Hammers Festive Cheer

Older fans of West Ham (not like myself of course, ahem) will tell you that West Ham went down with Christmas decorations - we'd always start off well but then the festive period would see the start of the demise.  Well, things are looking like they may be working in reverse, with 6 points from our 2 festive games and some more winnable games coming up.

The Stoke was one one which a few of us thought could trip us up and when we went 1-0 down after 4 minutes, I feared the worst.  However, we appear to be made of sterner stuff these days and dominated the game from there  on, apart from a 5 minute spell of Stoke pressure, we were truly in control.  Don't let the sending off fool you, this is a game we were likely to win either way.

Performance wise, Cole was strong as an ox and his goal was a peach, hope he stops the sulky celebrations soon though, he is starting to get a bit Reo-Coker about it all.  Faubert was slated on some forums but I don't think he had a bad game at all, he certainly did his job defensively and a couple of wayward balls does not mean he had a terrible game, the best of players do them.  Anyway, on to the ratings...

Green - 6 - contrary to MOTD, I don't really blame him for the goal, I think Collins was more suspect for the game.  Apart from that he had little to do.

Illunga -6 - Good game, was a thret going forward and did his job at the back

Upson - 7 - Solid as ever, another good performance

Collins - 6 - slightly at fault for their goal i felt but apart from that, solid

Faubert  - 6 - did a more than adequate covering jon for Neill

Collison - 6 - certainly faded in the 2nd half but occasional bright contributions

Boa-Morte - 6 - very close to getting a goal and made a menace of himself, decent game

Parker - 6 - not his best game but some good passing

Behrami - 7 - lively and creative as ever, a real favourite of mine at the moment and instrumental in all our victories

Di Michele - 6 - another who came into the side and did a very good job, loved the volleyed cross from the wing!

Cole - 7 - a goal and good all round performance

Zola/Clarke - 7 - managed to ensure we weren't bullied out of this one and made timely subsitutions, good work gents

Next up the FA CUP, please let us not undo all this good work but getting knocked out by Barnsley!

Comments

[Paul]

I agree with most of your comments, but Faubert was and is definitely off the boil. There were not "one or two" wayward passes; it was a question of one or two accurate passes. And what was he thinking on 90 minutes when, instead of running down the clock, he elected to cross the ball into the East Ham? He's just not thinking right now.

[scott]

jullien needs to start improving his crossing, he actually looked like a player that wanted to get forward which is why we bought him in the first place, this has been a long time coming. the west ham public need to give him a break after a poor start plagued by injury and get behind the man. HE WILL COME GOOD.....UP THE HAMMERS... MAN CITY STICK IT X

[Upton Spark]

Sorry but can't agree with giving Faubert the same marks as Green and Illunga. Faubert had a poor game. He can't chip a ball high enough,can't find a decent pass and definately can't shoot when called to do so.Faubert only gets a 4 from me.