Not Enough Quality! + [Video Highlights]
Nov 23, 2008 Featured Article, Gianfranco Zola, James Collins, Prediction League, Sunderland, West Ham News
After watching the Spurs match and how they only just beat a 10 man Blackburn, West Ham for 50 minutes were sitting in 17th place until Valon Behrami saved the day.
Roy Keane was dissapointed at not at least getting a share of the points and had this to say:
“I don’t think we deserved to lose,” Keane said after the match on Sunday afternoon.
“It’s questionable if we’ve done enough to win, but we could not provide the goal at the end.
“We got the opportunities. At least test the keeper but we didn’t really test him and we gave a bad goal away.
“It’s hard to take.
“I’ve no problem with the effort, we just need a bit more quality in the attacking third.”
Gianfranco Zola on the other hand was over the moon with his team and said to SkySports:
“Football is strange - sometimes you play well and get nothing.
“In those times you have to keep faith you are going to be rewarded and today is one of them.
“Today my smile is bigger. I am pleased for the boys because they were playing well and not getting results.
“We know that it is important to defend properly and the three points proved that.
“We are going to try and build (on) that.”
Match analysis
Valon Behrami handed Zola his first Barclays Premier League victory in eight attempts as Sunderland suffered a third successive home defeat.
The Switzerland international fired West Ham ahead with 20 minutes gone and could have made what followed far more comfortable had he not shot against the crossbar from just six yards on the stroke of half-time.
But in the end, his contribution proved enough to win a game which the home side dominated for long periods, but failed to make the most of the chances they created.
Manager Roy Keane has admitted in the past that the relative lack of goals his side scores often makes life difficult for them, and that shortcoming was painfully evident once again.
Djibril Cisse in particular had a series of chances, but the Wearsiders did not work goalkeeper Robert Green anywhere near often enough and ultimately paid the price.
The Hammers had to defend for long periods, but in Matthew Upson and James Collins, had willing workhorses, while former Newcastle striker Craig Bellamy was at his irritating best in front of a disgruntled crowd of 35,222.
Keane has seen and done most things in football, and little surprises him any longer.
However, he headed for the dressing room at half-time having seen his side create more than enough chances to win the game, but lucky still to be in it.
With recalled midfielder Andy Reid tormenting the Hammers down the left to provide a series of inviting cross for Cisse, it seemed only a matter of time before the home side took the lead.
Cisse sent one header just over and another narrowly wide, and then drilled a right-foot shot into the side-netting.
Reid landed a curling shot on top of Green’s crossbar and Danny Collins forced a good save from the keeper four minutes before the break, and there was fury inside the Stadium of Light went Cisse went down on the edge of the box under James Collins’ challenge and referee Mike Dean waved away his penalty appeals.
But in the meantime, Zola’s men had taken the lead against the run of play.
Reid was penalised for a foul on Lucas Neill wide on the right, and although Nyron Nosworthy cleared Julien Faubert’s free-kick, Behrami picked up the rebound and drilled a low shot past Marton Fulop with the help of a deflection off Kenwyne Jones.
Chances were few for the Londoners, but they should really have been 2-0 up in first-half injury-time after former Hammer Anton Ferdinand was left red-faced.
The defender attempted to control a high ball on halfway when he should really have headed it and succeeded only in giving it to Bellamy.
The Welsh international striker sprinted into the box and although he was forced wide as he attempted to round Fulop, he managed to squad for Behrami on the edge of the six-yard box - only for the midfielder to fire against the bar.
Keane’s side returned determined to make the most of their escape, and they were appealing for a penalty again within two minutes when Cisse smashed the ball against Upson’s arm from point-blank range - although Dean turned them down
The Frenchman was finding space with ease and headed wide once again from Phil Bardsley’s 49th-minute cross, and Green was relieved not to be punished for losing out in an aerial battle with Jones five minutes later.
Having spent 10 minutes pinned back inside their own half, the Hammers eventually fought their way into enemy territory and went close to a second goal with 56 minutes gone when Lee Bowyer headed just over.
The former Magpie was in on goal again on the hour when he ran on to Behrami’s pass, but Fulop smothered his cross with the blue shirts gathering.
Cisse was unable to capitalise on James Collins’ misjudgement when he allowed Reid’s 65th-minute cross to reach the Frenchman, who totally miscued his header.
Keane’s withdrew Steed Malbranque and Reid and sent on Daryl Murphy and Carlos Edwards, the latter having been recalled from his loan spell at Wolves.
Dean Whitehead forced a smart save from Green with a glancing 84th-minute header, but Sunderland’s fightback simply dwindled away to nothing.
Sunderlands biggest mistake was taking off Andy Reid which brought a sigh of relief to West Ham players and Fans as Reid was a definite danger to the Hammers and was more likely to bring on a goal for Sunderland with his accurate crosses to the 6 yard box.
COYI MOTM goes to James Collins
A massive 50 points each goes to Bobshep53 and shahirenayet for the correct Sunderland V West Ham prediction
This post was submitted by west ham fan.
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Tags: Andy Reid, Attempts, Barclays, Barclays Premier League, Behrami, Cisse, craig bellamy, Crossbar, Djibril Cisse, Dressing Room, Gianfranco Zola, hammers, League Victory, Long Periods, Match, Matthew Upson, Midfielder, Moon, Relative Lack, Robert Green, Roy Keane, Shortcoming, Smile, Spurs, striker, Stroke, Sunday Afternoon, Valiant, video highlights, West Ham, Workhorses
Nani eyes South American Super Striker
Aug 10, 2008 Prediction League, Transfer Rumours, Transfers, West Ham News
Gianluca Nani is keeping an eye on Chilean Super-Striker Sebastian Pinto and 
is willing to pay the £5m asking price from Brazilian club Santos according to The People.
The deal will only happen if Dean Ashton decides to leave, which really looks unlikely, as he just signed a 5 year deal with the Hammers worth £13m, but contracts in football mean nothing anymore, if a player wants to leave then more than likely the club will allow the move to happen if the fee is suitable, and in Ashtons case, rumours have it that a couple of clubs are willing to pay a heavy transfer fee.
Pinto (The Tank) would definitley be a suitable
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This post was submitted by Malout Gomez - Using Submit a Post.
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Tags: 5m, Asking Price, Contracts, curbs, Dean, dean ashton, gianluca nani, People, Pinto, Prediction League, premier league, Sebastian, striker, Suitable Replacement, Tank, West Ham
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Aug 7, 2008 Prediction League, West Ham News
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