SUCKER PUNCHED

Will Sir Trevor show me to my seat?

Despite Mayor's Boris's cunning plan to close down the underground network the weekend of the FA Cup semi-finals I made it to Upton Park. As the tube train rattled east my mind turned to the game between Sam's sluggers and Poyet's pureists.

Who would have most left in the tank following gruelling midweek games?

Would Gordon Greer wear a Steve Foster-like headband in anticipation of the expected arial bombardment?

How would pace and power do against keep ball?

Would Karren Brady board at Canary Wharf?

Take me to the swings and slides

 Before the game the talk amongst the Hammers faithful was of a must win encounter and that Big Sam was there to do a job but not the long term answer when it came to the manager's job. The old timers were more sanguine reflecting on the number of years that had passed since the era of Moore, Hurst and Peters. Expectations were to high and a dose of realism was needed. Shades of Leeds United perhaps.

Big Sam's favourite diner

Within a minute of the kick off Henri Lansbury had rattled sexy Pete's cross bar and within 10 the game was over as the Hammers hit three. The Seagulls could not compete with West Ham's pace, power and movement. If I had been a neutral it would have been a joy to watch but I am not so it was agonising. This certainly was not hoof ball. The Seagulls chased shadows and it was men v boys. No doubt there many other appropriate cliches. Ricardo Vaz Te possesses a powerful and accurate shot and runs at defenders. Carlton Cole is big enough unsettle the best of defences. No doubt Gus would argue there are Premiership players on Premiership wages courtesy of the parachute payment system and, therefore, beyond the Seagulls' reach.

Sexy Pete saves one

To their credit the Albion kept going and came more into the game as West Ham tended to sit back as half time approached. Calderon should have done better from yet another splendid Vicente corner and Assulin (probably the Albion's man of the match) was growing in confidence as he saw more of the ball and was causing problems down the left. It looked as if the Albion had achieved a finger nail back into the game just before half time when yet another corner was headed goalwards by Greer. Robert Green somehow pawed it away when he was standing behind the line. The Seagulls appealed for a goal but the lino was not buying. 

Albion fans in good heart before the kick off

A goal then might have made a difference. Given us confidence and perhaps rattled the Hammers but it was not to be. Big Sam is a quick learner and there was no sitting back in the second half. They pressed forward denying Albion space and possession. 3 more goals followed. The Albion rang the changes but the habits of a badly defeated team crept in. Possession was easily surrended and passes went astray.

Where's Carlton Cole gone now?

I do not recall a meaningful attempt on goal in the second half. At the end the whole team looked dejected as they trudged off. Some were exempt from the collective failure. Greer was outstanding in a battered and disorganised defence and Bridcutt worked hard in midfield. Assulin looks a great prospect and Vicente was behind what little creativity we could muster. The problem is that opponents have sussed him out. As soon as he receives possession he is surrounded by 2 and sometimes 3 defenders. 

The force was not with us

The 3,000 faithful left understandably disgruntled. It occurred to me that Gus has signed 7 players this season but only one (Vicente) started the game. We have 5 players on loan but again only one started (Assulin). What point was Gus making? Escapes me. 


What does the big reality check at Upton Park mean for next season? A topic for another day.

The chanting West Ham section

Let's get back here quick

The only discordant note (apart from the result) was the persistent homophobic chanting by a small but noisy section of the West Ham fans. They positioned themselves as near to the away end as possible for maximum affect. It was vile and offensive. The police and stewards did nothing to stop it despite a number of half time complaints from Albion fans in that corner of the away end. Instead the Albion fans were treated as if they were in the wrong. 

As I left the ground a bus trundled down Green Street with an advert on the side reading "Some people are gay.......get over it!" Perhaps the Albion should have parked it across their goal.

Well today it was

 

Heroes from another generation