We need to stop losing our cool –
For the second game running the Hammers have gone down to ten men inside the opening 20 minutes in matches that are vitally important to both the club and the supporters. Kevin Nolan’s idiotic sending off against Millwall seemed to bring the players closer together and they ensured an extremely hard fought victory over our nearest and dearest.
However, whether the referee got the decision right or not (he didn’t) Matty Taylor gave him the opportunity to send him off by raising his hands and getting involved in a situation that he really didn’t need to. West Ham had been awarded the penalty, the referee and his assistants were not going to change their mind on that and as much as the petty Southampton players wanted to protest, West Ham were about to take the lead. So for Taylor to feel the need to push or shove Billy Sharp was ludicrous. We hung on for a draw but with 11 men, we were dominating. If the lack of discipline continues it could really have a negative effect on our promotion push.
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Robert Green is still good enough for England –
Mark Noble was officially given the man of the match award by the club’s sponsors; they obviously mistook him for Scott Parker; but the heroics of the former England number one between the West Ham sticks were stunning. After his calamity at the World Cup in South Africa and then the disappointment of relegation last season, it would have been easy for Rob Green to give up on West Ham in the summer but he stuck with us.
If the East Londoners do not gain promotion this year then Green is certain to leave Upton Park but with the club top of the league things are looking hopeful of a new deal for the in-form keeper. A string of world class saves, including a point blank reaction to Billy Sharp’s close range effort and a stunning dive low to his left to keep out Rickie Lambert from 18 yards were the pick of the highlights, but his command of his penalty area was unusually assured as well.
Kevin Nolan was not missed at all –
For the 18 minutes or so that the Hammers played with 11 men against the Saints, it was fair to say that the hosts were well on top. The centre of midfield, which included James Tomkins, Jack Collison and Mark Noble, were running the game and had a terrific combination of defensive ability as well as attacking flair, but when the Hammers were reduced to ten men, most supporters would have feared the worst. But with Collison sacrificed for left back genius George McCartney, it was left to Tomkins and Noble to patrol the centre of the pitch, which they did admirably. The move from centre back to midfield for Tomkins has been a success and the every reliable Noble has been head and shoulders above the ‘club captain’ Kevin Nolan this season.
Big Sam clearly is not a fan of 4-4-2 and so it seems the fans have to accept that, so with three spaces up for grabs in the centre of midfield I would say Tomkins and Noble have secured two of them. Collison has been hit and miss so far in this campaign but the fact that we didn’t miss Nolan in the last two games where we have been down to ten men shows how much work rate he actually puts in.
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We ARE the best team in the division –
If Southampton are the second best team in the league then this league is not as difficult as people make out. 72+ minutes with ten men; and although the Saints began to dominate in the final 15 minutes or so; West Ham were certainly not outplayed. I think it is fair to say that aside from one or two games, the Hammers have not found top gear yet this season and that is surely a good sign of things to come, as if a side not playing at their best are top of league with a game in hand…
With the new additions in January starting to bed into the side now with Ricardo Vaz Te looking lively throughout against Southampton and Nicky Maynard having a bit more about him in the short time he was on the pitch than Carlton Cole, it could be the start of some exciting times at Upton Park.
We swerved a bullet not buying Billy Sharp –
Slow, overweight, theatrical and extremely wasteful! The overall performance from Southampton’s major January addition was not impressive in the slightest last night and the decision that the Hammers made deciding against signing him at the last minute was fully justified.
Whether it was getting Matty Taylor sent off or missing a sitter from three yards out (great save) it was not the sort of performance that Sam Allardyce would have accepted if Sharp was wearing the claret and blue last night, which looked an option last month. Nicky Maynard and Vaz Te both looked head and shoulders above the former Doncaster striker and his waistline would certainly worry me if I was Nigel Adkins.
A decent performance, an ok result, but top of the league, the best is yet to come for the Irons!
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Except Saints have taken 4 points from you this season, and you may have dominated up until then but most home teams do. Kelvin Davies only had to make one save during the first 15 mins so it wasn’t all one-sided. Have you seen all Saints games this season? I will accept that the league position does not lie and you are the best team, but please don’t judge us on one game. I wish you all the best. Saints fan.
Cheers for response, but I must say there have been better sides at Upton Park this season and I can’t help but think Birmingham have too much for Southampton in battle for second…
We’ll see. Southampton have taken 4 points from Birmingham too beating them 4-1 at home.
Have to say you were pretty poor when you came to ST Marys to hoofing ball up to the lump up front Carew. SA is coming out with more than the usual excuses for the draw at home and with so many saying Robert Green was the man of the match tells it’s own story because he had plenty to do all night !
Billy Sharp is carrying a few niggling injuries, so cannot be judged on the basis of one game.
West Ham the best side in the Division? maybe…just! But then so you should be paying massive wages to bring in and retain premiership quality players.
Our performances in the first 3 months of the season were outstanding and
without doubt we are the better footballing side!
Be great to see us both go up this year, I am sure you guys will but maybe a season to soon for us.
A bit of a onesided report here. The penalty that was given was not a penalty. The Ref missed a handball on the line from Southampton which was a penalty. The ref also missed A West Ham hand ball in the area which was a penalty. The red card was a red card, no doubt. Contery to popular belife, Sharp did not roll around the floor holding his face. Have you seen the stats for this match, To say West Ham had the best of it is a bit bias, if anything, Southampton, for 75 mins, apart from the odd atack, bossed the midfield and played some nice passing football. As for Sharp, when Southampton signed Lambert, we all took the micky, and called him fat, Now look, Southampton play at a faster pace than Doncaster which Sharp is not used to yet, but he will be as his off the ball runs showed tonight. Maynard and Vas are good signings and will do proud.
Not sure about that mate. If Taylor hadn’t been sent off, and it was a push to the chest (yellow card at most…) we would have dominated. It was all us till then.
Anyway good luck for the rest of the season
Most home teams come out of the blocks all guns blazing as you did to say that you would have dominated is a little presumptuous that’s all ifs and buts get used to the fact it was a well earned draw for Southampton that nobody expected.
Good luck the rest of the season !
Point very well made all you need to say is
4 points from Birmingham
4 points from West Ham
More goals scored than any of the others
Nothing more to say really !
We have similar “balanced” views on our forums and its good to support your team no matter what – so that all evens out. It seemed WH were a lot happier to hear the final whistle than Saints however and 4 points v 1 point over two games also tells its own story.
My take on the highlights I saw is that West Ham really can still play some passing football – you don’t need to go route one, hit and hope. If you can get rid of the hoofball approach to the big man up front, get enough discipline to play each game with 11 men, and forget the Poyet school of overacting, then you’re on your way to keep up the WH tradition – good luck, I hope we go up together. If not Sam will be out and the auditors in,
btw, going back to your comments -if you think Robert Green was man of the match it probably says a lot about the balance of play?
Terrible report. Were you actually there.
Where are the WHU of old. Your football is so poor. I am sure you will go up but at a price.
If the choice is to go up as Champions and play your football or go up as runners up and play our football then there is no question…Runners up please.
PS. Billy Sharp has stated he did not want to join WHU. ( maybe because of the football you play he would not get many games )
Very poor 1 sided report.
Your style of football is appalling. At St Mary’s it was all long ball and again on Tuesday. Iread in 1 WHU report the author saying how embarassing the Sainys chants of ‘ Hoof ‘ was ?
Well you did it so often it was easy to chant it.
Good defence by you I agree. But the Allardyce way ( all long ball, aggression and faking ) is showing. How can anybody even suggest him for England..absolutely no chance
Pictures in the paper of Taylor with his hands around Sharp’s throat! So I think that’s a sending off in today’s game without doubt.
look at the BBC highlights west ham v southampton.
Penalty looks very doubtful
Sending off definite. no holding face as Big Sam says
No hoof ball for the goal as suggested by WHU web sites. A free kick into the box that is headed down.
A lot of noise from Sam to cover up WHU sending off issues. …and a difficult run in
ask the fans of other clubs who they think the best team are that they have played this season and i bet they dont say west ham or bolton in a differant strip COYR
Use saints fans are delusional!!!
At what point did you pass the ball through us?? You’ve scored two goals against us from set pieces? You may have scored more but how many have you conceded?
Mmm nicky maynard or fat boy sharp??? Tough choice lol
Got to admit you played passing football in your own half!!!! We had 10 men for 75 mins and you hardly threatened us…other then that awful miss from sharp and that free kick from lambert.
If use were watching the game you would have realised we didnt play hoof ball, all you did was knock it across the back four then lump it long to lambert who rarely won a header.
PS Lallana most over rated player in the league along with Nolan. From what Ive seen you will struggle to keep 2nd.
1st Whu
2nd Brummies
3rd Cardiff
4th Saints
COYI
Hoof Hoof and more hoof
You have ruined the history of the great West Ham teams.
You should be ashamed.
We will go up playing great football.
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