New Year's Day: Fulham v West Ham

A new and what surely will be a nail biting first five months of 2014 begin as the Spammers travel over from East London. In the words of a certain gentleman from Texas this is a true "6 pointer". Not a whole lot of analysis other than this is a gut check. Would expect nothing less than 11 players in white ready to spill blood after what happened in the final 45 on Saturday. COYW!!!!

 

True dat, Mr. Joseph. Your blood spilling analogy, however, reminded me of a famous quote (one of the many) from George C. Scott's memorable screen performance as Gen. George S. Patton. " Now I want you to remember that no bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country." We're certainly at war, so I hope the only blood spilling is by the opponent, inflicted by US. Oh, and it would be nice to get a result, too. A true 6 pointer indeed. Has anybody figured out if #32 is eligible? I certainly hope so, but we REALLY need more help on defense.....oh, hell, we need help EVERYWHERE! Welcome back Deuce!
COYW! Time to start digging out of this hole.....NOW!

 

West Ham's defense is hurting so hopefully we will bag some goals . . . I'm looking at you Mr. Dempsey. :flags-texas: :violence-guntoting:

 

A new year, so let's turn over a new leaf. COYW!!!!!!!!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8BtB4C3Vi8[/youtube]

 

Sadly, it appears we'll once again be the odd man out in the glut of holiday matches. I can't find it in my listings. And while I'd like to say that I'll be listening to GJ, my being up for a 7am kickoff on New Year's Day is probably optimistic at best.

As for Mr. Dempsey, I thought the initial stories about the loan said he would be eligible, but it appears not. I just hope the lads were as embarrassed as we all were on the weekend and come out with some fire. As has been pointed out here several times, this one is truly a must-win, for oh so many reasons.

So a very big COYW is in order. Here's hoping I'll be celebrating the new year with some dancing bananas.

 

(quote) tim 'Sadly, it appears we'll once again be the odd man out in the glut of holiday matches. I can't find it in my listings. And while I'd like to say that I'll be listening to GJ, my being up for a 7am kickoff on New Year's Day is probably optimistic at best.' (quote)


Tim, the best strategy might be to go to bed at 9 am :shock:

:text-happynewyear:

 

Got home in time for the last few minutes in the chatroom (great turnout) sans GJ, 4 minutes of stoppage felt like 20. Bringing in the new year with 3 massive points :banana-linedance: helps this bad headache :confusion-helpsos:

 

:banana-linedance: :banana-dance: :banana-guitar: :dance: :clap: :angelic-green: ray: :bow-yellow: :text-+1: :handgestures-thumbupleft: :banana-dance: :banana-linedance: :banana-guitar: :dance: :clap: :handgestures-thumbupleft: :bow-yellow: ray: :banana-dance: :banana-linedance: :banana-guitar: :whistle: :angelic-green: :banana-guitar: :banana-dance: :banana-linedance: :dance: :clap: :handgestures-thumbupleft: ray: :mrgreen: :lol: :banana-guitar: :banana-linedance: :banana-dance:

 

Berb taps in a Parker pass and whaddya know, the Whites sit in 16th. Great win, happy new year and COYW!!!

 

Was at the game in the Putney End. Fulham looked like a team low on confidence and West ham took the ealy initiative. Right at the KO Berbatov passed the ball back and it was immeidately intercepred by a West Ham player, that set the tone for the first 15 minutes or so. West Ham went for route one and it paid off, as Sendeross and Co struggled witht he ariel balls in the swirling wind and rain. Then Fulham got into their stride and dominated for the rest of the 1st half and should have gone ahead. In the 2nd half with 10 players West Ham sat deep to defend - guess that's all they could do, they looked more dangerous when Downing came on, he gave Riise a difficult last 10 minutes. Bent unfortunately missed a one on one with Jaaskelainen. Parker shone again, always wanted the ball and rarely gave it away. Nervy game, but good win. Weather horrible. West Ham fans amusing.

 

Looked more like Parker flubbed an attempt at the net, but it all counts the same in the end.

 

Don't have anything to add, just want to bury this kitchen unit interlopers.

 

Thanks Matt for the first hand account, especially about the weather and how it affected our defense. It's nice to have an excuse for their defending even if the other team had to play in the same conditions. I like sexy attacking soccer as much as the next guy but you cant play just one way. Sometimes the conditions or the competition warrant some (note I said "some") route 1 tactics and West Ham's early goal proved that. Not a pretty win in my opinion and I'm glad it is behind us.

 

The highlights do illustrate the weather. Hard to tell, but it looks like Parker was passing it. Glad to hear Matt the Spam fans down in the Putney End were in the New Year's Day spirit.

http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2014/janua ... highlights

 

My biggest worry is would we have gotten three points if they didn't go down to ten men?