How can a team with a negative goal differential and more losses than wins, be in the League’s top 10? Such is the parity in the League, at this moment, as a whole block of teams could be top 10 finishers. West Ham have provided a season of entertainment for fans and a sigh of relief for those who feared they would be relegated. They are sure(?) to stay in the League another year, as the club has mixed solid experience with youthful enthusiasm. With the present state of the Arsenal, they have created an opponent that can not be overlooked.
West Ham sit in the middle of all statistics; be it GD, goals for/against, wins, points, etc. The Hammers are not middle of the road, though, when it comes to effort. This is a side that will play 90 minutes of solid, not necessarily mistake free, football. No where can this be more evident than in the back line.
Anton Ferdinand has been, in my opinion, one of the brighest members of the club. He uses his height and strength well and is learning, in every match, what it takes to be a star. He has good experience surrounding him in Konchesky and Dailly. A big lose to the group is the departure of Repka. Family issues have forced him homeward, and West Ham are looking to find a replacement in Gabri, of Barcalona. He probably won’t be available on Wednesday but it is interesting to see them spend the money to cover the spots.
The midfield is interesting but Benayoun sticks out more than any other player. He is 100% all match long and has remarkable lung-capacity. He leads the side in assists and has 3 goals to his credit.
West Ham just spent 7 million on Dean Ashton, of Norwich. With Sheringham, Harewood, Zamora and young Aliadere(where is he any ways?), West Ham felt they were not getting enough goal production. I remember Ashton from last season but don’t remember him being worth 7 million. The powers-that-be felt it to be a wise investment and I’m curious as to whether they will get their money back on this decision.
It’s a home match so I’m not too concerned. This is the attitude these days but the Gunners do not fare well on the road and neither do the Hammers. I’m sorry I never could come up with an MC Hammer joke but I’m just positive that there is one to be had.
Arsenal 2-0 West Ham
39 Responses to “West Ham Hammers-There’s got to be a MC Hammer joke in there somewhere.”
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January 31st, 2006 at 11:05 am
Our Response is very important. But even if we 7-0 we will still have to see consistance and more dedication
January 31st, 2006 at 11:10 am
Eto just welcomed talks to Henry. While I cant see one team to have those players togather. They will fight to the same position. And things could get messy.
If Barca were to pressistant and if Henry was upset cause Arsenal did not do well this season, and he descided to leave, would you think a switch for ETO where Eto comes to Arsenal. Would this satisfy you as an Arsenal fan.
We all know that Henry made History in Arsenal, but when its time to go, you cant do anything to it …
By the way we have toooo many striker now !
January 31st, 2006 at 11:49 am
While I thought a few months ago Henry would go, I think he would do so now under terrible pressure. He wants the club to match his ambition, but I can’t imagine that means turning the season around upon request.
Wenger made some astute buys from the looks of Diaby and Theo, and Gilbert is looking seriously good. Besides, he loves London and realizes that there are no guarantees he will love his time over at Barca. Yes, Vieira is doing well, but Henry doesn’t have a ready-made system for him. If things were to even go lukewarm on his career, he could be in for a host of regrets. Not to mention the new stadium is something he and Wenger practically built together.
Despite our disappointing season, there’s a lot happening at the club. Enough to keep his mind off the racist chants he’s likely to hear in La Liga.
And Eto’o is d*ck.
As for West Ham…well, anyone can sneak a game from us right now. The good news is we don’t get beat by much when we do, so like our finishing, we’re precariously balanced on the edge of coming good again. Can the lads win when they have to? Wigan at home showed they can get the individual result, but their concentration is going to have to be bang on.
Let’s hope they see crashing out of the FA Cup as a chance to focus. If they do, 2-0 to The Arsenal.
January 31st, 2006 at 11:51 am
I didn’t realize the transfer window closes today.
We aren’t even mentioned in possible moves or names.
That’ll just about sink us…
Lauren apparently is out for a month… the hits just keep on coming.
Henry and Eto in the same team… why NOT?
Barca aren’t interested in swapping or sending their best players ANYWHERE. Thats what WE do… thats what SELLING TEAMS do… send their best players packing for money… and not replacing them. (see: pv4)
Henry and Eto would THRIVE together at Barcelona. There are more than enough games and enough trophies for them both.
January 31st, 2006 at 11:56 am
I think Eto and Henry could be in the same team, no problem. Barca don’t sell stars. They don’t need to. They aren’t swapping, thats for sure.
Henry will go if we don’t get top 4. I am sure of it. He’s not interested in the rebuilding process. He’s in his prime.
I was unaware the transfer window closes today, we aren’t doing a damned thing. Gravesen is being mentioned for 2 or 3 million? what the f?!
Why WOULDN’T we do that? or ManU for that matter. Simply puzzles me what some players are worth and others are not.
West Ham could do us. Anyone can.
We could beat just about anyone as well. Except for Chelsea, Liverpool, United or CL powers.
If we beat any of those teams, I’d be happily surprised. Need ALL the players back from the ANC, and COLE back in the team… ASAP!
January 31st, 2006 at 12:09 pm
If we play well tomorrow, then West Ham….can’t touch us! (MC Hammer reference as requested).
I think right now we’re looking strong and we’re flowing like a waterfall at home. I expect a showbusiness performance tomorrow but whether we convert our chances is another matter. Hopefully Diaby can take another leap forward, however he could just as easily have a dip in form before he finds his equilibrium later this season or next season.
January 31st, 2006 at 12:13 pm
As for the MC Hammer joke, please use the link below.
< http://gerardpas.com/util/MCHamer.gif >
It’s what us Arsenal fans will be doing during the match and after the win.
January 31st, 2006 at 12:27 pm
and Quincy is sold to Russia…and we have finally got rid of champ chump Bentley.
January 31st, 2006 at 12:29 pm
there is no way Real would sell us Gravesen in spite of his best agitating for a move. If he goes anywhere it’s to United.
January 31st, 2006 at 12:30 pm
Wonderful young talent that we have…
BENTLEY is GONE. He has transferred permanently to Blackburn.
QUINCY is GONE. He has transferred permanently to Spartak Moscow.
We have little depth and little speed and both of these guys were never really given a shot at the Arsenal. The wonderful youth system continues its famaliar path of failure.
We don’t buy proven players, and we loan out players who never come back.
Not sure whats going on over there at Highbury. Haven’t been able to fathom a guess for some time now. The fact that Quincy would go to Spartak Moscow over staying at Arsenal, speaks volumes.
Why exactly are we sending away players when we have no depth and have so many injury problems?
I know, the positive petes will say they sucked anyway… Wenger knows… all is great here… don’t worry… be happy … we’re the best. 2009 Champions of the world.
January 31st, 2006 at 12:33 pm
Arsenal forwards: Bergkamp, Henry, Van Persie, Reyes, Walcott, Adebayor, Lupoli, Bendtner.How many do we need?
And yes, they sucked anyway.
January 31st, 2006 at 12:40 pm
I thought the same about Henry, but after thinking on it, I changed my mind. Anything cna happen in this game, but he can’t expect new signings to come good and help us overnight (although Diaby is) and he’s already mentioned “building” the greatest team in Europe. We’re not in for a huge rebuild, either. We’re The Arsenal, after all.
Also, his first offer for contract talks was 7 years! We’ve sonce countered with 5 and some obscene amount of money. That doesn’t strike me as the talk of someone who’s only interested in where we finish this season, even if its outside of the top 4.
Btw, you have no idea how you made my year so far with the Charlton ticket and the chance to meet up. You’re thisclose to making up for all the Viera posts.
Thanks again!
January 31st, 2006 at 12:52 pm
These transfers don’t make no sense. Sorry Mazza but those kids can play. Quincy was only 19 for crying out loud. If our football had us top of the food chain I would say fine, but we’re not. First we sell our captain, the top senior player. So we say we’re turning to youth, and then we go and sell our best young players. What exactly the fcuk are we doing?
What good young player is going to come to Arsenal when we sell our best senior players, then turn around and sell our best young players too? Can anyone tell me what direction this club is going in now? (ASC) Arsenal Selling Club! If you want to sell someone, sell that assclown, Senderos!
January 31st, 2006 at 12:52 pm
You’re going to have to wear a VIEIRA shirt to the match… did I forget to tell you that?
January 31st, 2006 at 12:53 pm
Bentley - a few good moments at Arsenal, but nothing much at Norwich (yes, I know he was injured) or Blackburn. Add to that his comments about lack of opportunity, etc - good ridd, well, good bye anyway.
I’m not sure Quincy had the choice, Arsenal made it for him. Final ball sorely lacking (I think Walcott is meant to have really good delivery), so fair enough to take Spartak for a few roubles.
I don’t think either would have made an impact on the squad, we have plenty for Quincy’s position(s). I do agree that the wonderful youth system is not creating too many first team players - will record breaking Lupoli make the grade? I’d be pleasantly surprised. Will Larsson make the grade? I doubt it. Hoyte? outside chance. Gilbert/Djourou? they’ll probably be at Shef Wed in 2 years time.
We are the team which spunks our first round draft picks on high school players.
Wenger has said that after 20 you can’t really teach a player too many new things and yes, Diaby looked ok in his 2 games, but I think we are all crying out for the 2 or 3 proven players promised, err, at the start of last summer. I really hope I’m wrong, but I’d swap Walcott with Liverpool for Kronkamp and Agger any day of the week.
January 31st, 2006 at 1:02 pm
Is either I’m a fool or Wenger is an idiot. Can someone explain to be why Quincy was sold.
What is wrong with this man and his youth policy? Is less than a year Wenger said he is the best player around and the future. So what happen to building a team around kids. Damn the man had confused anyone I have spoken to.
It makes sense if you name is Wenger - You buy Adebayor and sell your best young player.
No wonder no kid had cut it under Wenger. The worse coach when it becomes to kids and now people start asking questions about the future Theo.
January 31st, 2006 at 1:03 pm
Don’t tell me you coming with Scotty.
January 31st, 2006 at 1:08 pm
Just heard on the radio under Wenger we have sold or loan out 26 kids not to be seen again.
That is very bad for the confidence of the kids and their development.
January 31st, 2006 at 1:14 pm
have to disagree - that’s 26 kids in 8 years. if you compared with man u/chelsea/liverpool/etc we are probably nowhere near as bad. liverpool have probably bought and sold about 40 first team players over the same period.
what’s bad for confidence and development is getting nowhere near the first team. bentley’s gone to another premier league side and quincy’s gone to a CL side, they can’t be too gutted about that.
January 31st, 2006 at 1:20 pm
does anyone actually know how much we got for Quincy? As it was Russia, we probably pocketed a fair few quid.
Quincy had 23 first team appearances and been training with the first team squad for over a year, I guess that was enough to tell Wenger that he wasn’t quite making the next step.
It’s crazy to say that Wenger is “The worse coach when it becomes to kids”. He is widely regarded as the best developer of talent in the world. Almost all of our kids go on to professional careers elsewhere, the fact they don’t make the grade at Arsenal is (was) testament to the stregnth of our first team and to the strenght of the training they have received at Arsenal.
January 31st, 2006 at 1:22 pm
Its on, l_G! Apparently you’ll know me by my PV 4eign League shirt.
January 31st, 2006 at 1:29 pm
You got it backwards, Stag. Spartak have Quincy because that’s who wants him. We made a nice little profit on the step-over no final ball boy.
And Bentley is Blackburn through and through. That’s neatly his level.
And the sales open up the spots for Theo, Lupoli, Bendtner, Ryan Smith, etc. There’s finally air for the youth system to breathe and I really don’t think either of those two were going to take off here.
Our depth problems are in the middle and the back, and Diaby’s been a good find so far for Gilberto with Djorou and Gilbert doing the business in the back. We’re still maybe a whole season away from suring things up, but its in the cards.
Though, I would have liked Joey Barton.
January 31st, 2006 at 1:31 pm
Name me a young player that Arseanl/ Wenger has let leave the club, who turned out to be world class???? There isn’t one. Everybody who has left is an ok player/ decent pro,but not a world beater.
All I every saw Quincy do was a bad Ronoldo impersonation with fifty stepovers, and then give a bad ball in from the wings. If you are good enough you will force your way into the team, and as much as I wanted Quincy to make the grade he wasn’t good enough plain and simple.
And to say the youth system is not producing players is really off the mark. Johan Djourou and Kerrea Gilbert are prime examples, and don’t forget about Ashley Cole. And how many players do Chelsea and Man U have from their youth systems in the first team squad who actually play games in the prem. There is Terry at Chelsea, and Man U has Richardson, and Fletcher. Name some more if you can.
Half the people who post on this site moan more than Mourinho. But I guess I just have on Rose Colored glasses
January 31st, 2006 at 1:36 pm
I think we got 3 mill, which would mean around 2 mill profit.
And I agree about the youth system. These kids are highly rated when they hit the market. And since Chelsea entered ther fray with their 140 mill to throw down the toilet, its even harder to make it at Arsenal.
If there was anywhere we needed room, it was up front. As far as I’m concerned, the correct two are gone.
January 31st, 2006 at 1:38 pm
Oh!!! no
January 31st, 2006 at 1:40 pm
I think it you have never played football before and don’t understand the game. At the age it kills you confidence …
Asked any pro football to start with.
January 31st, 2006 at 1:47 pm
There you go Scotty…
I knew you’d have a positive spin on this!
So when we’re at the match and Sendy falls down and Charlton score… I’ll be screaming… “you suck you big piece of garbage!”… and you’ll counter with… its OK Phil… we’ll gett’em next time!
Then I’ll break out into the Vieira song… because it really should be sung before Highbury closes!
and you’ll go down for Hot Chocolate…!!!
January 31st, 2006 at 1:49 pm
Apparently, Scotty has come to his senses, and will be at the Charlton match… so you will REALLY have your hands full LoveG…
Both Scotty and me… pre-match… dragging you around from T-Birds, to the Highbury Barn, to the Arsenal Tavern… and back to T-Birds…
I’ll be telling how bad we are in one ear… and Scotty telling you how it will all be alright in 2009 in the other ear!
January 31st, 2006 at 1:52 pm
Yes, but Liverpool also buy players who can PLAY at this level… they aren’t afraid to buy a proven player… or take a chance on a Fowler.
I’d say Quincy wasn’t too happy about leaving Arsenal for Moscow… who the hell would be.
January 31st, 2006 at 1:53 pm
I can’t wait..
January 31st, 2006 at 1:58 pm
You can’t be serious about the United youth system. Their run of championships was completely based on it, and the players they produced.
If I was a young player at Arsenal, I’d be very skeptical I could make it there.
Quincy was touted by Wenger as being an upcoming star… tell me where this transfer came from… out of nothing… all of a sudden, he’s gone.
Based on what? His matches in the first team this year? What kind of run in the team did he get?
It is DEFINITELY your rose colored glasses.
Our youth system is a JOKE… and a bad one at that. Be afraid Theo…
January 31st, 2006 at 2:02 pm
If Arsene Wenger is the best developer of talent in the world… please give me some examples of his expertise. Were the hell is the proof of this with the young players he has brought in, in the last 2-3 years… its a revolving door. In, Out, In, Out, In, Out… off on loan, never to be seen again.
January 31st, 2006 at 4:21 pm
January 31st, 2006 at 4:34 pm
Spot on.
And I’m not trying to put a positive spin, but these moves are made for specific business reasons. I understand how l_G has a problem with the youth system in general, that’s just being empathetic. But the fact of the matter is some players have to go for others to work in. Bentley has been a right pr*ck and just not good enough, and Quincy, while a decent fella as far as I can tell, isn’t gelling with the side. Wenger knows whose been tearing it up in the reserves, and if a few of them actually put on some size, they’ll see first team action.
Youth policy is a difficult business, especially for us. If we want great playersl, we have to grow them because we’ll get outbid. To do that consistently, you have to “fill the funnel”, which means load up on a few that might come good and a lot that will eventually be nurtured and sold. It costs a lot to keep them, and they leave with solid experience and some great training under their belts. The loan system that we do is excellent. Nearly every player who needs to go jumps right into the first team, unless his name is Jeramie.
As for Big Phil, he’s in a sophomore slump, and growing into his lumbering frame. I think everyone knows he’s got the goods, but we’ve relied too much on him like we have Cesc. Only, when Cesc makes a mistake, it isn’t directly in front of the goal.
Wenger has gambled the season away, that’s a given. But he was prodded to do so by a number of factors, and one of them is just about complete and ready for action. That’s still bringing a lot to the table.
And go ahead and sing your Paddy songs. I won’t need to shush you as there’ll be droves who will do it for me while I get my hot cocoa.
January 31st, 2006 at 5:36 pm
I remember sitting in the upper deck of Upton Park one day watching a match and seeing a kid look over at some council flats next to the stadium.
“Daddy, if we lived there we could see the game for free.”
“Yes son, but first I’d have to lose my job.”
Just a random aside from the land of West Ham. Oh, did I mention the 4 foot tall steward with a mustache who said SHE was the world’s biggest Olivia Newton John groupie and that she followed her all over the world, even places like Troy Michigan and Akron Ohio. That’s a certain dedication to pain, which maybe explained her love for West Ham.
January 31st, 2006 at 6:17 pm
Heh!
February 1st, 2006 at 12:58 am
We just have to beat West Ham tonight. That’s it. As I said in my post, the season starts now. Fulham have done us a big favour by beating the Spurs. We have to capitalise on it.
Our defensive injuries are extremely unfortunate. Ivory Coast just squeezed through to the next round in the ACN. No disrepect to them, but I wish they didn’t make it. They play Cameroon in the next round, so I hope our players are back soon. The defence will have a tough time against wily Sheringham and muscular Harewood.
Wenger will have to play two defensive midfielders because Fabregas is suspended. The only problem is one of them will be Gilberto.
I hope Henry and RvP can do the job up front with Hleb, Pires and Ljunberg supporting them. I read that Reyes is suspended.
2-1 to the Arsenal. Come on, Gunners.
February 1st, 2006 at 4:39 am
It’s a toughie, but for recent players I’ll have to go with Fabregas, Senderos and Clichy. Wenger got them in and developed them.
Oh yeah, Vieira, Henry, Cole…or did Arsene not develop them?
Fair enough, we hardly have a production line of talent and in a previous mail, I said very, very few players make it from the reserves into the first team - not just at Arsenal, in every team in the world. I’d be stunned if we got one player a year into the first team, so I may not neccessarily agree with Wenger’s overriding policy.
February 22nd, 2006 at 3:48 pm
Why does there have to be a joke in there somewhere ? First Campbel goes missing and when he comes back he’s injured . Ahh but is he injured ?
Campbel has a new job , he was last seen in Toy’s R Us giving games away