Chelsea v West Ham Review

What is it with work and family life getting in the way of me boring you all with my thoughts and feelings from across the water in regards to West Ham? Due to my hectic schedule, I have managed to miss the previews for both Spurs and Chelsea and the review of the Spurs match. But they would have been all doom and gloom, so it was maybe for the best.

Now after the great result at Stamford Bridge at the weekend, I’m back. Work can wait, I’ve an upbeat blog to write!

PRE-GAME

Saturday morning for me was spent at my son’s football as usual. They have split their leagues, so all results get wiped off and we are back to a fresh start. Good thing too as they just managed to scrape into the top league.

They have got off to a great start though, winning 4-1 and now sit proudly at the top of the division.

After this game it was home to get a quick lunch before nipping out again to watch a school’s football final. Something has to be said about the standard of school’s football, it is played with determination and commitment to win, purely for the love of the game. Give me it over Premiership football any day of the week.

Which is exactly why I forfeited the first half of the West Ham game for it. I was happily pulling back into my driveway at 3:50pm having watched a game that was won with the final kick of the ball. Heart-breaking for those on the losing side but such a momentous moment for the victors.

THE GAME

I was in a good mood from the schools final but as I plonked myself on the sofa with a steaming hot mug of coffee my mood was about to get even better.

In the 48^th minute Fornals picked out Cresswell down the left and the full-back cut back inside onto his right before calmly placing the ball past Kepa into the Chelsea net! Myself and the wee lad jumped around the sitting room excitedly to ‘Up your arse….’ Limbs and scenes!

I honestly can’t remember much more action of the game as I was just sitting grinning from ear to ear trying to remember back to when we last won at Stamford Bridge.

My memory was telling me it was May 2003 when Di Canio scored the flicked-up volley. A game I remember well.

I was on honeymoon in the Dominican Republic and a couple of scousers, who had noticed I was reading the Cass Pennant book ‘Congratulations, you have just met the ICF’, came over and apologised to my new missus before telling me the game was on the TV in our bedrooms.

I abandoned the wife by the poolside and disappeared back to the honeymoon suite to watch my beloved West Ham. It’s amazing to think she is still with me, but I suppose testing those waters early doors in the marriage let me see what a loving and very understanding woman she is.

Anyway, my memory was wrong, and the above game was at Upton Park, but it was earlier in that season when we last beat them at Stamford Bridge. We won 3-2 with goals from Defoe and two from Di Canio, they scored via Hasselbaink and Zola.

You can see how my mind started to wonder but back to the game.

In the 67^th minute, Antonio had the ball in the back of the net, but VAR was called upon and the goal disallowed for handball. I still struggle to actually see the handball but its not often VAR gets a decision wrong, especially against us (sarcasm).

The rest of the game was spent singing along with the travelling West Ham support. Great Day!

OVERVIEW

As I said I only got to watch one half of the game so can only really comment on it.

Martin didn’t really have much to do during it but when I saw him at the end of the game and his emotion, I think I must have managed to get a bit of dust or dirt into my eye. I was so pleased for him. No doubt Roberto is going to struggle to get back into the side now…thankfully!

Balbuena also seemed to have had a good game. Let’s be honest though, there was no way he could have had a worse game than the Burnley match. Maybe a selection headache for Pellegrini now, does he bring in Diop again or not?

I have been quite critical of Rice lately as I didn’t think he was playing to his normal high standard of last season. I thought his head had maybe been turned on England duty, but he was back with vengeance on Saturday. What a performance from him, he was everywhere! He will no doubt have had bragging rights over his mate Mason Mount.

Antonio being back fit was perfect timing and fair play to Pellegrini for starting with him over Haller. I also like the way he seemed to push Anderson up alongside him. We now have options up front in regards to formation and personnel as I have been banging on about in my blogs lately.

The worrying thing though was seeing Antonio limp off, hopefully it was just tired cramping legs as opposed to aggravating his hamstring again. Wednesday night will tell. But if he’s not fit, the way we lined up on Saturday would also work in Haller’s favour.

This is a very weird season. I was beginning to think it was time for Pellegrini to go. I was worried he never changed things up. I was worried he would persist with Roberto. I was worried about our position in the table and where our next points were coming from.

Yet, now looking at the table after one, yes one, victory we are 4pts off 5^th place. Crazy considering we hadn’t won in 8 games!

But we are also only 4pts off the relegation zone.

Pellegrini has still to win me back around. It was one victory, and to be fair, it was a good victory.  Especially over them and Big Fat Frank, but it needs to continue.

It won’t be easy on Wednesday night against Wolves but if we can get a result, we could be back up that table where we belong!

Hopefully our season has kick started again!

COYI!

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