This week saw a West Ham side defeated at Upton Park for the first time in months, in a tragic 4-1 loss to fellow Premier League outfit, Wigan Athletic.
Although Sam Allardyce fielded a weakend team, to rest the key players for this weekends clash at QPR, there is still a sense of disappointment surrounding the club and fans alike.
However, it was the league cup, and both the FA Cup and Premier League survival are much more important.
'All games are equal, but some games are more equal than others'
(An adapted version of an 'Animal Farm' quotation)
Monday saw the West Ham fans buzz with excitement, after fan favourite, Mark Noble signed a new long term contract, expected to be 5 years long, and earning an extra £10,000 per week.
The midfielder who has captained the England U21s, is still awaiting a call up the National Team, and when is a better time than now?
Noble made 123 touches of the ball in last saturday's League fixture against Sunderland, that is more than any other player in any of Europe's 'Top 5' leagues. Who says we play too much long ball?!
The midfielder, who is a father to two children has also earned himself a very respectable pass success rate, which stands at 87.3% after completing 288 passes of 330 attempted. What else does he have to do to get a call up?
Without Mark Noble I feel the team would fall apart, he is like the glue that combines the whole team as a structure! He is our cement! He is massively under-rated!
Ben Edkins @bedkins12
Monday, 22 October 2012
Southampton Review
After 8 games, West Ham 7th in the Premier League, and an impressive start has seen the Hammers pick up a respectable 14 points.
This Saturday West ham host fellow new boys Southampton who are sitting in the relegation zone, the saints have only picked up 4 points.
West Ham’s fourth win of the season came after a brilliant second half display that topped a goalless first half, with Noble (2), Nolan and Maiga getting on the score sheet.
The first goal came in the second half when mark Noble drifted in a long ball from 30+ yards after West ham were awarded a free kick, as the ball drifted in numerous players tried to latch onto the pass but after failed attempts the ball found its way into the net – untouched – and after James Collins jokingly claimed it as his goal, it was awarded to Noble. The second West ham goal came moments later through a Kevin Nolan goal which a poacher would have been proud of, but still the Hammers weren’t safe, it was Southampton captain Lallana who turned beautifully before volleying the ball into the back of the net. with the score line at 2-1 the Hammer’s were piling on more pressure and drawing free kick ,after free kick due to the continuous fouls the Southampton defenders made on troubling forward, Andy Carroll. The second mark Noble goal, and the third for West Ham came after Noble slotted home a penalty posterior to his free-kick being punched away by a defender, the punch looked intended for Carroll’s head.
New Signing Modibo Maiga was desperate of making a mark on the team, and it was a beautiful chip/finesse shot which saw the ball land in the back of the net after an articulate dip of the shoulder put crucial curl onto the ball which aided the ball’s way into the net.
English midfielder mark Noble picked up the man of the match award, and after some very beautiful displays on the football pitch this season, many wonder how he isn’t in the England squad. Noble, who joined West ham from a very young age and made his way through the famous academy recently signed a long contract, and just as well as he has been one of the most influential players in the team this season.
Southampton look set for relegation unless they strengthen at the back come January, and with the worst goal difference in the league, there are no surprises as to why they sit 18th in the league.
As the Saints took second place in the Championship last season and West ham made their way back to the Premier League through play-offs, the Saints faithful thought they had it all, and even with new signing Gaston Ramirez, they are having no luck this season.
Match Statistics:
West Ham ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southampton
Possession:
47% ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 53%
Shots:
9 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11
On target:
8 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4
Corners:
6 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3
Fouls:
10 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12
Bookings:
West Ham – 0
Southampton – Hooiveld,
Schneiderlin.
Ben Edkins @bedkins12
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