Season Review 2012/13 - Player of the Season

There are several options for this award, as not one player played exceptionally well throughout the whole season. Of course Winston Reid is one of the candidates, the others are Momo Diame, Andy Carroll, James Collins, Jussi Jaaskelainen who make up the contenders for Player of the Season.

Winston Reid, now the Hammers third choice captain, and new captain of the New Zealand national side. Reid had a terrible start to his West Ham career in 2010, and his first season was not a memorable one. He started to show great promise during the 2011/2012 promotion season in the championship and was probably over shone by James Tomkins. Last season, Reid went on leaps and bounds to show why Avram Grant did pay £4 million for his services. Reid has show great potential, and now needs to keep up his great performances last season, and display them on a regular basis next season. He is a contender for player of the season, due to his last ditch tackling, tenacity and overall influence on the side when the Hammers needed stability. He did peak off in some games, but not everyone is perfect. The only learning point for the defender is his ability to keep focus, as sometimes in games his concentration is poor and makes amends through last ditch tackling.

Momo Diame, he must have had a good season when teams like Arsenal and Manchester United come knocking six months into his West Ham career. Luckily for the Hammers, the Senegalese midfielder looks likely to stay at Upton Park and is looking to sign a new contract to up his minimum fee release clause. Diame was exceptional, and a breath of fresh air in most games with his endless running and dribbling. He is exactly what West Ham need in a slow central midfielder, as Noble and Nolan have good abilities but are not the most agile players in the world. Diame will be most remembered for his great performance against Chelsea in the 3-1 win at Upton Park. Diame only just beats Andy Carroll for signing of the season, and for a free transfer, he was what Harry Redknapp would call a 'bargain.' Diame does have something to work on in the summer, passing, he does not know how to, he runs off into blind alleys, losing the ball too often sometimes. However, his dribbling does help the Hammers ease the pressure defensively and gives West Ham the ability to break quickly. He did rarely contribute during the second half of the season due to the speculation of him leaving, but his amazing performances before January earn him his candidacy for Player of the Season.

Andy Carroll, for a player who only played 23 times last season, he made a big contribution. Carroll scored seven times, with most of his goals coming in the last few months of the season. He became a fans favourite rather quickly, and showed his partnership with Kevin Nolan still works as it did at Newcastle. Two injuries hindered the big man's season last year, and if he had been fit all season, no one knows where the Hammers might have ended up in the table. Sadly, as a contender for Player of the season goes, he was the best player but did not play the whole season missing large chunks of it. West Ham fans got their wish, as Carroll was signed permanently for a club record fee of £15.5 million. Hopefully Carroll will not have such a injury prone season and lead the club to stability.

Another new signing who impressed was James Collins. Many fans before the season were pleased with the signing of 'Ginge' even though many Villa supporters were happy to see the back of him. Hammers fans changed their opinion, three months into the season as Collins was making too many mistakes such as in games against Swansea and Sunderland. Collins got injured during the season, and then West Ham started to show weakness in defence during the Welshman's absence showing how maybe he not Reid was the reason for the good start to the season. Collins came back and showed why the Hammers had missed him especially in his man of the match performance in the 0-0 draw against Liverpool, where the defender kept Suarez in his pocket. Collins showed in that game Reid was not needed and the partnership between Ginge and Tomkins was sufficient enough to deal with the Reds. Collins was very under-rated last season, he was probably the main reason for why Reid looked so good, as Collins did the dirty work and Reid picked up the pieces. However, for Collins' poor start, he is not the strongest candidate.

Lastly, Jussi Jaaskelainen signed on a free transfer from Bolton, and was not seen as an inspired signing by Hammers fans. Many people suggested the Finnish goalkeeper was finished, and could not perform at a Premier League standard. For the first few months, it appeared so, as Jussi looked uncomfortable, nervous and shaky. However, he settled in and grew with confidence to guide the Hammers to a comfortable tenth place. Many times, West Ham had Jaaskelainen to thank for his impressive performances which kept them in the game, including his man of the match performance against Tottenham which was over shadowed by Gareth Bale' wonder strike. Jussi saved 78% of shots he faced, and faced the most shots in the division with 215. The former Finland international was ever-present last year, and he may not be this season with new arrival Adrian looking to steal the goalkeeper spot.

Overall, a comfortable yet sometimes nervy season meant there were many candidates to stand out for player of the season. However, one player did stand out more, and it was a tough decision but Winston Reid just wins with Andy Carroll behind. Carroll may have played on 23 times but his impressive performances most of the times he played deserved second place. Diame finished in third, only because of his poor second half to the season, as Jussi and Ginge finish on joint fourth. Winston Reid has improved rapidly in the last two seasons, and deserves his success he had in the 2012/2013 season.

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Season Review 2012/2013 - Game of the Season

Where's the blue flag? Chelsea have been looking for it since December 1st 2012, when they visited Upton Park to face the Hammers. Pre-match expectations were rife with Rafa Benitez likely to pick up his first win as Chelsea boss. Instead, it was quite the opposite as a superlative second half display from West Ham got them the three points.

Leading up to the match, West Ham were on a three match winless run, with a 1-1 draw with Stoke, and two back to back losses against Tottenham and Manchester United. Whereas Chelsea came into the game with two consecutive 0-0 home draws against Man City and Fulham. With Rafa looking for his first elusive win as Blues boss, and the Hammers looking to stop the rot, it was always going to an explosive action-packed game.

The pre-match line ups shocked many Hammers fans, as Gary O'Neil found his way back into the Hammers side in place of in-form Momo Diame, who was on the bench. O'Neil was coming in from the bench cold to replace a man who had been arguably West Ham's best player up to this point of the season. It was a tactic that Allardyce was hoping would work.

The decision to start O'Neil looked to have backfired at the start of the game, as Chelsea dominated the first half through their pace and quick passing, which West Ham could not live with. The Hammers were missing their Senegalese powerhouse, but they had to play the half without him. Chelsea took an early lead, as Victor Moses sent Fernando Torres down the line, who pulled the ball back to Spaniard Juan Mata. Where Mata from inside the box, side-footed the ball into the corner of the Hammers net. Chelsea had several other chances which they wasted including a great chance for Victor Moses but Joey O'Brien had quick reactions to clear.

The second half was a completely different story, as Allardyce knew a change was needed in the weak, slow and fragile midfield. O'Neil was taken off and replaced by Diame, a straight swap. Diame brought a new lease of life to the side. The Hammers were battering the Chelsea side all over the park, there was a role reversal of Men vs Boys. Chelsea were looking like boys, and West Ham's second-half dominance finally paid off, as Matt Jarvis' cross took a huge deflection off Gary Cahill, looping up into the air. As the ball rolled down, Carlton Cole 'outmuscled' Ivanovic to head the ball past Petr Cech. It was Cole's first goal against Chelsea, and first of the season. Cole had been second best to Andy Carroll, who picked up an injury in the midweek game against Man Utd, allowing Cole to start the game.

The Hammers rode their luck after the equaliser, as Juan Mata hit the post from a free-kick, which had Finnish goalie Jaaskelainen beaten. The free-kick struck the post and was cleared. There was only a few minutes of the ninety remaining, when West Ham earned a throw in. O'Brien saw Cole gained a bit of room from his marker, he threw it to the big man, who turned the defender and laid it off to man of the match Diame. The Senegalese was unmarked outside the box, and slotted the ball with the outside of his foot under Cech. The Hammers were leading with six minutes to go, and they completed the rout when Ashley Cole's pass was intercepted by Maiga, who put Taylor through one on one. Taylor's left foot shot was parried straight to Maiga inside the box who barried the ball into the back of the net. The game ended 3-1.

It was the first time West Ham fans had a chance to get one over their west London rivals. It was the first win against Chelsea since 2003, when Paolo Di Canio's only goal in his last game at Upton Park kept the Hammers in with a shout to stay in the Premier League. This was the game of the season, due to the work rate, determination of the team and brilliant turnaround against a team who dominated the first half with great ease. Diame's influence on the side changed the game, and whether Allardyce intended to use Diame for an effective 45 minutes, only he knows.

 

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Review of the Team: Part IV - Forwards

The forward line for the next seasons will be lead by Andy Carroll. Carroll signed a six year deal to make his move to West Ham a permanent one after a rather successful loan spell last season. The big man is the Hammers most expensive signing and which has divided people not just Hammers fans but the footballing world. Carroll did have a successful season even though it was hit with injuries leading to him missing three months of the season. Even with these injuries, Carroll still scored seven goals and became a fans favourite. The cries at the end of the season from the fans to sign Carroll showed how influential he became at Upton Park. Carroll signed a six year deal, which is hopefully a sign of good things to come.

Apart from Carroll, the Hammers' successes were few and far between with strikers. Hammers' fans will have seen the last of Carlton Cole in a Claret and Blue shirt with his last goal against Everton. Cole when played, did not set the world alight last season apart from one game against his former club Chelsea. Cole has not turned out to be the striker many thought he would be at the age of 22 when Alan Pardew signed the former number 9 for £2 million. Cole was always hit and miss, only playing his best football under Zola and maybe it was time for him to leave.

Lastly, the final striker Modibo Maiga is likely to be sold, after not really been given a chance at Upton Park. He has shown a few glimpses of what he can do, with goals against Southampton and Wigan as well as his performance in the last game of the season coming on as a substitute. Maiga, though is likely to be sold back to France making way for new forwards to complement Carroll.

Hopefully, last year's loans signings of Chamakh and Paulista are not replicated this year and the Hammers can bring players in who will actually benefit the side. Two more forwards are needed to support Carroll, one to compete and one to be a back-up. Although, Allardyce may see Vaz-Te as the back-up striker or Kevin Nolan, but signings are definitely needed in the forward areas.

 

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Review of the Team: Part III - Midfield

With Noble, and Nolan in the midfield was the Hammers signing of the season Momo Diame. The free transfer to Wigan was one of the best purchases Allardyce has made in his two years at the club. Diame was so impressive the first half of the season, talks of a move to Arsenal in January were circulating due to a release clause in his contract. However nothing went through and he was very hit and miss during the second half of the season. Of course his display against Chelsea will never be forgotten, one of the best forty five minutes of the season, but Diame does lack one thing. Diame lacks the power to know when he needs to pass, as he will run into three players rather than give and go. Diame is power house, but his second half of the season inconsistency and mental attributes need tweaking. The inconsistency may be overcome with a new contract which will put the rumours to bed, allowing the Senegalese to play his game.

Welcome back to injury, is something we've heard far too often about Jack Collison. Before his serious injury in 2010, Collison was probably becoming one of the Hammers' best players but the injury setback his career and he has not been the same since. Collison is still a good player to have on the bench or in the squad but is he ever going to live up to his potential or stay fit for a full season? The Welshman needs to keep fit to be able to ever fight for a place in the first team, as his role in the lead-up and first leg of play-offs was key, something we need to see more of from Collison.

Another player who suffers with his injury problems is Joe Cole. When the little winger signed from Liverpool, after a decade away, many thought it was a dream come true. Losing Cole in 2003 was probably the most hardest thing of being relegated as well as losing Carrick the year after. Cole, however is a different player to the one we all remember, firstly the hair, secondly the injuries. If Cole stays fit next year, he will be an extremely useful player but it will be only if due to his track record.

The last two are probably on the need to leave list for very different reasons. Firsty, Matt Taylor has had his day in the Premier League and when he came on last year, he did not seem like he could actually keep up by the end. Taylor is very erratic, something we do not need at this time of stability. Secondly, Alou Diarra needs to leave due to his lack of respect for the club. If he does not want to be at the club then let him leave. He may have seemed a bargain buy but has just caused headaches by running off to the French press and moaning about the club, its bad press that the club does not need.

Lastly, Gary O'Neil is on the released list, and although he played well at the end, we need to step up in class and that means letting the fringe players go. Without letting anyone go, West Ham need a winger and an attacking midfielder. Zaha or Redmond would be nice for the Hammers, the latter especially as a long-term addition to the club.

 

Come On You Irons!

Review of the Team: Part II - Midfield

The midfield for the Hammers last season was very solid and had some individual and team performances that even the champions would have been proud of. The wings were very debated over the season on social networking sites and the press. Starting with the former transfer fee record holder Matt Jarvis, who was effective without actually assisting any goal in the Barclays Premier League last season. Jarvis placed the most accurate crosses into the box, sadly this does mean that for him to not have an assist this season, the Hammers positioning or fight for the ball was poor. However this can be worked on over pre-season, we need to anticipate where Jarvis will place the cross and make a run to that area of the box. Jarvis had a good ending to the season, he looked more vibrant but sadly we still are not getting the ball to the tricky winger quick enough, something which needs to be looked at during the pre-season.

Vaz-Te is probably the most marmite-like player at Upton Park, where either you love him or hate him. There is no denying the fact that Vaz-Te can be seen sometimes as lazy, but he did track back well with Demel most of the time. Although it seems that Vaz-Te was not useful player last season and his final ball was something which lacked quality, he did have four assists and three goals. The ironic concept is that Vaz-Te made more assists than the most accurate crosser in the Premier League, and has the worst final ball. He is a good player, when he wants to be but this inconsistency needs to be eradicated otherwise he will be leaving when he's contract runs out in June 2014. The Hammers will still need a winger to complement Jarvis, many names have been blasted about such as Zaha, but we will have to wait and see.

Moving onto the second most-hated captain in Kevin Nolan, maybe joined second with Lucas Neill. However how hated he may be with some sections of the fans for his lack of creativity and lack of distribution, the 'Funky Chicken' was brought out many times this year to make him the top goal scorer with ten goals. He may not please many people with what he does on the pitch, but you cannot knock his work-rate, for a player who has lost a lot of stamina over the last few years, he still moves about the pitch. He has a calming effect on the players, and is probably one of the best captains at the club for a little while. Hopefully his partnership with Andy Carroll can continue and the Funky Chicken will be seen many times next season.

Lastly, for this part of the review, The Hammers will soon have to give Mark Noble a testimonial. Noble made his debut for West Ham in the league against Wolves in January 2005. The 2014/15 will be Mark Noble's tenth year playing for the first team. When West Ham went down in 2011, Noble was deservedly slated for his poor performances, but a steady promotion campaign and a very good first half to a season hit with an injury has brought Noble's love affair with the Hammers back where it belongs. The midfielder had a good start to the campaign last season but the second half was hit with an injury which kept him out for a considerable amount of time. West Ham hope Noble can have another solid few years to help them increase in stature until the move to the Olympic Stadium. Noble will be in the team next year there's no doubt about it.

 

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Review of the Team: Part I - Goalkeeper and Defence

Starting with the Goalkeeper,  Jussi Jaaskelainen had a mixed start with many fans having doubts whether the Finland international was good enough for the Premier League. It was not until the home game against Tottenham when the Hammers finally appreciated the work that Jaaskelainen had done, as his man of the match performance kept the Hammers in with a shout of a point until Bale popped up. Jaaskelainen won save of the season thankfully, with his save against Tottenham when he made a finger tip save from a curling Gareth Bale shot which was making its way to the top corner. He also made an equally impressive reaction save against West Brom from a deflected Romelu Lukaku free-kick. Jussi's solid season has been rewarded by Allardyce signing Real Betis keeper Adrian to give the Finnish goalie some competition throughout the season with the Spaniard likely to be the long-term keeper. Adrian impressed many with his man of the match performance against Real Madrid, and Hammers fans will be hoping his can replicate these performances at Upton Park. Stephen Henderson looked very nervous against Wigan last year in the Capital One Cup, and is likely to be sold.

Right back is a position very much up for grabs, with Guy Demel and Joey O'Brien looking to impress Allardyce during pre-season. Demel had a solid season work the wing well with whoever he played with. O'Brien also had a good season playing most of it at left-back. Long-term West Ham will be looking for a right-back but this is not essential next season, and likely Demel will start the season at full-back. Left back is a position filled after much of the season with O'Brien filling in, but Allardyce has secured the services of Romanian international Razvan Rat. A experienced international who has played in the Champions League for Shakhtar. George McCartney injured for the most of last season, and only has one year left on his contract is likely to be a back-up. One man who is unlikely to be anywhere near the starting line-up is Jordan Spence, but unlike many Hammers fans I can understand why. Although he is a graduate from the academy he has not excelled apart from the Man Utd cup game. Spence's performance against Wigan in the League cup and his lack of appearances on-loan for Bristol City indicate a player not living up to his potential. For a full back he looks very uncomfortable when defending, and for someone who was in my long term team a few years ago has not improved enough.

Last year this was probably the Hammers' best position with the partnership of New Zealand captain and player of the year Winston Reid and James 'Ginger Pele' Collins. Sadly this partnership came at a cost as future England international James Tomkins has been on the bench. Tomkins did play his part especially in the game against Liverpool at Anfield were helped Collins keep Suarez quiet. Reid was indispensable at the beginning of the season, and was exceptional apart from a few mistakes. Collins had a poor start with some fans thinking why Allardyce had brought the Welshman back to Upton Park. However his form after the New Year was exceptional and was a late contender for player of the season. When Collins was injured it showed how the Hammers missed the Welshman as their form declined until he came back into the team. Tomkins will be thinking he wished had not have played in the Olympics but with a good pre-season we may see the return of Tomkins but at whose expense? With that question, there is also the problem of injuries as it seems all three will have some time on the sidelines with either injuries or suspensions meaning a fourth centre-half is needed as cover or competition. After the abysmal Pogatetz showed why Middlesbrough went down in 2009, we need good cover not a quick loan decision like the Austrian was in January. His poor performances luckily were not a hindrance in good season for the Hammers.

With one new keeper and a left back in already, I expect the Hammers to make one more acquisition with the move for a new centre back. However if an experienced and quality right back becomes available then I can see Allardyce becoming interested looking to the long-term future of the club.

Come On You Irons!

There's Only Two Months to Go

The fixtures were finally announced today to bring a lot of excitement to football fans across the country. Sadly, the season does not start for another two months, all fans can do at the minute is pencil in what games they would like to go or go on the editor of Football Manager and change the teams in each division.

On a Hammers note, Cardiff at home does not seem too bad on August 17th. However it was only two years ago when we were thinking that it was not such a bad fixture in the Championship only to go down 1-0 to a late Kenny Miller goal. Things have changed since that game two years ago, West Ham's home form is very good and sloppiness defensively has been eradicated. This is a game where the Hammers will be hoping to spoil the newly promoted side's party with a win.

Carroll and Nolan return to St James Park again on the 24 August, hopefully by then Joe Kinnear has disrupted so much at Newcastle that the team morale will have decreased and we can replicate the great win we had last season. A point from that match will be suffice enough.

The Hammers end the month of August with a home match with Stoke. Stoke will be starting to find their rhythm with new manager Mark Hughes at the helm. A hard game to call, hopefully a win for Allardyce's men but it will be hard to know the type of team Hughes will set up at the Britannia Stadium. Will Hughes keep the gritty play which his predecessor Pulis set up?

The month of death in my opinion is October, the Hammers start the month with an away trip to rivals Tottenham. White Hart Lane is not a ground where West Ham have excelled in recent years, as the last win against Tottenham away from home was in 1999 where Ian Wright and Marc Keller scored in a 2-1 win. Then the Hammers are at home to face Man City, where they played quite well last season in a 0-0 draw and were hurt by a wrongly disallowed Kevin Nolan goal. A tough game but if the Hammers play as well as they did last season we should be equipped enough. This depends on the line-up City put out, as they look to be more of a title-challenge to Man Utd which means City are bound to spend big with their new manager Pellegrini at the helm. Lastly, in October is a visit to the always difficult Liberty Stadium to face Michael Laudrup's Swansea City. Swansea humiliated West Ham last year, and were gifted two goals from mistakes by Jussi Jaaskelainen and James Collins. Ironically, Collins and Jaaskelainen were probably the two most improved players during the season. A tough game against Swansea, a result all comes down to tactics, sitting back and letting Swansea pass is the way to play then counter-attack them with pace from the wings.

That is the only month to be feared apart from the last one, where the Hammers will be hoping that they are safe or anything they are chasing is wrapped up as Tottenham at Home and City away are the last two games of the season. Allardyce will be wanting his boys to be getting all their business done early like the transfer window, as a relegation battle with those two games left will be hard. However, I feel West Ham will not be in that predicament this season and will look towards to another top-half finish without the worry of second-season syndrome. Winning early is the key, as from the first six games the Hammers can pick up maybe three or four wins.

Come On You Irons!