A Season Of Sixes But Nine Goals At Old Trafford Still The Record To Beat

What an amazing start to the new Premier League 2010/2011 season! Defending champions, Chelsea kicked off their campaign with two successive 6-0 wins, prompting Carlo Ancelotti to declare that Chelsea are playing "Playstation football" at the moment. It's not the first time the Blues have thumped Wigan - last season they put eight past Roberto Martinez' Latics.

While it's true that West Brom and Wigan are among the relegation strugglers in the Premiership, to score six goals in two matches (and not conceding) is a feat to be lauded in any league. Not to be outdone, Arsenal blasted six of their own against Blackpool last weekend. Theo Walcott's second and third goal were reminiscent of a former French Arsenal legend. Will this season be the one in which Theo finally fulfills Wenger's belief that he can be a devastating striker?

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The Growing Scottish Influence in English Football

Written by Martin Domin, a Scottish football enthusiast

In the not-too-distant past, Scotland's top footballers were prevalent in England's top flight. Archie Gemmill, Denis Law, Billy Bremner and Graeme Souness are but four who played in the old English First Division in the 1970s and 80s. Indeed, 15 of the 22 players who went to the 1978 World Cup plied their trade south of the border, including four who were on the books of Manchester United. Now, 30 years on, Scotland's finest are once again making themselves at home in England including 13 of the original squad named to face Sweden, eight of whom play in the Premier League.

There is little doubt that Scotland can only benefit from these players' presence in what is widely considered to be the best league in the world. The gulf in class between England's top flight and the Scottish Premier League is growing ever larger with more and more players electing to make the move. What is of concern however is the number of Scots who have moved from the SPL to the Championship. Middlesbrough's Scottish spending spree has been well documented with Kris Boyd, Kevin Thomson, Andrew Halliday, Stephen McManus, Barry Robson and Lee Miller all moving since the beginning of the year. Indeed, four of those players have swapped European football and the prospect of winning trophies with the Old Firm for England's second tier.

The conveyor belt of talent leaving Glasgow in particular, and the SPL as a whole, is a damning indictment of the SPL, and it hardly comes as a surprise. Kris Boyd recently alluded to his delight at escaping from the goldfish bowl that Glasgow often become for Old Firm stars while the prospect of playing four games against Inverness and St Mirren every season is enough to drive any player to a division which has twice as many clubs and which offers the chance of a path to the promised land, something Charlie Adam will happily attest to.

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Who Should West Ham Pick Up From Hull, Burnley or Portsmouth?

Hull, Burnley and Portsmouth faces the prospect of having to sell their best players now that relegation is upon them. Pompey and Hull, in particular, are facing financial problems and therefore will need to sell players to survive.

There are some pretty interesting players worth picking up, notably from Portsmouth. Newspaper reports are linking Kevin Prince Boateng with West Ham after his outstanding performances in the FA Cup especially. I have put together a Best XI from clubs in the bottom three.

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West Ham Topped The Basement Four Mini League

West Ham's troubled season started out very promisingly back in August last year. An emphatic 2-0 win against Wolves remained the Hammers' only away win. That away form eluded us all season but it will be back against Fulham this Sunday now that relegation has been avoided.

One key advantage West Ham had in the relegation fight was the superb results against our fellow relegation strugglers. West Ham only lost once and won three home games against Hull, Portsmouth and Burnley scoring lots of goals in the process.

The Basement Four Mini League has West Ham at the top of the table.

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English Premier League Suffering From Lack Of Flair And Young Talents?

James Milner and Wayne Rooney have won the PFA Young Player and Player of the Year Awards. The PFA unfortunately did not do a great job in nominations for Young Player of the Year. How else would you explain why Rooney and Fabregas are nominated AGAIN for Young Player? In fact, I think that Joe Hart have had a fantastic season making 126 saves and keeping ten clean sheets thus far. He has been instrumental in Birmingham's first Premiership season and should be credited for Birmingham's League-best defensive home record.

Either way, I would normally associate young players with lots of flair, pace and technical trickery. However, this year has been devoid of any such player. Victor Moses came into the Premiership as possibly that type of player but unfortunately he still need time to mature and blossom.

When you think young talents, this year especially two players come to mind and they are from the Spanish La Liga. Sergio Canales and Iker Munian.

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Luis Boa Morte To Lead West Ham To Relegation Safety?

Luis Boa Morte joined West Ham in January 2007. He was signed by Alan Curbishley to help West Ham ward off relegation that season. I don't know if it is a coincidence but the return from injury of a "ready" Boa Morte at a crucial juncture for West Ham this season has a ring of deja vu about it.

I am sure that all West Ham fans know by now that Luis Boa Morte will be on the bench for this Saturday's home match against Wigan. To spice up tomorrow's big match further, Boa Morte's first goal for West Ham came against Wigan in a 3-0 win on 28 April 2007, almost three years ago!

The pre-injury Luis Boa Morte was a passionate, streaky, aggressive and pacy forward that could ruffle an opposing defender.

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Deco Declared War For Premiership Title, West Ham Must Do The Same!

Wisely, as if on cue to rouse up the troops, Deco decided that it is time to go to war. He urged Chelsea players that to start fighting if they want to become champions. It has been a strange season in 2009/2010 with the top teams seemingly conspiring to gift Manchester United their record 19th title and fourth in successive seasons.

This is what Deco said as published in the official Chelsea website.

"First thing we need, we need to know that we are first,' he says. 'The last three games will be difficult and of course there is pressure in our minds because we need to win our games if Man U win theirs.

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West Ham Must Take Note Of Wigan's Dangerous Trio

Like everyone else, I watched the Wigan-Arsenal match and thought that this was the perfect game for the Gunners to capitalise and moved back to within three points of Chelsea. In the first half and three minutes of the second half, everything was going according to script for Arsene Wenger's team.

Perhaps it was confidence, perhaps arrogance, perhaps inexperience and indisciplined but what transpired was Arsenal allowed Wigan to take over and dominate the match at two goals down. Wigan duly obliged and smashed Arsenal's title hopes to pieces. The outstanding performers in the Wigan side were Ben Watson, Victor Moses and Charles N'Zogbia. It has to be THE comeback story of the 2009/2010 Barclays Premier League season!

All three will need extra attention this Saturday from the West Ham defence.

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Putting The West Ham Anfield Loss Into Perspective

Thinking up excuses to explain West Ham's performances this season has become tiring and plainly annoying. Every time there were signs of a positive turnaround, West Ham's "resurgence" come crashing down again. This Anfield loss was again one of many examples throughout the season that just when there were some belief (among fans) in the players, the confidence come crashing down. Worse yet, the performance of the whole team did not look at all like a team fighting for survival.

There is no longer any doubt in my mind that Zola and Clarke will walk at the end of this season regardless of the outcome of this season. If West Ham were relegated, the owners will want a swift return to the Premiership and Zola-Clarke does not instill confidence at all. Should West Ham stay up, the feeling is that this horrible season should be banished into distant memory, hence Zola-Clarke must be replaced.

Liverpool totally thumped West Ham last night.

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Is West Ham Heading To A Nailbiting Finish?

Relegation battles can be such nail-biters that hardly any fan would like to go through. Here are some of the more dramatic Premier League relegation battles in recent history.

West Bromwich Albion, 2005
West Brom claim the top spot in this list as the only club to be bottom of the Premier league at Christmas and survive.

With their fate out of their hands on final day, Bryan Robson’s men beat Portsmouth 2-0 and waited for the good news from Norwich City and Southampton as their relegation rivals duly lost. Charlton drew with Palace, handing West Brom a miraculous escape.

Their final points tally of 34 is the lowest with which a team has survived relegation since the Premier League was reduced to 20 teams in 1995.

West Ham, 2007
After West Ham sacked Alan Pardew in December, Alan Curbishley led a revival as the club won seven of their last nine games, including 1-0 victories away to Arsenal and Manchester United

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West Ham v Sunderland Injury Report and Head to Head Stats

West Ham must look to win this match at home against Sunderland. Harry Harris of ESPN Soccernet opined that that performance against Everton suggest that West Ham have the fight to survive relegation. We shall see this Saturday if Harry is right about this one.

First up, the injury situation,

West Ham
Valon Behrami -- Calf Muscle Strain -- no return date

Kieron Dyer -- Hamstring Injury -- no return date

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West Ham's Point Against Everton Was Full Of Relief!

After some heavy knocks to the West Ham confidence, gaining one point in the draw against Everton must really felt like a big weight lifted off Zola's shoulders. The jubilant leap after Ilan's superb diving header says it all actually. The fact that West Ham were much better organized and had urgency in their play meant that this draw was well-deserved. There was a time after Da Costa had scored the equalizer, I felt that three points could be possible. Never mind that Everton had not lost for six successive games at Goodison, I felt at that moment West Ham had the momentum. Until the sucker punch by Yakubu that is and yet the West Ham players refuse to let that late goal affect them and promptly was rewarded 60 seconds later.

It felt great to have come from behind and forced the draw. It was extremely wonderful to finally see West Ham play consistently throughout the match. Throughout this testing season, West Ham have played very well in the first half only to falter and fade badly in the second half. Against Everton, the intensity and concentration stayed high all through the match. If the Hammers can keep this up in their next five matches, we should have more than an even chance to stay up.

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Reactions On West Ham's Losing Streak

Here are some quotes after the Stoke City defeat...

LIONEL MESSI IMPERSONATION 

Ricardo Fuller had a mesmeric moment for Stoke against West Ham.

OWNERS FROM HELL

David Sullivan and David Gold.

Ever since they bought half of West Ham, the porn kings have had it in for Gianfranco Zola. But they have stopped short of sacking him. Could it be that they were trying to get him to resign to avoid paying him his dues? As his famous novelist namesake Emile put it over another frame-up: J’accuse (I accuse).

PROVING A POINT?

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A Great Weekend For Hammer Fans - Are West Ham On Their Way To Safety?

After a thumping 3-0 win over Hull City, the confidence and morale of the entire West Ham squad must be sky high. Zola was actually smiling during the post-match interview, looking very much a relieved man. And he should be, after all, West Ham have achieved their first back-to-back victory since the 2009/2010 season started. Looking clean shaven and relaxed for a change, he spoke about how confidence is finally flowing into the team and how the talismanic Alessandro Diamanti is so important to the Hammer's survival cause. Maybe Zola has found that Tevez-like personality in the livewire Italian.

Two successive wins at home have moved West Ham up to 13th place now and they are now four points away from the bottom three. This will ease the worries and consequently relieve the anxiety of the players as they approach Tuesday's match against the wounded Manchester United at Old Trafford. Regardless of the Red Devils troubles, they are still amazing at home and will want to keep pace with Chelsea.

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Now The Season Really Begins For West Ham, Burnley Beware!

From having no fit senior striker to five available strikers in the space of one week has got to be the most talked about Premier League transfer story of the January 2010 window. Gianfranco Zola must be extremely excited going into this weekend's Burnley encounter at Turf Moor. The bolstered attacking muscle will be expected to inspire the Hammers to only their second away win of this season's Premiership season.

West Ham have a great record at Burnley, having last lost some 32 years ago. They have a chance to achieve their only double of the season, and will be fired up to grab the win to ignite their season. This match have come at an opportune time as Burnley, having lost the influential Owen Coyle, is out of form and sliding despairingly down the table.

An open flowing game should be expected as both teams will be out to secure a vital victory.

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Little Ribery Tops Ligue 1 Assists, Beckham's Impact On Ronaldinho Assists, Nene Is Best Ranked Fantasy Footballer & Fastest 577 Goals In The EPL

Winter break is over, and the leagues around Europe will resume in full force this weekend. At this juncture, I felt it appropriate to present a snapshot of how the dust had temporarily settled and will start to pick up again this January 2010.

Fahid Ben Khalfallah or "the little Ribery" as he is known in France, is leading the assists table in Ligue 1 ahead of the more established Yoann Gourcuff. The Tunisian will not be pulling on the national team's jersey as he rejected the invitation to play in the African Nations Cup.

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Farewell Dean Ashton, Thanks For The Memories!

After almost three injury-ravaged years, Dean Ashton, as the back pages suggest, will finally hang up his boots and retire. The player who was once seen as a unique cross between the playing styles of Alan Shearer and Teddy Sheringham, will never fully fulfill his potential as a top-class footballer. Many football observers including myself would have picked Ashton as the perfect foil for Wayne Rooney in England colours.

Dean Ashton was a modern-day striker who had the complete package. Strong and accurate in the air as well as comfortable holding up the ball, he also had skills like a support striker. Superb game awareness and excellent first touch are all attributes of Ashton's. He was prolific and single minded as a goalscorer. The English version of Didier Drogba but without the theatrics.

A broken ankle sustained during England training in 2006 never completely healed and although Ashton had his best season in 2007-08, that suspect ankle was always vulnerable to more injuries. Who would have thought that a call-up to an England training camp could end a promising player's career?!

Enjoy this video highlights as a sort of tribute to Dean Ashton. Video was created by EliasWhufc14.

West Ham are expected to issue a statement about Ashton's retirement in the coming weeks. The Dean Ashton ankle saga finally comes to an extremely sad halt. Ummm....maybe not as West Ham and Dean Ashton are expected to file suits against the English FA, Chelsea and even Shaun Wright-Phillips to seek financial compensation.

The Boy's Done Good!: Bolton's Tamir Cohen

Israel have produced wonderful midfielders over the years...Avi Cohen, Ronnie Rosenthal, Eyal Berkovic and Yossi Benayoun. After four matches and three goals for Bolton, you can add Tamir Cohen onto that list.

Tamir Cohen joined Bolton in January 2008 for a mere fee of £37,000 from Maccabi Netanya. He was Gary Megson's first signing to try and add depth to a then thin midfield squad. Since joining Bolton, he has struggled with injury and has played in bits and pieces for Bolton until this season. This season, Cohen has been injury free and is finally showing his potential.

Tamir Cohen scoring against Birmingham - Image from Associated Press

Tamir Cohen has the technical ability to be a complete midfielder. Firstly from an attacking perspective, he is good in the air, has a powerful left foot shot and has the knack of getting into goalscoring positions. Defensively, he tackles and distributes the ball well. He is currently tied as the highest goalscoring midfielder in the Premiership, keeping company with Steven Gerrard and Michael Ballack. His defensive positioning, however is an area that he needs to work on.

Cohen got his first team chance this season due to injury to Ricardo Gardner. He has not looked back since. Scoring against Liverpool, Portsmouth and Birmingham has cemented his place in Bolton's first team. His performances have made him the surprise package so far this season.

Cohen in Carling Cup action - Image from Associated Press

Bolton has not had a goalscoring midfielder since Kevin Nolan left the club in January 2009. Tamir Cohen has the ability and the athleticism to step into those shoes. Bolton boss, Gary Megson has already challenged him to do so and it will be a true test of Cohen's character to respond positively and score more goals from midfield. In evenly balanced games, often you will find that goals from midfield tend to be match winners.

Even at this time of post, Tamir Cohen has just put in a great shift in a hotly contested 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur. It was his cross that gave Kevin Davies the opportunity to score his second goal of the season. His first assist for the season.

Watch for more great things from Bolton's Tamir Cohen.

Dismal Home Form Will Spur West Ham To A Win Against Fulham

After the away defeat against Manchester City, Zola had stated that the team including himself will have to bring the thunder back. This basically means that the players must show desire, motivation and fighting spirit if West Ham are to start winning again.

If the Manchester City loss can be considered an "acceptable defeat", then this weekend's match against Fulham is rightly labelled as "the Cup final". Personally, I doubt it's as serious as that but for sure, a win looks vital even at this early stage in the season. What better motivation for the players than the chance to correct a winless home record and continue bragging rights against Fulham. West Ham have not lost to Fulham, winning eight and drawing three in their last 11 meetings. Fulham is also in a slump and a win would see West Ham overtake Fulham in the Premiership table.

Steve Clarke has said in the club website that the team is ready and focused to achieve three points on Sunday. Scoring goals remain a problem and I hope that Guillermo Franco is available for this match as he looks an intelligent striker capable of goals. The positive side is that Fulham is also struggling for goals and the probable absence of Matthew Upson should not hurt the Hammers as much.

Another energetic performance from cult hero-to-be Diamanti can be expected. If he can chip in with some goals, I am sure that West Ham can grab only their second win this season at Upton Park this Sunday.

Probably Team News (as seen in The Telegraph)
West Ham United: Green; Faubert, Tomkins, Da Costa, Ilunga; Parker; Diamanti, Kovac, Noble, Jimenez; Cole
Fulham: Schwarzer; Pantsil, Hughes, Hangeland, Kelly; Duff, Etuhu, Murphy, Dempsey; Johnson, Zamora

Manchester City 3-1 West Ham United: Cause For Concern As Hammers Falters

It was a bad week for West Ham. In the wake of the Battle at Boleyn, the English Football Association had decided to charge West Ham with four offences and the club has 14 days to respond to these charges. Hopefully the punishment will be justified rather than just an publicity attempt by the FA chairman to set an example.

With that in mind, beating Manchester City would have been the perfect tonic for the FA charge blues. Sadly, that was hardly going to happen, especially when the team lineup had a significant absentee in Matthew Upson. West Ham's defence missed his leadership and organizational abilities across the back four. James Collins' departure has hurt us more than we thought as ten goals have been conceded since transfer deadline and that cannot just be a coincidence.

West Ham just had no answer against Bellamy, Tevez and the amazing Martin Petrov. Where was Guille Franco? This could have been the most ideal match for a big game player. West Ham at this time are definitely struggling for form. Both defence and attack are areas of real concern.

Defensively, Zola and Clarke should be able to put things right on the training ground. The attack however, is a little bit trickier. That prolific goal scorer who can guarantee 15+ goals a season is still missing. We hope that Franco could somehow be that player. One positive point Diamanti has all the skills and temperament to be a terrace cult hero and he definitely can bring fans to their feet, reflecting the pleasing West Ham approach play.

Cult hero in the making - Image from Associated Press

West Ham's next four matches will be crucial to address this worrying decline....starting with Fulham's visit this Saturday to Upton Park. A good performance and subsequent three points will help move the Hammers up the league. Anything less than a win may not be good enough for West Ham who need to close the points gap against Fulham. Hence, Zola has declared that the players should treat the Fulham match like a "Cup Final".

Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium will be next and Tony Pulis' side is a tough side to beat. Zola will need to be aware of the aerial assault threat that the Potters possess. Even in this early stage of the season, a potential six-pointer which could propel West Ham to mid-table security is on the cards.

With six points in the bag, Zola can send his team out full of confidence against a very beatable Arsenal side. Finally to round up the October fixture, the Hammers will have to face the current most potent strike duo, Sunderland's Kenwyne Jones and Darren Bent. The duo have scored eleven goals so far. A crucially important month, West Ham must really start banging in the goals that their play deserves. It has been a stop and start season thus far, we need to start putting a winning run together. What better way to start that run than in a London derby against Fulham.

So will West Ham's season begin against Fulham? It must.