The Celebratory Camera Kiss

What's with footballers these days? Steven Gerrard started it by kissing the camera when overwhelmed by the emotion of scoring a goal against long time rivals Manchester United. Suddenly, every footballer worth his salt could be seen planting his smackers against a camera as a celebratory move.

I am all for it, I love it. Here are Mark Noble and Scott Parker kissing the camera in response to scoring goals for West Ham United.

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Terrific West Ham Withstood Late Liverpool Surge

Liverpool had not lost to West Ham in 17 meetings prior to this season's fixture at Upton Park. If Liverpool had thought that bottom-placed West Ham would be easy pickings, they were dead wrong. The Hammers came out with guns blazing and quickly took control of the match, outpassing and outrunning their more illustrious counterparts. Quite clearly the Europa League exertions had taken a toll on the Liverpool players as they were second to every ball.

The first half truly belonged to West Ham and they deserved their two goal lead at the end of a sterling first 45 minutes. Thomas Hitzlsperger got his first assist when he returned a pass for the inspirational Scott Parker to curl the ball beyond Pepe Reina. Not to be outdone, Demba Ba scored his third goal in two games when he guided a flying header into Reina's net. Liverpool five-man defence did not pick up the run of the Senegalese, allowing him to add the finishing touch to a nice Hammers move.

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Is Martin O'Neill Right For West Ham?

Martin O'Neill is still being touted as the man to replace the unlucky Avram Grant at the helm of West Ham United. The former Aston Villa manager is reported to be mulling over the possibility of being the Irons' new manager.

Avram Grant has always been unlucky in the English Premier League. He seems to be the unwanted child although he has worked wonders at the clubs that he previously managed. Apparently a Champions League final and an FA Cup final appearance are not measures of success. Just goes to show how much importance is put on Premier League survival in this day and age.

But is Martin O'Neill the right man for West Ham?

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Fortune Continues To Leave West Ham

When the second Chelsea goal flew in Salomon Kalou off a hasty clearance by Matthew Upson, the commentator uttered these words which ultimately defined West Ham's performance against Chelsea over the weekend just past.

Fortune continues to leave West Ham.....

These words rang so true in my mind. Chelsea scored an early 2nd minute goal through Michael Essien. The manner of Essien's goal has become the sort of sickening goals that Hammers fans are witnessing week in week out this season. No, sorry, these sort of goals have been conceded in regular fashion since last season. The West Ham central defence, though big and powerful, are getting beat in the air over and over again - it's baffling and I think it's all down to lack of confidence and concentration.

Rob Green is known as a shot stopper and never as a commanding presence in the penalty area. That job has always been Matty Upson and when he is also suffering from loss of confidence, the Hammers will continue to be a soft touch in defence. Quite where Manuel da Costa has been banished to, I don't know but Avram Grant had better find him and stick him back into the centre of defence before it's too late!

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Just Like Last Season - Deja vu For The Hammers

In West Ham's second game of the new 2010/2011 season, there is a feeling that they will struggle again. Whatever that Avram Grant have managed to instill into the team, it still looks like deja vu all over again for the Hammers. Just like last season, West Ham plays well in the first half and then capitulate in the second. I remember vividly how at one stage last season the Irons were in 8th league placing based on first half performance only. The same situation seemed to be recurring and is not improving.

Beaten again by bogey team, Bolton once more at home, this defeat makes it three losses in a row against the Trotters at Upton Park. Some may say that Bolton got lucky and that West Ham were all over them in the first half. Although it is true that Grant's players were great in the first half, the developing pattern is frighteningly familiar. I fear the phrase "West Ham turning the corner very soon" will once more be a well-used statement to describe how good the boys are playing but that "corner" will remain, like last year, elusive.

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Thank God For Scott Parker!

As if scripted, when West Ham was looking for a leader to haul them back into Premiership survival, Scott Parker duly obliged. In every sense, Parker was the the only West Ham player you would not wished to suffer the agony of relegation. So immense were his heart and commitment to stave off relegation.

So it was fitting that he should score a 25-yard screamer that guaranteed West Ham Premiership safety and allow Gold and Sullivan to rebuild the entire squad. If it was scored by Steven Gerrard or Frank Lampard, it would have been billed as the goal of the season but since it's the unfashionable, no frills midfielder Scott Parker, it hasn't garnered as much publicity as it should.

There are many parties to thank for Scotty Parker's goal,

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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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West Ham Out Of The Woods? Carlos Tevez Coming Back?

The star of the first "Great Escape", Carlos Tevez have declared that he wants to play for West Ham once again as he claimed there were unfinished business. That's just fantastic, his brand of all-action football is something that we have missed this season especially. He is playing well also, seeing that he has now scored six goals in his last three starts.

He has already showed his dissatisfaction with the management and coaching style of Roberto Mancini. Further to this, he has, like Craig Bellamy, questioned the rationale of the owners for sacking Mark Hughes. Funny, we have seen this before while Carlitos was at Manchester United. Hope this means he is angling for a move back to West Ham because he would be greatly welcomed by all Hammers fans. As long as he does not score against us in the final game of this season.

Also in the news are reports that Zola is confident of landing one of the most sought after striker in Jermaine Beckford.

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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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How Does West Ham Compare To Fulham This Season?

West Ham as a football club have officially lodged a complaint to the Premier League over Fulham fielding a weakened team against Hull City on March 27, 2010. Fulham lost that game at the Kingston Stadium 2-0 to Iain Dowie's Hull which put them level on points with the Hammers.

The question I want to ask is how does the West Ham squad compare with the Fulham squad as a whole? This is my assessment of West Ham against Fulham's squad this season.

Goalkeeping:

Rob Green (WHU) is an England international and quite possibly England's no. 1 in the World Cup.

Mark Schwarzer (FUL) is Australia's no. 1 and will also be in the World Cup this summer.

Not much difference between the two in terms of goalkeeping strengths.

Defence:

James Tomkins, Matt Upson, Danny Gabbidon, Jon Spector, Julien Faubert, Ilunga, Daprela (WHU) - All internationals. However, Spector and Faubert are suspect defensively and the fullback area is the weakest part of West Ham's squad. The right fullback position sorely need reinforcements. Gabbidon looks past his best, and strangely, Upson does as well.

Chris Smalling, Hangeland, Konchesky, Aaron Hughes, Shorey, Baird, Pantsil (FUL) - Smalling is the best young defender in England without a doubt. Fulham's defenders have the edge as they have the defensive toughness and the experience of top-flight Premiership football.

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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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Everton vs West Ham Head to Head Stats - Preview

As Gianfranco Zola and Steve Clarke get back to the serious business (with owners' backing) of avoiding relegation, let's have a look at some key Everton stats at home and the head-to-head information.

Everton Key Stats:  

• played last 3 matches with less then 3 goals.
• won last 6 matches at home.
• average number of goals 2.9 per match, scored 1.6 and 1.3 conceded.
• played 11 home matches with at least one goal scored in a row. 

West Ham Key Stats:

• lost last 6 matches.
• lost last 3 matches at home.
• lost last 4 away matches.
• average number of goals 2.8 per match, scored 1.2 and 1.6 conceded.
• played 6 matches with at least one goal conceded in a row.
• played 5 away matches with at least one goal conceded in a row. 

Want to know who has scored the most headed goals since the 2005/06 season? It's an Everton player...care to guess?

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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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West Ham Down And Out?

Everything that need to be said has been said. Everything that need to be analysed has been analysed. And there are just no more excuses left. Gold & Sullivan had done their ownership part and tried to give the club's playing staff a kick up the backside. They have tried to put fire under the manager's and players' bellies in order to give them that motivation and desire to succeed in a relegation scrap. Unfortunately all that is in vain and the efforts have been futile.

Five successive losses were hard to take, especially losing to Wolves. That opening day away win must have felt totally unreal after that loss. It gets worse. Having that streak extended to six against Stoke has really knocked the stuffing out of the fans, players, managers and owners alike. The morale in the team must be feeling like a morgue right now.

And so three high profile striker signings on, West Ham are still within the spectre of relegation. The worst thing is the nagging feeling that West Ham will never get themselves out of this slump.

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How Will West Ham Beat Chelsea?

After a terrible performance against Bolton, West Ham visit troubled Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. We have seen everything from West Ham this season, so much drama on and off the field. Even so, there was never doubting the commitment of the players....until the Bolton game last week.

In reality, there is only one way forward after an uncharacteristically disinterested performance by the Hammers and so we should expect a vastly improved performance this Saturday. Still, I don't think that West Ham can overcome Chelsea simply by displaying a more spirited performance.

Chelsea also have a point to prove after falling to Inter and Manchester City in the Champions League and Premier League respectively. At home, Chelsea have the best record in the Premiership, averaging 2.93 goals per game while conceding 0.86 goals per game. At least, they will not be attacking West Ham from the flanks like Bolton did.

Can West Ham outmuscle and outfight Chelsea in midfield and attack?

No. Chelsea has possibly the biggest and strongest players in the Premiership. Players like Ballack, Obi Mikel, Terry, Carvalho, Alex, Ivanovic, Drogba and Anelka all relish the physical challenge. Intimidation will not work and besides West Ham is not the most physical of teams.

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The West Ham Connection In The England World Cup Team

West Ham have always prided themselves as the club which won England the 1966 World Cup. Of course, Martin Peters, Bobby Moore and Geoff Hurst were heroes on that night. They were also West Ham United players as well. This year's World Cup, England also have a significant West Ham and ex-West Ham flavour to it. Players like Rob Green, David James, Matthew Upson, Rio Ferdinand, Carlton Cole and Jermain Defoe have all been mainstays of the new Capello regime.

Danny Murphy recently touted his Fulham clubmate, Paul Konchesky for the vacant England left back slot. I think Konchesky has been playing very well this season.

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Same Old Story At Burnley For West Ham, How Long Before Zola Gets The Sack?

A McCarthy goal line clearance, a shuddering Stanislas free kick against the crossbar, a stoppage time Mido header against the post, a Scott Parker save by the Beast and a disallowed Cole goal. Hammer fans will rue their team's luck when they look back at this match.

However, West Ham fans must be sick to the stomach watching the many times that poor defending has undermine the Irons season. West Ham have still not been able to turn supposedly "winnable" matches into actual victories and this must be a concern to Zola.

If we can't defend decently, then we should put more emphasis on our newly acquired attacking strengths. West Ham need to win matches badly, and we still looked incapable of doing so. Honestly, it is hard to see where the next win will come from as confidence seemed low and the pressure is starting to show on the players.

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