Time for some entertainment

The point gained at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night was as precious as any the team have managed throughout the whole of the season, and given the magnificent way it was achieved with a display of wholehearted effort and commitment, one can only wonder where some of this attitude and heart has been hiding since August.

Forget the pathetic whining and schoolboy tantrum produced by a still shocked and shaking “special one”, as ungracious and embarrassing a display as one will probably witness form a so called top line manager this season, West Ham did EXACTLY what they had to do, the only thing they could conceivably do, to come back home with anything other than a hiding from a team worth more than most countries GNP!

Did anyone really expect us to trade punches with Chelsea, to match Kevin Nolan, Matty Taylor, Guy Demel, a lead footed Mohamed Diame, and Joey O.Brien with the likes of ball playing wizards like Willan, Eden Hazard and Oscar?

It would have been a suicidal policy from the management team, and Sam Allardyce in particular, and irrespective of what you think of the present boss, his tactics and game plan couldn’t be faulted on the night. More to the point, his chosen side played with nerve, steel, a defensive stability and shape that we just haven’t seen for most of the season, and a self-belief that as long as everyone played their part, Chelsea were going to have to earn those three points like never before.

Clever ball players love space, love time, and crave defensive indecision and indiscipline. They got none. The backline were as tight as a mallard’s derriere. All the space was way out, intentionally designed so and that’s why so many long distance efforts from an increasingly impatient and panicking Chelsea sailed high wide and handsome; everything else was grabbed by the brilliant Adrian, like a starving man spying an unattended sausage roll.

Players threw themselves at ball and opponent alike like low-level missiles, and as wave after wave of Chelsea attacks foundered in the mud, the Portuguese side line whinger became more animated and frustrated, berating the ever fearful and nervy fourth official who appeared lost and frightened as “the noisy one” ran out of swear words, hand gestures and common sense.

I was more than happy to see us park the bus, the yacht and the transatlantic cruise ship if it gave us any kind of result, so no complaints from me at all. Job done Sam and well done to all.

Swansea at home is different. We now have new players with improved technical skills and ideas, Andy Carroll is back, and the onus is now on US to do the business. No ”lone-man” up front nonsense and two banks of four sitting deep and looking scared. Chelsea away is one thing, Swansea at home quite another.

Lets see just how good you are Mr Allardyce as setting up an attacking unit at home in front of the Hammers fans. Let me tell you we are desperate for some entertainment, some skill, some goals and three priceless points.

Over to you now, dont let us down will you ?