FAC3: West Ham Utd 0 Man City 0 (05/01/08)

[dave_l]

The side we put out today was (bar defence) so far from our full strength or even near strength line up. As far as the game goes I thought it was far more entertaining than some of the ***** we've seen this season. Observations. Ashton + Cole doesn't work. Some strike partnerships really don't and this is one, when Bellamy is fit we'll see a difference. Also, possibly contrary to popular opinion but while Noble performed his defensive duties well, he over indulged on the ball a number of times when a simple pass was on to a team mate in a much better position. Glad to see Bowyer and Matty back though.

[jon253]

Nice to see Ashton put in another sparkling performance. Tell me, when are we finally going to see how class an act he is and begin getting a return on our investment?

When he's fully fit, possibly?

Did anyone else notice that Ashton when running is favouring his left leg? Think he is still in some pain from it or its now just in the head.

Have to say thought he was so bad today, Upson was my MOTM closely followed by George and Nobes

[jon253]

Did anyone else see Neill give away a blatant penalty in the first half where after failing to rugby tackle the advancing Petrov after being caught out of position, he got up, stormed into the box and took the players legs just to the right of Green's goal? Couldn't believe that it wasn't given with the referee standing right behind the incident. Pleased to see him replaced by the impressive Spector who subdued Petrov on the right for the second half.

Upson was excellent at the back. My MOM. Other notables were:

Etherington: didn't expect such a fine performance since just returning from injury. Linked up well with McCartney and Cole.

Anton: Solid performance and a brilliant intervention in the first half to block a shot from that young Mexican fella.

Cole: Worked his b*llocks off and won almost everything in the air. His hold up play was exceptional. If only he could shoot!

Besides winning a couple of freekicks in dangerous positions in the first half, he didn't really do anything and hindered us by not making any runs down the channels. That header 'saved' by Joe Hart wasn't going in anyway and really should have done much better from that distance with no marker in sight.

I know his coming back from injury and all that, but what we need is a striker who can inject a bit of pace and draw defenders wide to both create a threat and space for our midfielders.

I found the game an absolute bore, but what can you do with such a depleted squad. Not unhappy with the result but t'was a boring game and a f*cking sh*t atmosphere.

Agree with most of what you say, apart from Anton, who i thought lost concetration a couple of times and got caught out. Didnt think the game was a 'bore' and the atmosphere was ok. Maybe you should have watched/heard the Man u game at home that SAF described as "like a funeral"!

[wewe100]

Just thought i would post this as ive just found it on the BBC sport website:

WEDNESDAY 16 JANUARY
FA Cup goals loop
2300 on Wednesday-2359 on Thursday, BBCi

Score
1930 GMT, BBCi/online

FA Cup third round replay
Time/fixture tbc, BBC ONE

It looks live the game is going to be on live on BBC ONE , i cant see them having the swansea match on for a wednesday night match, they wouldnt get enough people watching.

[Mad Professor]

I wonder if hes scared that if he goes in for tackles or jumps(something hes not doing) and lands awkwardly he will get injured again. And it will see him out injured.

Just a thought.

I think you are right. I have long doubted that Deano will ever fully recover from his broken ankle and I think that he shares these doubts. He is only playing because we have no other options. If we had a fully fit squad we would be trying to ease him back in the reserves. It was a very bad injury, a career threatening one. He knows that.

[Junco Partner]

Made one of my handful a year trips to UP today and as ever had a good time, depite 0-0 it was a decent game and through my impartial unbiased eyes I thought we were the better team (despite one, maybe two, stonewall penalties for City not given).

Some thoughts:

George and Matty present our best attacking threat and that is odd and a sad reflection on the rest of the team. George plays so much better with Matty than when sicknote Freddie is yapping at him all match.

Pantsil - WTF ? Is he good in a misunderstood genius kinda way or is he just way out of his depth. At times today he was our most creative player but was that by design or luck ? I can't work him out at all.

Upson - Superb.

Petrov - An absolute class act, oh to have just one player like that.

Atmosphere - what all the fuss about, thought it was fine, plenty of singing and chanting when the play warranted it[b][/b] The fellas to the left of me (round by the police line with the City fans) didn't stop all day.

We will win the replay.

[I am law]

It looks live the game is going to be on live on BBC ONE , i cant see them having the swansea match on for a wednesday night match, they wouldnt get enough people watching.

Swansea's ground seemed 2/3 empty to me.

[Italian Hammer]

I wonder if hes scared that if he goes in for tackles or jumps(something hes not doing) and lands awkwardly he will get injured again. And it will see him out injured.

Just a thought.

I think you are right. I have long doubted that Deano will ever fully recover from his broken ankle and I think that he shares these doubts. He is only playing because we have no other options. If we had a fully fit squad we would be trying to ease him back in the reserves. It was a very bad injury, a career threatening one. He knows that.

Couldn't agree more. Most of the knee-jerk reactions we got on here regarding Ashton are laughable. Anyone who has had a bad injury like that knows how long it takes for the physical recovery. The psycological aspect takes much much longer to get over.

All this crap about him being a pie eater, lazy et etc. We won't see the best of him till next season... unless he has been hounded out of the club by then. Give him a chance FFS

[il_martello_di_genovesi]

Could we see Faubert against Fulham? Might be too soon but I'd love it...if he gets through the reserve match fine, I think we may have to use him...we have no Pantsil due to the African Nations...

[neilbob]

Did anyone else notice that Ashton when running is favouring his left leg? Think he is still in some pain from it or its now just in the head.

He's done that since he came back, but it seems to disappear when he's running full pelt. I think theres still an underlining problem, whether it's physical or psychological. Hopefully will be sorted soon though.

[IIIronss]

Having seen the penalty incident again on MOTD, it was no way a pen. In fact i was almost suprised when everyone thought it was,

Anton put his leg out, pulled it in, Petrov runs into his leg and falls over and expects a penalty


O, and to Paul robinson and his 'conceding from a half way line free kick by carrying the ball into his own net' act.

[comeonyouirons123]

the fact is ashton hasnt been performing, whether his working his way back from injury or not, hes touch has been **** and he is not working hard enough in a game unlike cole, hes annoyed that curbs isnt putting him in for big games, he hasnt earnt it. Everyone talks about he is still coming back from injury, how many games does he need?

[Sam West Ham]

I thought the anton incident was a stone wall penalty ... we got away with that one

[Cuenca 'ammer]

i would be interested to see, no wait i'll find the info ~

West Ham United: Robert Green, Jonathan Spector, George McCartney, Anton Ferdinand, Matthew Upson, Mark Noble, Lee Bowyer, Freddy Ljungberg, Luis Boa Morte, Craig Bellamy, Bobby Zamora.

THIS IS THE TEAM THAT TOOK A TONKING BACK IN AUGUST.

a much better team ~ well at least a more "balanced" team that came out and took a beating from citeh's first game. a two fit striker front line, a lopsided mid field but one with at least on paper TWO wide players, one of whom is markedly better than pantsil, whom i suggest had two crowd lifting weeks, is maybe not a top premiership performer ??? however, note the still to be juggled back line. no neil. ( a blessing maybe but early doors none the less).

they have, since then had a chance to get better, are undefeated at home although very disappointing away from home (the home fans would tell ya). a settled team, drew with the scallies and beat the barcodes away.

so i take it that today was an improvement then.

and i agree with our other poster.
another game for our lads to get a run out in the fitness battle.

as citeh ARE unbeaten at home, a win is perhaps out of reach, but if we can get a run out of 30 minutes perhaps for the likes of faubert (although don't rush him back for goodness sake) a game under his belt for bowyer and/or etherignton, i wouldn't be arsed right now if we didn't get another cup final appearance although it WOULD be great, but realistic ? nah, not this year.

[Cambiasso]

No he hasn't. You must have missed his six week injury right in the middle of that which undid half the work he'd done up until that point. He's played about 10 full games in 18 months and this is the toughest part of the year so anyone expecting him to be firing on all cylinders is, imo, living in a fantasy land. With the injury coming when it did, we'll probably be lucky to see the best of Deano before the end of the season but if he can keep himself clear of injury, we'll have a top striker come next August. We should be grateful we've got him at all. Last season nearly ended his career.

Expecting him to fire on all cylinders? Surely none of Ashton's critics are complaining about this. He's not expected to fire on all cylinders -- he's expected to put in some ****ing effort, keep his head down, and work hard like any other player would do. If he's still not "fit" and "needs time", then keep him out of the lineup altogether and let him regain fitness in the reserves. If he has psychological issues then he needs to sort them out outside the pitch (ie. the claim that he may be afraid of picking up an injury again).

We should be greatful we have him at all? He should be greatful for having a club like West Ham that stood by his side and continued to pay his wages while he soiled himself on the treatment room bed dreaming of playing for England. He should be greatful he still has an opportunity to continue his career. He should be greatful he's been given the time of day. He should be greatful to his supporters.

[rendog2]

Sadly I'm starting to think Ashton will move on quite soon to somewhere else where he'll start banging them in

We should mug newcastle for 15m for him and run, IMO

[Status Kev]

We will win the replay. Faubert will be back and have a stormer and Aston will score the winner.
I can dream can't I?

[Bobby Orangeboom]

We will win the replay. Faubert will be back and have a stormer and Aston will score the winner.
I can dream can't I?

With a Home tie against Walsall/Millwall awaiting in the next round ??

**** yeah we'll win it !!

[bluebutterfly]

Sadly I'm starting to think Ashton will move on quite soon to somewhere else where he'll start banging them in

We should mug newcastle for 15m for him and run, IMO

With him playing the way he is, will any other team want him??

[jon253]

Did anyone else notice that Ashton when running is favouring his left leg? Think he is still in some pain from it or its now just in the head.

He's done that since he came back, but it seems to disappear when he's running full pelt. I think theres still an underlining problem, whether it's physical or psychological. Hopefully will be sorted soon though.

I have noticed that before and when he stops he never finshes on that foot. he also looks so muscle bound, that can make u look fat,