West Ham United : Two Worlds?

[Jaztheman]

Aye. He is a Left sided Defender but can also play anywhere along the left side of midfield. He is actually better on FM08 than I thought and even though I must admit that I did underestimate I didn't expect for him to score two goals! A great win though and with only the one friendly we could make a good start to the season.

Thanks, for the continuous posting and support Michael.

 

[m_vaughan]

Seriously, my name is not Michael. Its Sid!!

 

[Jaztheman]

I knew it began with S.

You better stop playing games with my mind, Sid.

 

[covlad-99]

Right guys, my next updates will be tomorrow, as I'll try and catch up with Jaz! (I have explained more thoroughly in my other thread thing, the England one!)

 

[covlad-99]

Right, next update I will start in a minute, and that'll be it for tonight as I have Maths revison (again ) and then Youth Club!

covlad-99 added 23 Minutes and 18 Seconds later...

In the Carling Cup second round, I have drawn Bristol City at Ashton Gate! Again! And Coventry have drawn Aston Villa at Villa Park!

covlad-99 added 45 Minutes and 31 Seconds later...

VS

*Green*

*Paintsil*-----*A.Ferdinand*-------*Spector*----*McCartney*

*Ljungberg*-----------*Dyer*------------*Dzsudzsak*-------*Kewell*

*Bellamy*----------*Ashton*

We walked into the game low on confidence after the defeat to Bolton, and it showed. We started poorly, and conceded 15 minutes in, a KP Boateng shot deflected goalwards by Dimitar Berbatov caught Green out and the ball flew into the back of the net, and awful start and I didn't know what to say. Although after the goal we were much better, and we got the equaliser after 25 minutes, and it was a great goal too, Bellamy ran down the centre nicely, knocked it back to Dzsudzsak who played a first touch pass to Ashton who played it immediately to Bellamy who struck a superb left foot shot low into the bottom left hand corner, Robinson was sprawling and couldn't get anything on it. A great goal, but straight away we conceded again, and it was a simple ball over the top, Bresciano ran onto it and slid home. 2-1 and we were in disarrey. We had just about given up and things went from bad to worse just before half time as Freddie Ljungberg went off injured, and I replaced him with Carlton Cole and went for a 3 man strike force.

Another bad half, and again, our defence had let us down. When attacking we looked like a strong side, with pace and power enough to cause all sorts of problems, but the defence looked shabby and incapable of keeping the likes of Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov at bay, but I kept faith and out we went.

Nothing got any better, as it went from worse, to even worse, as Harry Kewell was sent off for an elbow on Pascal Chimbonda and took an early shower. Disaster. However, we were gifted our second equaliser of the day, when an awful backpass from Ledley King went straight to Craig Bellamy who had the simple task of taking the ball around Paul Robinson and scoring his second of the game. We needed to keep up the tempo and not give another cheap goal away. I decided to make a change on 65 minutes, Mark Noble on for Balazs Dzsudzsak. We started to lose concentration after this, and in a bid to keep the players' concentration together, I made my final substitute, Dean Ashton made way for Bogdan Stancu. We nearly sneaked the three points a couple of times near the end but it was a well earned point in the end.

West Ham Utd 2 - 2 Spurs

After a disastrous game for us bar the result. With both wingers possibly unavailable for the next game with Ljungberg injured and Kewell sent off, it hadn't been a fantastic day. But it was the result that mattered and we had grafted for one today, I have to say I was pretty happy with the way we played bar a couple of mistakes, and Craig Bellamy was in deadly form once again.​

 

[Jaztheman]

Very lucky for you there. Lucky goal for Craig Bellamy and you deserved to lose. The result is everything and all in all it's a good result. Hopefully you can pick things up in the forthcoming weeks.

My next update will be later today as I am shattered from playing football.

 

[Jaztheman]

VS

*Green*

*Neil*-----*A.Ferdinand*-------*Upson*----*McCartney*

*Ljungberg*-----------*Dyer*------------*Adam*-------*Aaritalo*

*Bellamy*----------*Ashton*

With only the one change going into the game, the tactic should be working and hopefully we can create some more beautiful moves. 43 seconds, our quickest goal of the season so far. Bellamy netting an allowed goal following a great one two with strike partner Dean Ashton as the two strikers seem to be making a real go of things up there. A fantastic start and as usual Ashton is at the heart of things. 2 chances; 2 goals! Freddie Ljungberg won a free kick on the edge of the area and insisted he took it. Lucky for us he did and the 30 year old swede continues to impress after coming back from injury. 10 minutes gone and a dream start, although the same happened last match and we soon quickly let them back into it. Hopefully that won't happen again. 25 minutes gone and not much else has happened. Both teams have been playing good football with much of the play being in the middle of midfield. They keep getting in between the midfield so I may vouch for a Defensive Midfielder role soon. Aaritalo is then involved in two good moves, the first on the end of a cross from Neil, his header going narrowly over and then setting Ashton up for a pile driver which was tipped over by Riesgo. An absolutely mesmerizing move, around 24 passes nearly results in a goal but Charlie Adam can't get enough bend on the shot and hits the post. Unlucky! We then see of any threats from Sociedad and go into the break with a well earned 2-0 lead, this time without conceding.

Ljungberg has been pulling the strings today and it will be great if he can complete the game. All players, again have been great and I can't really pick out one player who has done poorly. I can see either Grant or Mullins coming on in the second half to plug the gap and Doudin will hopefully make his first appearance in Claret and Blue today. Sociedad on the other hand make 3 changes with 3 exhausted players come off for 3 fit players. Their entire team is shattered and strangely enough for the second game running, my team's fitness is doing us proud. Once again, no changes.

A scare early on in the first half, after only 3 minutes nearly put me into a rage as substitute Agirretxe has a clear header but fortunately Green gets a strong hand to it. Hopefully our boys will wake up soon and go back to the mentality they had in the first half. As we enter the 70th minute I decide it's ready to make an impact on the second half instead of just the pass and move we are doing at the moment, as ironically, it is getting us no where. Just before I made the subs though, or just as they were waiting to come on, Ashton scored a disallowed goal. I shouldn't be surprised should I? No defender between him and the Goalkeeper, definitely offside. 5 changes, 5 big changes to the dynamic of the team. McCartney and Aaritalo down the left come off for Babayaro and Marveaux whilst Ashton and Bellamy come off up front, their replacements being Carlton Cole and the new kid Doudin. A striker from La Chaux-de-Fonds in Switzerland bought for ?200k. Let's just hope he makes a good impact on the game in the 20 minutes he plays. Oh and Noble comes on for Adam. Minutes after the subs come on and Sociedad should of made it 2-1. A great one on one chance for Agirretxe to slot it home past Green but he goes for power and hits it high and wide. 3 minutes of added time. Doudin... oh so close. A good move with Ljungberg making the final pass to Doudin, who then ended the move with a terrific belt from 25 yards rattled the bar and was unlucky not to go in. That's it! Another comfortable win for the Hammers under my management. Alot of positives to take from this.

West Ham Utd 2 - 0 Real Sociedad

2 wins out of 2 against the Spanish this season. Freddy Ljungberg got man of the match, which was definitely well deserved. Our tactic seems to be working thus far although an anchorman just in front of the defence could prove vital when we play the bigger teams. We also need to keep the ball more and to play it along the back or around the pitch as at the moment we seem to be having the same amount of possession as the teams we defeat, although we comfortably beat them. God knows. Pre season's over now, it's time for the league. The big, big league.​

 

[covlad-99]

Nice win Jaz, some good football being played from both sides, however you did look a bit sketchy at the back, but my problem is worse

There won't be an update from me tonight for 2 reasons:

1) Big Brother is on in an hour
2) I can't be bothered

 

[thesweepmaster]

@Craig: A good draw for you there but you really need new players in the defence.
@Jaz: A good win against Real Sociedad there for you and you do look to have a better team than Craig, hopefully it will pay off for you.

COME ON JAZ, DO THE BUSINESS FOR ME:happylol.

 

[Jaztheman]

I will do it just for you Audrey.

I'm watching BB too Craig so if I update tonight it will be in the next half an hour. Also I may update tomorow morning, very early but after that I won't be able to update till late Sunday as I'm going up to where I used to live for a football presentation.

 

[DPRA]

Great story Lads! KUTGW!

 

[m_vaughan]

Comfortable win against Sociedad there. You've definately had a good pre-season, and goals dont really seem to be problem. Bellamy and Ljungberg's form have been key as well. Shame that Charles Doudin dint get his first goal, despite coming so close in the few minutes he got. Will be interesting to see how he develops at Upton Park.

All the best for the league season.

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Easy win again Sociedad...yeah as m_vaughan said ur strikers are performing and scoring...Doudin was unluck though...good update

 

[treva]

Well not the three points you needed against Spurs. Could find yourself near the foot of the table after these 3 games, although I'm sure you'll pick up afterwards

 

[Jaztheman]

4/8/07

Weekly Review​

​

I've only been at the club for a month but it seems like we have all known each other for ages, team spirit is flying. Pre season went well with us winning all games, including Deportivo, apart from one game which sadly we drew. It's a good start and with our squad only getting better I can really see us getting a top ten position this year. There have been alot of speculation in the press linking us with almost every Brazilian player but I've held back and bought... none so far. 1 week exactly until the start of the premiership, home against Aston Villa. A tough start but I can see us getting all 3 points at Upton Park and if I can bring in the people I want during the next week then that will be brilliant.

We're down to 5 injuries now, with backup keeper Richard Wright suffering with a stubbed finger yesterday. He could be out for up to a week! Perhaps Marek Stech from the youth team could play as sub against Villa. Davenport's hernia is finally dieing down and the doctor said he will be able to play football in around 3 weeks, albeit taking it slow to start with. Quashie is gonna be out for just over 3 weeks as well as his strained ankle ligaments are giving him discomfort. Parker will still be out for around 2 months but the big one, Faubert's damaged achilles tendon will still keep him of offootball for 3-4 months! Hopefully they can all make speedy recoveries. Alos, in the two matches at home against the Spaniards our team looked very fit and it is nice to be able have most players last the whole game instead of making around 10 subs!

Loads has been happening on the transfer front, a little too much to write about. However, I am excited to say I think I may have found a Croatian Keiron Dyer. Scanning the world for some really young good undiscovered talent I found this guy, Miljenko Bosnjak who has the potential to be as good as Keiron Dyer! Ok to players I have bought last week, as we haven't sealed the deal for him yet but he will only cost a few 100k. 3 signings last week. Charles-Andre Doudin from Switzerland was our first signing of last week for ?200k. He looks like he has a good future, kind of like the young Dean Ashton. Then we signed Diego Buonanotte and Christopher Samba for a combined total of just under ?2mil. Samba will be a big player this year and Deigo should be a big player as time goes on. We have also signed two players that will arrive when they can. Patrik Lomski will arrive in January, from the same old club as Mika Aaritalo is the first as he looks a great cheap buy for his talent. Sidnei from Internacional is the other. Yes he might be Brazilian but he has a great future, and will come to London on the 23rd, 19 days. 5 players are awaiting work permits: 3 Argies and 2 Brazillians. I've also looked at a Russian and a few others so hopefully we will be 'multi raced'

1 week till the start of the Premiership, the start of my real challenge. With Manchester United and Liverpool in our first 5 games, we haven't got it easy but we have a great track record against Manchester United, so hopefully that will continue. I would like at least 9 points from the next 5 games.

West Ham Utf vs Aston Villa: 11/8/07
Fulham vs West Ham Utd: 14/8/07
West Ham Utd vs Man Utd: 18/8/07
Bolton Wanderers vs West Ham Utd: 25/8/07
West Ham Utd vs Liverpool: 1/9/07​