Fattest Sam pre-season: "We will NOT lose matches where we are ahead 2-nil this year".

Fact: He was right!

Reason: We will never get ahead 2-nil with his player selection and absurd tactics.

The goal was a 60 yard flailing cross field pass that Faye hit *anywhere* and it happened to float in.

Our strikers, INCLUDING Maynard, simply had no quality. They took shots from ridiculous oblique angles when a simple square pass was a tap-in goal.

That was about as bad as a centre forward can play. Every touch by cole was diabolical. Anyone giving him more than a 3 wasn't watching.

And the high scores for Collins. Watch him back off and back off and back off and it's a very simple strike, not a "wonder goal" when you are given that much space at the 18. The difference is West Ham appear to be the only side of the top 44 in England that have not one single player that can hit a ball hard and into the net from 18!! Which one of our central midfielders can do that? Nolan? Ha! Tomkins? Did you see his ridiculous donkey shot?!? I feel bad for him being forced to play there; he simply has no clue. At least Spector last year was a converted youth centre forward who had some idea what he was doing when he was played more forward, a la his brace against United. Noble? Effort always good; skill poor.

That is just a terrible central midfield; terrible. Horrible strike force. And it got even worse when Carew came on for Cole. And Collison just can't play any more.

Almost impossible to imagine this team winning a 3 match play-off...

I've been posting for a few years here but no one's ever asked (though I get asked in NY all the time, and in London, why would I possibly choose to support this team). I played football all my life, still do. I watched recorded highlights shows as a child of English and German matches and had loved the singing and had always wanted to attend an English match. In 1994, sent to London on business, I finally was able to stay over for a Saturday without having to race back to NY. I told my hotel concierge I wanted to see a first division football match; who should i go see? He told me that Saturday there were only two London sides playing at home. Wimbledon, "but you don't want to see them play such awful football, and, oh yes, there's a derby. You must see that". I told him I didn't even know what the word derby meant, and he explained it, and that it was West Ham v Chelsea. I was able to purchase a ticket at the ground (great seat, by the way), and it was just a terrific match. Tony Cottee, on his return to the team, scored the winner, and we beat Chelsea 2-1. I though the atmosphere was terrific, the fans loud and supportive, and I just kept coming back. (Yes, my American friends just laugh and say you wish you had supported Chelsea now, don't you?)

But I tell all the Chelsea and United and Arsenal supporters that unlike them, over these last 18 years, unlike them, I have had the real English football experience. The amazing last-match draw against United to give the title to Blackburn I watched in a pub in NY back before we got all the premier games live at home on TV. The agony of relegation. I had to go to a pay-per-view pub to see the Palace play-off final and that was just a sickening feeling on a gorgeous May morning here in NY to lose that one. Then the following year I refused to go back to the same pub, and found a different one that was, shall we say, lightly attended. There were only three other people in the bar, all wearing black shirts, black shorts, and black socks. "You must be from Preston North End [wherever that is]", I said to them as I entered. They didn't say a word to me. I was a little nervous as I leapt to my feet and started jumping up and down when Zamora scored, and again when the final whistle blew. I don't think there is a better feeling in sport than winning that promotion final!

I've been able to attend a number of terrific West Ham matches in person. The '06 FA Cup replay to beat Bolton 2-1. The match at Highbury after the World Cup; I was sitting in the very first row behind Seaman when he gave us the finger for singing that he had let his country down. Then also in '06 the very last loss for Gunners at Highbury in that infamous night where Sol Campbell walked out on his team at halftime. Last year's amazing Carling Cup win in the snow, 4-nil over ManU, with my countryman scoring a brace, no less!! I was there when Frank Lampard was sent off, though the final score was not flattering.

I was also able to attend the final premier league match of that incredible 2006 season. You remember the one. I was actually in Italy that morning on a business conference, and had scheduled a flight to Gatwick and then somehow have a taxi drop my bags off at my hotel after delivering me to UP. My friend (who had the tickets) kept emailing me "I think the game is off; all the Spurs players have food poisoning". But it was a gorgeous Sunday and I had much to say upon my return to NY to my Spurs friends about keeping them out of Champions League.

Least favorite West Ham players from my time supporting (people I would cross the street to shout at): Scaloni, (see below) Keane
Favorite to watch: Benayoun, Etherington, Ashton, Tevez

Other than Zamora's winner, I think the happiest I ever was as a Hammers fan was when it was clear we were actually going to beat Liverpool and lift the trophy. I still think it was very poor sportsmanship on Liverpool's part to return the ball to us for a defensive throw-in five yards from the endline, rather than playing the ball back to our keeper, which is what they should have done. I am still incredibly angry also at Scaloni, for that awful clearance that went right to Gerrard. But fortune's always hiding I suppose.

The other problem with today is that Noble, Collison & Tomkins together did so little that it guarantees Nolan will be back in the side next match...

Just watched the match recorded, shown live here in NY. THAT was a truly horrendous match of football to watch. Can't imagine any neutral spending more than 5 minutes on the match. My son came in as I was intensely watching, said "what the heck are you watching", watched for 5 minutes, and then said "why are they doing everything you tell us NOT to do"? (I want the kids playing the ball on the carpet.)

I've been trying to understand the plaudits I keep reading for Faubert on this forum. I watched him at UP in the Southampton match I attended a week ago, where he was awful, and then today he was BY FAR the worst player on the pitch, I mean literally every touch was as bad as it could be. At least FS, unlike our last two managers, is not the slowest person watching and gave him the early hook. The problem is Vaz Te was as awful (not sure what Iain was watching) as was Collison, and I guess he didn't want to take off three 'attacking' players (though what exactly Faubert has been 'attacking' this season is completely beyond me)

But what really shocked me was how little composure WHUFC had on the ball today. This looked nothing like a first place side, much less a side that could get even 20 points in the Premier League. The ONLY player with an ounce of composure was Faye, who was BY FAR our man of the match. He bailed out Reid 3x, and even though he's slower than molasses, he can play the ball out of the back, vs. hoofing it right back to Palace 100% of the time which was what the rest of our back line does. Including Green, whose turnover rate must be the highest of any keeper in the league. (Meaning the % of his long kicks that are controlled by the opposition. Note how Southampton never punted the ball and only played the ball out of the back. Even before they were 11v10.)

So, yes, they looked tired.
Yes, everyone can have an off day.

But that was not good football at all...

We need wins and not draws to get automatic promotion. I hope Sam realizes that and puts out attacking lineups in most games. I am actually quite nervous about Nolan's return. Who does he withdraw? I wasn't happy with the role Nolan was playing in the few matches they showed in the States this season (you have to understand how spoiled I've been with 37 of 38 premier league matches shown in the States last season, + the Birmingham Carling Cup matches, etc.). I don't mind Tomkins in the holding role to allow for two more attacking central midfielders and two proper wings in a 4-3-3. But if Nolan comes back, is Noble going to just sit as the holder? Nolan is too slow for me. Would love to see Maynard, Vaz Te & Cole together in a 4-3-3; I think that would work. Maynard had a very good work rate, as you saw, in the few minutes he was in there.

I was at UP tonight, in from New York. The shame of it was it was straight 4-3-3, with Tomkins holding, and Faubert up top even with Cole in the center and Vaz Te on the left. Then Noble & Collison free to work the center of the park. It was the most attacking side I've seen Sam put out there, especially with the full backs free to release, notably Taylor. Reid had an absolute sitter from the 6 yard line off of a corner early that he really should have hammered home, rather than skying, Drogba style, 10 yards over the bar. That or Vaz Te's shot 47 seconds into the match might have made the difference in this match.

So I was truly disappointed in Matty Taylor. Yes, the ref was deceived. Yes, Matty was retaliating for being pushed first by #11. But it happened directly below my seat and it was all so predictable. Lee Probert is truly an awful ref, got so many things wrong tonight, was bending over backwards to give decisions to S'ton after the 'soft' pen for Noble (which I thought was a very easy penalty to call; again, it happened 10 yards in front of my seat ). But a veteran like Taylor should know better. To have the game totally and absolutely ruined by a sending off that occurred when the ball was not in play is just horrendous. And after what happened to our supposed captain last week?? You'd think Sam would have the team more disciplined than that.

Otherwise, here were some general observations as I had not been to UP since last year:
Faubert was as awful with the ball as any prior time I've seen him. Every cross was dire, every touch was too strong; he turned breakaways into easily defended plays, couldn't connect a pass and just had a truly awful night
This was the second time I've seen Tomkins in the holding role. I thought he did a terrific job closing down, tackling, heading balls away, and slowing down the S'ton attack. On the other hand, he totally broke up any attempt to attack, especially when we were down to 10 men, because he just has no idea where to run off the ball when he's in the midfield, and has no creative passing in him.
Noble was terrific; easily our best player. Gave everything in every tackle. Got a couple of great corners in where we should have done better. Raced all over the pitch. Won the penalty and converted it again after a long 4-minute delay to think about it while the red card was sorted out. The only criticism I can make of Noble is that he still doesn't see the best pass from midfield, especially if it's a switch pass when he's moving from left to right across the center. About 5x Noble had the ball, had already decided to move right, and meanwhile Vaz Te had his man totally beat down the left, his arm raised screaming for the ball, but Noble had already decided to go right.
O'Brien. Very disappointed with his play tonight. He had 4x where he could have played early crosses in to Cole when Cole was 1v1 against the S'ton defender. But each time O'Brien took too much time, got closed down, and couldn't get his cross in. Yes, he won a corner or two that way, but he let good opportunities go to waste.
Faye looks very slow and will get beaten for pace.
Reid was strong defensively but missed that easy sitter early.
Green made two absolutely tremendous saves H1 and was at no fault on the goal.
Collison really never got any time on the ball before he was substituted so no comment from me on Jack.
O'Neil looked awful and I didn't understand that substitution at all.
Maynard looked very quick and I would have loved to see him in combination with Cole. He's not a hold-the-ball-up center forward, but has good pace and much better movement than any West Ham striker I've seen in recent years since Bellamy or Tevez.
Cole got a standing ovation when he came off the pitch but I wasn't that thrilled with him tonight. He didn't take a couple of half-chances he had early. When I wanted him to hold the ball up, he flicked it on with his head rather than controlling with his chest and played the ball directly back to S'ton so that we had no H2 possession.

Southampton were very well coached and did a great job controlling H2 possession playing 11v10. They used the width well, kept the ball on the carpet, and created numerous scoring chances. I felt the goal was inevitable, especially as West Ham could not maintain possession at all against them. Just long balls booted up toward Cole and immediately given back to S'ton. S'ton seemed younger and fitter all around. Granted this was watching 72 minutes of 10v11 football, but they looked pretty good, and Green did well to keep them from scoring 2 or 3.

It really looked like it was going to be a terrific football match before Taylor spoiled it so early, so I was very disappointed that we were forced to sit back to defend and counter for 72 minutes.

I was at UP tonight, in from New York. The shame of it was it was straight 4-3-3, with Tomkins holding, and Faubert up top even with Cole in the center and Vaz Te on the left. Then Noble & Collison free to work the center of the park. It was the most attacking side I've seen Sam put out there, especially with the full backs free to release, notably Taylor. Reid had an absolute sitter from the 6 yard line off of a corner early that he really should have hammered home, rather than skying, Drogba style, 10 yards over the bar. That or Vaz Te's shot 47 seconds into the match might have made the difference in this match.

So I was truly disappointed in Matty Taylor. Yes, the ref was deceived. Yes, Matty was retaliating for being pushed first by #11. But it happened directly below my seat and it was all so predictable. Lee Probert is truly an awful ref, got so many things wrong tonight, was bending over backwards to give decisions to S'ton after the 'soft' pen for Noble (which I thought was a very easy penalty to call; again, it happened 10 yards in front of my seat ). But a veteran like Taylor should know better. To have the game totally and absolutely ruined by a sending off that occurred when the ball was not in play is just horrendous. And after what happened to our supposed captain last week?? You'd think Sam would have the team more disciplined than that.

Otherwise, here were some general observations as I had not been to UP since last year:
Faubert was as awful with the ball as any prior time I've seen him. Every cross was dire, every touch was too strong; he turned breakaways into easily defended plays, couldn't connect a pass and just had a truly awful night
This was the second time I've seen Tomkins in the holding role. I thought he did a terrific job closing down, tackling, heading balls away, and slowing down the S'ton attack. On the other hand, he totally broke up any attempt to attack, especially when we were down to 10 men, because he just has no idea where to run off the ball when he's in the midfield, and has no creative passing in him.
Noble was terrific; easily our best player. Gave everything in every tackle. Got a couple of great corners in where we should have done better. Raced all over the pitch. Won the penalty and converted it again after a long 4-minute delay to think about it while the red card was sorted out. The only criticism I can make of Noble is that he still doesn't see the best pass from midfield, especially if it's a switch pass when he's moving from left to right across the center. About 5x Noble had the ball, had already decided to move right, and meanwhile Vaz Te had his man totally beat down the left, his arm raised screaming for the ball, but Noble had already decided to go right.
O'Brien. Very disappointed with his play tonight. He had 4x where he could have played early crosses in to Cole when Cole was 1v1 against the S'ton defender. But each time O'Brien took too much time, got closed down, and couldn't get his cross in. Yes, he won a corner or two that way, but he let good opportunities go to waste.
Faye looks very slow and will get beaten for pace.
Reid was strong defensively but missed that easy sitter early.
Green made two absolutely tremendous saves H1 and was at no fault on the goal.
Collison really never got any time on the ball before he was substituted so no comment from me on Jack.
O'Neil looked awful and I didn't understand that substitution at all.
Maynard looked very quick and I would have loved to see him in combination with Cole. He's not a hold-the-ball-up center forward, but has good pace and much better movement than any West Ham striker I've seen in recent years since Bellamy or Tevez.
Cole got a standing ovation when he came off the pitch but I wasn't that thrilled with him tonight. He didn't take a couple of half-chances he had early. When I wanted him to hold the ball up, he flicked it on with his head rather than controlling with his chest and played the ball directly back to S'ton so that we had no H2 possession.

Southampton were very well coached and did a great job controlling H2 possession playing 11v10. They used the width well, kept the ball on the carpet, and created numerous scoring chances. I felt the goal was inevitable, especially as West Ham could not maintain possession at all against them. Just long balls booted up toward Cole and immediately given back to S'ton. S'ton seemed younger and fitter all around. Granted this was watching 72 minutes of 10v11 football, but they looked pretty good, and Green did well to keep them from scoring 2 or 3.

It really looked like it was going to be a terrific football match before Taylor spoiled it so early, so I was very disappointed that we just sat back to defend and counter for 72 minutes.

Sam realizes not only was Noble not good enough for the PL but he's not good enough for the championship! Great heart, fights for the shirt -- not talented enough...

Noble takes the worst corner I've ever seen, and we score from it!

Here we go. Defending truly awful. Noble should just stay with his man!