Man Utd 3 West Ham Utd 0 (23/02/10)

[Yea Why Not]

It doesn't surprise me that we've failed to beat a top four side under Zola, that's for sure.

True. Like him or hate him, Curbs was good against the big boys

[Up the Junction]

Hey Chuck, get this - they've even stopped selling Bovril at my local sports centre. Some old cobblers about a lack of demand or something.

Four different varieties of coffee though. What a shambles.

Anyway, I digress. Tomkins ... two top drawer tackles on Rooney tonight, but was he responsible for either - or both - of his goals?

[Chuck D]

I looked for a lunchbox, but didnt know how to post it......

Ouston, I sent you another cryptic mail......

[Chuck D]

Hey Chuck, get this - they've even stopped selling Bovril at my local sports centre. Some old cobblers about a lack of demand or something.

Four different varieties of coffee though. What a shambles.

I have a new idea for a business.

Starbucks/Coffee Republic style, but selling Bovril from around the world.....

[il_martello_di_genovesi]

It feels strange I have to say...

However I stick by Diamanti...

[Cuenca 'ammer]

I looked for a lunchbox, but didnt know how to post it......

Ouston, I sent you another cryptic mail......

Not only was it a lunch box, but a Mickey Mouse one....The Gullivan's youngest son said, Dad, since we went to Disneyland and I fell in love with it, I have always wanted a Mickey Mouse Outfit.. So they bought him West Ham..

Boom Boom..

:lol:

[Muddy]

Did diamanti have his silly hand bandage on today? Maybe it's effects are wearing off.

[Tel The Hammer]

Tel

My point all season hasnt been about losing to Sp*rs, or Man United.

I dont expect us to win those games, though it would be nice for sure.

What we have needed to do is put effective sides out against teams that we really ought to be beating, and winning those games

Furry muff

But, what happens if Bolton turn us over? We then have Chelsea and Arsenal away, and with Zola's low expectations/requirements/lack of belief in games like them two, I can't see us getting much from either The Bridge or The Emirates, which could leave us bang in the **** yet again.

After out two wins against two very poor sides on the day (Hull & Brum), the wrong vibe seems to be coming from Zola, that all the home games against other relegation fodder are home bankers, and tricky fixtures aren't worth turning up for.

As I said a few posts back, every game is winnable, and after seeing our performance tonight, in my opinion, you could see Zola's low expectations had crept through to the players. I agree with Parker being left out, but for Cole, Franco, Diamanti and Noble to all look as half arsed as they did, clearly the wrong attitude was coming from the coaching staff.

[hammerdivone]

I have a new idea for a business.

Starbucks/Coffee Republic style, but selling Bovril from around the world.....

Definitely one of your better ideas

[TampaHammer]

In my opinion, Diamanti was easily the worst player on the pitch. Couldn't find a pass to save his life, wasted free-kicks, etc... Shockingly bad today.
Tomkins had a couple of bright spots, but two massive blunders for allowing Rooney 2 free headers.

[Kialos]

Is it true that Tomkins was assigned to mark Rooney then? I'd have expected to see Upson doing it, he's supposed to be the England International with aspirations of bigger and better things.

[irving boleyn]

Right.. So we were not "up for it tonight" and we lost.

Isnt it an amazing coincidence that when we are "up for it" we win and the reverse is true.

Heres an idea...Play eleven pub players who would die for the club. Their single minded devotion to West Ham should see them win every game, because all you need is a bit of passion isn't it?

I had a good view of the game tonight, and reckon that everyone played close to their natural ability. They needed an extra 20 % to live with these opponents.

The same level of performance will see us beat lesser teams.

But don't lets condemn our team as non triers,please.

[rare as rockinghorse shat]

Irving

It's not just about trying.
Having the ability + the trying = the better performances.

If you genuinely think Cole, Franco, Noble and Diamanti, for starters, gave it their all tonight, then that surprises me.

[rare as rockinghorse shat]

Is it true that Tomkins was assigned to mark Rooney then? I'd have expected to see Upson doing it, he's supposed to be the England International with aspirations of bigger and better things.

I wouldn't say that Tomkins was necessarily assigned to mark him, it's just that he dealt with him quite well when he had to, including a couple of very telling challenges, when Rooney had found space.

[COYI]

I was really disappointed with Noble tonight, after getting the nod for a run-out I would have thought he could have performed better. He seemed to lack any sort of real effort and was poor. Also disappointed with Spector, he was exposed a lot by Valencia. No doubt Spec's night could have been made easier by a bit more effort by Diamanti but I just don't believe Spector is good enough - it's a shame we don't have any other experienced options with Ilunga being injured.

I was impressed with Kovac's performance in the first half and also some of the leadership he showed, it was nice to see him showing a bit of passion.

Rooney, Vidic and Valencia were the difference tonight - shame.

[TampaHammer]

Marking looked zonal to me. Perhaps I was mistaken, but Rooney was right in Tomkins area when he nabbed both goals.

[irving boleyn]

It is easy in,for instance, a track race to see that despite giving their best a contestant will be frequently outclassed.

Cole probably contested as many balls as he did against Hull,where he shone, but was outclassed tonight by better opponents.Similarly the midfield will have had split second less to make a pass or interception. As for Diamonti..well he blows hot and cold, he was due to be not firing on all cylinders.

It is a simple game and with effort being equal, quality usually finishes ahead

[Up the Junction]

I have a new idea for a business.

Starbucks/Coffee Republic style, but selling Bovril from around the world.....

I'm all for it. Anything to stop the proliferation of rancid filth like this ...

Beef-stock related thoughts aside, here's this weekend's games ...

Birmingham v Wigan
Bolton v Wolves
Burnley v Portsmouth
Sunderland v Fulham

Not sure how to call any of those ...

[rare as rockinghorse shat]

Irving

But that's on the premise that every player gives his all, every game, all the time. It's a simplistic way of looking at it, which doesn't always show the truth.

It doesn't work like that. Why did Leeds beat Manchester United? Because the Manchester United players just did not have the same desire and fight as the Leeds players, despite possessing far superior quality.

Players have games when they will know themselves that they never applied themselves as much as they should.

Ours are no different and a fair few of ours had stinkers with much less commitment and desire than was required.

[claret and bobby]

I think it was a bit naive to play 2 up front tbh. I know we had confidence going into it but its old trafford, and we were beaten by united counter attacking. We should of made it more difficult for them, pack the midfield and you never know, we might of nicked a 0-0 or hit them on the counter a bit. Hindsights a great thing