FIVE Things We Learnt Against Crystal Palace

After a tame 0-0 draw against mid table team Crystal Palace just what did we learn from the high flying Hammers this week.

1. Green is still an England’s number 1: In all probability if Rob Greens red card hadn’t been rescinded the home side would have found themselves behind at half time. He made two worldy saves in the first half to stop Palace from scoring what would have been deserved goal as the Hammers stuttered out of the blocks in front of a full Upton park live on the box. Green showed just why he is so valuable to this promotion chasing side today. Walking to the ground my mate Billy asked me who our most valuable player is and I quickly responded with Green as he is far away the best goalkeeper in this league.
2. Kids for a quid is a good idea: Gold and Sullivan showed their business nous by making all child tickets a pound in an attempt to attract a bumper crowd to the Boleyn for an early sky kick off. And it had the desired effect as kids turned up with their proud mums and dads to cheer on their heroes. Let’s just hope the rather tame game doesn’t affect their desire to come again in the near future as kids are the future of the club.
3. We looked tired: 3 games in a row with 10 men certainly took its toll as a tired looked Hammer’s side came up against a fresh and battling Eagles side and it certainly showed in the first period, where the Hammers took their time to dominate the game. After a Big Sam team talk the players like galvanised and ready to go and were unlucky that for their endeavour and effort not to be rewarded with a goal.
4. Options upfront are useful: Yes we didn’t score today, but to have someone like Baldock sitting on the bench raring to go is always reassuring to know. Even more so when you know you have a full England International sitting to his left in Carlton Cole. Those two players are players that would walk into most Championship sides, so to have them on the bench is a credit to the strength in depth Gold Sullivan and Big Sam have created. Do I think Baldock should have been brought on earlier today? Yes, he looked such a threat when he came on being involved in both of our best opportunities sum him up as a player a clever fox in the box type player who sniffs out a chance no one else would have. A very underrated player in my opinion.
5. Booing is not on: Given the effort of the players in the last 3 games with ten men. Booing the players off at half time is just unacceptable, yes the expectation is high but give the lads a break we were due a lacklustre performance at some point after the last 3 heroic games, which clearly took a lot out the tank. Was I frustrated not to win? Course I was, but to boo a team who have huffed and puffed for 90 + minutes just to fail to blow the house down to me seem ludicrous and puts West Ham to shame. I don’t know if it’s down to over expectation or due to it being kids for a quid but it is unacceptable. Next time you about to boo, think back to if you have played any level of football and hearing “fans” boo you it really is a kick in the teeth. Follow your team, they can’t win every week. We’re not Manchester United after all.

All in all a good point and still in touching distance of the summit of Championship.

Come on You Irons!

NB: Top effort to all who tried to keep the Bobby Moore chant going, he would be proud looking down just a shame the result wasn’t there for him.

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