Leeds United 1 West Ham United 0

Saturday, 8th February 2003
by Graham Godfrey

Alright chaps and chappesses. Now, I had good intentions of compiling a match report, however Mr. Smirnoff got me slightly worse for wears and in all honesty I could sum up the performance of our team on the back of a stamp.

I thought we would at least come away with some pride intact after the nightmare last few weeks, against Arsenal, Manure and Liverpool, teams that even the useless Roeder shouldn't really have to motivate our players for. After all, these are the teams you want to play every week. Not our lot.

To sum it up, for an hour we let a two bob, rag tag outfit (a Leeds' fans words) that couldn't lace some of our players boots in pedigree six months ago, dictate play and outfight us. At no time during that first hour did we impose a game plan on them (though by the looks of it we didn't have one). We didn't even try and fight out of trouble - we just sat there and let them play around us. Even after the hour mark it didn't really improve; if anything Leeds sat on their lead and soaked up what little pressure we put on them.

Once again I left the ground disgusted by the lack of effort and passion for the shirt shown by the players representing the club we adore. They along with the muppets running this club of ours are systematically destroying all the good that West Ham United FC stands for.

During the week I had a drink with a very good mate of mine, a Chelsea fan. He felt sorry for me; as he said 'they're a mystery your lot - the one thing, when you played a West Ham team you knew you were in for a game, even if they were poor. They battled for everything - but this team under this manager aren't doing it' he said. Sad to say, but he got it spot on.

Anyway - after the game today I got on the South bound train and after about half an hour spent staring at the chap sat opposite me (he was wearing a Leeds tracksuit - I thought he was a bit old to dress like that for football) I overheard a phone call of his. As it turned out he had played against us, in the Leeds midfield ...

Sobering up as not to completely show my self up, I asked if he had played. 'Who are you then' I asked to which he replied 'Paul Okon'. He turned out to be a right nice fella.

Anyhow, after chatting for a while and finding out that Leeds have now played all the teams around us (West Ham being the only ones to surrender all six points) I asked him a question, a simple little question. I was sure I knew the answer already but asked anyway.

I said 'if you were to play any team down the bottom, who would you play?' Without hesitation he replied 'West Ham', to which he elaborated by saying 'West Brom gave us a hell of a game a couple of weeks ago, they fought for everything and, to be honest, were unlucky in the end. Bolton and Sunderland were both battles too, but we always felt comfortable about today's game; never hurried, never hassled and never put on the back foot.'

He then added 'you're going down, and that's a sad thing. It shouldn't be that way but the players aren't playing for your Club and when that happens, that's the end of the story'.

It was refreshing to hear this from a player who'd just played against us. Asking about our midfield he said Michael Carrick wasn't really in the game, never challenging fifty fifty balls and wasting passes. But most damning was his assessment of Joe Cole.

He said that all week they'd targeted Cole as our weak point. His defensive game is poor, drifting inside and leaving holes behind where Leeds could double up on our full back. I have to say I think he was spot on, our midfield defensively are shocking and regularly contribute to our poor defensive displays. Okon followed up by saying that Cole would be a threat behind the front two given a freer role ...

Anyway, he's good mates with Stan Lazarides and is going to tell him he's a legend in my eyes for that goal at Newcastle. He is coming down for the England game on Wednesday at our gaff (and will be out later in Earls Court, I believe).

KUMB Stats

West Ham United: James, G.Johnson, Repka, Pearce, Brevett (Sinclair 83), Bowyer, Lomas, Carrick (Hutchison 90), Cole, Kanoute, Di Canio (Defoe 73).

Subs not used: Van Der Gouw, Dailly.

Leeds United: Robinson, Mills, Duberry, Matteo (Kilgallon 90), Bravo, Kelly, Okon, S.Johnson, Wilcox, Bakke (McMaster 90), Milner.

Subs not used: Martyn, Harte, Barmby.

Goals: S.Johnson (20).

Booked: Bravo, Okon, Brevett, Bowyer.

Sent off: Kanoute (70).

Attendance: 40,126.

Referee: Dermot Gallagher.

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Match Facts

West Ham United: , , , , , , , , , , .

Goals: None.

Booked: None.

Sent off: None.

: .

Subs not used: .

Goals: .

Booked: .

Sent off: None.

Referee: .

Attendance: 0.

Man of the Match: .