I’ve put together a slightly different comparison this time around, highlighting how we fared in the exact same fixtures played this year compared to last:

So from that, a quick few summary points:

- We have scored 9 more goals compared to last year
- But, conceded 6 more

- We earned 5 more points in the corresponding fixtures last year.
- We have seen the same results against Spurs, Blackburn, Liverpool, Man City and Everton
- Last year we beat Wigan, Fulham, Stoke and Sunderland, whereas this year we only managed 2 points from the same fixtures.
- We have improved on the Arsenal, Villa and Hull results compared to last year.

I produce these stats table to simply put the data out there and hopefully make it easier to interpret. My opinion on the whole lot is quite simply this…our urgency to secure the services of a new striker during the summer has clearly paid off. We’ve scored significantly more goals. However…it is obviously been at detriment to our defence (selling Collins was a massive mistake).

I am however confident that once our defence settles into the same four each week for the best part, we will soon see a climb up the table. Although our goal difference is actually better this year we are shipping goals like there’s no tomorrow. Sort that, and we’ve got the makings of a side that can still achieve something this year.

Love too know your comments

IRONS

Sam

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Alan Curbishley

Just a quick couple of thoughts on Alan and what he has said to the press recently. To keep you updated he has pretty much come out with what the media call a ’scathing’ attack on the West Ham board. Transfer deadline day, I remember it well. I remember staying up late just to see us sell George McCartney and bring in a couple of of unknowns; the words paper and cracks sprang to mind.

Curbishley has now come out to say that he had absolutely no say in the signings of Di Michele and Illunga and definitely did not want to sell Linda:

“On the Sunday I told them we must keep McCartney and if that meant no players coming in then I was happy to stick with the squad I had. But when I arrived at 1pm I discovered that George was already at Sunderland having a medical. I told them that we needed to get a defender in because having sold half of my first choice back four — Anton and McCartney — we needed cover”

As for Di Michele and Illunga, he says that the board suggested those players, he didn’t want them and then the board “went and signed them”.

As for Walter Lopez, well after this comment I really am not expecting much from him at all:

Walter Lopez — who was also signed on loan — had been on trial with us for nine days but, along with the coaching staff, we opted not to take him and he was sent back. Then, mysteriously, he’s been signed for a year as well

No matter what you thought of Curbishley’s tactics (more like tic-tacs) at times, it is clearer now than it ever was that the board did not respect him as a person, let alone as a manager. The treatment of him who is at the end of the day a professional, was a disgrace. I fully expect Scott Terrence-Duxburry-Brown to be releasing a clubb statement very soon, refuting these ‘outrageous claims’ by Curbs. Liar.

Let’s just hope that now they have a man in charge who they actually want at the club, that they give him their full, honest, support.

Gianfranco Zola, West Ham Manager

I for one however am exceptionally excited at the potential I see in Zola as a coach. Forget the fact that he used to play for Chelsea, “Chelsea who” I can already hear him asking. I hope that we can look back in a few years time and consider the capture of Zola as pure genius, and a simple ‘repayment’ of losing Joe Cole and Glenn Johnson to them. If anything, the fact that he used to play for them has simply made them our feeder club now….especially with Clarke potentially following suit. It’s really quite harmonious.

I wrote an article titled Di Canio Latest, One Egg and Several Biscuits after Curbs left and in that article I described (amongst other things) what I personally would like to see in the new West Ham manager:

A manager who has ambition and passion. Someone who will get the very best out of a depleted squad. And a manager who adopts a zero tolerance policy towards the board. Someone who’s first priority is West Ham Football Club.

I think it is very clear from what Zola has been saying so far since his appointment that he most certainly is a manager with ambition. He has passion. I think he has the character and personality to get the best out of our talented squad (and it is a very talented squad, contrary to popular belief). My only issue maybe however is that he may have been appointed over other candidates for being a “Yes” man. We don’t know that yet and we won’t know it for a while…so let’s not assume.

Most importantly, it was made quite clear by Zola in the unveiling press conference that West Ham are his first priority. Yes, he played for a small team in Fulham once upon a time. So what. He has called West Ham a new adventure in his career, and I am all for that.

His endearing character is clear for all to see but neither will he take any rubbish off the players. And I don’t think they will give any, Zola is a footballing legend after all. His PR abilities have so far knocked the socks off anything we ever saw from Curbishley, the press love him and I am sure that we will too.

Let’s see what qualities he brings to the team, let’s see how he changes it from what Curbs got them doing. I very much doubt we will see much long ball from now on….very good news. He has already brought in a fitness coach. He hadn’t even met up with the players and assessed their fitness before deciding to do that, so he is clearly going to be setting the bar high in that area.

I see this as very positive movement from West Ham and I think we just need to now fully get behind Zola and the team of players and staff that he brings in. Maybe one day, and unlike Curbishley, he will get his own song.

And to all the season ticket holders in Centenary Lower with me, maybe when we sing “Zola, Zola give us a wave”, he will…unlike Curbs. On the subject of songs, I’ve been having a think about what could possibly work…anyone got any ideas?

The football will be different, and I expect it to be exciting…perhaps I will still get my money’s worth on my season ticket after all?!

Come on You Irons!!

Sam

(As for the XL situation, well it’s just typical West Ham isn’t it?!)

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Two words: Gutted, Gutted. (one for each)

The combined deal has been finalised at £6.3m for both players with the potential of rising by a further £1m depending on appearances.

I am honestly disappointed by this so I won’t go on, but I would like to stand and applaud both player’s services to the club.

You have both been exceptionally loyal and will both be missed by all

My concern now is that I don’t think this money will be going towards transfers. It’s just a hunch but something had to pay Terrence Brown off.

Sam

According to our Poll, this really wasn’t something that our fans wanted to see…certainly not over selling Carlton Cole anyway

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At least that is the only excuse I can find for all the peculiar activity that has been going down at God’s Green Acre (Thanks Kirk!).

The general consensus amongst people on my first post about Zamora is that we shouldn’t be selling him. At least not in preference to Carlton Cole. Many people agreed that he wasn’t necessarily the best player since sliced bread, but that his dedication and commitment to our club is enough to try and hold onto him.

So why is Curbishley looking to offload him to Fulham where he is having his medical this week? I would argue that the majority of loyal fans at Upton Park would rather see Zamora pulling on the Claret and Blue next season rather that Carlton Cole.

Perhaps we are just not physically able to sell Cole. I’m not a boo boy, and I’m not denying that Cole had a handful of decent performances at the end of last year, but that does not defend his sometimes appalling performances at other times during the season.

One thing Cole does seem to almost have going for him compared to Zamora is his fitness and lack of injury. Then again, Zamora played the final few games of the year with an injury such is his dedication to the shirt. We always talk about it, the fact that 9 times out of 10, a player who shows loyalty to our club and a desire to play is worth so much to the fans. So why does Curbs think it makes sense to sell him? On a similar note, the fact that Anton makes a conscious effort to run into each corner of the ground at the beginning of each respective half speaks volumes about his desire to play in Claret and Blue and bring the fans what they want. That however should be saved for another day…especially if we lose him to Villa or Newcarsele.

What it all boils down to in my opinion is once again the Tevez affair/saga/mash-up/mix-up/balls-up. All that we have witnessed (or not witnessed) this transfer window (offloading Zamora/Solano and employing Kia/welcoming Brown back) basically says to me that the case is not as cut and dry as we all originally thought it was.

So far outwardly Curbs has been making all the wrong moves, particularly in the eyes of the fans. Inwardly however, I think it is a different story.

Mind you, why would he sell Cole? After all, he did used to play for Charlton.

Please vote below in possibly one of the most simple polls I have ever made…would you like to keep Bobby Zamora or Carlton Cole? Or maybe you would get rid of both of them?

Sam

[poll id="4"]

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Well, well… West Ham have let Fulham talk to Zammo and John Pantsil . Not so much JP but it would be a massive shame to see BZ play in a white shirt next year.

Zamora is a west ham man through and through. Apart from Noble, I don’t see anyone else who plays with their heart on the sleeve. Let’s not forget he basically got us up and kept us up within 3 seasons, he’s even got his own song!

If West Ham are deemed for greatness in years in come, I would love to see Bobby lift a piece of silverware wearing Claret and Blue. Bbut if thats not the case I think Fulham have definitely got their money’s worth with him. He’s tall, strong, got a very good strike, great reaction in the box, clean headers, tends to be offside quite a bit during games but if you give him games you will get goals and I can see West Ham regretting that if they let him go.

Loyal Servant to West Ham Bobby Z, this ain’t a farewell, but just in case…

As a West Ham fan I would prefer Fulham to buy Cole!

Keep the West Ham faith

Respect,

Adam

N.B: These are the views of one ardent Hammer. If you would like to express a little of your frustrations or whatever, get in touch with Sam at whu9105 [at] yahoo [dot] co [dot] uk

Sam

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Need I say any more.

It really frustrates me to hear of these players that Curbs is willing to let go when quite frankly they are not the players who the fans want to see leave.

i cannot wait for the day when I get to write the following headline: Louis Boa Morte released by Hammers: Millwall likely favourites for signature. Oh what a glorious day that will be. But no. Bobby Zamora to Fulham…it’s really gets on my thrup’ny bits.

(Fulham are the rumoured club likely to get his signature)

Sam

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