West Ham United - end-of-season report
Monday, 02 Jun 2008 19:00
West Ham United - fan's 2007/08 end-of-season report
Good, bad or just the same old, same old? What the fans made of the 2007/08 season.
The 2006/07 season was one of the most traumatic in the club's history - a record FA fine and the threat of further legal action over a dodgy transfer; newspaper stories about gambling rings and Baby Bentleys; and a relegation battle that went right down to the wire. After all that, most fans will be reasonably happy with an end to the tabloid tittle-tattle and a top-half finish (especially one above Tottenham).
In a campaign constantly interrupted by injury there have been some real positives: the emergence of youngsters Freddie Sears, James Tompkins and Jack Collison; the growing maturity of Mark Noble in midfield and a solid defence built around an outstanding goalkeeper in Robert Green and a fit and in-form Matthew Upson.
The season was not without disappointments, but a little stability is what the club needed. The key now will be to make a few minor adjustments to the playing staff; get the likes of Matthew Etherington, Craig Bellamy, Scott Parker, Dean Ashton and Kieron Dyer properly fit; and develop some shape and rhythm for a push towards the top six.
The manager, Alan Curbishley, has to be given credit for steadying the ship but, as the reaction of some home fans in the final weeks showed, expectations at Upton Park are considerably higher than they were at the Valley. With money to spend in the summer and - one would hope - fewer injury problems, 'Curbs' will need to prove next season that both he and his team are capable of stepping up to the next level.
Grade: C
High Point
Any win over Manchester United is a mighty achievement, especially when your team is trailing 1-0 and facing a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty with 20 minutes to go.
But just as the Upton Park faithful were preparing to head off into the cold December evening, the world's best player smashed his spot-kick wide of Robert Green's goal and into the advertising boards.
The miss galvanised the home side, who had threatened early on but had failed to take advantage of a lacklustre United performance. Attacking now with greater purpose they won a corner. An inch-perfect delivery from Mark Noble and the less famous, less responsible Ferdinand brother, Anton, thumped home a header.
While West Ham might have been tempted to sit on a valuable point for the closing minutes, United seemed shell-shocked - like a champion boxer caught by a lucky haymaker and now there for the taking.
The knockout blow was delivered by Matthew Upson, who was shortly to earn an England call-up. Noble was again the provider, whipping over a delightful free-kick from the right for the bearded Upson to rise above the visiting defenders and guide his header into the net.
A wonderful result and a stirring comeback to inflict a rare flesh wound on the best United side for a generation.
Low Point
With two months of the season remaining most West Ham fans had resigned themselves to a mid-table finish, but there was still a very slim chance of making a late push for a European place. Injuries were still a problem, but the team's defensive record was second to none outside the Big Four and morale-boosting wins had been secured over Liverpool and Manchester United.
But then, in March, came a torrid run of results which saw the Hammers lose three on the spin, conceding 12 goals in the process. Defeat to Chelsea is nothing to be ashamed of, but getting thrashed 4-0 by ten players in front of your own fans is a bad day at the office for any Premier League team.
Follow that up with the same scoreline at Anfield and a third 4-0 hammering, this time at the hands of rivals Tottenham, and there is little wonder that sections of the home support began to grow restless.
It was clear from an early stage that this season was not going to be spectacular, but these three results confirmed fears that it would peter out rather than end with a flourish.
The manager
Alan Curbishley inherited a mess at Upton Park last season and the job he has done stabilising the club and steering it into the safety of mid-table should not be underestimated.
But he is yet to win over the fans and some sections of the Upton Park crowd have, at times this season, voiced their displeasure at the team's performance. From an outsider's perspective this might seem ungrateful, but there are some very good reasons for their unease.
The first is the style of play. Under Curbishley West Ham have, with a few exceptions, been solid, even dogged in defence, but they often lack a cutting edge, a killer pass or a little variety going forward.
It would be a mistake to think that everything was rosy when Paulo di Canio and Joe Cole were in the team, but under the current administration the passes have got longer and the personnel more workmanlike.
Curbishley would, of course, blame injuries, which brings us to the second point.
Recurring niggles and long-term layoffs severely restricted his options, especially in attack. What a difference Crag Bellamy could have made had he not been sidelined for most of the season with stomach and groin problems. Injuries are, to a degree, bad luck, but Curbishley should devote a good portion of the summer break to examining the conditioning of his players and his transfer policy.
Too often this season he has tried to claim that his fate is in the lap of the gods, as if the likes of Bellamy, Freddie Ljungberg and Kieron Dyer had never missed a game before he signed them.
Fan's Player of the Year
- Matthew Upson -
During the 2006/07 season Matthew Upson managed just two starts after arriving in the January transfer window and limped out of both of them before half time. But this season he has been a commanding presence at the back for West Ham, holding together a makeshift rearguard and earning himself a well-deserved call-up to Fabio Capello's England squad.
He missed only nine league games - an achievement in itself when one considers his previous injury problems; picked up just two yellow cards; and scored the winner against Manchester United. If Upson can maintain his form and fitness next season he will provide firm foundations for improving the team's overall performance.
Needs for Next Season
It looks as though Louis Boa Morte and Freddie Ljungberg will be playing elsewhere next season.
Curbishley persisted with Boa Morte but it seems he has finally run out of patience with a player who contributed to the team by getting himself booked and giving the ball away. Ljungberg would still have something to offer from the bench if he could stay fit, but neither will be that sorely missed.
Apart from those two, Curbishley should try to keep his squad together.
Hopefully rumours about a bid for the over-rated Andrew Johnson are merely paper talk, but Nicky Shorey would be a decent addition if Reading are sensible about the fee.
Dyer, Julien Faubert, Bellamy and Parker will be like new signings if they can get properly fit over the summer, while Sears, with his pace and youthful exuberance, promises to be a good foil for either Ashton or Carlton Cole when Bellamy is unavailable.
Adam Barber