from the event. The despair became greater when the photos of the grounds surrounding Upton Park came out, showing clear streets and sidewalks. Of course, the more rational Hammers realized the delay could only help our team by giving them a chance to heal and field a stronger team when the two underprivileged tier teams met. When was the last time you met a rational Hammer's fan, though? I can't be counted amongst their ilk most times.

On January 2, 2010, I watched the East Carolina Pirates lose to the Arkansas Razorbacks in the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tennessee. When I played for the Pirates, we weren't very good. To be fair, we played a brutal schedule every year that kept us from competing for the much fewer bowl spots available in that day. I have had the chance to attend a few bowl games since then though as a fan and have had a great time at them all. This year, I took my 80 year old father and Buddy Steve and headed out to Memphis for BBQ and gambling in Tunica. With no real time to apply to a long session at the poker table, I concentrated on blackjack and got back about half of what I donated in Vegas last summer. I gave Dad five basic rules of blackjack and set him loose on a $10 table. Buddy Steve lives by his own rules, not those of the universe.

We wanted to record a hit record. We were rebuffed.

We spent a full day in Memphis and enjoyed fantastic ribs at the BBQ Shop. Go there. Now. We had big beers on Beale Street and I stopped a fight in Blues City Cafe. Unfortunately, the game did not prove to be the high point of our trip. After dominating possession and both lines of scrimmage, the Pirates had two mid range field goal attempts in the last few minutes to in. These are not quite as makeable as a penalty, but they should be darned close for a college kicker. Making matters worse, the Pirate kicker missed in overtime and the Arkansas kicker didn't. The Razorback fans, so full of pride of their big conference program (Think EPL versus Fizzy Pop) slunk out of the stadium, cautiously happy about the escape.

Chicken and Waffles. Win.

What in the world does this have to do with proper football you make ask? Well, immediately after the game, we headed back to the car for the twelve hour trip back home. I got so sleepy, I actually let Dad drive for a bit. That may not sound like a big deal, but for the last two trips I have made cross-country, I have driven all but about ninety minutes. That is about eleven thousand miles of beautiful country, almost all of which I experienced eyes wide open.

I stopped a fight inside, then had some fantastic bar-b-queued shrimp.

Anyway, we finally made it back to town with one extended stop at a Waffle House on the west side of Atlanta. I dropped Dad off and made an offer to Steve to drop him at his house or bring him along to Cock n' Bull for the FA Cup match versus Arsenal. That's right, I drove twelve hours over night (drove over ten of them at least) after being up all day drinking beer (I quit in the first quarter of the game and was dead sober by the end) to continue past my house and the arms of my loving family to sit in a dark bar and watch West Ham play a match they could not possibly win. To make matters worse, I was the only Hammer in the bar. In Columbia, there are three West Ham fans, two Spurs, a smattering of Hull and Fulham fans (due to Dempsey and Altidore), and one lonely Pompey. There are a butt-load of Arsenal fans though. They sat silently to either side and around me as I hunkered down over a Guinness, then another. Right before half, I raised my arms in silent triumph as Diamante finished like a champ. I grimaced in the second as the dream died. I paid my tab and drove home to the embrace of my kin and collapsed into bed.

The tracks out of town.

A rational fan would realize a loss early in the Cup helps the long-term prospects of WHU. Who wants to be rational though?

DE-FENSE!

2009-12-20T09:06:00.000-08:00

Noble is playing much better today (with a few dicey moments still though).
Dimanti. "Nuff said.
Green thought about imploding, then thought better of it.

Second half on.

It hurts

2009-12-16T11:51:00.000-08:00

It gets harder and harder to wait for the tape delay. I was able to watch the first half of Bolton live, but had to leave for an appointment before the second. In the evening, I found myself FFing through the Setanta Online feed as it was killing me waiting for the shoe to drop in the form of a Bolton goal. Of course, the response of Diamanti was a fantastic bit of play, but Green soon went unconscious for a moment and the match was lost.

It was the first Bolton match last year when the announcers asked about Green, "and he wants to be the England keeper?" The question remains the same.

I'll be somewhere in the Misty Mountains until Chelsea. It hurts, but I am a Hammer and can take it.

Half

2009-11-28T08:04:00.000-08:00

My favorite things about West Ham goals is that that the scorer seeks out other WHU players to hug and celebrate with rather than run off by themselves to self-aggrandize.

At 42 minutes, the announcers state, "Surely West Ham can't give this one away today."

Didn't they do their research?

What a half! Nice run by Spector and the General was big in the air.

2009-11-21T18:19:00.000-08:00

Tapedelaysonofabitch!Tapedelaysonofabitch!Tapedelaysonofabitch!Tapedelaysonofabitch!Tapedelaysonofabitch!Tapedelaysonofabitch!Tapedelaysonofabitch!Tapedelaysonofabitch!Tapedelaysonofabitch!Tapedelaysonofabitch!Tapedelaysonofabitch!Tapedelaysonofabitch!Tapedelaysonofabitch!Tapedelaysonofabitch!Tapedelaysonofabitch!Tapedelaysonofabitch!Tapedelaysonofabitch!Tapedelaysonofabitch!Tapedelaysonofabitch!

Bethel College Football Trick Play

2009-11-20T08:37:00.001-08:00

Never a doubt! (Where's that sheepish emoticon?)

2009-11-04T13:48:00.001-08:00

If Allen Iverson had played soccer, he would have been Zavon Hines' hero. Now, Zavon is mine. What a game!

The EPL better stock up on lower leg casts as he will be breaking a lot of ankles over the next few years.

can _ !

2009-10-26T11:15:00.001-07:00

Cole can be a scorer in the EPL.
Diamante can be a huge factor for WHU this season.
Zola can change his ways a bit.
Spector can throw the ball in without endless soul-searching first.
Hines can run faster than you (an most everyone else as well).
Parker can keep his hair perfect the entire match, or at least the bit he is on.

What an ending! My throat still hurts today from the yelling. If WHU can somehow translate the last twenty minutes of that match to an entire contest, there will be no worries about the table position.

Friday Ramble

2009-09-18T10:45:00.001-07:00

Lucas Neill finally found a new home. It appears he "trusted his feelings." Aww, isn't that sweet? I don't have the heart to go through the article and replace all the "S's" with "$" but I know many of us see those there anyway. He did play well in the second half last season, overcoming his lack of foot speed with some chippiness and light thuggery to help WHU keep the scores down when we had such a hard time scoring ourselves.

After Wigan, I didn't have the heart to write. I don't know if it is even more disappointing to watch such a performance when you have to wait for the delayed broadcast or when you can see it live. I think it is worse waiting. First off, I have to avoid the internet and watching any other soccer until the game is shown to be sure I don't inadvertently catch the score. Then, there is just the extra anticipation that goes with waiting eight hours after you know the match had already kicked off. When they end up losing, you get the double blow of the loss and seeming waste of effort to see the game rather than just logging in and viewing the Gamecast on ESPN while it was live.

Last year, the one point against WBA was intolerable. Is Wigan this year's WBA?

My career as a soccer coach is going fantastic. I like yelling at six year-olds for an hour. Who knew?

Liverpool is a 12:30 p.m. start for us. Youth soccer is over at 12:00. We'll hit the Rosewood Dairy Bar for lunch, then the Cock N' Bull for the match. There will be three Hammers and probably 20-30 guys wearing red jerseys and talking of past European Championship glory. Should be fun.

Early Breaks

2009-09-10T10:25:00.000-07:00

It is cruel to start the season only to have a break so soon after. At least England looked good and the US won. I can't wait until Saturday action starts in a few days.

The transfer window closed without too much damage in my mind. Losing Collins is not good, but it appears Diamanti may be impressive. I don't think I ever recovered after the January window last season with all the speculation about the club basically folding shop and losing everyone. This time around, I knew better than to believe what I read in the papers.

Speaking of Saturday, I am coaching a U5 and a U7 team. This should be fun.

Good News from The Mail for once

2009-08-27T18:47:00.000-07:00

West Ham defender Calum Davenport has been told the surgery to repair artery damage in his left thigh caused by a knife attack last weekend has been a success.

31 + 12 = Class

2009-08-26T13:25:00.000-07:00

Prayers out to Jack Collison and family. I have seen many post they are getting jersey's with his name and number in show of support. I will be joining that effort. It would be nice if he can see the support in the stands with a sea of "Collinson's."

Prayers out to Calum Davenport and his Mother. Here is to a speedy recovery.

I have few words for last night. The BBC radio broadcast was unbelievable. The crowd noise was drowning out the announcers who were fabulous themselves. Their voices were full of wonder at the intensity of the crowd and fear at the actions of a segment thereof. With ten minutes to go, one said "If any are here listening with children, get out now!" Of course, almost everything good from last night is for naught as the actions of an irrelevant few have marred West Ham, Millwall, and English football for probably years.

I go to many games each year in the South Carolina-Clemson rivalry. It has been going on longer than West Ham-Millwall. The "feuds" rarely rise to anything other than good natured ribbing. Don't quesion it's intensity as it is as extreme as any other rivialry not involving armies, but most fans realize they have to live with each other every other day of the year.

I know the bozos don't care, but the real WHU and Millwall fans are disgusted by you and will be happy to see you barred from the matches.

I would like to give the Jackie Robinson Award to Carlton Cole for his restraint last night as well. I probably would not have been as classy.

Millwall Milwall you're all really dreadful and your girlfriends are unfulfilled and alienated

2009-08-24T09:21:00.001-07:00

When in Mexico

2009-08-17T11:36:00.000-07:00

From ESPN Online's Bill Simmons:

The venom starts immediately -- booing and hissing, horn blowing, various "Meh-hee-CO! Meh-hee CO!" chants -- and never really stops. The Mexican fans had no problem drowning out the Star-Spangled Banner with jeers. They tossed drinks and debris at the U.S. bench for most of the second half ... which didn't matter because Azteca's opposing bench has an impenetrable plexiglass roof, but still. During a corner kick in extra time, they showered Landon Donovan with such a staggering amount of debris that he briefly staggered back toward the field in disbelief, shrugging his hands as if to say, "How could anyone act like this?"

I love reading Simmons for his take on the NBA. Sure, it's too Celtic oriented, but it is some of the best writing of the league out there. When I try to explain soccer to my friends, I encourage them to look at the field as a big basketball court and to follow the players without the ball, seeing how they move in anticipation of passes. The defense is viewed as a zone would be in b-ball with the lateral passing intended to create soft spot so the offense can get vertical.

I did this with Buddy Steve, whose Dad was an all-state player in high school in North Carolina in the 1930's. Back then, single digit scores were the norm with a jump ball after every basket. I told him to watch it as you imagine one would one of those old basketball games. Every score is vital which makes every opportunity exciting.

That's right, I've got Buddy Steve watching soccer. It's making its way into the US.

2009-08-16T22:20:00.000-07:00

From the Daily Mail Online:

Hammers to lose James Collins to Stoke in £5m deal

A Great Start

2009-08-16T13:10:00.000-07:00

Last season, this match probably would have ended up 1-1. Every point is vital, from August to May.

On the heels of a big win, the Daily Mail Online has this headline: City boss Mark Hughes at war with Everton's David Moyes over Joleon Lescott bid, Pompey in 'tap-up' storm and Zola threatens to quit West Ham

Of course, I want to find out what Zola's problem is so I hit the link and it takes me to this link which contains this sentence: Also: Gianfranco Zola is threatening to walk out on West Ham.

That link takes one back to the first headline. Obviously, Mr. Zola is sick and tired of headlines that link back to the same headlines without actual stories.

How do you in London put up with having to read these papers?

One More Day

2009-08-13T19:29:00.000-07:00

Vision Quest
written by Darryl Ponicsan, based on the novel by Terry Davis

Louden (Matthew Modine): I was at the hotel, they told me you took the night off. Thought you were sick or something.
Elmo (J.C. Quinn): Of course I took the night off, dummy, isn't this the night you wrestle Shute?
Louden: You took the night off for that?
Elmo: Yeah, shaved, got a haircut and everything.
Louden: You never took the night off to see me wrestle before, they'll dock you for that.
Elmo: Hey kid, money ain't everything.
Louden: It's not that big a deal, I mean it's six lousy minutes on the mat. If that.
Elmo: Ever hear of Pelé?
Louden: Yeah, he's a soccer player.
Elmo: A very famous soccer player. I was in the room here one day. I'm watching the Mexican channel on TV. I don’t know nothing about Pelé. I'm watching what this guy can do with a ball and his feet. The next thing I know he jumps up in the air and flips into a somersault and kicks the ball in, upside down and backwards. I mean, the goddamn goalie never knew what the fuck hit him. And Pelé gets excited and he rips off his jersey and starts running around the stadium waving it around over his head. Everybody's screaming in Spanish. I'm here, sitting alone in my room. I start crying, yeah that's right, I start crying. There's another human being, a species which I happen to belong to, can kick a ball, and LIFT himself and the rest of us sad-ass human beings up to a better place to be, if only for a minute. Let me tell you kid, it was pretty goddamn glorious.It ain't the six minutes... it's what happens in that six minutes.

How will they ever survive?

2009-08-12T06:40:00.001-07:00

From eatsleepsport.com

The injury blow means Hughes has just Emmanual Adebayor, Craig Bellamy, Carlos Tevez and Robinho all battling for forward roles when they travel to Blackburn on Saturday in the first game of the new season.

How can Hughes be expected to succeed with such limited options?

Anticipation

2009-08-10T13:42:00.000-07:00

Upson on the way out?
Gudjohnsen on the way in?
The Golden Retriever has signed for sure.
Green will get the start for England.
I got the new strip in and I like it.

Come on. Let's get this season started already!

Another Fantasy League

2009-07-30T14:13:00.000-07:00

While waiting Mr. Dale to restart his league, I have started a free EPL fantasy over at the official EPL site. It is free to join. The league information is as follows:

League Name: Moore Zola Please
login info: 453310-142278

Please join if you have any interest at all. I will put up a prize for the overall champ and probably a weekly prize for anyone that beats me in the weekly head-to-head matchup.

Up the Irons!

Holy Cow!

2009-06-24T13:55:00.001-07:00

As I don't have a U.S. soccer shirt, I wore my West Ham golf shirt to work today in honor of big soccer Wednesday. I wasn't expecting a 2-0 win for the U.S. though. Who was?

Noble and Tomkins sign long-term deals

2009-04-07T12:23:00.000-07:00

From the Mail Online

Things are continuing to look up. Now, let's see a long-term Zola and Clark signing.

Hate is better than nothing I reckon

2009-03-23T08:35:00.000-07:00

Did Neill flop? I did not see the play due to internet connectivity issues and have not seen it even referenced anyplace else. I stumbled across it on Chris Flanagan's blog at the Lancanshire Telegraph. I am not really sure how I got there. I was clicking on a series of West Ham related links and ended up there. The best part is all the comments this guy gets on his blog. They are almost all negative. People are actually taking the time to write in and complain, even while bemoaning the fact they are wasting their time in doing so. Now, that is effective internet writing. I am sure the advertisers on his page are happy with the reaction.

Anyway, did Neil do a floparoo?

Timing is . . . Everything

2009-03-19T07:04:00.000-07:00

In the grand scheme of American sports, there is no bigger event than the Super Bowl. Even non-football fans have their interest piqued by the build-up and non-stop advertisements and promotions. You can not buy a bag of chips in the two weeks leading up to the game that do not have an NFL logo on them. Second to the Super Bowl has to be the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, or March Madness as it is also known. All over the States today, work productivity will be greatly diminished as millions of fanatics and casual fans fill out their brackets and throw five, ten, or twenty bucks into a pool. It is inescapable. I even pay the fee for my two assistants to enter our building pool. They don't watch a night of basketball a year usually, but, at tournament time, they are glued to the results. The field is 64 teams which play a single elimination tournament over three weekends. Win six games and you are deemed national champion. Lose once, go home and think of next year. Much like the FA Cup, David has to play Goliath on occasion. This tournament is seeded though, so the better teams usually avoid each other for the first few rounds. Today, tiny Radford will play mighty North Carolina-Chapel Hill, multi-time National Champion and former stop of Michael Jordan, James Worthy, and Phil Ford. UNC-CH will probably be playing without their best player, Ty Lawson. He is expected to miss the first two rounds with a toe injury and hoped to return in time for the Sweet Sixteen. Will his absence be enough to let Radford sneak away with a victory? Not a chance, but at least they have a shot. If you get the chance, try to catch a few games. Be sure to study the kid's faces. While it is just a game to most of us, to them, it is deadly serious business.

Why talk of basketball on a soccer blog? Well, the MLS has decided to start their season today with the New York Red Bulls playing at the Seattle Sounders. The Sounders are the newest team in the league and may signify the start of something grand. They sold 22,000.00 season tickets and cut off sales to ensure there would be single game seats available. That may not sound like much to a big-club soccer fan, but in a city with an NFL and Major League Baseball franchise, not to mention a large University with a rabid following, I think it is pretty impressive. I have always wanted to live in Seattle, and a viable MLS club would make it even more attractive. To start your season when every casual sport's fans eye is going to be on the NCAA tournament is just silly. Who is running this league and why don't they have access to a computer to look at schedules for things that might conflict with the opening of a season that is vitally important. Hey MLS! I have a computer and can help if you need it. Just send an e-mail.

There is a bright line between passionate and deranged

2009-03-18T06:36:00.000-07:00

Paul, over at Claret and Blue in my Blood posted a link to a story of an Iraqi soccer player getting killed by a fan on the field during a match.

This story has a little more detail.

At least it's not a communist ploy, though some may think it is

2009-03-12T12:18:00.000-07:00

The ever excellent Cobb posted this link:

Let me conclude on a note of despair appropriate to my topic. There is no way to run away from soccer, if only because it is a sport all about running. It is as relentless as it is easy, and it is as tiring to play as it is tedious to watch. The real tragedy is that soccer is a foreign invasion, but it is not a plot to overthrow America. For those inclined toward paranoia, it would be easy to blame soccer’s success on the political left, which, after all, worked for years to bring European decadence and despair to America. The left tried to make existentialism, Marxism, post-structuralism, and deconstructionism fashionable in order to weaken the clarity, pragmatism, and drive of American culture. What the left could not accomplish through these intellectual fads, one might suspect, they are trying to accomplish through sport.

Soccer is an easy sell to parents of small children. For some reason though, it does not retain the interest of US kids into adulthood as do the other sports.

Tough Guy

2009-03-12T10:25:00.001-07:00

An Italian Revisited

2009-03-03T12:05:00.000-08:00

Oh, I've been in a Willie Shakes mood lately, re-watching the Band of Brothers speech from Henry V and thinking about picking the complete works back up and try to get through some of those tales I have missed. I re-watched the Man City a day later to try to get some new insights into the new players and revisit the old and was struck with David Di Michele's play throughout the match. His play put me in mind of that other roving Italian and to paraphrase Antony, I have come to praise DDM, not to bury him.

First off, the new guys. Kovacs is easy to spot on the field with his blond mop bouncing around the pitch. Unfortunately, in the Middlesbrough match, it was often bobbing completely out of position. He worked hard to get where he was going. Then he would work a little harder to get where he actually should have been. He reminds me of current Denver Nugget, Renaldo Balkman, when he played at South Carolina. He was boundless energy, unencumbered by responsibility. Renaldo finally figured it out and has made a good pro career out of it. Kovacs made a huge leap in his second game and was much better against Man City. Relax, you've got the job.

As for Savio, he is coming on quick. He contained Bellamy's speed on a run just before the 60 minute mark and showed his offensive skill on the goal by Collison. He eats up the pitch with his speed and the power of his shot was impressive. Can we all just start sending him a few bucks a week in an attempt to keep him around for more than two or three years? It is worth a shot.

On to the old guys now. Cole was a monster for much of the match, He is able to impose his will on defenders playing with his back to the goal. Headed forward, he is still gangly looking. As long as he contains his action to a few square yards, he looks unbeatable. I assume Zola is working on expanding that circle of skill. If you have the chance, go back and watch the match at the 29 minute mark where Cole and DDM played a beautiful two man game. It was world class but for the very end, but is one of those plays they will get with more matches.

I liked DDM on the free kick and corner he took in quick succession in the first half. Both balls were in play and dangerous to City. He also had a series of very nice entry passes at the beginning of the second. On one, it took Cole getting mugged to prevent a shot. On another, Parker stepped in front of a ball intended for Collison who was in a much better position to play it. He did give one away cheaply at 69 minutes, but overall, I thought he was key in creating the opportunity for goals. he was involved in the Collison goal with a nice flick to Savio, streaking down the side. Wow, that's nice to say isn't it? A West Ham player STREAKING! The old saying is, "You can't teach speed," and Savio doesn't need the lesson. As for speed, DDM may not have the same spring he used to, but he is all over the pitch, playing 3/4 of the field and making tackles deep in WHU territory. He may run out of gas, but he gives it his all when he is out there.

The best part of the goal was the celebration. Collison didn't run off to celebrate. He found Cole and wrapped him with a hug. Cole can be a leader and it showed there. You could see the joy in his face. On the replay, I hoped you all noticed where DDM was when the ball went in to the net. After starting Savio off on his run, DDM ended up in the center of the goal, ready to pounce on any rebound. That is where he will score. He sneaks around the goal and will get a few more this year. I have no problem with Cole and DDM up front for now. I think it is the best combo WHU have, and with Savio starting to exert his will, the strikers will get a little more space to operate in the middle.

2009-02-26T16:56:00.000-08:00

Guess I need a new cat.

Schrödinger's cat, or soccer match as the case may be

2009-02-26T06:52:00.000-08:00

West Ham has won.
West Ham has lost.

Both events are equally likely at this point. I was in a seminar during the match yesterday and had no access to the internet. Afterwards, I headed out to the Wednesday night poker game. While waiting for the South Carolina/Kentucky basketball game to start, I browsed through the Fox Soccer Channel listings and saw the match would be replayed at 3:00 a.m. E.S.T. Bingo! Now, I just have to make it through the day without going to the WHU website, any England news outlet, or this blog. I know if I do, that most of you have published recaps already and I would know the fate of the cat before I wanted to.

I am content to let the cat sit in its box a little longer, unknowing of its fate. I will work the day, head home with a stop at the grocery, enjoy my family's company for dinner, and help with a little homework. Then, I will head downstairs, sit in my favorite chair, and thumb the button that will let me know the fate of the FA Cup run for our beloved. I might even let the cat, Sally, sit on my lap.

C'mon!

An Important Stretch

2009-02-18T09:16:00.001-08:00

Alright boy, let's get those hammies loose, make those quads relax, stretch those neck muscles. The next six of seven league matches feature opponents currently below us in the standings. The lone exceptions sits just above us. A string of wins here are vital to hopes beyond mere safety from relegation. Some of these matches went against the hammers in the first go-round so it is vital to make up for those losses with wins. It will be especially difficult without Cole or Behrami for part of this run, but this team has overcome so much adversity this year so far, what's a little more? Seriously, have any of you long-time WHU fans ever been more happy with the direction of the club?

The Wanderers are on the table next. Let's get this one over early. Who will be up front? Sears? Tristan? I am betting on Tristan with Sears early in the second. I think Freddie will start at the 'boro next week and am looking for a goal. I expect Savio to make his appearance as well in both matches, maybe starting one. It is obvious Zola wants him in there learning the game. I am going to wear my #33 this weekend just in case. As all the Arsenal fans are at the main bar watching their team and being entirely too loud, I'll be sitting over in the corner, fixated on the Irons. Let's get this one done to start this run right.

Is the Transfer Window closed yet?

2009-02-13T07:31:00.001-08:00

I took a little break from blogging and reading after the transfer window closed as I was exhausted. One could not read an article without a sense of doom about the departures of the bulk of the team and the sure fall to lower leagues. As we all know, the only notable departure was motormouth with a number of seemingly promising arrivals. Of course, only time will tell if the little German (Ode to Top Secret) will pan out for us or some other club, or at all and if the Rooney look-a-like can get his knee in shape well enough to terrorize opposing fullbacks. For now, we have an in-form Cole, an intriguing Di Michele and a host of solid, if a bit slow, mid-field and back line players. Oh yeah, there is an England goalie as well. I have seen the word “Europe” being bandied about as the club has re-risen to striking distance of qualification. Just as December was too soon to worry about relegation, February is too soon to worry about Europe. Let us concentrate on the next four league matches and then see where we are.

I was coming back from a camping trip while the Irons were playing a solid match against Manchester United. As soon as I got the boys cleaned up and the truck unpacked, I turned on the DVR and got down to the serious business of watching. It was obvious the team had worked on the back-heel pass all week wasn’t it. There were more little flicks off Achilles in the first thirty minutes than there had been all year. It was pretty football but ultimately unproductive as the first half remained scoreless. As I watched though, I could not help but feel we were attacking them and not just sitting back trying to keep the match respectable. While there were no real threat to the goal until Berbatov tackled our man Cole in the box, there was the threat of a threat. Against the speed and skill of our opponent, it was exhilarating to watch.

As for our defense, Neill and Behrami attempted to smother Ronaldo who had been placed on the left to take advantage of their lack of speed. You think Ilunga saw Ronaldo walk to the other side to start the match and said to himself, “That’s right, I’m bad.” They kept him in check pretty well and Neill got in a good forearm shiver that sent the adams apple to the ground where he lay motionless until he realized there was nobody paying attention. It was a solid performance by those two and good coaching by all involved.

As for my main man, Ironhead Collins, his little head flick on a ball going out soon led to the Giggs goal. It can’t be complained about as he made his decision based on what he knew at the time. It is easy for me to complain, but you should tell me to stop. He is a rock and without him, we wouldn’t be speaking of Europe, but rather sweating results of those below us to make sure they aren’t rising too fast. I just want to know if walkers are legal on the pitch and how did Giggs get one with flames on the side. (it is fun to speak of those younger than me as ancient).

Middlesbrough this week and the Quarters to go after that hopefully, Then, there are a number of matches that are in the “should win” column. Eighth place is the not highest potential for this team, but as I said, it is too early to speak of that now.

I did not get a chance to see the England-Spain match but it appears the Hammers acquitted themselves well. The U.S. team had a good result against Mexico, but it was not a comfortable win as Mexico had a number of nice opportunities that could have made the match much more interesting. It is going to be fun during the run-up to 2010.

West Ham 2-Hull City and Arsenal 0; Why did we only get four points

2009-02-03T05:53:00.000-08:00

I think the Irons looked slow against Arsenal. That may be due to the fact Arsenal is just faster through the midfield. Neill is definitely amongst the slowest on the field on any particular night, but Behrami is sufficient cover most of the time. Three games in seven days culminating with a trip to Big Four land and I have to be happy with the results. Sure, it would have been nice to slip one in, but we were lucky on an Arsenal shot that could have easily squirmed over Green's fingers. With a full week's preparation, my anticipation for the northern team is high. Of course, I will be watching it after the fact as usual so none of you text me the results, alright?

The score should have been 5-0 versus Hull. Otherwise, it was a great result versus a team that looked to have it going on the first half and is now in potentially serious trouble. I hope they pull it together but still finish well below WHU.

Has the transfer window closed yet? I am looking forward to seeing Savio and Sears run out together one of these days. I am also extremely happy with the Ilunga signing as I view him as vital. What will the papers write about now?

Rare photos of James Collins in training.

FA Cup Run Continues

2009-01-27T06:52:00.000-08:00

In 1984, the University of South Carolina Football team started 9-0 and moved to number 2 in the polls. This was a heady times for the Gamecocks. William Price Fox, noted author and Gamecock fanatic wrote a book about that "Black Magic" season which I got for Christmas the following year. Arch-rival Clemson was on probation that year and could not appear on television live. As a result, the biggest game of the year was only shown on tape delay. Fox and his game-watching companion couldn't get tickets for the game and were stuck waiting for the replay that night. Now, in South Carolina, there is no bigger event than the Carolina-Clemson football game. There would be almost no way to avoid knowing the result in the lag between the final whistle and the replay. Fox and his buddy decided to garrison themselves in a rural motel, stocked with enough liquor and food to ensure they would not have to leave the room at all during the day. The motel was off the main roads so they didn't have to worry too much about someone in a passing car yelling out the score. It happens. Like I said, this is a big deal. Long story short; they made it to game time without knowing the outcome, Carolina scored late to win the game, and Mike Hold and William "The Refrigerator" Perry had a signature moment in the rivalry.

I do not have to go to those lengths to watch a delayed West Ham match. First off, I don't think there is a rural motel in South Carolina that would carry Setanta. Secondly, there are only a few other West Ham fans in town and they don't have my phone number where they could call and spoil the score for me. Against Hartlepool, there was one moment of spoiler potential. I had arrived at the pub a few minutes before the match and the Man U-Sp*r match was on. I watched the end of it and should have known better than to continue to watch after it was over. Of course, West Ham was the first highlight shown. As soon as I saw the claret and blue, I clapped my hands over my ears and ran out of the building. A few moments later, another patron came out and said it was alright for me to come back in. Of course he also said WHU won 7-0 and he was sorry to spoil it for me. I told him if that was the actual score, I would forgive him.

The match itself was pretty bland. The Irons looked subdued while Hartlepool looked to be trying their best for every moment. David tried hard as well but with better results. Of course, we are not exactly Goliath are we? At about the 41 minute mark, my youngest boy said, "I gotta go to the bathroom!" Yes, there was an exclamation point at the end of his sentence. When a four year old says that, you are pretty much stuck going to the bathroom. As he was wrapping up, the five year old came knocking on the door. By the time, we got done, it was extra time and the score was 2-0. Fantastic timing boys.

Middlesbrough is next in February and the team should be more up for that match. The sweet sixteen is nice but eight is great. First up though, is free-falling Hull. These do not appear to be the same teams that faced each other a few months ago. I see a much different result occurring this time. Of course, I won't actually see the result as I don't think the match is even live on broadband and the first replay I could reasonably get to is on Friday. I won't be able to stay off the Internet or Fox Soccer that long. Well, life can't be all surprises can it?

Tape Delayed Wins Still Count as Three Points

2009-01-21T05:49:00.000-08:00

On Sunday, I had to avoid the reaches of the internet that would have the EPL scores. I surfed around a few US news sites and a few other regular sites of interest while waiting on the match to be replayed on Setanta at 5:00 p.m. Our cable carrier does not offer Setanta as an option, leaving only the satellite companies. Unfortunately, my house is surronded by tall trees and no signal is possible. Therefore, I am subject to the opening hours of the Cock n' Bull to catch any match not on Fox. Now, if WHU is playing one of the big four, the pub will be open no matter the time. But, for a match versus Fulham, I am going to have to wait until regular business hours.

There are only two televisions in the bar and both were tuned to the Eagles-Cardinals game when I walked in. It is a soccer bar though and the tender was happy to turn it to the West Ham match for me. It only caused a few grumbles as another table had to readjust to watch the NFL game on the TV over the bar. The downside for me is that I had no sound on my game. Stuck with my own analysis of the action, I watched another fine performance by the front line and generally solid play throughout. I think Di Michele played very well and showed his ability with the ball. It will be interesting to see if he can raise his play with a run of three or four starts. When he has been coming in as a late sub, he has been invisible. Over ninety minutes, his deftness may prove redeeming. Cole continued to bruise away and get another score off a nice Di Michele pass. He also set up Noble's PK with a strong run.

Two of the ex-hammers looked to still be on the payroll for at least a little bit. Bad defense led to two of the goals. How about that strike from Konchesky? Green appeared stuck for a minute, but who can blame him? I don't think anyone expected that shot from there with that much juice and aim. A clean sheet would have been nice, but three points was vital. It clears the relegation zone by a few games and marks a win in a "should" win situation.

This week, I am back on tape delay for the Hartlepool match. Man, I love the FA Cup. It's Hoosiers on grass. But Monkey Hangers? Seriously?

A Nice Read

2009-01-16T17:27:00.000-08:00

A commenter on West Ham Till I Die posted a link to this article. It appears someone in the media believes in the way WHU is operating.

No more Freddie Ljungbergs

In Duxbury's words, it was an end to the "haphazard way of spending money" and the start of a model of working that would lead to the club being self-sufficient, not reliant on a wealthy benefactor and certainly not – as had been predicted following the Carlos Tevez saga, the financial travails of its owner Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson and the fallout from the departure of manager Alan Curbishley – in the business of conducting a fire sale in the January transfer window. If anything, the window is a relief for West Ham as it means they can provide concrete evidence that they are not in crisis.

A Talented Child

2009-01-16T07:17:00.000-08:00

From the Mail Online: Craig Bellamy looks set to leave West Ham after angrily storming out of the club's Chadwell Heath training ground

Seriously? Stormed out? Is this possibly true or another seeming misstatement by the Mail in their never ending pursuit of transfers that will justify their statements about WHU having to sell players to stay solvent?

I like Bellamy on the field for the Hammers. He is non-stop action: feet and mouth. He gets into the other team's face and head. The simple truth though, is that he is a vagabond, staying with no team for an appreciable length. On top of that, he has hamstrings that betray him quite often, making his availability a dicey proposition.

The bright side way of looking at a possible transfer is that the club will double their investment, lose an injury-prone player, make a statement to Cole that the team believes his is the man, and be able to develop new talent at the position (Freddie, Freddie, Freddie). The dark side is losing the heart of the scoring with no proven replacement and realizing your team does not have the financial means to compete nor the same desire as the fans to see a winner.

Stay or go, I don't know. Get it over with though.

Newcastle 2-West Ham 2

2009-01-12T08:38:00.000-08:00

I took up my normal spot Saturday morning with the other West Ham fan here in town, and low and behold, we had increased our numbers by 50% as a third hammer joined us for the match. Parker played as well as he had all year. Ding! His price just went up. Bellamy's did as well as he harassed the Newcastle backs all day and then keyed their cars on the way out of the lot. He tweaked a hamstring late so I am sure we will see him again in a few months. Maybe that will keep the buyers at bay for a bit.

Carlton Cole has finally learned to complete the third item to his checklist:

1. Control ball
2. Turn around
3. Kick ball into net

For the first three and a half months of the season, item 3 was "fall down" or "give ball to other team." After Zola pledged to work him until he was sick a few weeks ago, Cole has responded with a great run. It is nice seeing him tie it all together. Now, he will bruise the other team and score goals. Nice.

The line of the match came from Dan after Andy Carroll scored; "Damn you O-Town!"

Who knew he quit the big money world of manufactured pop to become a thorn in our side?

Oh, he's in there.

The play of the match was me, slamming my cap on the floor after Neill made a fantastic goal at the wrong end. It bounced eighteen inches straight up and back into my hands where I deftly placed it on my head just as I realized the goal had been disallowed for some reason. Neill was shaky all match which is just not that unusual. What was strange though, was the tremors coming from the rest of the backfield for the first part of the match. It felt like the old days of October with Collins falling over and Collison eating with some fans in the first row for a while. They finally came around though and held strong enough for the tie. WHU should have scored at least two more but Newcastle had their shots as well.

Once again, a point is a point, but it would be great to see how we do without giving up a goal in the first twenty.

From the Times Online: Truth is elusive in Harry Redknapp's world

From the official website: Zola Excited for the Future

"Sometimes we get carried away by the enthusiasm of going forward and scoring that sometimes we concede something [at the back]. But trust me this team can play even better. I can tell you we can produce the football like we did in the first 15 minutes of the second half at Newcastle for even longer. I have confidence in my players.

"They were determined to win, they wanted to win. In the end, I had to keep some of them from running forward. It is positive though, it means they want to win. They are determined to improve, they are willing to do everything to get the team to a high level. It is a fantastic thing for a manager to see."

I am excited as well. Now, if we can just make it to February without losing too much.

The Never Ending Story

2009-01-08T09:03:00.000-08:00

This will excite potential buyers.

A new twist in TevezGate From the Guardian

Also

The transfer of Etherington is complete after a few stops and starts. He was huge presence in one match this year but has not been consistently solid. If there is a list of those who have to go, his name is the not the worst to see. Good luck to him.

Arsenal (amongst others) wants Upson

2009-01-05T19:22:00.000-08:00

From The Guardian online

But West Ham, despite the uncertainty over their long-term ownership, will fight to keep all of their established stars. Gianfranco Zola, the manager, will trim his squad by a handful of fringe players, as he seeks to work with a group of 20 outfield players and three goalkeepers.

I hate reading all the speculation. Maybe it would be better if I just tune in on match day and see who is still on the team.

A Quick One (as I was away)

2008-12-31T09:34:00.000-08:00

Any excuse for a The Who reference . . .

I just got back from visiting my Wife's family in the Washington D.C. and let me tell you, wearing a Hammers shirt or jacket will make you some new friends quickly. I plan on making a trip report in the next few days, but for now thanks to Dan, Will, Drew, and Sally will have to suffice. They made a wonderful trip even more wonderful. If you are ever in the area and need a soccer fix, make sure you get over to Ireland's Four Courts. They made sure I saw the Stoke game in style.

Two big wins and a huge jump up the table. Happy New Year everybody! I hope the club has big resolutions and is able to follow through. I resolve to keep the West Ham spirit alive here in the southern United States and convert more to our noble cause. I hope you all stay safe and prosper.

West Ham 0- Aston Villa 1

2008-12-23T07:45:00.000-08:00

A benefit of living in the United States is that the papers are not full of news of the latest West Ham loss. When my favorite college football team loses a game, I have to avoid the local papers for a few days so I do not have to relive the event. West Ham gave up a undeserved loss to AV on Saturday on a fluke goal. Of course, Davenport probably saved one earlier and AV had another few chances that could have easily gone in. Those didn't though. Only the skim off of Neill's shin did so and Green had to watch helplessly as it spun over his head. West Ham had their chances and Cole continued to score 90% of a goal a few times. Zola says he is going to work on that last 10% with him until Cole is sick of it this week. I hope he throws up all over the pitch.

So, I get to watch the match in the early afternoon due to the time difference. The loss did not ruin the rest of my Saturday but it came damn close. Sunday morning, I awoke to a new day, free of all thought but the match on the 26th. I picked up my Sunday sports section and worked my way through the college basketball scores, bowl previews, and NFL news. On the back page, in the lower left corner, the hand reached up to slap me back to Saturday. It was just a blurb but is read like a long, bad Russian novel. "Brad Friedel made a number of saves to move Aston Villa to third in the English Premier League in their 1-0 win over West Ham at Upton Park."

Why State Newspaper? Why?

Chelsea 1-West Ham 1

2008-12-15T06:21:00.000-08:00

Everyone knows how well Parker and Collison played. Did everyone miss Behrami as much as I did during the first twenty minutes of the second half? It was as though he was getting a rub down at half and did not make it back in time for the kick-off. Bellamy probably does not have to run in the off-season; All he does is continue to yap non-stop to exercise his lungs. Somebody needs to mic him for a match. I am sure it would be comedy gold.

The Ref decided to book everyone in the first half and then watch the second with his eyes closed. It would have taken a stab wound to bring out a card. Chelsea are going to continue to complain about the shoulder ball and the Lampard fall though they both appeared to be defensible decisions. If they had gone the other way, Hammers would have just as valid complaints.

It was fantastic seeing Bellamy finally get one in. Now, let's work on the bunches that should follow. Unfortunately, it is becoming less disappointing when Cole misses a makeable chance. He had a few flashes where he flat out physically dominated in the middle. Then, he would get the ball and fall over himself.

From a defensive standpoint, the team looked comfortable. It was worrying not to see Collins in there with his anvil head. It turned out alright though it was killing me to watch all those clearance kicks not make it to mid-field. Also, it appeared that there was a lack of zip on some back passes. Like I said, the defense looked comfortable, but I was worried it would turn to lackadaisical and one of those lazy passes would end up on the foot of a blue toe and over the Green. Speaking of Green, he avoided his embarrassing moment and all we will remember will be the couple of very nice saves he made. This is not the same keeper we saw against Everton.

It was a huge point. Let's get three this week.

I shouldn't really cheer loudly here, but if WHU scores late to take a win, I just might let fly

2008-12-08T06:19:00.000-08:00

The online calculator states I am 4069 miles away from the match today as the crow flies. Why is my stomach so jittery then? Come 3:00 p.m. my time, I am shutting the door to my office with a shout of "Hold all my calls!" I have always wanted to shout that, though I never have.

Physical manifestations of stress from an event occurring over 4000 miles away caused by the future actions of adult men whom I have never met: I can't really say that is healthy.

And Boa Morte comes off the bench to score a fantastic win for West Ham United!!! What? He missed? You've got to be ************ kidding me.

2008-12-01T14:17:00.000-08:00

I hate to bandy about the word "useless" about world class athletes, but Boa Morte and Faubert looked as though they were playing for the red team today. Bellamy kept the team alive with the pressure he was able to muster all match while Ol' Ironhead and his crew did their job splendidly for the third match in a row. Gerrard was kept in check but for an incredible entry pass late that ended up out of the net somehow. I would like a photo of his face though, right after he whiffed on his shot. It was priceless.

Announcers time their words in an attempt to look prescient. At the eighty minute mark it was, "No side has scored more last minute goals than Liverpool and no side has conceded more than West Ham United." Really? Stellar observation there Sherlock.

The Liverpool crowd seemed into the match the entire time though I imagine it was frustrating for them not to be able to break through. No sympathy here though. I've got my own team to worry about. One point is a freaking win today. Nice job, guys!

The P2P went out at about the 30 minute mark and I could not find any other source, so I went ahead and signed up for a month of Setanta Broadband to get the second half. Meh, I should have done it at the beginning of the season anyway. Thanks to all of you who post the streams. It helps those of us who are in other parts of the World a lot.

2008-11-26T12:37:00.000-08:00

From the Guardian online

The legal battle over the Carlos Tevez affair will stretch into the new year after West Ham lodged an appeal against a high court ruling in Sheffield United's favour.

Sheffield United earlier today appeared to have gained the advantage in the saga, after Mr Justice Teare granted a temporary order stopping the Hammers appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) over a ruling that they had breached Premier League rules in hiring the Argentine.

But the London club have lodged an appeal against the judge's decision to allow Sheffield United to go ahead with their arbitration claim for damages over their relegation from the Premier League last season, and the matter will return to the high court for a full trial next year when Sheffield United will seek a permanent injunction to prevent West Ham appealing to the CAS.

As an attorney, I find the process fascinating.
As a West Ham fan, I find it excruciating.
As a sports fan, I find it ludicrous it has come to this: decisions made in court rooms that should be made on the field of play.

I fail to see how this can be helpful in finding a new buyer. Who wants to spend the money when there is so much uncertainty? Of course, there would probably be a provision in the sale agreement providing for an adjustment depending upon the outcome of the Sheffield matter so it may not be as big as impediment as it seems.

As for now, I linger between excitment and dread. woopee.

Ironhead

2008-11-24T09:39:00.000-08:00

Well, that was fantastic. A win, a clean sheet, and the emergence of some real defense. No matter how hard he tried, Samuel Cisse Jackson could not get his head quite aligned to score. Reid kept knocking it in there, but James Ironhead Collins kept knocking it back out. I watched at the house with the kids crawling all over me. I wonder if they could feel how tense my body was as the clock ticked away. After an awful day of college football on Saturday, West Ham provided a great start to my Sunday. The middle of the table is crowded and the hammers have two tough ones in a row. Maybe they can make up for those losses earlier to relegation fodder and make their own case to move into the top half.

Where are they now?

2008-11-21T20:49:00.000-08:00

From ESPN Online

A voracious appetite for birds, booze and drugs rarely complements a fruitful footballing career but Frank McAvennie, a striker who once scored goals as freely as he partied, made a genuine effort to marry the two.

. . .

West Ham fans will never forget the season of 1985-86 and he was the name on everyone's lips that season, where the Hammers achieved their best league position in a 113-year history. McAvennie scored 26 goals while part of a wonderful partnership with Tony Cottee. Yet the season he came back to East London - 1988-89 - the Irons were relegated. It was during this latter period that his love affair with the mirror and the razor blade developed.

I need cheers to awake me from this Winter slumber

2008-11-17T11:22:00.000-08:00

The time change and early onset of darkness always gets me down for a few weeks. Add in three goals in six minutes by Everton after some beautiful football by West Ham only adds to it. I sat at the Cock n' Bull waiting on the match to start while fans of some other two teams were packed in watching their tine little match. Who is this Arsenal and Manchester United these people speak of anyway?

The pub was open at 7:30 a.m. for the early match and I headed down to get a good breakfast and watch with Buddy Tim. The Arsenal fans left happy and I have to say I felt a little better with them winning rather than Man U. I am an underdog supporter and while it is hard to consider either of those teams an underdog, Arsenal did have fewer fans in the building during the match. Most of the crowd of 45 or so left during the first half of the West Ham match and I was left alone with the bartendress and manager by the time the Hammers scored. I was on the edge of my seat for the next twenty minutes trying to will the clock to move faster. Alas, I am no Hiro and Everton scored and scored and scored again. I tabbed out after the second goal as the staff was looking to close up as soon as the match was over so they could get to the South Carolina game, but they assured me they had no problem with me sitting there until the end. After the third goal, the manager slid a Guinness in front of me and said, "This one's on me." Mighty nice for a Newcastle fan.

As for Portsmouth, there was no coverage of it anywhere in my neck of the woods. I did catch the highlights on the wrap-up show and it looked to be typically full of missed opportunities. Does a clean sheet rate as a win right now? A point is a point is a point I guess.

I don't recall any particularly pithy comments from the Everton match, but the announcers were a bit harsh about Green. There was something along the lines of "And he thinks he should be the goalie for England." It reminded me of Jerry's comment to George, "And you want to be my latex salesman?"

It appears this week's match will be on Fox which means I'll have no problem watching. Maybe the two other West Ham fans and I will get together and watch.

Even in South Carolina there are Manchester United asses giving me a hard time (he's not really an ass, just a Man. U. fan)

2008-10-29T07:12:00.000-07:00

I hung out with Buddy Tim last night who asked if I was going to cut out of work early today to watch the game. I told him I was going to tape it and watch it later as my Wednesday night poker game was going to conflict with it. Tim, still not certain about my EPL knowledge, wondered if I even knew what game he was talking about. I replied that it was the game wherein Manchester United was going to suffer a crushing defeat. His response was that it was clear I did not know the game he was speaking of. He was referring to the one was one in which West Ham United was going to get demolished. "That game is not scheduled for tomorrow," I replied. Hope I'm right.

I now have to spend the next 36 hours avoiding him and the internet so as not to hear the score before I have a chance to watch the match Thursday night. Please, nobody post anything important until Friday morning when I have a chance to get back on the net. Thanks. ;)

Edit: It appears as though I will be able to watch from the office today thanks to a timely heads-up from Hammered who has become the "go-to" guy for up to the minute revelations.

The past is past. The future awaits and contains a striker at every turn. Hopefully some Saints stayed in town and are available for knockout duty,

2008-10-28T06:14:00.000-07:00

Arsenal just played a little bit better. For much of the game West Ham stood toe-to-toe, but one little lapse led to the only score that mattered. Faubert is a good player. I think it is obvious he has some nice skills. Where do you put him though? Right now, it seems as though he is being plugged into a square hole just to get him on the field.

Welcome back Mr. Collins. Solid, as was Parker.

For the first time this year, the middle looked safe as I found myself not cringing every time the ball went into the middle third. It will be a tall order to replicate that feeling with Man. U. and the fifteen strikers they will be putting on the field tomorrow.

Speaking of strikers, Cole may be one one day. Unlike that Lost castaway, Mr. Eko, for Arsenal, Carlton does not appear to have grown into his body yet. Once he adds 10-15 pounds of muscle, he will be able to shunt defenders aside and make better opportunities in front of the goal. Right now, he seems on the verge of always tripping over his own feet.

Bellamy is fast. I bet he gets impatient if the patron in front of him at the checkout takes too long to unpack their cart. He will break out for two or three as long as he can keep the hammy from sproinging.

My favorite announcer comment of the match: Faubert had an awful clearance attempt that popped straight up and the comment was, “That was a fairly unsophisticated attempt.” Indeed.

I want a win over Man. U. Oh, I know you all want one as well. I need it though as most of the EPL fans in town are supporters of that group for some reason. They have that Dallas Cowboy thing going on without the cool star on the helmet.

Speaking of the NFL, did the Saints-Chargers game cut into attendance at the EPL matches on Sunday? I noticed a ticket promotion on the West Ham website for Arsenal and was confused as I figured any match with them would be an instant sellout. At least the NFL game was entertaining unlike the one they had over there last year.

Alright, the recorder is set to go tomorrow as I will be playing poker during the match and we don’t get Fox Soccer channel out there. Not that anybody in my game would want to watch it anyway. They would rather listen to bad music of their youth. Not my youth mind you. That music was awesome. ;)

Hull. Who Knew?

2008-10-21T12:24:00.000-07:00

Before the season, when the schedule had just come out, you took your mental pencil and marked the projected wins and losses for the year. You put a check in the win column against a few of the big clubs. For the most part, you made sure it was home game as you know the boys always play a bit better in front of the home fans. Sure, you probably picked an away upset somewhere in there. After all, there is always hope and a little history to support such a pick. Besides, what is better than being able to say, "I knew it!" when they pull off a big victory on the road.

For the most part though, you tried to keep it reasonable. The Hammers were sure to lose a few on the road they should win, would lose some at home to a team that was just better, or played better that day, and would suffer the random, inexplicable loss to an inferior side. As for the wins, you marked down the sure things first, before you moved on to the "should wins," "could wins," and "Boy it would be nice to win this one wins." If your list was anything like mine, Hull was on that "should win" list at the beginning of the year along with Bolton and WBA. Unlike as with those two though, Hull has to be moved into the "could win" column. They are on an amazing run and I hope it continues for a bit. At least until the rematch. Who knew they would be able to do this first time around? If you did, more power to you. What did you put by Arsenal this week?

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I am watching the Man. U/Celtic match on P2P on a Chinese network I think. I recognized when they said "Davenport," but Berbetov was a mish-mash.

It was 40 years ago today . . .

2008-10-16T12:13:00.000-07:00

I used to play some football. Of course, it involved an oblong ball and handball was encouraged. I wish I had played more of the foot only variety.

It's been 21 years since I last put on a football helmet. I still have dreams of remaining eligibility and me trying to play at ECU or USC. Then, I wake up and thank goodness I don't really have to go out there and pop people. I still hurt all these years later. If my kids never step on a football field, it won't bother me a bit. I love the game still. It is violent to your body though and the ramifications will manifest the rest of your life.

This was the best we did while I was at ECU. We played the best team I had ever seen, the National Champion Hurricanes. Standing on the sideline as Miami kicked off, it sounded and felt as though a herd of elephants was running down the field. They were huge and fast. We got crushed by an FSU team that ended up # 2. Todd Ellis and the Gamecocks had what was probably their best team ever and Southern Miss was lead by a freshman Qb named Favre.

G 1 9/ 5 1987 R A W 32-14 ( 4 - 7 - 0 55) North Carolina State
G 2 9/12 1987 R C H L 3-44 ( 11 - 1 - 0 2) Florida State
G 3 9/19 1987 R A L 10-20 ( 3 - 7 - 1 64) Illinois
G 4 9/26 1987 H W 16-13 ( 0 - 1 - 0 0) Georgia Southern
G 5 10/ 3 1987 R H L 0-49 ( 6 - 6 - 0 31) West Virginia
G 6 10/10 1987 R H W 56-28 ( 4 - 7 - 0 69) Cincinnati
G 7 10/17 1987 R C A W 32-23 ( 2 - 9 - 0 65) Virginia Tech
G 8 10/24 1987 R C A L 12-34 ( 8 - 4 - 0 10) South Carolina
G 9 10/31 1987 R C A L 3-41 ( 12 - 0 - 0 1) Miami (Florida)
G 10 11/ 7 1987 R H W 31-26 ( 3 - 8 - 0 81) Temple
G 11 11/14 1987 R C A L 34-38 ( 6 - 5 - 0 30) Southern Mississippi

This photo was taken after the Cincinnati game, six days before my 19th birthday. I played a few more weeks and then retired at the end of the season. All athletes retire at some point whether it's the twelve year old who decides that baseball is no longer for him or Chris Chelios who will have to hang it up at some point. Sports was a huge part of my life back then. I wish I had listened to Dad who told me to concentrate on pool and golf as I could play them my whole life and get paid if I was smart enough. It wasn't for me though as I insisted on playing all the baseball, basketball, and football I could. Now, I am a bad pool player and worse golfer to go along with my sore knees and shoulders. To top it all off, my ass hurts if I play poker too long.

Anyway, it's my 40th. I am taking the family to the State Fair tonight and meeting the gang for a few drinks tomorrow. I don't feel different.

When it rains . . .

2008-10-09T20:48:00.000-07:00

From The Sun

WEST HAM manager Gianfranco Zola has been dealt another blow with Valon Behrami likely to face a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

The £5million right-back, 23, hurt his knee while training with Switzerland when team-mate Gelson Fernandes clattered into him.

Now the Swiss are piling on. What do they have against us? They are supposed to be neutral.

UPDATE
The club website says he's fine and will be playing this weekend for Switzerland.

Bolton

2008-10-06T14:16:00.000-07:00

The match started at 8:30 a.m. my time. I did not think my usual spot would be open that early so I waited to stop in on my way to church. It was about 9:45 when I stuck my head in the door. There were a few souls in already waiting for the "bigger" games to start and no sign of my fellow Iron. I could tell they had just opened the doors and asked if I could catch the last few minutes of my match. "Not on," was the reply. I think the live telecast was on Sky, which no one gets here. The owner checked the listings for me and saw it would be recast at 5:00 p.m. on Setanta. He assured me they would have it one for me.

So. I spent the rest of the day trying to stay off the internet, or at least away from sites where I could stumble across the score. Honestly, it is not that hard to avoid EPL scores in South Carolina. Everything sports related on Sundays is NFL and NASCAR. I couldn't check my EPL fantasy scores though as I was scared I would run across the score. The closest I came was a vision of a 3-0 West Ham win. Turned out to be wishful thinking, didn't it?

I sat for the whole thing, sans sound. The bartender obviously had a Marley fetish and the accent was on the third beat the entire time I was there. The wings were overcooked and the Carlsberg keg ran dry. At least the hippies in Vermont had sent down a fresh shipment of Magic Hat # 9 and the key lime pie was dense with limey goodness.

Etherington was an invisible man. Did he even play? I couldn't tell without the sound on. He was just another skinny, white guy running around, unlike the last match where he distinguished himself with his gainful activity. Cole was around the goad and had a nice opportunity that got away to go along with the good bounce. De Michele got tired. The defense looked completely out of synch and Bolton seemed to control the middle of the field for much of the match. They also made a fresh Bellamy and Sears irrelevant in their short time in. As for Mr. Green, well, we all have our days don't we? One day, there will be a shutout. It's hard to bet on one coming now though.

Once again, losing to a bottom half club is especially harsh. Doing so at home is worse. They have got to take advantage of this part of the schedule. It gets tougher I hear. Even on this side of the World, I hear it gets tougher.

No time

2008-09-24T08:44:00.000-07:00

I have a million words I want to say about the Sheffield decision but work is in the way today. Fortunately, there are many others writing very eloquently about it. Go check them out and check back here in a bit.

Zola. Zola. Zola.

2008-09-20T11:53:00.000-07:00

Di Michele scored twice and passed up another opportunity to a teammate. The defense held for the most part. Boa Morte missed a sure thing. It was a fun game to watch as the Hammers had many chances and Newcastle never looked as though they had a chance. In hindsight, it was as close to a sure thing as it could be.

Now, the Pirates are trying to h old on to a touchdown lead with 90 seconds to go.

Why am I excited?

2008-09-18T13:58:00.000-07:00

The sponsor is bankrupt. Ashton is out for a month. West Brom won the game last week. Nevertheless, I am excited about Saturday. Maybe it's the new manager and my first chance to see the new players. Maybe it' just that I haven't actually been able to watch a match in three weeks. Whatever it is, I'm almost buzzing here.

Bring on Newcastle!

By the bye . . . speaking of beer. What is the appropriate beverage to drink while watching the match? Carlsberg is the official beer of West Ham according the website but I think they are also the primary sponsor of some little team in the league. I have nothing against their beer but I would hate to give the wrong impression by my choice of drink. Maybe I should get it in a plain glass. Suggestions are welcome.

This Post Sponsored by . . .

2008-09-17T08:00:00.000-07:00

Once again, Hammered has alerted me to an item of interest. I'm six hours behind most West Ham fans and asleep when most of this stuff comes out. There is a petition circulating to use the Bobby Moore Fund as the primary "Sponsor" for the rest of the season (replacing XL). It sounds like a great idea to me. Here's the link to the petition. I'll commit to buying one now.

Those that weren't happy should now be a little more happy

2008-09-15T12:35:00.000-07:00

This should take a little heat of of Zola from the fans who were upset Zola was the choice. It's also nice to see the traffic come the other way once in a while.

From the club official home

West Ham United are delighted to confirm the appointment of Steve Clarke as first-team coach working with new manager Gianfranco Zola.

The highly regarded Clarke, who left his post at Chelsea last week and was able to move to the Boleyn Ground after a compensation package was agreed on Monday, will be part of a strong coaching set-up. It also includes Kevin Keen, who has been promoted to first-team coach, and goalkeeping coach Ludek Miklosko. Clarke has agreed a three-year contract.

Wrong West

2008-09-15T07:27:00.000-07:00

You have to beat the teams you are supposed to beat. Of course there was a litany of distractions over the last two weeks, but when you are fighting to stay out of the bottom half of the league, you have to be able to put aside everything but the match. Now, I'm talking out of my ass a bit here as I could not see the match and have no real idea how it played out. I am hoping it will be on tape delay at the Cock 'n Bull one night this week. Do I really want to go watch though?

All losses are tough. Losing to one of the last place teams is especially tough. At the end of the season, you don't want to be fighting West Brom for position, especially with them using the points you gave them.

The match is on Fox Soccer this week so I will definitely get to see it. Guinness at 10 a.m. is a fine start to the day. Right after West Ham, the East Carolina Pirates get to play at their biggest rival, North Carolina State. The Pirates came off a huge win against highly ranked ranked West Virginia last week and almost stumbled against Tulane, a perpetual also-ran. They were able to recover and pull it out late in the game to keep an unbeaten season alive. It was a game they had to win, and they found a way to do it.

Is Zola the Man?

2008-09-10T12:42:00.000-07:00

From The MailOnline

With thanks to Hammered for alerting me to the article

Former France international Leboeuf said: ‘He (Zola) is a very intelligent person, very smart on the pitch and I’m sure he’s going to do well.

‘My only concern is that he was a Chelsea player and not a West Ham player. I heard a West Ham fan say that they would rather the club went for Paolo Di Canio because he was a Hammers legend and I can understand that.

‘I never wanted to sign for another club because I gave my faith and my love to Chelsea and I think you have to stick to that.
Zola in his time with Chelsea

The old days: Zola in his time with Chelsea

‘Gianfranco is a legend at Chelsea and I don’t see him at West Ham. I’ve nothing against West Ham but Zola belongs to Chelsea.’

When the amount of money the Clubs are willing to pay to attract players and managers there may soon be no such thing as a Chelsea Man or a West Ham Man. They may all be Money Men. In American terms, Tommy Lasorda is a Dodger and will always be a Dodger. Men such as he are few and far between though. Rick Pitino crossed over in one of the biggest rivalries in sports from University of Kentucky basketball to University of Louisville basketball. Will he retire a Cardinal? Not likely, especially if the New York Knicks offer him the right compensation. The introduction of big money into the sports has made it more accessible (in television terms) to those of us who follow from afar. Conversely, it has made it less of an intimate experience as those who are able to pay the money, or willing to take the money, can inject themselves into organizations where their presence would have been unthinkable a generation ago.

Now, I don't think that is completely bad. There have been many instances where a player or manager who is connected with one team has switched allegiances and been able to overcome those prior ties to be an effective asset to his new club. In some cases, those men develop a special grudge against their former club and strive all the harder to defeat them at every opportunity. Hopefully, this will be the situation with Zola. As soon as he steps into office, I will assume he is a West Ham Man and give him all my support. It is the only thing to do.

So, You're saying there's a chance

2008-09-08T20:17:00.000-07:00

Well, which job does Mr. Obama want? Judging with my knowledge of fickle sport fans, I think the presidency may be the better option. Barring historic events, it is a guaranteed four year contract.

2008-09-04T20:26:00.000-07:00

Well, this certainly doesn't make me feel better.

From The TimesOnline:

He is smart to leave now, though. The table does not show it, but unless they can find a friendly billionaire sheikh, West Ham face a bleak future. Low morale, money tight, perhaps a few more stars out of the door in January: it is a recipe for relegation trouble.

I'm a Gambling Man by Nature

2008-09-04T06:04:00.000-07:00

I'll send a bounty to the first one to identify the movie from which the title of this post came.

David Di Michele and Herita Ilunga are on loan. A gambling striker and a needed left back. I can find very little information on Ilunga, but I hope that is due to his age rather than his skill. Di Michele has an extensive history and is know as a creative player. Of course, these are now 32 year-old legs that are trying to be creative.

I think I get Curbishley's reasoning for leaving. The sale of Ferdinand, the row with Neill after the game Saturday, and the general impression of the soft collapse the second half last year all contributed to an untenable situation. It all could have been worked out but it wasn't. So, what do you do? Move on to another spot.

Who is his replacement? The rumors sound good but I don't want to speak of it myself. I am sure the decision has been made. I'll wait with the rest of Hammer Nation for the announcement.

I Hardly Knew You

2008-09-03T13:24:00.000-07:00

After all the gossiping in the press it can't come as much of a shock but can someone explain the timing to me? If this was to be done, shouldn't it have been done prior to the season? Good bye Mr. Curbishley and good luck.

I'm Not the Only One

2008-08-30T10:45:00.000-07:00

Kickoff was 10:00 a.m for those of us on the east coast. Fortunately, we have a local that will open up early for us. It was my first time at the place for a match and didn't know what to expect when we showed up with West Ham kits on. There was only one other patron and he was there to support the team as well. It was obviously a nice match with a well earned goal by Cole to go along with the return of Bellamy. Where was that team that played last week vs. Man City?

The Arsenal crowd started pouring in and we had to leave to pick up the kids but I've got a place to watch the next one with at least one other local fan.

Now, it's Pirate time.

That football isn't round!

2008-08-28T13:17:00.000-07:00

American College Football starts here tonight. It is as much a religion as anything I know. This day has been anticipated by legions of fans since the last whistle of the 2007/08 season. This is the intro for South Carolina (my hometown team and from where I have a degree but not where I played). I've loved it since I was a kid. There are at least 78,000 who agree with me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQPAU4u6UBc

Pay no attention to the little old lady coaching the team and never mind the final score, this is the best representation I've seen of the Carolina intro short of being there. But you really got to be there.

The Hammers crushed in extra time yesterday. I had to leave the computer screen to play in my Wednesday night poker game. At least they won as I sure didn't.

Frustration

2008-08-27T13:26:00.001-07:00

This is how I have to watch the Irons today. That solid yellow dot just showed up, making me a little less stressful. It appears as though they are dominating in every facet but scoring.

I need another yellow dot. Or a drink. Or both.

1-1

2008-08-25T07:00:00.000-07:00

Actually got to catch the game on Fox Soccer this weekend. Wish I hadn't. Manchester City looked very good and West Ham was lucky they only scored three. Oh well, can't win them all, although it would be nice.